cocoluffs

Please check out my new book on WATTPAD it's highly appreciated it's a Simon "Ghost" Riley xreader apocalypse AU.

Description~

In a world overrun by the undead, survival means trusting no one. After losing everything, a stubborn young woman is forced to travel with a mysterious man she can't stand. He's quiet, relentless, and always seems to put himself between her and danger. Her hatred slowly turns into trust, and trust blooms into something deeper. In a world, every day could be their last. She begins to wonder if the person she never wanted by her side is the only one she can't live without.

*slow burn *Enemies to lovers/*Friends to lovers *fluffy.

WARNINGS: Blood, smut, panick, deadly weapons, gore.

Teaser of first chapter~

The day was cloudy and slightly damp. I grabbed the paper sheet from my desk and held it up.

"Don't forget to study for the test on Monday. Class dismissed."

The students stood up, and the sound of scraping chairs and excited chatter quickly filled the room.

Once everyone had left, I grabbed my purse, walked out, and locked my classroom behind me.

Being a twenty-four-year-old high school English teacher had its challenges, but it actually worked out well for me.

Most of the students I taught genuinely liked me.

As I stepped through the back doors of the school, I reached into my purse, grabbed my keys, and unlocked my truck.

It was an old beat-up pickup my father had gotten me when I was in high school. It wasn't in the best shape, but it still got me wherever I needed to go.

I lived on the outskirts of town on a small farm run by my parents, so I had to drive through town to get home.

As I drove through town, I noticed people running through the streets. It caught me completely by surprise.

I lowered the radio, rolled down my window, and all I could hear was yelling and the blaring of car horns.

I sighed in confusion, wondering what was going on.

Then-

Someone slammed into the passenger side of my truck.

The woman looked panicked.

A second later, someone stumbled up behind her.

Their skin was pale, and their shirt was stained with blood. They looked almost... dead.

Then, without warning, they bit into her neck.

The change was immediate after that night.

Painfully immediate.

König no longer lingered beside her carriage door after escorting her home from court. He no longer stood close enough for quiet conversations beneath his breath during long meetings. When Teagan spoke to him now, he answered with exact precision.

"Yes, Princess."

"No, Princess."

"As you command, Princess."

Nothing more.

It was everything she had demanded.

And Teagan despised it.

The worst part was how good he was at it.

König carried out his duties flawlessly, as always. He escorted her through crowded halls, stood watch outside her bedroom chambers, and followed two steps behind her through gardens and courtrooms.

There was distance now. Careful, deliberate distance. He no longer looked at her unless necessary.

When she laughed, he did not soften anymore.

Even his voice had changed around her. Controlled. Empty.

Teagan found herself growing angrier by the day because of it.

Twice, she caught herself searching for König in crowded rooms, only to find him already there-just farther away than before.

Like he was making sure never to forget his place again.

It made her chest ache.

And, of course, Gabe noticed the distance between them.

And he loved it.

He was happy to have her all to himself.

⸻

They were walking through the royal gardens one afternoon when Gabe finally slowed beside her, watching König several paces behind them.

The knight's gaze remained fixed ahead, unreadable beneath the shadow of his hood.

Gabe smirked before looking over at Teagan, lightly holding her hand.

"I think your dog dislikes me."

Teagan's expression stayed neutral.

"He is not a dog," she said softly, quiet enough that only Gabe could hear.

"Hm." Gabe sounded amused rather than apologetic, his tone matching hers. "Guard dog, then."

Behind them, König's expression remained perfectly still, though Teagan noticed the slight tightening of his jaw.

"He is doing his duty," Teagan said.

"Yes. Very intimidatingly."

Teagan chuckled quietly at his choice of words.

"You know," Gabe continued casually, "I believe I finally understand why the court whispers about him so much."

Teagan frowned slightly. "And why is that?"

The prince leaned closer with a crooked grin.

"Because he looks at you like a man starving at a feast."

Teagan nearly stumbled.

Behind them, König's footsteps stopped for half a second.

Just a second.

Then resumed.

"You know, with the amount of times you bring him up, I'm starting to think you have a crush on him," Teagan said, secretly defending him.

Gabe's eyes widened in shock.

"No-no, Princess, you've got that all wrong."

"I would hope so," Teagan replied with a smirk.

She hated hearing those words spoken aloud.

She hated that Gabe had noticed at all.

