đ đđĄđšđšđŹđ đđĄđ đđ§đąđ đĄđ đđ teddy knight x reader
đżđđđ: MINORS DNI!! smut to fluff, soft sex, comforting
đčđđđđ teddy as a knight and reader as a princess, middle age era,smut sometimes fluff, you inlove to the knight
You wake the next morning in the same heavy silence that has filled your room for the past two weeks. The curtains are drawn, the air thick with dust and the faint scent of old parchment. Your body feels stiff from the long days of confinement, and your mind drifts back to the moment your fatherâs voice had echoed through the halls, declaring your punishment. Two full weeks. No visitors. No leaving your chambers except for meals, which you barely touched.
The rabbit is still curled in its little nest of blankets at the foot of your bed, its small chest rising and falling in slow, steady breaths. You sit up, the mattress creaking softly beneath you, and exhale a long, tired sigh. The weight of the crown feels heavier than ever, even though you havenât worn it in days. Your fingers trace the edge of the blanket, and you wonder how much longer this isolation will last.
The following day passes in a blur of pages. You sit by the window with a stack of old books, the words blurring together as your thoughts wander to the world outside. You imagine the gardens, the training yard, the eastern tower where Teddy keeps watch. Your fingers itch to open the door, to step into the sunlight, but the memory of your fatherâs stern face keeps you rooted in place.
By the end of the first week, hunger gnaws at your stomach like a living thing. The rabbit, too, looks weakerâits ears droop, its movements sluggish. You try to feed it the last of your bread, but your own hands tremble. The room spins when you stand, and you collapse onto the cold stone floor, the world fading to black.
A knock echoes through the haze.
âReader? Are you feeling alright?â Your motherâs voice, soft and worried, filters through the heavy door.
You hear her, but your lips refuse to move. The knock comes again, louder this time.
âReader, please answer me!â
The door bursts open. Your father rushes in, his boots pounding against the floor. He drops to his knees beside you, his strong arms lifting you as if you weigh nothing. Your mother follows, tears already streaking her cheeks.
âIâm sorry, Reader. Please forgive us,â she sobs, pulling you into a tight embrace the moment your father lays you on the bed. Your father stands at the foot of the bed, head bowed, his voice barely above a whisper.
Your mother cries harder, her arms trembling around you. You drift in and out of consciousness, the warmth of her tears soaking into your nightdress.
The next morning, you wake to find both your parents standing at your bedside. Sunlight filters through the curtains, casting golden lines across the floor. Your motherâs eyes are red-rimmed, your fatherâs face lined with guilt.
âWhat happened?â you ask, voice hoarse.
Your mother leans down and hugs you fiercely. âMamma, what happened?â you repeat, confused.
âYou collapsed,â your father says quietly. âWe⊠we were too harsh. I grounded you, and Iâm sorry. Please forgive us.â
You look away, the memory of his anger still fresh. âPapa, youâre not mad at me?â
He steps closer, his hand gentle as he pats your head. âOf course not, Reader. Youâre my only daughter. I made a mistake.â
You sit up and wrap your arms around him. Your mother joins the embrace, both of them murmuring apologies against your hair. The tension that has hung over the castle for weeks finally cracks, replaced by a fragile, healing warmth.
At the dining table later, you eat slowly, the rabbit nibbling at a plate beside you. Your father kisses the top of your head. âI wonât get angry with you again, Reader.â You nod, the words settling something deep inside you.
Your mother smiles through fresh tears. âOh, Reader, weâre leaving after this. Youâll be in charge of the castle. Youâre the princess.â
You nod again, the responsibility settling on your shoulders like a familiar cloak.
You sit on the throne, the rabbit curled in your lap, when the great doors open. Niang and Agi walk down the red carpet, their steps hesitant. They kneel before you, heads bowed.
âYouâre back, Your Highness,â Agi says, voice thick with emotion.
You rise and run to them, pulling both into a tight hug. They gasp in surprise.
âYour Highness!â Niang exclaims.
âI missed you both,â you whisper. âWhereâs Teddy?â
Agi smiles softly. âHeâs resting. He wanted to go with you, to visit you.â
Your cheeks flush. âReally? He said that?â
âYes, Your Highness,â Niang confirms.
