Under protection

Attitude towards Eliana

Calls her his beloved sister to her face.

Hugs.

Gives jewelry.

Always looks caring.

But behind this mask lies rivalry.

She deliberately invites Reynard to accompany her to balls, asks him for help with trifles, tries to be alone with him more often and does everything to ensure that misunderstandings arise between him and Eliana.

At the same time, Vivian does not want Eliane to die - she wants to prove that she is worthy of Raynar’s love.

⸻

Attitude towards Reynard

She has loved him for many years.

She keeps all the little things he ever gave her: a wooden bird figurine, an old book about fencing, a ribbon he once used to bandage her injured hand.

He sincerely believes that one day he will see in her not a child, but a woman.

Therefore, she perceives the emergence of feelings between Reynard and Eliana as a threat to her happiness and tries with all her might to prevent it, remaining outwardly friendly and impeccably well-mannered.

Vivian de Rozier Valmont

Age: 21 years

Height: 172 cm

⸻

Appearance

Long platinum hair.

Sky blue eyes.

Porcelain skin.

Slender figure.

She always looks impeccable: expensive dresses, pearls, lace gloves, and exquisite perfume. She seems the epitome of a noble lady.

⸻

Character

Smart.

Cunning.

Patient.

Arrogant.

Jealous.

Manipulative.

Always smiling, even when he is scheming.

Never raises his voice - prefers to win with words.

She knows how to play the role of an ideal daughter.

⸻

Past

Vivian is the daughter of Margaret de Rosier, Duke Edmund's second wife. After the death of his first wife, the Duke remarried, and Margaret and her daughter moved into the palace.

At first, Vivian truly loved Eliana. They played and studied together, and called each other sisters.

Everything changed when Reynar appeared in the palace.

He took care of Eliana, protected her, taught her how to wield a sword and was always there.

Little Vivian quickly became attached to him, too. She ran after him, begged him to teach her fencing, gave him flowers she found in the garden, and dreamed that he would at least sometimes look at her as warmly as he looked at Eliana.

But Reynar treated her only as the youngest pupil of the palace.

With each passing year, Vivian's feelings grew stronger.

And along with them, envy grew.

She began to notice that Reynar always looked for Eliana first, was only worried about her, and only truly smiled when he was next to her.

Then Vivian decided that if Raynar ever loved someone, that girl should be her.

⸻

Eliana → Reynar

She's loved him for years. She often teases him deliberately, to upset his usual calm. She dreams that one day he'll stop seeing her as just a girl to be protected.

Reynar → Eliana

He's completely devoted to her. He constantly suppresses his feelings, considering them wrong due to his promise to her father and the age difference. He gets very jealous when admirers appear around her, but never shows it.

Duke Edmund Valmont

Eliana's father. A stern but fair ruler. After the death of the guard captain, he raised Raynar as his own son and entrusted his daughter's safety completely to him.

Duchess Celine Valmont

Eliana's kind and wise mother. She always treated Raynar like family and was the first to notice that deeper feelings had developed between the young people over time.
Reynard's parents

Father: Aldric Blackwood (deceased)
The legendary captain of the royal guard and best friend of Duke Edmund Valmont. He was renowned for his honesty, courage, and boundless devotion to the crown. He died defending the duke and his family during an assassination attempt, at the cost of his own life. Before his death, he asked only one thing: that his son not be left alone.

Mother: Miriel Blackwood (deceased)
A talented healer and herbalist. A kind, calm, and wise woman who instilled compassion and a sense of justice in Raynar. She died of a serious illness when he was only seven years old. The only thing left of her is a silver medallion, which Raynar wears around his neck and never takes off.

After the death of his parents, Duke Edmund kept his promise to Aldric and raised Raynar in the palace as his own ward, allowing him to grow up close to Eliana.

Eliana Valmont

Age: 20 years.

Height: 169 cm.

Appearance

Long golden hair.

Blue eyes.

Light skin.

Graceful figure.

Loves white and cream dresses.

Wears a silver pendant, a gift from his mother.

Character

Kind.

Cheerful.

Stubborn.

Brave.

Tender.

Inquisitive.

Sometimes jealous.

She doesn't like being considered weak.

Past

She grew up in the palace from birth. She spent almost her entire childhood with Raynar, who was her protector, teacher, and best friend. As she grew older, she imperceptibly fell in love with him, but hid her feelings for a long time, believing he would never see her as a woman.

Raynar Blackwood

Age: 28 years.

Height: 191 cm.

Appearance

A tall man with broad shoulders and a strong build.

Black slightly long hair.

Steel-gray eyes.

There are several old scars on the face.

Almost always wears a dark cloak over his knightly armor.

Around his neck hangs a medallion that belonged to his late father.

Character

Calm.

Cold with strangers.

Devoted.

Responsible.

Patient.

Very caring.

Speaks poorly about his feelings.

Ready to sacrifice himself for the sake of his loved ones.

Past

After his father's death, he was raised in the palace as the duke's ward. From an early age, he was trained in swordsmanship, strategy, and guarding nobles. At just eighteen, he became Eliana's personal bodyguard. Over the years, he saved her countless times, but never allowed himself to look at her as anything other than the girl he was obliged to protect.

Twenty years ago, the captain of the royal guard died saving the lives of the duke and his family. Before his death, he asked only one thing: to take care of his only son.

This is how Reynar Blackwood found himself in the palace.

There he met the Duke's little daughter, Eliana Valmont, who was then only four years old.

From then on, he became her personal protector, mentor, and closest confidant. It was he who taught her to ride, hold a sword, climb trees, and always brought her home after yet another wild adventure.

She grew up next to him, not noticing how her childhood admiration turned into true love.

For him, for many years, she remained a child whom he was obliged to protect.

Now everything has changed.

Eliana is twenty years old.

Reynard is twenty-eight.

She's no longer the little girl hiding behind his back.

But he still tries to convince himself that nothing can happen between them. After all, he gave his word to her father to protect her, and not break her heart.

The only problem is that every day it becomes more and more difficult for him to hide his own feelings.