König remained unreachable several paces behind them, his gaze fixed ahead. Perfectly composed.

Only Teagan noticed the subtle signs beneath the surface.

The slight tension in his shoulders.

The way his gloved hand flexed once at his side.

Anyone else would have missed it.

⸻

A few days later, rain fell heavily against the castle windows long after midnight. Most of the palace had gone quiet, servants retired to their quarters while thunder rolled across the dark mountains surrounding the kingdom.

Teagan could not sleep.

Which meant she was already irritated before she even opened her chamber door-

And found König standing guard outside it.

He straightened immediately at the sight of her, his expression carefully blank beneath the low torchlight.

"Princess," König murmured softly.

Teagan crossed her arms.

"You are staring."

His gaze immediately lowered.

"Apologies."

That ache in her chest returned instantly.

God, she hated when he spoke to her like that now.

Like a stranger.

The storm cracked loudly overhead, and before Teagan could stop herself, she flinched slightly at the sound.

König noticed.

Of course he did.

His posture shifted instinctively, taking half a step closer before he caught himself and stopped.

That tiny hesitation hurt more than it should have.

Teagan exhaled sharply.

"Walk with me."

He hesitated only briefly before nodding.

"As you wish."

The halls were dim and empty as they walked. Rain lashed against the tall windows while thunder echoed softly through the castle stone.

Neither of them spoke for several minutes.

Teagan finally stopped near one of the open archways overlooking the courtyard below. Cool, rain-scented air drifted inside.

König remained a respectful distance behind her.

Always that distance now.

Teagan stared out at the storm before quietly saying,

"I did not mean what I said."

Silence.

Then, carefully:

"Which part, Princess?"

Teagan turned toward him with visible frustration.

"Stop speaking to me like that."

His eyes tightened slightly.

"You asked me to remember my place."

"And you decided to become unbearable about it."

Something almost amused flickered across his eyes before disappearing quickly.

"I am attempting to respect your wishes."

"Well, stop."

König looked genuinely caught off guard.

Teagan stepped closer before she could lose her nerve.

"I was angry," she admitted quietly. "And frightened."

"You have no reason to fear me."

"I was not frightened of you."

That seemed to surprise him even more.

Teagan looked away briefly, struggling for words she was not used to saying aloud.

"Gabe noticed," she whispered finally. "The way we were becoming."

König went still.

"And I hated it because once someone else saw it..." She swallowed hard. "It became real."

The knight stared at her silently in the dim light.

Thunder rumbled softly outside.

"I did not know how to stop it," she admitted.

König's voice came out quieter now. Softer.

"So you hurt me first."

Teagan winced.

"Yes."

For a moment, neither of them moved.

Then König stepped closer.

Not as her knight.

As himself.

"I would never shame you," he said quietly.

Teagan looked up at him then-truly looked at him-and saw the exhaustion he had carried for weeks.

The hurt.

The restraint.

All because she had pushed him away.

"I know."

Rain drifted lightly through the archway now, cool drops catching in the lighter strands of König's hair. He looked enormous, standing so close to her, all broad shoulders, careful hands, and gentleness.

Teagan's chest tightened painfully.

"I missed you," she whispered before pride could stop her. "Talking with you."

Something in his eyes broke completely at those words.

"Teagan..."

It was the first time he had said her name in weeks.

Not Princess.

Not Your Highness.

Just Teagan.

Like something precious.

She stepped closer again until barely inches remained between them.

König looked torn apart by it.

"You should not stand this close to me," he murmured, though he made no move away.

"Then move."

He didn't.

Neither of them did.

Teagan could feel the warmth radiating from him despite the rain drifting around them. König's gaze dropped briefly to her mouth before immediately returning to her eyes.

Slowly, he pulled down his balaclava, revealing his face to her.

She could hardly see him clearly in the dim torchlight, but she noticed the scars first.

A few of them.

Then she looked at his lips.

She caught herself smiling softly.

His hand slowly lifted toward her face.

Hesitated.

Teagan leaned into it anyway.

The roughness of his glove brushed gently against her cheek, painfully careful despite the size of his hand.

And then he bent toward her.

Slowly.

Like he was giving her every chance to stop him.

Teagan's heart hammered violently as she tilted her face upward.

Their lips barely touched.

Footsteps echoed somewhere down the corridor.

They jumped apart immediately.

A servant passed at the far end of the hallway without noticing them.