You blush deeper. âHe still loves me.â
Agi and Niang exchange glances. âWe must return to our duties, Your Highness.â
âWait,â you say. They kneel again. âI want to go with you. I want to see Teddy.â
Agi hesitates. âBut Prince Tristan will be angryââ
âHeâs back at his own palace for now,â you assure them. âPlease. I need to see him.â
They bow. âYes, Your Highness.â
You turn to a servant. âTake the rabbit back to my room.â The servant nods and gently lifts the small creature.
You walk with Agi and Niang through the quiet corridors until you reach Teddyâs door. Your hand trembles as you push it open. Teddy lies on the bed, eyes closed, his chest rising and falling in slow breaths. Bruises still mar his skin, but they look better than before.
âTeddy,â you whisper.
His eyes flutter open. âReader? I thought you were still grounded.â
âIâm fine. Itâs over now.â You cross the room and hug him tightly. âI missed you.â
He hugs you back, his arms strong despite his injuries. âMe too.â
You kiss teddy deeply, Niang and Agi look away when they see them kissing, pouring weeks of longing into the touch. âI was thinking of you. Iâm sorry for ignoring you. I didnât mean it.â
âItâs fine,â he murmurs against your lips.
âHow did you get here? What if that bastard finds out and gets mad at You, Agi and Niang?â he asks, worry creasing his brow.
âTristanâs gone back to his palace. Weâre safe for now.â
âThank God.â He turns to the attendants. âAgi, Niang, could you both leave us alone?â
They nod and slip out, closing the door behind them.
You sit beside him on the bed. âAre your bruises okay? Let me see.â
Teddy nods and slowly removes his shirt. The sight of his battered body makes your heart ache. You brush gentle fingers over the fading marks on his face. âPlease help me. Tristan assaulted me so many times. I donât want him to come back. He doesnât treat me like a wifeâhe treats me like a slave.â
Tears spill down your cheeks. Teddy wipes them away, his thumb lingering on your skin. His gaze drops to your shoulder, and he carefully lowers the neckline of your dress. You gasp, a soft moan escaping as his fingers brush your skin. He pulls his hand back. âIâm sorry.â
You lean in and kiss him again, deeper this time. He eases you onto the bed, his body hovering over yours. Your eyes meet, breaths mingling.
âCan I?â he asks, voice low.
He kisses you again, hands moving to undress you while his lips never leave yours. You gasp when he pulls away for a moment. âAre you sure? What if your parents find out?â
You chuckle softly. âThey left. We have time.â
Teddy removes his boxers. You slip off your underwear and lie back, heart pounding. He positions himself between your legs, the head of his cock pressing against your entrance. You moan as he pushes inside, stretching you slowly, filling you completely. Your arms wrap around his back, nails digging in as he begins to thrust.
âI missed having sex with you,â you whisper between moans.
He kisses you, swallowing your sounds, then moves to nibble at your neck and shoulder. You moan louder, hips rising to meet each thrust. Teddy lifts his body, gripping your thighs as he drives deeper. He watches your tits bounce with every movement, his eyes dark with desire.
âYouâre so pretty when you moan,â he breathes.
But then he groans, pain flashing across his face. He clutches his abdomen and collapses forward onto you.
âTeddy!â You sit up, helping him upright. âAre you alright?â
He holds his stomach, breathing hard. âNo, Iâm fine. Just⊠my gut.â
âYou should rest,â you say gently. He nods, but before you can move he leans down and takes one of your nipples into his mouth, sucking softly. You gasp, hugging his head to your chest as his tongue swirls around the sensitive peak. His fingers slide between your legs, finding your clit and rubbing in slow circles while he continues to suck.
You moan loudly, hips bucking against his hand. âTeddy, you should restââ
Your words cut off as pleasure crashes over you. You squirt hard, soaking his sheets, your body shaking with the force of it. Teddy holds you through it, kissing your trembling skin.
When you finally catch your breath, you sit up and begin dressing. âIâm sorry I got your bed wet.â
âItâs fine,â he murmurs, voice hoarse.
âI should get back to the throne,â you say, leaning down to hug him. âRest, Teddy. Your gut isnât fine.â
He leans back against the pillows, breathing deeply as you slip out the door. The corridor feels colder without him, but the memory of his touch lingers on your skin like a promise.
Back on the throne, the rabbit hops into your lap once more. You stroke its soft fur, mind drifting to the eastern tower and the man resting there. The castle feels different nowâlighter when prince tristan was gone, somehow. Your parentsâ apologies still echo in your ears, and the future stretches ahead, uncertain but no longer suffocating.
