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The Red Knight .⋅˚₊‧ 🜲 ‧₊˚ ⋅

pairing: park sunghoon x reader (royalty au)

synopsis: When a notorious nomad tribe dared to strike your kingdom, your parents responded by assigning you a protector—the kingdom’s most disciplined, unyielding knight. He made it painfully clear that his oath to guard you outweighed your protests, your stubbornness, and your every attempt to slip past him. Yet lately, the man who once felt carved from stone seems to unravel in your presence. And nothing in his contract mentioned losing his composure for you.

themes: cold knight!sunghoon, reader is princess and kinda bratty, royalty au/medieval setting, protectiveness, fighting, teasing, arguing, characters getting slightly injured, enemies to lovers, eventual good ending, no smut but strong suggestiveness will be mentioned in the future, feat. jungwon and yunjin from le sserafim.

w.c: 22k

note: absolutely NO plagiarizing my work. masterlist

"have you found her yet?" the king groaned, closing his eyes as he rubbed at his temple.

the maid standing before your father wrung her hands nervously, glancing between the king and queen slumped in their thrones. "n-no, your highness," she squeaked.

your father let out another low groan, and your mother reached over to gently pat his arm. she turned her gaze toward the maid standing a few feet away.

the queen raised an eyebrow. "yunjin," she said, her tone deceptively calm. "you're assigned to always be with y/n. are you certain you have no idea where she might've run off to this time?"

yunjin's face drained of color. "my apologies, my queen. she's, uh... been extra sneaky lately. but i'll double-check. it's almost lunchtime however, i'm sure she'll turn up soon."

"she better," your father grumbled, pushing himself to his feet and dusting off his robes. "she was supposed to resume her lessons hours ago!"

"i'll have the other handmaids search again, my king," yunjin replied quickly, bowing low before stepping aside as your parents rose and left the throne room.

yunjin held her breath until the heavy doors shut behind them, the butlers sealing the echo of their footsteps away. only then did she exhale, pressing her fingers to her temples in weary frustration.

a knight standing post nearby snorted.

"they're gonna figure something's off sooner or later, you know."

yunjin turned to glare at the man leaning lazily against the wall, a smirk tugging at his lips and his arms folded over his chest.

"shut up, sir yang," she muttered, rolling her eyes before marching out of the throne room.

of course, the knight fell into step beside her, his armor clinking softly as they walked down the wide castle hallway.

"suddenly remember where our dear princess might be?" he drawled, hands laced behind his head. "hmm?~"

yunjin stopped and jabbed a finger into his chest. "of course i know where she is! i'm her handmaid. her parents would have my head if i ever actually lost her!"

jungwon blinked, unimpressed. "alright then. where is she?"

yunjin's gaze faltered. she looked to the side, avoiding his eyes. jungwon's smirk faded as his tone grew more serious.

"yunjin," he said slowly, the hint of command in his voice unmistakable. "where's y/n?"

yunjin gulped. jungwon wasn't just any knight - he was your father's right-hand guard, the man who knew every breath that moved within and beyond the castle walls. nothing ever escaped his notice.

"i... i promised the princess i wouldn't tell anyone," yunjin admitted quietly, guilt flickering in her eyes. "not unless she was in danger. but rest assured, sir yang — she's safe. i swear she's still within the castle walls."

jungwon studied her for a long moment, weighing his options. if yunjin said you were safe, perhaps he could let it go. for now.

"fine," he said at last, turning to leave. but before he did, he shot her a pointed look over his shoulder. "since you say she's alright, i'll let it go. but make sure she's inside before lunch begins. i don't want their highnesses worrying any more than they already do."

yunjin nodded quickly and gave a small salute. "understood." she took off down the corridor, her footsteps echoing as she disappeared around a corner.

jungwon watched her go, his expression softening just a little. your disappearances had been getting more frequent these past few weeks, and he could only assume you were slipping away to find some corner of the castle where you could breathe, even just for a moment. free from the constant demands of being the princess of one of the strongest kingdoms in the realm.

he exhaled slowly, dragging a hand through his hair. "trouble magnet," he muttered under his breath, though there was no real bite to it. "if she gets herself hurt, her father's not the only one who'll lose his mind."

still, he hoped these little escapes wouldn't backfire. because he'd overheard the late-night conversations between your father and mother, and the plans they'd been quietly discussing.

jungwon pondered at the thought of it. he could only wonder how things might change... if those plans ever came to pass.

yunjin sighed, looking up helplessly at you perched on the tall brick walls that surrounded your enormous home. your legs dangled over the edge, your figure partially hidden by the wide branches of a tree that masked you well enough that no one would notice unless they squinted really hard.

leaning against the tree's bark, yunjin pleaded again.

"it's lunchtime, princess," she called, raising a hand in a helpless wave. "your parents are expecting you to join them. sir yang even nearly made me give up where you were because he was worried about your whereabouts. you know it bothers him not knowing where you run off to like this."

she wiggled her fingers at you.

"now come down before you give me early grey hairs."

the wind tugged at your hair, teasing and playful from your lofty perch, and you couldn't help but let out a carefree laugh.

up here, you could hide for a few precious moments on most days, letting your gaze wander over the bustling village beyond the protective walls. a spirited, wonderful chaos your father was understandably wary of letting you explore, yet one you longed to drink in whenever you could.

not since that sudden, random attack two months ago, when several buildings had been destroyed in an explosion later suspected to be caused by a large nomad tribe, had the castle felt so tense. the nomads traveled from kingdom to kingdom, seeking out places rich with produce and wealth for their grubby, greedy hands, leaving chaos in their wake.

security had been tightened ever since, and your little disappearing acts certainly didn't help your father's poor, anxious heart. his fears only eased, briefly, whenever you showed your face at meals or at night, when you kissed him and your mother goodnight.

you sighed, taking one last longing glance at the bustling village below before carefully making your way down the stone wall. you bunched up your dress as best as you could to avoid tripping, finding footing in the jagged edges of the stones. when you reached the lower section, you grabbed your maid’s hand, letting her steady you for the final steps.

yunjin exhaled, surveying your slightly ruined, ruffled dress.

"that was just tailored for you, princess," she said, shaking her head in mild frustration before ushering you away from the wall. "come now, we must change you at once!"

"i'll be back here, you know," you said, shooting yunjin a cheeky smile, linking your arm with hers and bumping her side as she pulled you along.

yunjin shook her head, exasperated, but you caught the faint lift at the corners of her lips.

"i don't doubt that, my princess," she murmured.

in no time, you were inside, changed into fresh clothes with yunjin's help, and quickly made your way to the dining hall.

"oh, there you are!" your mother cried, relief flooding her voice as you dashed in, the soft fabric of your dress flowing with each step. you made your way to your parents, settling into your chair and thanking the servant who pulled it out for you.

your father raised an eyebrow as he watched you begin to dig into your meal. "young lady, where have you been?" he questioned, waving his fork in your direction. “you missed all your morning lessons with your teacher!”

you gave him a sheepish look. "technically, i didn't miss all of them," you admitted. "i attended the first half before taking a well-deserved break."

"and your break just happened to be… how long exactly?" your mother asked, her patience clearly thinning.

you hummed, taking a bite of chicken. "hmm… just a few minutes?"

"young lady, that was not just a few minutes," your father scolded.

"but i'm back now! i've had my fill of adventure for the day!" you exclaimed, giving a proud grin.

your father paused, setting down his fork to give you a stern look.

"my dear, i hope you aren't doing anything dangerous," he said seriously. "you know our village was attacked not long ago. i cannot have you vanishing when tensions are high, not even for a single moment of risk."

the hall fell quiet; the weight of his words silenced even the softest movements. the stationed guards and attending servants shifted tensely in their places.

you chewed quietly, lifting your eyes slowly from your plate to meet your parents', now filled with worry and thoughtfulness. eventually, you looked back down, idly playing with your food as the heaviness of their gazes settled over you.

"i already know the lessons," you murmured. "it's just… with everyone constantly watching over me, it's getting… a little hard, even when i know it's important."

"i don’t understand, my dear," your mother said, shaking her head and taking a sip from her glass. "your safety isn't a laughing matter."

"but i used to be able to go outside!" you protested, fidgeting in your chair, legs swinging slightly under the table. "i just wanted a little fresh air…"

your mother's lips pressed into a thin line, a mixture of exasperation and worry in her eyes. she shook her head gently, her voice soft but firm.

"y/n, you know why that's not possible right now," she said. "if another attack were to happen while you were out there… i couldn't bear to lose you."

"but father still goes-"

"i need to be out there," your father cut in, his tone calm but resolute. "i have to make sure the repairs are moving along, that the injured are being treated. it is my duty as their king."

"then let me come with you!" you argued, eyes wide, voice cracking slightly. "i want to look after our people too, i want to help- i'll stay right by your side, i promise!"

your father gave you a look that was equal parts pride and worry before letting out a sigh. "and while i admire your spirit, my daughter... even then, my nerves would never rest easy. if i were to lose focus for even a moment and something were to happen to you..." he trailed off, shaking his head. "i do not even want to imagine it."

you groaned, slumping slightly. "father, i won't always need to be watched over! i could stay inside the castle forever and not even a paper cut would be avoidable!"