Silence returned.

Heavy silence.

König stared at her like he might kiss her anyway.

Teagan almost wished he would.

But after a long moment, he pulled his balaclava back up.

"You should go off to bed," Teagan mumbled. "I will do the same."

König nodded in response.

And this time, when he looked at her-

The distance was gone.

⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻

The end of chapter 7

NARRATOR*

The moment König turned his head and noticed Gabe standing in the doorway, every trace of ease disappeared from him.

His posture straightened immediately.

His hand slipped away from Teagan's waist as though he had suddenly remembered exactly who she was - and who he was not.

Teagan did not step away.

And Gabe noticed that, too.

Then suddenly, it was as if Teagan snapped back into reality. She quickly stepped away from König.

The prince slowly approached across the balcony, his polished boots clicking softly against the stone floor. The pleasant expression on his face remained perfectly practiced, perfectly charming.

And perfectly false.

"Well," Gabe said smoothly, glancing between them, "this is unexpected."

König immediately lowered his gaze, though his entire body remained tense behind her.

Gabe smirked.

"I did not realize royal knights attended gatherings as guests."

"They do not," König answered quietly before Teagan could speak.

The prince's eyes flickered toward him, a slight glare hidden beneath his smile.

"And yet here you are, dancing with the princess," Gabe said sharply.

"There is nothing unusual here. I simply shared a dance, as I would with anyone else," Teagan dismissed lightly.

She grabbed Gabe's arm.

"We should say goodbye to our guests," she said before pulling him along with her, though she glanced back once at König, smiling softly.

---

END OF BALL

Teagan and Gabe walked alone through the castle halls. Rain tapped softly against the tall windows beside them, filling the silence between their footsteps.

"What was that about?" Gabe finally asked.

Teagan rolled her eyes, already exhausted that he had brought it up again.

"I wanted air," she answered coldly.

"You could have asked me to accompany you."

"I did not want company."

"And yet you still ended up with some," Gabe replied.

Teagan abruptly stopped walking, forcing Gabe to stop as well.

"You surely are not jealous over something so small and innocent. Get over yourself, okay? Possessiveness is not a good look on you."

Her voice came out sharper than intended before she stormed away.

The sound of her shoes echoed through the empty halls, anger and humiliation twisting painfully in her stomach.

"Innocent?" Gabe had called after her. "You looked at him like he was more than a knight."

Teagan had not answered.

Because she feared it was true.

She turned down another corridor toward her bedroom quarters, silk skirts gathered tightly in her fists. The noise of the ballroom faded behind her, replaced only by silence and the distant crackle of torchlight against the stone walls.

And there he was.

König stood beside one of the tall windows overlooking the courtyard below. Even from behind, he looked impossibly large in the narrow corridor, broad shoulders tense beneath the dim light. His hands were clasped behind his back as if he were forcing himself to remain composed.

He noticed her immediately.

Almost as if he had been waiting for her.

"Princess." His voice softened the moment he saw her expression. "What happened?"

Teagan tried to answer calmly, but the frustration spilled out instead.

"Gabe happened," she muttered.

König lowered his head slightly.

"It was my fault," he said quietly.

Teagan looked up at him and sighed.

"It is your fault," she agreed, though she did not mean it.

Her words came out sharp and immediate.

König blinked once, clearly caught off guard.

"You should have known better than to dance with me."

The warmth in König's eyes disappeared almost instantly.

"I apologize, Your Highness," he said softly.

He sounded sincere.

And hurt.

Teagan folded her arms tightly, trying to ignore the guilt already creeping into her chest.

"God, you stand there acting wounded when you should have remembered your place from the beginning."

Silence followed.

Heavy silence.

König went completely still.

He could not believe she blamed him for that moment.

He could not believe he had allowed himself to think she was different from the other royals.

Perhaps she was the same spoiled, untouchable princess as the rest of them.

Teagan felt something twist painfully inside her chest.

She hated herself for it.

But truthfully, she was afraid.

Afraid of falling in love.

"You are a knight," she murmured, her words colder than intended. "That is all."

König swallowed once before answering.

"Yes, Princess."

His voice was completely indifferent now.

His eyes empty.

Teagan's maid, Alice - who had witnessed everything - quietly cleared her throat before opening the doors to Teagan's chambers.

"Let us get you changed," Alice said with forced cheerfulness.