You close your eyes, the ghost of Teddyâs kisses still warm on your lips, and allow yourself, for the first time in weeks, to hope. You sit on the throne, the heavy crown of responsibility settling on your shoulders like a familiar weight.
The grand hall feels vast and quiet, the red carpet stretching before you like a river of blood. Your fingers drum against the armrest as you wait, the rabbit curled peacefully in your lap. When the great doors finally open and your parents step through, you canât contain yourself. You leap from the throne, the rabbit tumbling safely to the cushions, and run straight into their arms.
Your father catches you first, his strong hands steady on your shoulders. âYou should rest now, Reader,â he says gently, his voice carrying the warmth that had been missing for so long.
You nod against his chest. âYes, Pappa.â
You gather the rabbit into your arms and walk away from the throne room, your footsteps echoing through the empty corridors. The castle feels different nowâlighter, somehow, as if the weight of your parentsâ apologies has lifted some invisible burden from the stones themselves.
Forty minutes later, you push open the door to your chambers and set the rabbit down on its favorite cushion. It hops away immediately, exploring the familiar space with renewed energy. Youâre about to follow it when a sound catches your attentionâa low, rhythmic noise that seems to come from somewhere nearby. Itâs distracting, pulling at your curiosity like a thread you canât ignore.
You walk toward the sound, your bare feet silent on the cold stone. The noise grows louder as you approach a door you hadnât noticed beforeâa small service entrance that leads to a guest wing. The door is slightly ajar, and through the crack, you can hear the unmistakable sounds of passion: heavy breathing, the wet slap of skin against skin, and a womanâs voice moaning in pleasure.
Your heart pounds as you peek through the opening. What you see makes your blood run cold.
Prince Tristan is there, completely naked, his body moving with aggressive thrusts. Beneath him, a noblewoman you vaguely recognize from court writhes and moans, her large breasts bouncing with each powerful stroke. Her legs are wrapped around his waist, her nails digging into his back as she cries out his name. Tristanâs face is flushed with exertion and pleasure, his hips snapping forward with brutal force.
âWhy is Prince Tristan here?â you think, your mind reeling. âI thought he was at his own castle.â
The noblewomanâs moans grow louder, her body arching as Tristan pounds into her. Sheâs clearly enjoying every moment, her face contorted in ecstasy. Tristan grunts with satisfaction, his hands gripping her hips hard enough to leave bruises.
The door creaks wider under your trembling hand, and suddenly both of them freeze. Tristanâs head snaps toward you, his eyes widening in shock and then narrowing with anger.
âReader,â he says, his voice cold.
The noblewoman looks terrified, scrambling to cover herself with the sheets. You gasp, your hand flying to your mouth as you stumble backward. Without thinking, you turn and run, your heart hammering against your ribs.
âReader, get back here!â Tristanâs voice follows you down the corridor, thick with fury.
The next morning, the throne room feels like a battlefield. Tristan kneels before your parents, his head bowed in false humility. Agi and Niang stand guard on either side, their spears held at the ready. You clutch your fatherâs hand, tears streaming down your face as you recount what you witnessed.
âPappa, I saw him having sex with that noblewoman,â you sob, your voice breaking.
Your fatherâs face darkens with rage. âTristan, when did you do this?â
âSince Reader was grounded, Your Highness,â Tristan admits, his voice steady but his eyes calculating.
âWhat a mistake this has made to my daughter. I trusted you. I welcomed you into our home. Why did you do this to my daughter?â
âYour Highness, I can explainââ
You canât hold back any longer. âEXPLAIN YOURSELF!â you scream, your voice echoing through the hall. âI DONâT CARE ABOUT YOUR EXPLANATION NOW! GET OUT! That means you didnât leave this place when I was grounded. You think Iâm waiting for you? For what you did to Teddy? His gut was hurtâhe cannot move! You didnât even feel sorry for him! You used to abuse him out of jealousy! How monstrous you are, and you call yourself a prince!â
Tristan rises slowly, his mask of civility cracking. He steps toward you, his hand shooting out to grip your chin painfully. âIf you shut upâshut up. Look, Your Highness, sheâs lying. She wants me to get out of here.â
He draws a small dagger from his belt, pressing it against your throat. You scream, tears flowing freely as Agi and Niang immediately level their spears at him.