"well," he said, a faint knowing edge to his tone, "it's a good thing we won't have to worry about that either now, will we?"

you froze, blinking. "w-what's that supposed to mean?"

your eyes darted between your parents, but neither spoke. they only exchanged a quiet, weighted look. desperate, you turned to jungwon standing just behind your father's chair, but he only shrugged and offered a small, almost sympathetic smile.

"will someone please tell me what's going on?" you demanded.

your father sighed once more and placed his hand gently over your mother’s. when he looked back at you, his expression had softened, but there was a heavy finality in his voice.

"my dear... we've decided to appoint someone to watch over you — to guard you — until the situation with the nomads is resolved."

"i'm sure it's not as bad as it soun-"

"yunjin, you don't understand!" you wailed, heart pounding as you buried your face in your hands, only to let out another frustrated cry as soapy suds stung your eyes. "my parents have ordered a babysitter for me!"

after the announcement that they, without even consulting you, had hired someone to watch over you like a child, any attempt at reasoning had fallen on deaf ears. your parents insisted you weren't seeing the severity of the situation at hand.

unable to contain your frustration any longer, you stormed toward your room. yunjin, nearly tripping over her own feet in surprise, rushed after you, slipping in just before you slammed the doors of the dining hall shut behind you.

the rest of the day was spent in a blur of ranting and exasperation, until yunjin finally decided a long, calming bath was the only solution. she had initially offered to bring dinner to your bedside, but your appetite had long since vanished. and so here you were, sitting in the tub in despair as your handmaid carefully washed your hair.

your favorite part of the day, ruined by circumstance. you doubted any bath night after this would be peaceful, and the thought made you sink deeper into the water with a dramatic sigh.

yunjin, perched on a chair behind you, paused mid-rinse to shake her head and hand you a cloth to wipe the soap from your eyes. "don't think of it like that, princess," she said, trying to sound cheerful. "just think of it as… someone standing there next to you, watching you from a respectful distance, ready to help when you need it. kind of like how jungwon is with your parents."

"that's different, yunjin," you muttered, closing your eyes as warm water poured over your head, rinsing the shampoo. "jungwon isn't overbearing and-"

"and you think this person will be because…?" yunjin interjected politely, raising an eyebrow as she helped you out of the tub and into a bathrobe. "you haven’t even met them yet."

you waved your hands dramatically, turning away. "any person my parents hire to monitor my every move and blinking pattern will not be easygoing. mark my words, yunjin, i swear i'm going to-"

a sharp knock at your door cut you off. both you and yunjin turned in unison.

your bathroom door opened, and a familiar face peeked inside.

chaewon, your other maid, gave you a polite nod. "apologies, princess, but sir yang wishes to speak with you."

your eyes narrowed. of course, you thought. i'll strangle answers out of him!

"tell him i shall be ready in a few minutes."

chaewon nodded and slipped back out.

once you had changed into your nightgown, you exited the bathroom. yunjin handed you a shawl to wrap around yourself, and you signaled to chaewon that jungwon could enter. she nodded and peeked through the slightly open bedroom door before stepping aside to let him in.

you sat at your dresser, crossing your arms the moment you saw jungwon stroll in, a casual smile on his face as he greeted you.

"ahh, our dear princess," he began, and your temper flared immediately. "my humblest apologies for interrupting your bath-"

"you have a lot of answering to do, jungwon," you snapped, narrowing your eyes. "i need you to spill the details about this 'personal bodyguard' my parents have set up for me!"

jungwon's smile flickered faintly as he walked over to lean casually against the canopy pillars at the end of your bed, tilting his head. "you would’ve had all the answers you desired if you hadn’t cut lunch short and stormed off~," he teased lightly.

you rubbed your temple, closing your eyes.

"i'm really not in the mood, jungwon," you growled. "i know you know the details of who this person is. my father surely discussed this with you before finalizing his decision."

jungwon’s gaze softened as he took in the exhaustion etched across your face. his smile faded into a slow exhale, the faint weight of worry settling in his dark eyes.

"i know you feel trapped," he said quietly, keeping his tone low and even. "i know you want to help, to be out there, to be useful. i've watched you. your heart is strong, and your will is sharper than most men i've trained. but sometimes… the people who care about you have to make hard decisions, decisions you might not understand right away."

you crossed your arms tighter, frustration flaring. "so what am i supposed to do? sit here and pretend the world isn't burning outside?"

jungwon shook his head slowly. "no. you'll still play your part, princess. you'll still help. in time, you'll find ways to make a difference even within these walls. but right now… you have to trust your father, trust your mother, and most of all…" he paused, letting the words settle. "…trust the person they've sent to watch over you. someone chosen for their skill, their loyalty, their judgment. i know it's hard to imagine, but this person is not here to cage you. they're here to keep you alive. and i promise you, you're in good hands."

you frowned, unconvinced, a slight pout tugging at your lips. "i still don't like it."

"i know," jungwon said, a faint, sympathetic smile tugging at his lips. "and i won't pretend it'll be easy. you won't always like him, this new knight. you may want to fight him every step of the way. but remember this: he was chosen for a reason. if anyone can protect you from what's coming, it's him. and if you give him the chance, you might even find that this 'arrangement'… isn't so bad.”

you huffed, still frustrated, but the knot in your chest eased slightly. the way jungwon said it — calm, confident, yet gentle — made it harder to argue. there was truth in his words, and for the first time since your parents' announcement, you felt a flicker of something like understanding.

"just… try to trust me, princess," jungwon added quietly, tilting his head. "and trust that your father only makes decisions with your safety in mind. no matter how frustrating it feels, they're doing this because they care about you. and because they know what's at stake."

you looked down at your hands, gripping the edge of your nightgown tightly. you didn't answer.

jungwon offered a small nod, as if understanding the silence. he gave a half-smile, warm but measured, before stepping back toward the door.

"i'll leave you to your thoughts," he said softly. "just... don't make it harder than it has to be. please princess."

once jungwon slipped quietly from the room, leaving only the soft creak of the door, yunjin shifted slightly behind you, hands folded neatly in front of her. she had been silent the entire time, giving you space to vent and absorb jungwon's words, but now she spoke.

"well," she began carefully, tilting her head, "if i may, princess… i think sir jungwon is right. as much as it frustrates you, your father and mother only want to keep you safe. and this person they've sent? if anyone is capable of handling you and keeping you out of trouble, it's them."

you let out a long, dramatic sigh, finally taking a seat on the soft mattress of her bed. "capable… sure. but will they have to be so, strict? so invisible yet everywhere at once??"

yunjin gave a small, knowing smile, though her eyes were serious. "it's their job. and judging by the way your parents spoke, i'd say it's not a job they take lightly. if you think about it, princess, it's not about control. it's about protection. and i don't doubt it'll be… uncomfortable at first, yes, but you might even learn a thing or two."

"learn a thing or two?" you repeated, raising an eyebrow. "yunjin, i don't need lessons in obedience. i need to breath without anyone breathing down my neck while i do so!"

yunjin shrugged lightly, tilting her head with that tiny wry smile that always made you grin despite yourself. "and you'll have moments of it, don't worry. just… maybe not exactly how you imagined."

you groaned, burying your face in your hands again, but there was a faint, reluctant smile tugging at your lips. yunjin, sensing the small victory, stayed close and waited patiently, letting you stew.

you sighed. let's see how this falls out.

morning light streamed through your bedroom windows, casting soft patterns across the floor. you stirred under the blankets, groaning at the thought of facing another day filled with rules, walls, and someone watching your every move. yunjin was already quietly moving around your room, pulling aside curtains and opening a small dresser to lay out your clothes.

"good morning, princess," she said softly, though her voice carried the faintest hint of amusement at the grumbling you let out. "we have to get you ready for breakfast. your parents are waiting."

"ugh… breakfast," you muttered, burying your face deeper into the pillow. "can't we skip it today?"

yunjin shook her head, smirking slightly. "unless you plan to starve, i'd suggest not. and besides, i think your parents will want to… talk to you about that knight again."

you gave her a small nod, letting her help you into a simple, yet elegant, morning dress. the fabric fell softly around your shoulders, and yunjin fussed slightly over your hair, styling it to your choice. "there," she said finally, stepping back to inspect her work. "ready to face the day?"

you huffed, standing and stretching. "as ready as i'll ever be, though i still don't like this, yunjin."

"i know," she said with a small smile. "but trust me, for today, we'll survive."

with that, the two of you made your way to the dining hall. the hall was already bright with sunlight and the soft clinking of dishes as servants set out breakfast. your parents sat at the long table, your father reviewing reports while your mother sipped tea. the moment they saw you, their faces brightened.

"ah, there you are," your mother said warmly. "finally awake."