---

INSIDE THE BEDROOM

Teagan stood silently as Alice carefully removed her jewelry and hairpins one by one.

"I have your bath running," Alice said softly.

Alice had been Teagan's maid since she was a toddler. She had raised her almost as much as the queen herself had.

They were close.

"You know," Alice finally said, "you were cruel to him."

"You assume too much."

"I practically raised you," Alice replied simply. "I know exactly what you sound like when you are frightened."

"I am not frightened."

Alice met her eyes through the mirror.

"You only become sharp-tongued when something matters deeply to you."

Teagan looked away.

"Teagan," Alice continued gently, "I see the way he looks at you."

Alice loosened the corset carefully from around Teagan's waist.

"He looked miserable, you know."

"He will survive," Teagan muttered.

"Oh, undoubtedly. The man survived war long before he survived this castle." Alice's tone softened. "But surviving and hurting are not the same thing."

Teagan stepped toward the bathing room once the last of her clothing had fallen away. Alice followed behind as Teagan slipped into the large tub filled with warm water and bubbles.

"I do not wish to discuss him."

Alice watched carefully as Teagan sank deeper beneath the water until it rested just below her chin.

"That man has spent months acting as if it were a crime to even breathe too close to you. If he finally allowed himself one dance, I hardly think that makes him reckless."

Teagan exhaled sharply.

"You did not see the way Gabe looked at us."

"I imagine Prince Gabe looked exactly like a jealous man."

"He is my suitor. The man I am supposed to marry."

"And König is the man you love," Alice replied immediately.

Teagan froze.

The room fell silent.

Alice's expression remained calm as she gently began scrubbing Teagan's skin.

"I do not love him."

"You glare at every noblewoman who speaks to him for too long. I have noticed."

Teagan looked away again.

"You smile differently around him," Alice continued softly. "Softer. Like you are not pretending to be untouchable all the time."

The maid's voice gentled even more.

"So tell me the truth, darling girl. Why did you push him away?"

Because she was scared.

Because the moment Gabe noticed, everything became real.

Because if a princess loved a knight, the kingdom would tear him apart.

But saying those fears aloud would make them real, too.

And Teagan could not bear that.

So she said nothing.

"You should not wound people simply because they have the power to wound you back."

Teagan's voice came out quieter than intended.

"I did not mean it."

"I know," Alice said softly, resting a comforting hand against her shoulder.

"But he believed you."

⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻

End of chapter 6

The days following the confrontation in the kitchen changed something in König.

Not openly.

Not enough for anyone else to notice.

⸻

I noticed every time König stood a little closer beside me during court meetings. Every time, his gaze lingered too long on Prince Gabe whenever the British prince spoke. Every time König's hand rested on the hilt of his sword whenever Gabe came near me.

I felt strangely flattered, really. Something had always seemed off about Gabe. Most of the servants avoided him, too.

I started to wonder if his smile was fake. If everything about him was rehearsed. Carefully crafted.

⸻

NARRATOR

The prince still played the charming guest in front of the court, laughing easily and complimenting the nobles, the king, and the queen with practiced perfection. But Teagan had started noticing the cracks beneath the performance.

The coldness in his eyes whenever servants passed.

The irritation beneath his polite tone whenever things did not go his way.

And every time she noticed, she tried not to think much of it's, because she saw a little of herself in him-or at least she thought she did.

But she found herself liking König instead.

The knight who could barely survive a conversation without awkward silence yet had never once lied to her.

⸻

A few days later, another royal gathering filled the palace halls.

Not nearly as grand as the welcoming ball, but lively enough that musicians played throughout the evening while nobles danced beneath golden chandeliers.

Teagan was exhausted.

Prince Gabe had spent most of the evening attached to her side, boasting to dukes about hunting trips, military strategy, wealth, and political advantage.

By the third hour, she thought she might lose her mind.

Everything he spoke about revolved around public opinion, power, or status.

So the moment Gabe became distracted by a group of noblemen near the wine tables, Teagan slipped away.

And immediately found König.

Of course she did.

He stood outside near the balcony pillars in formal armor, his arms crossed behind his back as he stared at the moon.

He sensed her presence approaching almost immediately.

⸻

TEAGAN'S POV

"You should not wander alone, Your Highness," König said softly.

I smiled at his concern. "I crossed half the ballroom, König," I replied, my tone matching his. "You say that as though I crossed a battlefield."