âYour Highness, you know how much I love your princess. I treated her well. Thatâs why I love her.â
Your fatherâs voice cuts through the tension like a blade. âThatâs enough, Tristan. Youâre hurting my daughter.â
Tristanâs grip tightens, his fingers wrapping around your throat. You choke and cry, your vision blurring as Agi and Niang keep their weapons trained on him.
âTHATâS ENOUGH, TRISTAN!â your father roars.
Tristan shoves you violently. You stumble and fall, pain shooting through your hip as you hit the stone floor. He raises his arm as if to strike you, but Agi and Niang are there in an instant, helping you to your feet. Your mother rushes forward and pulls you into a protective embrace.
You cry loudly against her shoulder. âMamma, Iâm scared.â
Your fatherâs voice is ice. âI will separate you from my daughter. If thatâs how it is, youâre just hurting her.â
âHe also assaulted me, Pappaâ you whisper, your voice hoarse.
Your father doesnât hesitate. He punches Tristan square in the face, the crack of bone against bone echoing through the hall. Blood sprays from Tristanâs nose as your father kicks him hard in the gut, sending him sprawling.
âI donât need you anymore. Now get out of this castle.â
Tristan laughs, the sound bitter and broken. âYour Highness, I thought we wereââ
âGET OUT NOW OR ELSE IâLL CELL YOU!â your father shouts. âGuards, get him out!â
Agi and Niang grab Tristanâs arms, but he shakes them off. âIâll do it myself.â He storms out, his footsteps echoing with rage.
Your father turns to you and your mother. âYou should get her to bed. Let her rest and relax.â
Your mother helps you stand, supporting your weight as you limp from the throne room.
In your chambers, you lie on the bed while your mother tucks the blankets around you. âYou should rest now, Reader,â she says, kissing your forehead.
âWhereâs the rabbit, Mamma?â
âItâs sleeping on the floor.â
âMamma, can you please put the rabbit in the crib?â
âSure.â She gently lifts the small creature and places it in its bed. The rabbit settles immediately, its breathing slow and peaceful.
Your father enters quietly. âYou should rest too,â he tells his wife, kissing her cheek. She nods and leaves, closing the door behind her.
Your father sits beside your bed.
âAre you going to scold me?â you ask, your voice small.
He shakes his head. âNo. Youâre my only daughter. Didnât I promise you that I wouldnât scold you anymore?â
You nod, pulling the blanket tighter around yourself. âPappa?â
âI want to say something.â
âI donât like Tristan anymore.â
âPappa, I have someone who cares for me. Loves me. Takes care of me.â
âHeâs just a knight.â
âItâs Teddy, Pappa.â
âYou love him? He assaulted you.â
âNo, Pappa. Tristan was lying. Weâre doing loving each other. He takes care of me. He always comes to me when Iâm crying and sad.â
âYouâre sure about that?â
You sit up and hug him tightly. âPapa, please. I need him. Please allow him to stay in this castle. Please.â
Your father exhales slowly, his hand gentle on your back. âFine. For my daughter.â
You hug him tighter. âThank you, Pappa.â
âYou should sleep now.â He kisses your forehead and stands. âRest well.â
He leaves, the door closing softly behind him.
Meanwhile, in the eastern tower, Teddy lies on his narrow bed, staring at the ceiling. The bruises on his body have faded to yellow and green, but the ache in his gut remainsâa constant reminder of Tristanâs cruelty. His mind drifts to you, the way your eyes light up when you see him, the soft sound of your voice when you whisper his name.
He thinks about the night you came to him, the way you trembled in his arms, the taste of your tears on his lips. He remembers the way you moaned when he touched you, the way your body arched beneath his. The memory of your skin against his, the way you whispered âI miss having sex with youâ in that breathless voiceâit haunts him in the quiet hours.
Teddyâs hand drifts to his stomach, pressing against the tender spot where Tristanâs boot had connected. The pain flares, but itâs nothing compared to the ache in his chest when he thinks about you being alone with that monster. He wants to protect you, to hold you, to make sure no one ever hurts you again.
He closes his eyes and imagines your faceâthe way you blush when he looks at you, the way your lips part when he kisses you, the way you cling to him when pleasure overtakes you. He can almost feel your warmth, the way your pussy clenches around him when you cum, the way you squirt and shake and moan his name.