"good morning, my darling princess," your father added, giving you a small, careful smile. "have you rested?"

you slid into your seat, still a little tense, and nodded. the breakfast spread was abundant as usual: warm bread, fresh fruits, eggs, and honeyed tea. your stomach rumbled, but your mind was on something else entirely.

taking a deep breath, you decided it was time to at least appear cooperative. "i… i understand why you're worried," you began, choosing your words carefully. "and… i'll agree to this… new knight looking after me. at least for now."

there was a small pause, your mother exchanging a quick glance with your father. your father's eyebrows rose slightly, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

"that's, very responsible of you, y/n," he said, nodding approvingly. "it's good to see you willing to cooperate."

you tried to hide a small, reluctant sigh of relief. "i'll still be careful… but i understand why you're doing it. i… trust that it's for my safety."

your mother reached across the table, lightly placing a hand over yours. "that's all we ask," she said gently. "we just want to know that you understand the risks, and that you're willing to follow their guidance. whoever they may be.”

you nodded, swirling your tea absently. "yes. i'll try my best."

then, just as you were beginning to relax slightly, your father leaned back in his chair, a playful gleam in his eyes. "good. because, as luck would have it…" he paused, letting the suspense build, "he'll be arriving here in a few minutes."

your eyes widened, and you nearly choked on your tea. "in… a few minutes?!"

"yes," your mother added with a small smile. "you'll finally meet the knight who will be looking after you. someone very capable, very efficient, and very dedicated to keeping you safe."

you groaned dramatically, pressing a hand to your forehead. "dedicated… efficient… i'll bet he's going to watch my every blink and measure my every step."

your father chuckled softly. "perhaps. but remember, princess, he was chosen not just for his skill, but because he is trustworthy."

you swallowed hard, unsure whether to groan or protest further. a part of you — the part that respected your parents and their careful planning — knew they were right. another part — the stubborn part — was already plotting how to defy every rule he would inevitably set.

yunjin, sensing the tension rising in you, reached over and squeezed your hand gently. "don't worry, princess. we'll face him together… at least for today."

as minutes passed, the quiet clatter of breakfast dishes had barely settled when a soft knock echoed through the hall. a butler, polished and precise as always, stepped forward, clearing his throat.

"your highnesses," he announced, voice steady but carrying the weight of importance, "the red knight... has arrived."

at the mention of the title, you froze mid-bite, your fork clattering faintly against your plate. yunjin's eyes narrowed slightly, as if she were anticipating the storm that was about to arrive. your parents shared a calm, knowing glance, and your father nodded once.

"very well," he said, rising from his seat. "let us meet him."

the five of you — your parents, you, yunjin, and jungwon - made your way toward the massive front entrance of the castle. the heavy doors, intricately carved with scenes of the kingdom's history, swung open to reveal the bright morning sun. outside, the gravel driveway shimmered under the light, and at the far end, a carriage slowly appeared, dust rising faintly behind its wheels.

you squinted against the sunlight, your pulse quickening. the carriage drew closer, its polished wood gleaming, the crimson accents on its panels almost daring to match your racing heartbeat. your hand twitched slightly at your side, half-expecting a heavily armored knight to leap from it.

instead, when the door opened, he stepped out with a calm, controlled grace that immediately commanded attention.

he wore formal attire that spoke of status and precision rather than battle. a long, dark red cloak cut perfectly to his frame with subtle accents tracing along the collar, shoulders, and cuffs. his boots were polished to a mirror shine, and a sword hung at his side, its scabbard sleek, polished, and unadorned. there was no clanking of armor, no overbearing display of force, yet his presence alone carried a weight that made even the guards lining the path stand a little straighter.

everyone knew who he was.

and then, he moved.

each step he took up the carved stone entrance stairs was measured, deliberate, a rhythm that hinted at strength honed over countless battles. his eyes, sharp and assessing, flicked over each of you with cold precision, settling briefly on you before sweeping past, taking in the surroundings, noting the slope of the steps, its width, and the distance between every soldier stationed around. everything was noted, calculated.

you could feel your stomach tighten. there was no warmth in his gaze, no attempt to soften his stance. he did not smile. he did not bow exaggeratedly or speak unnecessarily, and yet the air around him seemed to pulse with a quiet authority. the kind of authority that had earned him the nickname the red knight.

he reached the top of the stone steps, stopping a few feet from where you stood. he was tall, taller than you by a good head, his presence commanding attention even without a word.

the sunlight caught in strands of dark black hair that fell slightly over his eyes, longer at the back, almost like a subtle, practical mullet. it shyly brushed his collar, giving him an air of casual danger despite the formal attire.

and yet… for all the cold, impenetrable control he radiated, there was no denying that he was strikingly handsome. sharp jawline, high cheekbones, and eyes so dark and precise they seemed to measure everything, everyone, in the vicinity, including you. your stomach gave an involuntary flutter as you found yourself taking in the sight, even as your instincts screamed at you to take a step back.

he paused. then, in a gesture so smooth it almost felt rehearsed, he bowed deeply to your parents. it was the kind of bow that showed respect without humility bordering on servility, a perfect balance of acknowledgment and authority.

your father stepped forward, his voice filled with a quiet pride as he addressed the man.

"sunghoon park," he said, his tone both formal and filled with a weight of trust. "the red knight."

the words hung in the air, carrying the reputation that preceded him. whispers of his skill, the countless opponents he had bested, the name that had become a legend in nearby kingdoms, all seemed to settle around him as he lifted his head, meeting your father's gaze.

sunghoon's dark eyes swept over you briefly, lingering just long enough to register your presence, the princess who would now be under his watchful guard. you brought your hands behind you and clasped them, trying to mask the swirl of curiosity, apprehension, and… something else you weren't ready to name.

"i am at your service, your majesties," he said finally, his voice low, calm, and deliberate without arrogance, resonating across the entrance hall like a quiet command.

your mother inclined her head slightly, her expression warm and welcoming. yunjin shifted subtly behind you, while jungwon's eyes flickered to the knight, a look of familiarity in them and a small smile forming on his face.

you couldn't help but notice every detail, the way his sword rested lightly at his side as if it were both an extension of himself and a subtle warning. he did not move like someone who needed to prove himself.

he was the proof.

you took a deep breath, steadying yourself, determined not to let your usual defiance show too soon.

this was him, your new guardian, and the first encounter would set the tone for everything to come.

your father's voice broke the quiet tension, firm and proud. "sir park, welcome back from your long expedition. I'm sure you've been aware of your new task."

sunghoon inclined his head once more, his dark eyes flicking to you again, unwavering, unreadable. “yes my lord.” he said. and in that instant, you realized, whatever this arrangement held, you would not be able to push him aside easily. not for a second.

pretty soon you all found yourselves inside. the throne room was vast, high ceilings arched above with carved beams, sunlight spilling through stained glass and catching the dust motes that danced lazily in the air. the long, polished floor led up to the raised dais where your parents sat, regal and commanding with you sitting on your own smaller throne just besides them, flanked by yunjin. jungwon lingered nearby, arms crossed, his expression calm, watching every motion carefully.

sunghoon park stood perfectly still at the foot of the dais. his dark brown eyes scanned the room with quiet precision, taking in every corner, every servant, every piece of furniture. his posture was straight, impeccable. the sunlight glanced off the subtle accents of his formal attire, highlighting the disciplined lines of his red cloak and the sword resting lightly at his side.

your father cleared his throat, breaking the tension. "sir park," he began, voice firm but calm. "we have requested your service for a very specific purpose. the safety of our daughter, the princess, is of utmost importance, especially considering the recent attacks from rogue nomads. since we cannot afford mistakes, you are to ensure her safety, both within these walls and wherever she may attempt to go."

sunghoon's expression remained impassive. he inclined his head slightly, voice even and controlled. "yes your majesty."

your mother leaned forward slightly, her tone gentler but no less commanding. "we expect discretion. you will observe her routines, ensure she follows schedules, and prevent any unnecessary risk."

sunghoon nodded obediently. his gaze flicked briefly toward you, dark eyes assessing.

you could feel the heat rising in your chest. your hands clenched at your sides. he sounded… unstoppable. like a wall you couldn't push past. your instincts screamed to argue, to protest, to tell him that your freedom wasn't something he could control. but even as your lips parted to speak, his eyes subtly warned against defiance.

your father continued, clearly aware of your presence. "we are aware that she is spirited," he said, voice gentle but firm. "she has a tendency to… wander, to seek. that cannot be discouraged entirely, but it must be monitored. you will not allow her to put herself in danger, by accident or by stubborn choice."

your mother added, "we also request that you report any unusual activity. any plans of wandering outside the estate, any suspicious behavior, even minor incidents, we must know immediately. you will act before situations escalate."

"understood," sunghoon replied, his tone neutral, but there was an edge of absolute certainty that made it clear he would not fail.

jungwon, standing just behind sunghoon, gave a subtle nod, a silent approval that spoke volumes. he had known this man for years, trusted him implicitly, and now he was here, officially charged with your protection.

you let out a small, frustrated huff, crossing your arms and glancing at yunjin, who gave you a quiet, sympathetic look. you could feel the weight of his presence. cold, unwavering, completely unshakable. and somehow, despite your stubbornness, it unnerved you.

your father finally leaned back, satisfied. "good. red knight, you are now entrusted with the princess's safety. we trust you understand the gravity of this responsibility."

sunghoon's dark eyes met yours once more, calm, assessing, and for the briefest moment, it felt as if he were silently challenging you, to make it clear that he would not bend, no matter what you tried.