My voice turned playful near the end.

His eyes remained serious. "Ballrooms are dangerous too."

A laugh escaped me, and König visibly relaxed at the sound.

Only slightly, but enough for me to notice.

I stepped beside him. From here, we could still hear the music drifting through the open balcony doors.

"König," I said softly.

I felt him glance over at me.

"Yes, Princess?"

"Dance with me."

König froze completely.

"...What?"

I nearly laughed at the horror in his eyes, but instead, I smiled innocently. "A dance," I repeated. "Surely my personal knight can manage one dance."

"I cannot," König replied immediately.

"You cannot?" I asked, confused.

"I do not know how," he replied.

This time, I laughed genuinely.

"I am serious," König said.

"So am I," I replied, grabbing his gloved hand before he could continue speaking.

"You face armed men without fear," I said, smiling. "But dancing terrifies you?"

"Yes," he replied.

His answer came instantly.

I bit my lip, trying to stop another laugh from escaping.

Gently, I placed the hand I

held against my waist, though he hesitated before allowing me to take his other hand.

I stepped closer, and he immediately straightened his posture.

"König," I murmured. "Please."

Those words ruined him entirely.

Because he would never deny her when she asked like that.

König glanced toward the crowded ballroom through the window, clearly considering escape, before finally looking back down at her.

"One dance."

I smiled brightly enough to make his heart stutter.

Carefully, König placed one massive hand near my waist as though he feared touching me improperly. His other hand held mine with impossible gentleness despite its size.

For a man built like a weapon, he handled me as though I might break

.

"Relax," I mumbled softly.

"I am relaxed," König replied.

The dance itself was clumsy at first.

König avoided my eyes whenever he could. He moved too cautiously, too stiff, painfully aware of every step. Twice, he nearly stepped on the edge of my gown before jerking backward in alarm.

"Sorry," he muttered for the second time.

"You already apologized," I replied, amused.

"I stepped on you."

"Barely," I replied.

"You could have died."

That made both of us laugh.

And oddly enough, I liked being this close to him.

He smelled faintly of metal and something warm beneath it-clean, masculine, comforting.

I liked the warmth of his hand against mine.

I liked the way he looked at me.

Not like a princess to be won.

But like someone precious.

I stared into his eyes, and he stared back into mine as we swayed slowly together. König was finally beginning to relax, beginning to find the rhythm.

I smiled softly before resting my head against his armored chest.

I felt him tense instantly.

Then slowly relax beneath me.

We stayed like that for less than two minutes before I noticed a figure standing near the doorway.

Prince Gabe.

He stood in the shadows with a smile stretched across his face.

But the smile never reached his eyes at all.

⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻

End of Chapter 5

When Gabe spun her beneath the candlelight and Teagan laughed softly, König's jaw tightened hard enough to ache. One of the older knights beside him - the queen's personal guard - noticed immediately.

"You look ready to challenge the prince to a duel," the older knight said jokingly.

König only grunted in response.

"Ah," the knight said with a knowing smirk.

"What?" König replied.

"That," the older knight said before taking a sip of wine. After swallowing, he added, "That is jealousy."

The word hit König like a physical blow.

Jealousy? No, he thought. Teagan was a princess, and he was only her knight and protector.

But as he watched Gabe lean closer to whisper something in her ear - watched Teagan smile politely in response - König realized something terrible.

He didn't want another man touching her like that. He didn't want another man making her laugh.

And he certainly didn't want another man marrying her.

But he had no say in it.

And it broke his heart.

The music ended. Applause echoed throughout the ballroom. Teagan curtsied gracefully while Gabe lifted her hand and kissed the back of it.

König had to look away.

⸻

THE NEXT DAY

Morning arrived cold and gray beneath heavy clouds.

The palace had not yet fully awakened. Most servants were still preparing breakfast while maids hurried through the halls, deciding what the royal family would wear and how their hair would be styled.

König preferred mornings. They were peaceful.

No crowded halls. No forced conversations. Just silence.

But the kitchen-

As he walked toward it in search of breakfast, dressed in simple black training clothes instead of armor, his face hidden beneath his balaclava, he heard shouting.

König frowned immediately.

The kitchens were usually lively but warm - cooks laughing, servants chatting quietly while preparing meals.

Not silent.

The silence now felt tense.

As he approached the doorway, a sharp voice cut through the room.

