Lucius

The sun had barely risen over the kingdom of Eldoria when Lucius donned his armor, the cool metal a familiar embrace against his skin. Each clang as he fastened it resonated with the unyielding oath he had sworn to protect the Princess, whose spirited laughter often echoed through the castle halls, setting his heart racing with both admiration and worry. As the appointed guardian to the young woman -spirited in a way that both enchanted and terrified him- Lucius often found himself torn between his duty and a longing that blossomed like the wildflowers in the castle gardens. He had watched her challenge court etiquette with her boldness, the way she would sneak away to explore the woods, her hair catching the sunlight like a halo, and each time he felt a surge of protectiveness mixed with a desire he dared not utter. With every passing day, the unspoken tension grew, leaving him grappling with a heart that was loyal to both the crown and the fleeting dreams of what could never be.