"all your commands have been duly understood, your majesties," he said. “and i will perform my duty without exception.”

the room fell quiet, the weight of his words settling over you.

you sighed to yourself as you walked out of your study, morning history lessons with your private teacher completed, fingers still slightly stained with ink and feeling the familiar weight in your chest.

agreeing to let this… knight watch over you had seemed reasonable this morning, in the abstract, under the bright morning light and the comforting reassurances of your parents. but now, walking through the quiet hallways of the castle, each polished floorboard clicking under your shoes, the reality of his presence settled in like a stone in your stomach.

sunghoon. the red knight. your shadow from now on.

you tried to shake it off, forcing your shoulders to relax and humming softly under your breath as you made your way to your favorite escape, the tall brick walls at the edge of the estate, hidden by the familiar tree that had been your refuge for years. you'd perch yourself up, legs dangling, gaze drifting over the village beyond the walls to the life out there, untouched by the suffocating gaze of the castle. just for a moment, just to breathe.

you'd hoped, perhaps foolishly, that sunghoon would still be busy unpacking, finding his bearings in the castle, moving into his private chambers, adjusting to the shift in his own routine. maybe he'd be a few steps behind, giving you the freedom to reclaim your little sanctuary before the inevitable began.

but no.

the first thing you noticed as you turned the corner leading to the hallway was the faintest echo of boots, measured and unrelenting, like a metronome counting down your attempts at escape. your heart gave a tiny leap. the sound was close, precise, unmistakable.

sunghoon.

he stepped into view, dark eyes scanning the hallway, and without a word, without hesitation, he was already adjusting his path to match yours. you froze mid-step, the weight of his presence pressing against your back.

he didn't move fast. but right now, he didn't need to be fast. his pace was quiet, deliberate, the kind of rhythm that was almost invisible until you noticed the silence behind you had been replaced with the soft, relentless echo of his boots.

your stomach dropped. he was done. done settling in. done with introductions. done waiting. he was starting his duty immediately, and you hadn't even begun testing him.

you cursed under your breath, shaking your head. dammit. your tiny refuge, your wall, your little stolen breath of freedom, it was in jeopardy.

you had to think fast. there was no way you could let him see this spot, no way. if he caught you there, if he realized that was your escape, your careful patch of air untouched by rules and guards and plans, it would be gone forever.

so, thinking quickly, you slowed your steps as you reached the outer hall, pretending to inspect a painting, letting him drift past, your eyes scanning for any chance to veer off unseen. but sunghoon's gaze was steady. it felt like a predator and prey dance, and for the first time, you realized just how outmatched you were in terms of sheer observation.

he didn't speak. no admonishments, no warnings, just that dark, unreadable gaze following your every step. you could feel it in your chest, and it made the hair on your arms prickle.

sunghoon's presence was suffocating in the quietest, most subtle way possible. not because he was loud or aggressive, but because he was there. a constant shadow that mirrored your movements, his eyes absorbing every detail of the hallway, of your posture, of the small hesitations you tried to hide. it was unsettling, maddening even.

you let out a soft, frustrated huff and muttered under your breath, "so much for a little breathing room."

"so," you said, voice dripping with false nonchalance as you glanced at him over your shoulder, "you're going to be following me everywhere, huh?"

sunghoon's dark eyes finally met yours, steady and unyielding. "as commanded," he replied simply, his tone calm but carrying a weight that made your stomach tighten.

maybe it would be better to head to the courtyard for a small break before your next lessons. you could seek refuge in your hiding spot some other time.

you stopped abruptly at the foot of the castle courtyard, hands on your hips, letting your gaze wander over the gardens. sunghoon remained a few paces behind, silent as ever and posture perfect, boots clicking softly against the stone as he mirrored your slow movements.

"you don't really need to follow me everywhere, you know," you said, trying to sound casual, though you're sure the slight irritation in your voice gave you away. "surely someone like you has… better things to do than watch me like a caged bird."

sunghoon didn't flinch. he stopped exactly where he was, standing tall, hands lightly clasped behind his back, his eyes fixed on you. there was no hint of amusement, no trace of impatience. just… cold efficiency.

"my duty is to follow," he said evenly, voice low and precise, each word measured as if carved from steel. "whether you approve or not is irrelevant. i am not here for discussion. i am here to ensure your safety."

you raised an eyebrow, trying to provoke him. "irrelevant? so, no matter what i do, even if i… run off, you'll just follow me? like some unbreakable shadow?"

sunghoon's gaze flicked toward the gardens and beyond the courtyard, taking in the terrain with one sweeping glance, escape routes, potential obstacles, distances calculated in seconds. then he looked back at you, expression unchanged.

"if you attempt to leave without authorization," he said, voice low and precise, "you will be intercepted. you will be unharmed, and returned. my responsibility is your protection, not your punishment."

his words were cold, factual, and final. not a threat, not a warning, just the absolute statement of his purpose. he made no effort to sugarcoat, no attempt to charm, no hesitation. it was a simple truth you couldn't argue with.

you let out a frustrated scoff, leaning against a small stone pillar, trying to mask the rising tension in your chest. "so basically," you muttered, crossing your arms, "you're going to watch me from sunrise to sunset."

sunghoon inclined his head once, a small, controlled acknowledgment. "yes. that is required to perform my duty," he said, voice clipped but respectful. "i will not fail. nor will i allow risk to you, by accident or by choice."

there was no room to argue or charm, and his respect for your status as princess didn't make him lenient, nor did it make him pliable. it only made him disciplined even more intimidating.

you moved away from the pillar and began walking, heartbeat in your ears as you continued your stroll with hands loosely clasped behind your back, letting the morning sun warm your face. the scent of the gardens was faint but pleasant, and for a brief moment, you tried to pretend the weight of sunghoon's presence wasn't pressing down on you like a physical thing.

"there's something i'd like to ask." you began casually, glancing over your shoulder at him once more, trying to gauge his reaction. "jungwon. he speaks of you like he's known you forever. tells me you are, well... the best. the red knight. but that's just a title, isn't it? what makes you the best of the best? why should i trust my care in your hands, hmm?"

sunghoon didn't give any reaction and kept his usual measured distance, gaze calm. his eyes followed your movements, noting your posture, the tilt of your head, the subtle tension in your fingers.

"i am a knight," he said evenly, voice low and steady. "i am trained, disciplined, and experienced in matters of combat, strategy, and protection. my record speaks for itself. titles do not define my ability. actions do. you may trust your safety in my hands because i will not allow harm to come to you. that is my duty. and it is not a choice."

his eyes suddenly, softened just the slightest bit as he spoke his next words before hardening once more. "as for sir jungwon, he and i have been comrades in training and battle for a long time. our respect for each other is mutual."

you raised your eyebrows. you might ask jungwon for more details later.

you turned around to face him, walking backwards and leaning slightly forward, a teasing spark in your tone. "oh, so you’re saying your resume, medals, and… infamously unbeaten record are supposed to impress me? tell me, red knight, have you ever failed? made a mistake?"

he paused, one hand brushing lightly against the hilt of his sword, not a threat, just a habitual gesture before shaking his head slowly. "failure is not an option i permit myself. mistakes are studied and corrected. repeated errors are eliminated. my record is… consistent."

you let out a small laugh, half incredulous, half frustrated. "consistent, huh? sounds a bit boring. don't you ever, relax? let your guard down? i mean, even jungwon has his fun sometimes."

sunghoon's eyes narrowed slightly. "relaxation is a matter of timing and necessity. my duty does not allow for negligence. carelessness is not an option when a life depends on your vigilance."

you opened your mouth to reply, but he cut you off with that same quiet authority that left no room for argument. "and if i may interrupt." he added, voice almost conversational in its calm, "you have your lessons in scinence next. i have already ensured the schedule is prepared. any deviation from routine is noted and accounted for."

you froze mid-step, eyes wide. "what? already? how-" but he remained perfectly composed, just a few paces behind you, calm and unshakable as ever.

"i am aware of your daily routines," he said simply, voice flat but precise. "as your protector, it is my responsibility to know when and where you will be, and to anticipate potential risk. today's lessons are included in that responsibility. you will not be unprepared."

and so your private science classes passed without a hitch. mainly so because you couldn't even slip away like you'd usually like to.

the morning sun had long shifted its angle, spilling through the tall windows of your study in thin, golden streaks. the air smelled faintly of ink, parchment, and the metallic tang of the quills. your tutor, an aging scholar with a permanent tremor in his hands, cleared his throat for what must've been the tenth time since the lesson began, his voice wobbling as he tried to sound composed.

and you couldn't really blame him. not when he was there.

sunghoon sat a few feet away, straight-backed and silent, his presence as sharp as a drawn blade even without him saying a single word, legs crossed as he leaned back against the chair he sat on with his sword within arm's reach, and those unblinking eyes… gods, those eyes.

you could feel them burning into the back of your skull.

every time you leaned over to jot down a note or turned a page, you swore his gaze was following every stroke of your quill, like he could predict what you were going to jot down even before you did.

no more bathroom breaks turned into disappearing acts for you.

your tutor dropped a piece of chalk, again.