âReader,â he whispers into the darkness, his voice thick with longing. âIâm here. Iâll always be here.â
He rolls onto his side, wincing at the pain in his gut, and pulls the thin blanket over his shoulders. Sleep comes slowly, filled with dreams of youâof your smile, your touch, your love. And in those dreams, youâre safe. Youâre his. And nothing can ever take you away from him again. The night hung heavy over the castle, thick with the scent of rain and the distant rumble of thunder. Teddy lay on his narrow cot in the knightsâ quarters, staring at the rough-hewn beams above him. His mind refused to quiet. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw your faceâterrified, pleading, calling his name in the dark. The bruises Tristan had left on him still ached, but the pain in his chest was far worse.
âWhat if I go to her?â he whispered to the empty room. The thought clawed at him, relentless. He couldnât leave you unprotected, not after everything. Not after the way Tristan had already hurt you.
Teddy sat up slowly, wincing as the movement pulled at his battered ribs. He reached for the dark cloak you had given himâthe one youâd pressed into his hands with trembling fingers and whispered words of love. The fabric still carried the faint scent of your perfume. He wrapped it around his shoulders, the weight of it grounding him.
He stood, his movements quiet but determined. The door creaked open, and Agi and Niang appeared in the hallway, their eyes wide with alarm.
âWhere are you going?â Agi demanded, his voice low.
Teddy met their gazes steadily. âI go to her.â
Niang stepped forward, panic flickering across his face. âAre you out of your mind? What if you get caught? The king will have your head!â
Teddyâs jaw tightened. âI donât care. Iâll go to her. And donât follow me. Donât meddle again. Understand?â
Agi and Niang exchanged a glance, then nodded reluctantly. Teddy turned and slipped into the shadows of the corridor, his footsteps silent against the cold stone.
You lay in your bed, the silk sheets tangled around your legs. Your breathing was slow and heavy, your body finally surrendering to exhaustion after the dayâs horrors. The rabbit slept peacefully in its crib nearby, its tiny chest rising and falling in rhythm with yours.
From the darkest corner of your chamber, Prince Tristan watched you. His eyes gleamed with something twistedâpossession, obsession, hunger. He stepped forward slowly, his boots soundless on the carpet. The moonlight caught the edge of the dagger in his hand.
He approached the bed and reached out, his fingers brushing against your bare leg. The touch was feather-light, almost reverent, but it made your skin crawl even in sleep. You moaned softly, shifting onto your side, but didnât wake.
Tristanâs hand traveled higher, smoothing over your thigh, pushing the hem of your nightdress upward. The fabric whispered against your skin as he exposed more of you. His breath quickened when he saw your underwear, the delicate lace barely covering what he wanted.
He hooked his fingers into the waistband, ready to tear it away.
You gasped, your body jolting upright as you registered the figure looming over you. Tristan. Your heart slammed against your ribs. A scream tore from your throat, raw and terrified.
Tristanâs hand clamped over your mouth instantly, his other hand pressing the dagger to your throat. âQuiet,â he hissed, his voice venomous. âOr else I kill you and your parents too.â
Tears spilled down your cheeks. You tried to push him away, your hands clawing at his wrist, but he was too strong. Your muffled cries vibrated against his palm.
âStay quiet,â he ordered, his eyes wild. With a swift motion, he sliced through your nightdress with the dagger, the fabric parting like paper. The cool air hit your bare skin as the ruined garment fell away, leaving you naked and vulnerable.
âStop it,â you sobbed, your voice breaking. âPleaseââ
Tristan leaned down and kissed you hard, his mouth bruising against yours. âYouâre my wife, you know,â he murmured against your lips, his tone mocking. âYou belong to me.â
You tried to cover yourself with trembling hands, but he grabbed both your wrists and pinned them above your head. His grip was iron, his body pressing down on yours. You thrashed beneath him, tears streaming down your face.
âPlease help me,â you whispered, your voice hoarse with terror.
Tristanâs mouth moved to your neck, sucking and biting at the sensitive skin. Then he lowered his head to your breasts, his tongue circling one nipple before sucking it into his mouth. You cried out, squeezing your eyes shut, your body shaking with revulsion and fear.
Suddenly, Tristan froze. A sharp, cold sensation pressed against his backâa blade.
He turned his head slowly.
Teddy stood there, his sword pointed directly at Tristanâs spine. The cloak youâd given him billowed slightly from his movement, his eyes blazing with fury.
âLet go of her,â Teddy said, his voice low and dangerous.
âTeddy!â you cried, relief flooding through you.