"How difficult is it to prepare tea properly?" Prince Gabe snapped. "Must I explain every simple task myself?"

A young servant girl visibly flinched. Shaken and clearly unused to being yelled at, she hurried to refill his cup with trembling hands.

"I-I apologize, Your Highness," she whispered.

"You should," Gabe replied coldly, shoving past her to grab his tea.

König stood just outside the doorway, unseen.

The prince sat at the long wooden table wearing an expensive silk robe, looking utterly irritated by the existence of everyone around him. Beside him stood his personal assistant from Britain, a thin man with sharp features.

The kitchen servants moved nervously around them in complete silence.

"Honestly," Gabe scoffed, leaning back in his chair as if he owned the palace itself, "these people behave like frightened mice."

His assistant gave a quiet laugh.

"At least the kingdom is worth a fortune," Gabe continued casually while stirring his tea. "The royal family is wealthier than I expected."

"No wonder they have so many rivals. Everyone wants what they have." Gabe smirked faintly. "The king even asked if I could help them end the war with Japan so they could form an alliance."

His assistant lowered his voice slightly. "You truly intend to go through with the marriage, then?"

"Of course." Gabe smiled lazily. "Once her father dies, I could take control of the entire kingdom and its wealth."

He took a slow sip of tea.

"Marry the princess," he continued, "gain influence gradually, drain the treasury, dismantle their alliances..." He chuckled softly. "Honestly, the kingdom would practically ruin itself."

His assistant laughed quietly.

"And the princess?" the man asked.

Gabe shrugged.

"She's beautiful, I suppose. Pleasant enough. But naïve." His mouth curled into a smirk. "Easy to manipulate, perhaps. I'll keep her around to entertain me."

Something violent twisted inside König's chest.

Teagan was worth far more than that.

And she was far smarter than Gabe realized.

"I almost feel bad for her," Gabe added mockingly. "Almost."

Around them, the servants stayed silent, pretending not to hear. Some quietly left the kitchen entirely, unable to listen to him insult their kingdom any longer.

König's hands curled into fists so tightly the leather around his knuckles creaked.

For one dangerous moment, he genuinely considered walking into the room and slamming the prince's face into the table.

Then Gabe and his assistant laughed again.

König stepped into the doorway.

The room immediately fell silent.

The prince looked up, annoyance flashing across his face before recognition settled in.

"Ah," Gabe said slowly. "The giant knight."

König was mildly surprised that the prince recognized him.

"The Silent Killer," Gabe added with amusement.

The nickname had followed König since the war.

König said nothing.

His emotionless stare alone made several servants slowly back away. Even Gabe's assistant suddenly looked uneasy.

"You seem displeased," Gabe remarked lightly.

Still, König remained silent.

"Do you usually lurk around doorways listening to private conversations?" Gabe asked.

"You were speaking loudly," König replied flatly, his voice lower than usual. "Wasn't very private."

Gabe sensed the tension immediately and stood from his chair.

"You are only a knight," Gabe said sharply. "I suggest you remember your place."

"And I suggest," König answered quietly, "that you speak to servants with respect while inside this palace."

The room became deathly still.

Nobody spoke to royalty that way.

Especially not foreign royalty.

"Careful, König," Gabe warned. He deliberately said his name slowly while straightening his posture in an obvious attempt to appear intimidating.

It failed miserably.

Then Gabe walked past him, glaring as he left the kitchen.

⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻

End of chapter 4

The first time I noticed König staring at me, he looked away so quickly he nearly walked into a marble pillar.

König was painfully socially awkward. Whether it was speaking for too long or becoming too reserved when spoken to, he always seemed uncertain of himself.

But he was gentle, too.

He carried injured birds from the palace garden in his enormous hands as though they were made of glass. He lowered his voice when speaking to frightened servants.

When children from noble families visited the court, they adored him because, despite his intimidating appearance, he let them braid flowers into the leather straps of his armor.

He watched over me with a quiet devotion that had become so familiar I barely noticed it most days.

There was an odd tension between us, one I hated to admit I enjoyed. But I did. His presence made my heart flutter in a way I had never felt before.

Then my suitor arrived.

Prince Gabe of Britain was everything the court adored-or so I had heard.

He was handsome, polished, and charming. He smiled easily, danced beautifully, and spoke with the confidence of someone who had always known the world would bend for him.

The entire palace was prepared for his arrival with frantic excitement.