"ah! my apologies, your highness," he stammered, scrambling to pick it up. "clumsy hands, I- ah, where were we? yes, the reaction between-"

"the reaction between oxygen and iron," you finished automatically, slumping in your seat. "rust. it forms rust." you didn't even care that your tone was flat. your brain was too busy trying to ignore the way your neck prickled.

when your tutor dared to glance at sunghoon, the man gave a curt nod. nothing more, nothing less, and the poor teacher nearly tripped over his own words trying to continue the lesson.

you weren't sure if it was fear or respect. probably both.

by the time your tutor concluded the lecture and practically fled the room, bowing so low his spine might've cracked, you were seconds away from screaming into your hands.

you waited until the door clicked shut before twisting in your seat to glare at the source of your misery.

"you know," you began, voice dripping with exasperation, "it's nearly impossible to concentrate when you're boring holes through the back of my head."

sunghoon blinked once, utterly unfazed. "i was ensuring your safety."

"my safety?" you repeated, incredulous. "from what? exploding chemicals? the deadliest thing in this room is my patience!"

his expression didn't waver. "a threat can come from anywhere, princess. vigilance doesn't depend on likelihood. it depends on readiness."

you threw your hands up. "readiness? for what, in the name of all things holy, could possibly happen in a science lesson?"

"complacency," he answered without hesitation. "it dulls the senses."

you just stared at him.

he said it so matter-of-factly, as if it were the simplest truth in the world. as if the sight of him looming silently behind you for two straight hours hadn't been borderline inhuman.

"you do realize you terrified my tutor, right?" you pressed, eyebrows furrowed. "the poor man couldn't even breathe properly."

sunghoon's gaze flickered briefly toward the closed door before returning to you. "then he should learn to adapt under pressure. it is an important skill."

you gaped. "he's a teacher. not a soldier!"

"and you," he replied coolly, "are a princess, not a warrior. yet here we are, both learning to adapt."

you were stunned into silence for a heartbeat.

"you really don't smile much, do you?" you muttered finally, standing up and dusting off your dress.

"smiling is not part of my orders."

you rolled your eyes so hard it hurt. "of course it isn't."

he didn’t respond, just stood as you did, movements silent, following your every step as you moved toward the door. his shadow fell over you before his voice followed, calm and precise as always.

"your next lesson begins in twenty minutes. it would be wise not to delay."

you turned to him, disbelief etched across your face. "you memorized my entire schedule, didn't you?"

"it is my duty to know."

you exhaled, pinching the bridge of your nose, muttering mostly to yourself. "you're going to drive me insane, red knight."

"if that happens," he replied with no hint of humor in his tone, "i will ensure you are safely escorted to the royal physician."

that earned him a glare.

you had barely made it halfway through your 'break', sprawled comfortably on the couch near the balcony, nibbling on a slice of honeyed fruit, eyes half-lidded, when the inevitable happened.

a shadow fell across your face, and a familiar low voice broke the fragile peace.

"it has been twenty minutes, princess."

you groaned before even opening your eyes. "already?"

sunghoon stood a few paces away, posture perfectly straight. he looked as if he hadn't moved since your last class, as if he'd just been waiting for the precise second your reprieve expired.

"your next lesson begins shortly," he said, tone steady, measured. "herbology, in the royal greenhouse."

you sat up with a sigh, brushing crumbs off your lap. "herbology?" that at least made you perk up a little. "fine. that one I don't mind."

"i'm relieved," he replied, though his voice carried no hint of relief.

you stood, giving him a quick glance before heading down the corridor. "you don’t have to sound so thrilled about it," you muttered.

as usual, he didn't reply. his boots clicked softly behind you, steady, unhurried. always the same distance, always present.

by the time you reached the greenhouse, the air had grown warmer, rich with the scent of damp soil and the sweet, sharp perfume of herbs. sunlight filtered through the glass panels overhead, scattering golden flecks across the greenery. the atmosphere was serene, almost sacred, and after what felt like a really long time, you felt yourself relax.

your herbology tutor, a small, round man named professor joon, was already waiting, fussing over a pot of medicinal roots. he nearly dropped it when he spotted sunghoon enter behind you.

"a-ah! your highness! good morning!" he stammered, clutching the pot like a shield. his eyes flicked nervously toward the knight, who had already positioned himself near the entrance, still as a statue, scanning the space like he expected assassins to rise from the ferns.

"good morning, professor," you greeted cheerily, pretending not to notice the man's shaky hands. "what are we learning today?"

"ah, yes! today, we'll be studying the bellbane plant," he said, visibly trying to steady his voice as he fixed the glasses resting on his nose. "it's a potent herb used for-"

he stopped mid-sentence when sunghoon shifted slightly, the faintest creak of his leather shoes audible in the quiet room.

you sighed, pinching the bridge of your nose. "ignore him," you said dryly. "he seems to enjoy making everyone nervous."

still, you managed to focus on the lesson. the greenhouse's humid air wrapped around you like a blanket, the earthy scent grounding your thoughts. the bellbane's small, pale-blue petals glowed faintly in the sunlight, and as you reached out to pluck one carefully, the tension from earlier seemed to ebb away.

professor joon rambled about the plant's healing properties, and for once, you found yourself actually enjoying the moment, even if you could feel the weight of sunghoon's gaze every few minutes, like an invisible thread pulling taut whenever you shifted.

when the lesson finally ended, you stood and dusted your hands off, stretching your arms overhead. "well," you said, "that was actually nice. see? no threats, no chaos, no-"

a faint sound cut you off.

a clatter. metal against stone.

you froze.

sunghoon's head snapped toward the noise instantly, his entire demeanor changing in a heartbeat. the calm, collected stillness vanished, replaced by razor-edged focus.

"stay here." he ordered quietly, already moving toward the door.

you blinked. "what? wait-"

he glanced back, eyes sharp, tone leaving no room for argument. "do not move, princess."

his tone wasn't loud, but it carried enough weight to silence you on the spot.

and then he was gone, out the door, boots silent but purposeful, hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

the greenhouse suddenly felt too big, too still.

professor joon fidgeted by a table, wringing his hands. "i-is something wrong?"

you frowned, straining to listen, heart drumming faintly. "i... don't know."

the noise outside had stopped. only the whisper of leaves filled the space now.

you took a hesitant step toward the exit.

"princess," joon said weakly, "sir sunghoon said-"

"i know what he said," you muttered. "doesn't mean i have to listen."

you reached for the handle, and before your fingers even brushed it, the door swung open.

sunghoon stood there, sword drawn halfway from its sheath, a faint crease between his brows.

"false alarm," he said evenly. "a gardener dropped a watering can."

you exhaled, half in relief, half in exasperation.

"so you almost swung your sword… over a watering can?"

"almost." he said, tone perfectly serious as he slid the sword back into place.

professor joon looked like he might faint.

you stared at sunghoon. "you’re impossible."

his eyes flicked to you briefly. "and you are safe."

you rolled your eyes and brushed past him, muttering, "barely."

as you left the greenhouse, his quiet footsteps followed. steady, unrelenting.

for once, you were on time for lunch. in fact, you were early.

the long dining table gleamed beneath the chandelier's light, the polished silverware arranged perfectly, and the smell of roasted pheasant and herbs filled the air. your mother was seated beside your father, mid-conversation, when she noticed you walk in.

"oh?" she said, brows lifting. "you're on time."

your father looked up next, blinking as if he wasn't sure he'd heard right. "on time?" he echoed. "my daughter?"

you slumped into your chair with a quiet grumble. "good afternoon to you too, father."

but before you could reach for your napkin, your mother's amused smile spread. "well, this is certainly new. usually, jungwon or yunjin are running down the hall trying to find where you've gone off to."

"or climbing walls," your father added with a smirk.

you shot them both an unamused look. "i'm sitting right here, you know."

your father chuckled, setting down his goblet. "then we must thank the person responsible for this miracle."

his gaze slid past you, and you didn't even have to turn to know who stood there, silent and composed as always.

"sir park," your father said warmly, "it seems you've already worked wonders. i can't remember the last time a day went by without our daughter pulling some sort of disappearing act."

your mother nodded in agreement. "truly. she's been behaving remarkably well today."

you grumbled under your breath, stabbing a piece of meat a little too aggressively.

"it's only been one day," you muttered.

"and yet," your father said, still smiling. "progress. perhaps we should have brought you in years ago."

sunghoon bowed slightly, his tone neutral but respectful. "i'm simply fulfilling my duty, your majesties."