Tristan released you and stood up, raising both hands in mock surrender. âOh, youâre back. How touching.â
Teddyâs sword didnât waver. âShut up.â
Tristanâs eyes flicked to the dagger on the bed. In one swift motion, he grabbed it. You scrambled backward, pulling the torn sheets around your naked body, your breath coming in panicked gasps.
The two men circled each other, the air crackling with tension. Then Tristan lunged. Teddy dodged, his sword clashing against Tristanâs dagger in a shower of sparks. The fight was brutalâfists, blades, grunts of effort. Teddy landed a solid punch to Tristanâs jaw, sending the prince stumbling to the floor.
Tristan reached for his fallen dagger, but Teddy kicked it away. The blade skittered across the stone. Teddy pressed his sword to Tristanâs throat, his chest heaving.
The door burst open. Agi and Niang rushed in, their eyes widening at the scene.
âI told you both not to follow me,â Teddy growled, not taking his eyes off Tristan.
You clutched the sheets tighter around yourself. âAgi! Niang!â
The two guards hurried to your side, helping you cover up with a blanket. âWeâre sorry,â Agi said, his voice shaking. âWeâll tell the king and queen what happened.â
Before you could respond, your parents appeared in the doorway, their faces pale with shock and fury.
Your fatherâs voice boomed through the chamber. âTHATâS ENOUGH, YOU TWO!â
Tristan smirked from the floor. âYour Highness, I was merelyââ
âTristan, youâre not going back to your castle. Iâve told you many times.â Your fatherâs gaze shifted to Teddy. âAnd you, TheodoreâI thought you werenât coming back.â
Teddy dropped to one knee, his head bowed. âIâm sorry, Your Highness.â
You pushed forward, tears streaming down your face. âPappa, wait! Itâs not Teddyâs faultâitâs Tristan! He assaulted me again! I was sleeping, and heââ Your voice broke. âHe meddled with me.â
Your mother rushed to your side, pulling you into a protective embrace. You sobbed against her shoulder, your body trembling.
Your fatherâs face darkened with rage. âAlright, thatâs enough. You twoâTheodore and TristanâIâll make you fight if you donât stop. Tristan, Iâm telling your parents youâre going to fight. And Theodoreâyouâre going to agree to it. I know youâre a knight and you understand combat. And hereâs the thing: whoever loses⊠this is a fight to the death. Thatâs exactly why you two never settle this.â
Teddy looked up, his eyes steady. âDeal.â
Tristan laughed, the sound cold and cruel. âDeal. Iâll kill this bastard to stop him from meddling in my life with Reader.â
You gasped, your blood running cold. âThis is cruelty! Pappa, stopâwhy did you do this? Why did you challenge them?â
Your fatherâs expression was hard. âTo teach them a lesson.â
He turned and left the room, your mother following after giving you one last squeeze. The door closed behind them, leaving you alone with the two men and the guards.
Tristan stood up, brushing dust from his clothes. âWeâre having a fight tomorrow,â he said, his voice dripping with malice. He leaned close to Teddy. âI hope you lose. Then sheâll be mine.â
You rushed forward and threw your arms around Teddy, the blanket slipping slightly to reveal your bare shoulder. âThank you for saving me,â you whispered against his chest.
Teddyâs arms came around you carefully, his touch gentle despite the violence still humming in his veins. He smiled faintly. âNo, itâs fine.â His eyes dropped to your exposed skin, and he looked away quickly. âYou should cover yourself.â
Agi and Niang exchanged worried glances. âGod, Teddy,â Niang said. âI hope you win. This is going to be brutality.â
You pulled the blanket tighter around yourself. âOh, sorry.â
Teddy turned to the guards. âWeâre leaving now, Agi, Niang.â
They nodded and headed for the door. You called out, âWait!â
Teddy stopped, but not looking back at you. âWhat?â
You stepped closer, your voice soft but fierce. âI hope you win. I know your fighting skillsâIâve watched you practicing your sword. Good luck in your fight.â
Teddyâs smirk was small but genuine. He turned fully to face you, his hand cupping your cheek. Then he leaned in and kissed youâdeep, lingering, full of promise. âI will,â he murmured against your lips.
He pulled away, his cloak swirling as he followed Agi and Niang out the door. The room fell silent except for the sound of your breathing and the distant rumble of thunder.
You sank onto the edge of your bed, the blanket still clutched around your naked body. Your heart raced, your mind spinning with fear and hope. Tomorrow, everything would change. Teddy would fight for youâfor your freedom, for your love. And you could only pray that he would win.