Maids worked tirelessly trying to decide which gowns would suit me best to his liking.

Chefs were ordered to prepare foods he would love and be accustomed to.

A grand ball was thrown in honor of his arrival so that we could meet one another properly, along with each other's courts.

And on the night of the welcoming ball, König nearly forgot how to breathe.

I walked slowly down the grand staircase, my gown slightly heavy.

It was sage green with a floral-patterned overskirt draped over a lighter corseted base. Around my neck rested a beautiful sage-colored necklace.

I looked less like a princess and more like something from a painting.

König stood at the foot of the stairs beside my parents, the king and queen.

What caught my attention most was that his helmet was gone.

I had never seen his face before. A black balaclava still covered the lower half, but now I could clearly see his blue eyes and part of his forehead.

There was a long, healed scar beginning near his brow and disappearing beneath the fabric.

**NARRATOR**

For a moment, König simply stared.

His chest tightened strangely.

He thought she was beautiful.

**TEAGAN'S POV**

I reached the final step, and König offered me a hand to help me down the rest of the way.

"Do I look acceptable?" I asked quietly, making sure only he could hear.

Acceptable was an understatement to König. He thought she looked breathtaking.

"Y-Yes, Your Highness," König stammered, suddenly nervous.

I found myself giggling softly at his stutter, feeling oddly flustered in return.

Then, the herald announced the arrival of Prince Gabe.

The ballroom erupted into applause.

Gabe crossed the floor with elegant confidence and bowed the moment he reached me, gently taking my hand.

"Princess Lavina," he said smoothly, his British accent instantly catching my attention since I had never heard one before.

"Britain has spoken of your beauty for years. I see now that the rumors were terribly understated."

The prince's charming smirk made me smile.

This caused König to dislike him instantly.

The feeling only worsened when Gabe asked for the first dance.

Music filled the ballroom.

**NARRATOR**

Teagan's hand rested in Gabe's as they moved gracefully across the polished floor. Nobles watched admiringly, whispering about how perfect they looked together.

König remained near the wall where he had been stationed.

Watching.

Every turn of the dance felt unbearable.

He didn't understand why.

He had watched over her for some time. Protected her.

Stood guard outside her chambers during sleepless nights. He had seen her laugh until tears filled her eyes and heard her cry quietly when she thought nobody could hear her.

Yet watching another man hold her like this made something dark twist violently inside his chest.

That should be him.

The feeling was unfamiliar.

Ugly.

Hot.

Possessive.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My heart raced, and my mouth felt dry - all because I was about to meet the knight assigned to protect me. Anxiety twisted in my chest. I wasn't ready to lose my freedom - or at least the freedom I thought I had.

Now, I will be watched for most of the day. I hated the idea of it, though deep down I understood my father was only trying to protect me. I was simply too stubborn to admit it.

The sharp click of my heels echoed through the wide palace halls as I walked, my dress flowing around me and brushing over my feet. When I reached the throne hall, a guard pulled open the heavy doors and bowed his head respectfully.

My eyes swept across the grand room before landing on a towering knight standing near the throne. His armor immediately caught my attention, polished so perfectly it gleamed beneath the sunlight pouring through the stained-glass windows.

I stopped in front of him.

Without hesitation, the knight lowered himself onto one knee with surprising gentleness.

"My blade is yours, Your Highness." He said his head bowed. His German accent was thick, his voice softer than I expected.

"What is your name?" I had said curious

"König, Your highness." The knight had said before standing upright again. "Sir König." I mumbled, testing his name on my tongue.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

At first, I thought König was terrifying.

That day, he arrived at the palace. The entire throne hall seemed to shrink around him. He stood nearly seven feet tall, with broad shoulders and wrapped in silver armor, his heavy boots echoed against the stone floors like distant thunder. Even the royal guards looked nervous around him.

König himself seemed far more uncomfortable than anyone else. I began noticing the little things over time. Like how König "ducked through doorways even when he didn't need to. How he stood painfully straight during royal dinners.

Barely touching his food because he seemed unsure if he was truly allowed at the table. Or like how the servants were startled whenever he approached - and how he immediately stepped out of their way every single time, muttering quiet apologies in his thick accent.

It was noon, and I was walking to my bedroom when I heard a vase breaking with a loud crash it echoed through the corridor. I turned to see König, who was frozen in horror his eyes were wide.