"modest too," your mother said approvingly.

the rest of the meal went by in comfortable conversation. or at least, comfortable for everyone except you. your parents discussed reconstruction progress after the nomad attacks, while you picked at your food, every now and then glancing at sunghoon standing a few feet behind you. arms crossed loosely behind his back, his gaze sweeping across the room.

you had the strangest feeling he wasn't just watching for threats. he was memorizing everything: exits, servants' routes, even how long the maids took to refill a glass. it was unnerving.

you sighed, pushing your plate away as conversation shifted to the attack.

halfway through the meal, jungwon — standing loyally behind your parents — cleared his throat politely. "your majesty, if i may," he said, turning to the king. "might i borrow sir park for a moment?"

sunghoon looked to the king as well, waiting for permission.

the king nodded easily. "go on. we're all together here. the princess is hardly in danger over a bowl of soup."

you resisted the urge to groan.

sunghoon inclined his head slightly. "by your leave, your majesty." and with that, the two knights stepped out into the corridor.

the air outside the dining hall was cooler, quieter. the faint hum of chatter faded as the heavy doors shut behind them.

jungwon exhaled, shoulders relaxing the moment they were out of the royal gaze. then, with a grin, he turned to his old comrade.

"well, i'll be damned," he said, clapping a hand on sunghoon's shoulder. "the red knight himself, back in the capital. it's been too long, hyung."

sunghoon gave a small nod, the corner of his mouth twitching. not quite a smile, but enough to show recognition. "jungwon."

"you look the same," jungwon said with a laugh. "still cold as ever."

"and you still talk too much," sunghoon replied dryly.

jungwon grinned wider. "ah, there he is. i missed that tone."

they stood there for a moment, the easy familiarity of shared years between them.

"how long's it been?" jungwon asked, leaning against a marble column. "two years since the border campaign?"

"two years and four months," sunghoon said simply.

jungwon whistled. "you still keep count."

"someone has to."

jungwon shook his head fondly. "you haven't changed at all."

sunghoon inclined his head slightly, his expression unreadable but not unkind. "but you have,” he said. "you've finally grown into the uniform."

jungwon chuckled, nudging his shoulder the knight's.

for a brief silence, they just stood there. soldiers off the field, surrounded by the distant comfort of the castle instead of the clang of swords.

jungwon tilted his head, his expression softening slightly. "how does it feel," he asked, "being back here? away from the fighting?"

sunghoon's gaze shifted toward the tall windows overlooking the village in the distance. "... quiet." he said at last.

"you say that like it's a bad thing."

"quiet can be dangerous too," sunghoon replied. "it makes you forget to be ready."

jungwon nodded slowly. he'd expected nothing less of him. he gave a sigh. "well, at least your assignment's straightforward."

"is it?"

"you tell me." jungwon said, his smirk returning. "how's your new charge?"

"defiant," sunghoon answered immediately.

jungwon chuckled. "that didn't take long. you already had your first round, huh?"

"she asked me," sunghoon said evenly, "why she should trust her care to me. then questioned my title."

jungwon looked utterly delighted. "ah, yes. sounds like her. and what did you say?"

"i told her her science lessons were next." he replied, as matter-of-fact as if he'd commented on the weather.

jungwon barked out a laugh. "oh, that's perfect. you haven't changed at all."

sunghoon folded his arms, gaze drifting to the sunlit courtyard visible through the window. he chooses to relax as well, exhaling as his shoulders drop, leaning against the column opposite of jungwon. "she questions everything. why she needs protection. why her freedom is restricted. she doesn't see what's at stake."

jungwon's smirk softened then, his voice lowering, more thoughtful. "no, sunghoon. she does see it. that's the problem."

sunghoon turned his head slightly, a faint crease appearing between his brows.

jungwon continued, "she's not reckless because she's spoiled or ignorant. she's reckless because she cares. when we were attack, she wanted to be the first one out there helping. healing. comforting people. she hates being told that the safest place for her is behind walls while others risk themselves for her kingdom."

sunghoon was silent for a long moment. the light caught the faint scar near his jaw. one of many, a quiet map of the wars he'd fought.

finally, he said, "so she fights her cage."

jungwon nodded. "exactly. she fights it because she feels guilty that she even has one."

sunghoon's gaze lingered on the window again, on the village. his voice came quieter now, a hint of something thoughtful threading through. "that kind of guilt… it's dangerous."

"maybe," jungwon agreed. "but it's also what makes her who she is. she's stubborn, yes, but her heart's in the right place. she's a good person. and she's going to test your patience like nothing else you've faced before."

a long pause stretched between them. then jungwon's grin returned.

"and if anyone can handle her, it's you."

sunghoon's eyes narrowed faintly. "because you think I'm unfeeling."

"because I know you're steady," jungwon corrected. "and you don't break easily."

for the first time, a flicker of something close to a smirk ghosted across sunghoon's face. gone as quickly as it came.

"you recommended me," he said finally. "to the king."

"yeah," jungwon said, smiling again, this time more gently. "because i trust you hyung. and because i know you'll keep her safe, no matter what."

sunghoon's gaze lingered on him for a moment. "tell me about the nomads. how serious is the threat now?"

jungwon's expression shifted, the warmth dimming.

"bad enough," he admitted. "they’ve been regrouping. small raids along the eastern border, testing our defenses. the last one got closer than we'd like."

sunghoon's eyes narrowed slightly. "closer?"

"close enough that the king doesn't want the princess anywhere near the outer grounds," jungwon said. "she's the only heir, sunghoon. if anything were to happen to her-"

"it won't." sunghoon cut in, certain.

jungwon smiled faintly at that. "knew you'd say that."

for a moment, the silence stretched. not uncomfortable, but heavy with shared purpose.

while sir yang and sir park were still outside, deep in conversation, back in the dining hall you realized that they were clearly taking their time. and maybe it was the quiet lull of the hall, or maybe it was the fact that you hadn't had a moment to yourself since sunrise, but an idea started forming in your head.

a terrible, wonderful, reckless idea.

you slowly straightened in your chair, pushing your cup away as if deep in thought. across the room, yunjin caught the subtle change in your posture, and immediately narrowed her eyes.

"don't." she mouthed, already sensing the mischief brewing in your mind.

you turned slightly in your chair, flashing her your most innocent smile. "me? do what?" you mouthed back.

her eyes narrowed. "whatever you're thinking."

you leaned closer, whispering just loud enough for her to hear. "if i don't breathe fresh air soon, i'll suffocate."

"you'll get fresh air when sir park allows you to-"

"shh." you hushed her quickly, glancing toward your parents, who were now distracted by the arrival of a new servant.

yunjin looked like she wanted to throttle you and cry at the same time. "princess, please-"

but you were already standing, brushing imaginary dust from your skirt.

"mother... father." you said sweetly.

your mother turned, smiling. "yes, dear?"

"may i be excused? i think the food's gotten to my head, and i'd like to take a walk. perhaps to find sir park... make sure he hasn't gotten lost."

your father chuckled lightly. "how thoughtful of you."

your mother nodded. "very well, dear. but don't wander too far, all right? take sunghoon with you if you do."

you smiled, tilting your head just slightly. "of course. i'll go find him right this instance."

before they could question your intentions, you gave a small curtsy and glided toward the door, the model of grace and obedience.

"y/n." yunjin hissed in a whisper-shout as she followed after you. "this is madness! what if-"

you turned and placed a finger to your lips. "he's still outside. they're talking. this is the perfect chance."

yunjin looked down the hallway, biting her lip nervously. indeed, just a few corridors down, jungwon and sunghoon stood near the tall windows, the former gesturing animatedly while the latter listened in half amused silence.

if you were quick and quiet, you could slip past the hall that led to the side courtyard and from there to the back gardens.

you turned back to your maid, eyes gleaming. "tell them i went to find him." you whispered.

"but-"

"if anyone asks," you pressed on, "you didn't see me."

"princess-"

but you were already gone.

you slipped through a narrow archway and into a quieter corridor, heart pounding with the familiar thrill of defiance. the sun filtered softly through tall windows and the marble floors echoing faintly under your steps. every sense felt alive again. free.

the heavy air of routine, the constant feeling of being watched, it all peeled away with every step closer to your hiding place.

your secret spot — tucked by the outer castle wall, hidden by hanging branches, and the perfect view of the village beyond. no guards, no rules, no eyes watching you.

just the sound of wind and quiet.

you smiled at the thought as you hurried through the gardens, dress brushing against tall hedges.

meanwhile, back at the main hall...

sunghoon ended his conversation with jungwon, the faintest nod exchanged between them before he turned to head back toward the dining room.

but when he entered, he stopped.

the princess's chair was empty.

his gaze swept the room once.

"where is she?" he asked, his tone low but carrying.

your mother blinked in surprise. "she just left a moment ago. said she was going to find you."

jungwon, who had followed him in, froze mid-step.

sunghoon's expression didn't change, but his jaw flexed ever so slightly. a pulse of displeasure flickered behind his eyes subtly but controlled.

he turned sharply on his heel, striding out before anyone could react.

jungwon blinked. "...she didn't."

"she did." your father, a sudden look of tension washing over his features as he gets up from his seat.

and yunjin — still standing near the corner — looked stricken. she wanted to speak, to confess, but the weight of the king and queen's presence kept her tongue still.

"yunjin." your mother said, turning to look at the handmaid with a worried look. "where did she go?"

the maid faltered, wringing her hands. "i-i'm not sure, your majesty. she said-"

but before she could finish, sunghoon was already gone.

the heavy doors slammed shut behind him, his boots hitting the marble in steady, unhurried strides, though every step carried the unmistakable edge of anger.

your parents gave each other a worried look.