The rabbit stirred in its crib, letting out a soft sigh. You reached out and stroked its fur, drawing comfort from its warmth. âWeâll be okay,â you whispered, though you werenât sure if you believed it. âTeddy will come back to me. He has to.â
The morning sun bled through the high windows of the castle, casting long, blood-red streaks across the stone floors. The air was thick with tension, the kind that settled in bones and made every breath feel heavy. Tomorrow had come too quickly, and now the moment hung like a blade above every head.
In the princeâs private armory, Tristan stood before a full-length mirror, admiring the way his custom fighting suit clung to his frame. It was no ordinary knightâs armorâgold filigree traced every seam, the deep crimson fabric beneath shimmering like fresh blood. A heavy velvet cape, lined with ermine, draped from his shoulders, fastened with a jeweled clasp that caught the light with every movement. He looked every inch the royal he was, and he reveled in it.
His most prized possession rested on the table before him a sword forged in the southern forges, its blade etched with runes that whispered of power and death. The hilt was encrusted with rubies, the metal so finely balanced that it felt alive in his grip. He lifted it, testing its weight, and the air seemed to hum as he swung it in a slow, deliberate arc. The edge caught the light, razor-sharp and merciless.
A sharp knock echoed through the chamber.
âCome in,â Tristan called, his voice dripping with arrogance.
The door creaked open, and his mother stepped inside, her face pale and drawn. Her eyes darted to the sword, then to her sonâs face, searching for any sign of doubt.
âTristan,â she said softly, her voice trembling. âAre you sure about this? This fightâitâs dangerous. Iâm terrified you might lose.â
Tristan laughed, the sound cold and mocking. He turned to face her, his eyes glittering with contempt. âYou think Iâm weak? A coward? I can handle this. Iâll make her mine, and Iâll kill that bastard for meddling with Reader. Heâll regret ever laying a hand on whatâs mine.â
His motherâs lips quivered, but she said nothing more. She knew better than to argue when his mind was set.
Meanwhile, in the knightsâ quarters, Teddy stood alone, his fingers tracing the edge of his old helmet. The metal was dented and scarred from countless battles, but it still held the faint scent of oil and sweat. He wore his knightâs suit, the dark fabric plain but sturdy, with a simple cloak fastened at one shoulderâyour gift, transformed into something almost regal. He stared at the helmet for a long moment, lost in thought.
The door opened, and you entered with Agi and Niang close behind. Your heart ached at the sight of him, so still and silent.
âTeddy,â you said softly, stepping closer. âWhatâs wrong?â
He looked up, his eyes meeting yours, but he shook his head. âNothing.â
You reached out, your hand brushing his arm. âI know youâre going to win this. Youâre stronger than himâIâve seen your fighting skills. Youâre going to make him pay for what he did to you.â
Agi nodded, his voice steady. âYes, youâre strong. We all know it.â
Niang added, âYouâre going to get revenge for everything heâs done.â
Teddyâs jaw tightened. âI donât know what youâre talking about.â
You cupped his face in your hands, forcing him to look at you. âI know you do. Donât let the pressure get to you. Just⊠be careful.â
Teddy took a deep breath, his shoulders relaxing slightly. He stood, slipping the helmet over his head, the metal settling into place with a soft click. He picked up his swordsâold, but still sharp, the blades worn from years of use but deadly in his hands.
âI gotta go,â he said, his voice muffled by the helmet.
âWait,â you called, your hand reaching for him.
He paused, turning back. âWhat?â
You touched your stomach, your fingers trembling. âI want to say something. Iâm pregnant.â
Teddyâs eyes widened behind the visor, his body going rigid. For a moment, he seemed frozen, the words hanging in the air between you. Then, without a word, he turned and walked away, his cloak swirling behind him.
You rushed forward, wrapping your arms around him from behind, your cheek pressed against the cool metal of his armor. âGood luck, Teddy,â you whispered, your voice breaking. âCome back to me.â
He didnât respond, but his hand reached back, his fingers brushing yours for the briefest moment before he pulled away and disappeared down the corridor.
You stood there, watching him go, your heart pounding in your chest. The weight of your secret pressed down on you, but you knew he would fightânot just for himself, but for you and the life growing inside you. And as the door closed behind him, you whispered a silent prayer, hoping that love and strength would be enough to bring him back.
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