And to my complete disbelief, I watched as he dropped to the floor, trying to gather all the shattered pieces. I couldn't help but laugh as I watched the maids coming around to help clean it.

The poor man looked like he wished the earth would swallow him whole.

"I did not see it," he mumbled awkwardly. "The vase was... very small." He said before stepping out of the maid's way so they can clean it. I knew I seemed like a brat for laughing, and I did because, truthfully, I knew no one would correct me.

"The vase was normal-sized," I replied.

"It was small to me," König mumbled back

König rarely spoke unless spoken to, but I started catching glimpses of the man beneath the armor. He was oddly careful with anything, careful sitting in delicate palace chairs that creaked dangerously under his weight. Careful walking beside me so his longer strides wouldn't force me to rush.

And strangest of all ~~ Careful with me.

Always.

------------------------------------------------‐-------------Possessive

End of Chapter 2

"Sir König."

I run through the halls quickly, breathing hard and panting, the cold marble floor against my bare feet. I ran while holding my gown, I screamed as I heard footsteps behind me, and shouted, "You can't catch me!" I said.

That was short-lived before my personal maid had stopped me. I was then bumped into by my baby brother, who was laughing.

"You two, cut it. Time for dinner," Alice, my personal maid, said in a thick German accent. "Lahm," I mumbled in German to my baby brother before tilting my head at Alice, making him giggle.

At dinner, I sat silently, eating while listening to my brother talk about random things, as always, with my mother and father both listening carefully.

"And Teagan, how about you? How was your day?" my mother asked softly in her thick German accent.

"Fine," I mumbled, not really in the mood to talk because I knew where it was headed.

"You get to meet the prince of Britain soon!" my father said. I chose to stay quiet, "He's a very good suitor, and he can do great things for our kingdom... with the upcoming-" My mother started.

I interrupted, "Upcoming war. I understand it's for our kingdom, but I'd like to choose who I marry, Mother!" My voice rose a little.

"You are 20. You had more than enough time to find someone to your liking, so now you won't be able to have a choice!" my mother shouted in my face. I stood up quickly and glared at her. I looked over at my father, who gave me a pitiful look.

I threw my napkin down on my plate. "If you'd excuse me, I'm off to my bedroom." I stormed off before anyone could reply.

It's nighttime. The moonlight shines through my window as I watch the garden, bathed in the moon's glow, and the beautiful flowers. It makes me forget about all my problems, even if just for a second.

I'm wearing my silk night gown, which feels great on my skin. My hair is in a bun, keeping it from my face. I fall onto my bed, thinking about the love of my dreams-whomever he is-before drifting off to sleep.

The next morning, I woke up to a maid who looked panicked, rushing me out of bed before I could even fully come to my senses. She took us out to the halls, holding my arm in hers, and I slightly leaned on her. There were many guards and staff of the palace in the halls, all looking curious. I was taken to my father's study, where I saw my family all looking troubled and concerned.

My father stood at his desk holding a letter. My mother quickly stood up when she saw me in the room, walking towards me and grabbing my arm exactly as my maid had done.

Our kingdom was wealthy; most people lived well, but that caused problems because we couldn't form loyal alliances. We were always threatened with war. However, this time is different. My dad started explaining the problem: apparently, there are people after us who have threatened to kill us all, one by one, and they're watching us.

"I am assigning you each a personal knight," my father said. "No way!" I chimed in. "I don't need anyone supervising me. I can learn martial arts or something!" I said. My voice was a little raspy. "Lavina, this is not the time for arguing. Our family is at stake," my mother said sternly.

______________________________________

End of chapter 1.

A forbidden love between a Knight and a Princess. Their love being tested, loyalty slowly becoming love, and the princess beginning to see the man under the armor.

Come read on my page!

Ps. None of the characters from the game are going to be in the story but König.

Warning: violence, abuse, blood, trauma, smut.

I have given the character a first and middle name (last name up to you). I tried my best to keep things about her to your imagination.

Teagan's hair is long all the way down to her butt though the color of it and the texture are fully up to you.

Face features: Almond-shaped eyes (color up to you) her smile is beautiful and unique, and her lips are cupid-shaped and full. Her height is 5'4 and her body shape is fully up to you.

I am gonna modify some things about König.

This is my first-ever fanfic made so bear with me, I would definitely appreciate feedback I am trying my best for it not to be boring I want it to be as if I were writing a real book.