"i told you you should've informed her." your mother says upset, shaking her head at her husband. the king remained quiet but nodded slowly.

sunghoon's mind was already racing.

he knew her. even after only a day, he knew she was the kind to slip through cracks, to test every limit until something broke. but in times like these, when a single shadow could mean danger, her defiance wasn't simply frustrating.

it was reckless. and dangerous.

his gloved hand tightened briefly around the hilt of his sword as he exited through the west archway, scanning the area in sharp, efficient movements.

the guards at the stairway stiffened as he passed, but before they could open their mouths to question him, he was gone, vanishing through the castle hallways with unnerving precision.

you had been perched for what felt like hours, letting the breeze lift strands of your hair as you gazed over the village beyond the castle walls. the faint hum of life below, the clatter of carts, the laughter of children.

unbeknownst to you, inside the castle, sunghoon was already on high alert. every hallway, every courtyard, every shadowed corner was swept with his piercing gaze. guards and servants alike had noted the unusual precision of his movements, the sharpness in his stride, the almost palpable tension that radiated off him as he scoured the premises.

he wasn't frantic, not in the way an inexperienced knight might be, but his mind was coiled, every second of inaction a spike of impatience.

'where is she??' he thought, imagining the endless possibilities of risk, each one more unbearable than the last.

back on the wall, you stretched your legs over the edge and let out a quiet sigh of contentment.

but time, as it always does, moved too fast. a glance at the castle's spire reminded you of something very unpleasant — math. your lesson had started half an hour ago. and judging by the way the tutor always gave you that pointed, disappointed look when you were late, you probably missed more than a few sums. 'oh nooo.' you thought dramatically, pressing a hand to your face in exaggerated despair.

finally, you decided that perhaps your little reprieve had lasted long enough. with a careful twist, you climbed down from the stone wall, landing lightly on the gravel below.

yunjin would have yelled, but she wasn't here.

quiet as a cat, you padded along the shadowed garden path back toward the castle back entrance. the familiar scent of polished stone and lingering incense greeted you as you stepped into the corridor. but as you turned a corner, your heart did an involuntary flip.

there he was.

tall, immovable, dark eyes narrowing. his stance was taut, like a bowstring ready to snap. the air seemed heavier around him.

"princess." sunghoon said with an unmistakable edge. "where have you been?"

you gave him the slightest shrug, tilting your head innocently. "oh, just… enjoying the beautiful stones that the castle is made up of."

sunghoon's gaze didn't waver. his jaw tightened fractionally. "you are aware you were not to leave the castle grounds unsupervised." he stated, tone even and accusing.

"i-" you started, then cut yourself off. no point in divulging your carefully hidden plan. instead, you let your lips curl into a faint, almost imperceptible smile.

he took a step closer, each movement precise, deliberate. "princess." he repeated, darker this time, the patience in his voice thinning just slightly. "i need an answer. now."

you let out a long, dramatic sigh, the kind that spoke volumes of irritation, boredom, and a touch of theatrics. "i… um… missed my lessons." you said sarcastically, waving a hand vaguely toward the castle corridors. "can you believe it? all the equations, all my calculations… ruined." you shook your head as if the weight of the universe rested on this small tragedy.

sunghoon didn't respond at first. he simply stepped closer, and you r stomach flipped when he closed the distance between you, just enough that you could feel the faint, controlled heat radiating and the scent of leather and cedarwood that clung to him. he was silent, but the intensity in his eyes made your heart stutter.

"this isn't a joke," he said finally, voice low, controlled, but with an edge that sent shivers down your spine. "you don't know what you're dealing with. and you… you better believe this is the last time something like this happens under my watch."

you blinked, slightly flustered, caught off guard by the gravity in his tone and the closeness of his body. sunghoon was standing too close. dangerously close. you took a few steps back but he kept stepping forward, your back brushed against the cool stone of the wall behind you, and you could see every detail of his face. the faint scar tracing his jawline, the way the shadows played across his sharp features and the slight curl of his hair brushing his brow.

"i- i… well, i-" you stammered, trying to regain composure, though your voice faltered under his intense gaze. your cheeks were heating, and you found yourself strangely aware of the strength in his presence, the sharpness in his posture, the near-imperceptible tension coiled behind every word he spoke.

sunghoon's expression was chill as ice, and the weight of his attention pressed down on you.

"i may have underestimated you, princess." he said carefully, voice low. "but make no mistake- you do not fully understand what it means for me to be here. for your protection. it is my duty, and you will not make me fail at it."

your hands twitched, as if to gesture, but no words came out. your mind was spinning, your flustered heart hammering in your chest. cheeks warming as you tried to argue, to push back, but your resolve felt thinner somehow under his unwavering gaze. you could feel the pull of his presence, the way he loomed, the certainty in every line of his posture. it was suffocating, but laced with something else that confused your pounding heart.

just then, yunjin appeared in the corridor, her eyes widening slightly at the scene before her. she looked at you, looked at him, then looked back at you, knowing she was stepping into a storm.

"stay with her." sunghoon barked sharply, turning his piercing gaze toward yunjin as she jumped at the sharpness in her tone. "do not let her out of your sight. i am going to report to her parents that she is safe."

yunjin swallowed, bowing her head quickly. "y-yes, sir."

without another word but one last sharp look at you, sunghoon pivoted, each movement exuding the same cold efficiency that had earned him his reputation. the sound of his boots echoed down the hallway as he moved off toward the private quarters of your parents. the coldness of his gaze, so close to you only moments ago, was gone, replaced entirely by distance.

yunjin walked up to you, flustered as she began to fret over you, scolding you for causing distress to everyone once again. she stopped when she noted the redness on your face.

"uhhh... princess y/n?" she said slowly, placing a hand on your arm, snapping you out of your stupor. "are... are you alright?"

you blinked and ducked your head.

"i- i'm fine yunjin." you turned away from her and began marching towards your bedroom, yunjin hurrying after you in confusion as you exclaimed you were fine.

you sat perched on the broad windowsill of your bedroom, legs tucked up beneath you as you stared out at the evening sky. the sun was lowering behind the distant line of the village rooftops, bathing everything in a deep amber glow. the air was still a little chilly, cool with the faint hum of autumn, and yet there was something heavy pressing against your chest. a ghost of the racing heartbeat from earlier, a memory that refused to fade.

you drew your knees closer, resting your chin atop them. you could still feel the way his voice had sounded, low and even, the heat of his proximity. the look in his eyes when he told you that you didn't know what you were dealing with.

it was infuriating.

and… unsettling.

you scowled at your reflection in the windowpane. "ridiculous." you muttered under your breath.

behind you, the door creaked open softly. yunjin stepped in, balancing a silver tray in her hands. the smell of your dinner filled the room, rich stew, bread, and tea. but you barely turned your head.

"you should eat, princess." yunjin said gently, setting the tray down on the small table by your bed. "you didn't even attend dinner with your parents..."

"i'm not hungry." you said, voice quiet but firm, eyes still locked on the fading horizon. "and i didn't feel like going down tonight."

yunjin sighed, rubbing her palms against her apron nervously before speaking again. "you mean you didn't want to see him."

you didn't answer.

she hesitated, glancing toward the door as if half-expecting sunghoon to appear out of thin air. "princess… you shouldn't have done that today." she said finally. "slipping away like that, it wasn't brave. it was dangerous."

you frowned, turning your head slightly. "i wasn't in danger, yunjin. i was sitting by the wall, not throwing myself at the nomads. i just wanted to see just how seriously he's taking his role as my nanny."

"that's not the point." she wrung her hands, voice soft but heavy with worry. "you don't understand what — or who — you're testing when you do things like this. sir park isn't like the others from what i've heard. he's not just another guard you can charm or tease into looking away. he follows orders. his orders."

"yeah." you muttered, folding your arms across your knees. "he certainly makes that well and clear."

yunjin gave a small, tired sigh. "please, princess. don't give him reason to think you're reckless. the way he looked when he realized you were gone-" she stopped herself, shaking her head. "just promise me you won't do that again."

you didn't respond right away, gaze dropping to your hands. a small ache formed in your chest at her tone.

the door opened again before you could answer, making both you and yunjin looked up.

jungwon stepped in. the lightness he usually carried was gone, replaced by a quiet, disappointed sort of tension.

"jungwon-" you started, but he raised a hand before you could say more.

"don't." he said simply. the word alone made you shrink back against the window.

he stepped inside, letting the door close softly behind him. "do you have any idea what kind of panic you caused today?"

you pressed your lips together, guilt pricking at the edges of your irritation. "i wasn't gone that long."

"long enough." he said sharply. "long enough for me to alert the guards, for the castle staff to stop what they were doing, and for sunghoon to tear through every hallway until he found you."

you opened your mouth, but jungwon's next words hit before you could.

"and you picked the worst day for it."

you blinked, confused. "what's that supposed to mean?"

jungwon hesitated, his expression flickering with conflict. he exhaled slowly and ran a hand through his hair. "i'm not supposed to tell you this." he muttered. "your parents wanted to keep it quiet until the patrols confirmed everything."

"tell me what?" you pressed, frowning.

he looked at you for a long moment before saying, "there was another attack."

the words landed like ice water poured straight into your veins.

"what?" you whispered.

"a small one." he said quickly. "soon after sunghoon's arrival today and after you went away for your lessons. one of the eastern watchtowers was hit. nothing like the last raid, but bad enough. a few soldiers injured but no fatalities. sunghoon knew about it the moment it happened. he was briefed before the king even summoned the council."

you stared at him, the sound of your pulse rushing in your ears. "why didn't anyone tell me?!"

"because they didn't want you to panic." jungwon said quietly. "we didn't think you'd run off like that so soon."

your chest tightened. you wanted to argue, to say you had the right to know, but your throat refused to cooperate.

jungwon's tone softened. "sunghoon's on edge because of that. that's why he needs to watch everything so closely. you disappearing today — especially today — " he shook his head. "it wasn't just defiance to him, y/n. it was a threat."

you swallowed, eyes falling to your lap. suddenly, your little escape by the wall didn't feel so harmless anymore. you asked jungwon if sunghoon was upset.

"maybe a little?" he replied a little hesitantly, "but you nearly scared him. and he doesn't get scared easily."

you looked up at him, startled by that word. "scared?"

jungwon nodded once. "he's been through worse things than either of us can imagine. but the thought of losing the person he's pledged to protect-" he paused, choosing his words carefully. "let's just say it doesn't sit well with him."

you looked away, a strange, twisting feeling growing in your chest. you remembered the look on sunghoon's face earlier — the fire beneath that calm, the intensity behind his words.

"you don't know what you’re dealing with."

and suddenly, maybe you didn't.

the silence stretched for a moment. yunjin shifted uneasily near the bed, looking between the two of you.

jungwon sighed again, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. "look, i get it. you hate feeling trapped you want to be out there for your people, worried that something might happen to them. i would too. but this isn't about control - it's about making sure that the only heir to our kingdom's throne, is unharmed. the risk of you being in danger is something that we don't want to happen."

"so what now?" you muttered, voice quieter than you intended.

"now," he said, turning to the door, "you let him do his job. you eat your dinner. and you stop giving everyone in this castle a heart attack."

as he opened the door to leave, you called after him, "jungwon."

he paused.

you hesitated before asking, "he wouldn't… tell them, will he? my parents?"

jungwon's expression softened. "he might've already." he said honestly. "if only to make sure you don't do it again.” then, his voice dropped a little lower, his tone gentler. "try to see the situation through his eyes perhaps, my princess."

you didn't reply.

jungwon sighed, bidding you goodnight and sending a nod towards yunjin, before walking out of your room, the wooden doors closing shut gently behind him.

the soft clink of silver against porcelain filled the quiet of your chamber. dinner had gone untouched for too long before you finally gave in, half out of hunger, half because yunjin's concerned eyes were unbearable. the stew had gone lukewarm, but it was comfort nonetheless.

you took a slow spoonful, staring down at the bowl, the reflection of candlelight trembling on the surface. your thoughts had been a storm all evening. every time you tried to convince yourself you were right, jungwon's words came crashing back, dragging your certainty down with them.

yunjin sat across from you, folding a napkin neatly in her lap.

"do you think i should apologise?" you muttered finally, voice small.

yunjin's eyes flicked up, the question clearly not one she'd expected. "to… sir park?"

you gave a half-hearted shrug.

a pause. "if you're asking me if you should, then yes."

you stabbed at a piece of carrot in your stew. "but for what, exactly? for breathing outside?"

yunjin sighed softly. "you know it wasn't like that."

"then tell me how it was." you set the spoon down, frustration bleeding into your tone. "because from where i stand, i did nothing wrong except not know something everyone else did. if someone had told me about the attack, i wouldn't have snuck off! i'm not-" you caught yourself, shaking your head. "i'm not a brat."

"no one is saying that princess."

"then why does no tell me things anymore?" your voice cracked slightly, the emotion slipping through before you could reel it back in. "no one even told me about the attack today. hell, even when the first attack happened i was the last one to find out!"

yunjin's gaze softened. "because that's what they've been told to do. protect you. hide things from you. it isn't fair, i know. but they think it's safer this way."

"well clearly it's not." you muttered. "i do something that i could easily do before and suddenly everyone expects me to walk on eggshells and not be informed about what's happening out there."

silence stretched, the air thick with the scent of herbs and candle smoke.

you slumped back in your chair, tracing the rim of your bowl with your finger. "i wasn't trying to be… difficult." you said after a while, quieter. "i just wanted to see how serious this was with sunghoon being here. i didn't know it would turn into-" you gestured vaguely at the door, at the world beyond it. "that."

yunjin smiled faintly, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "you sound almost guilty."

"maybe i am." you admitted, frowning at your reflection in the stew. "but also not. because… it really wasn't my fault. not completely."

"that's true." she said softly. "but it doesn't mean he didn't have reason to be angry."

you rolled your eyes. "oh, he was more than angry. he was… terrifying. all cold eyes and quiet fury. like he could cut me in half just by standing there." you shivered slightly, remembering the way he'd looked at you. sharp, unyielding, yet not cruel. it had been the calm before a storm, the kind that made the air hum against your skin.

yunjin tilted her head, studying you. "and how did you look at him?"

"what kind of question is that?" you snapped too quickly.

her smile turned knowing. "just wondering if it's guilt making your cheeks red, or something else."

you shot her a glare, your spoon clattering softly against the bowl. "it's the candlelight."

"of course."

you turned your gaze back to the window, watching the night deepen over the distant treeline. your voice dropped to a murmur. "what would i even say to him?"

"you could start with 'thank you.'" yunjin suggested gently.

you frowned. "i'm not thanking him for anything. not yet at least."

you stayed quiet for a long moment. finally, you whispered. "he said i don't know what i'm dealing with."

"maybe he's right. enemy attacks can be dangerous and unpredictable." yunjin said, standing to clear your plate. "but that doesn't mean you can't learn."

you looked down at your hands, fingers fidgeting with the edge of your napkin. "apologising still sounds... humiliating."

"so does getting scolded at by the red knight in the hallways." she said with a teasing lift of her brow.

you groaned, burying your face in your hands. "ugh, don't remind me."

the last of your dinner had been cleared away, and the room now hummed with a quieter kind of peace, the sort that came only after too many thoughts had been spoken aloud.

yunjin moved about the chamber with practiced ease, gathering your nightclothes and drawing the curtains to shield the last traces of dusk. the scent of lavender filled the air, rising with the faint steam from the bath she'd prepared.

you sat on the edge of the bed for a moment, staring at your bare feet against the carpet, your head full of half-formed apologies and the echo of a particular someone's deep voice.

"come, my princess." yunjin said gently, holding out a towel. "the water's ready."

you let her help you out of your outer garments, slipping into the warmth of the bath with a sigh that melted some of the day's tension away. the water lapped softly against the porcelain as you sank in deeper, the heat easing the tightness in your shoulders.

for a few blissful moments, neither of you spoke. the only sound was the soft splash of water and the distant chirp of night insects beyond the window.

then, inevitably, yunjin broke the silence.

"he's rather dashing, isn't he?" she said, casually.

you blinked. "...who?"

yunjin gave a faintly mischievous hum as she knelt by the tub, wringing out a cloth. she just gave you a knowing look with a raised brow.

you nearly splashed water in surprise. "s-sunghoon?? wh- what kind of question is that?"

"a simple one." she dabbed at your arm with the cloth, clearly fighting a smile. "i only meant that he cuts quite a figure, that's all. tall, well-built, quiet... the sort of man people write about in those little courtly romances you pretend not to read."

you scoffed, sinking lower in the water so it came up to your chin. "you've completely lost your mind."

"am i wrong, though?" she teased, voice lilting with laughter. "he does have that brooding, tragic air. the kind of man who's seen too much of war and too little of kindness.”

"he's my knight." you retorted, glaring half-heartedly. "and an infuriating one at that. i don't see what’s so-"

"handsome?" she supplied.

"i was going to say intimidating."

"ah, yes. i'm sure that's the word you were searching for while you were staring at his jawline earlier."

your eyes widened. "i wasn't-!"

"you were." she said simply, a smirk tugging at her lips. "don't worry, your highness, i understand. proximity can do strange things to the heart."

"you're impossible." you muttered, hiding your burning face behind your knees.

"and you're blushing."

"i'm warm! it's the bath!"

"of course." she grinned, clearly enjoying herself far too much. "though if it makes you feel better, you're not the first person to notice, you know. some of the other handmaidens were whispering earlier. they said he looks like a man carved from marble. perfect posture, quiet voice, eyes that could cut glass-"

"yunjin!" you interrupted sharply, splashing her arm with water.

she laughed, unbothered, brushing the droplets off her sleeve. "fine, fine. i'll stop."

a comfortable silence followed, though your heart still beat faster than you'd like. you leaned back against the tub, closing your eyes, trying to will away the image her words had conjured — his face inches from yours, his voice low and steady, that scar catching the light...

you shook your head quickly. "he's annoying." you said aloud, as if reminding yourself.

"mhmm." yunjin murmured, clearly unconvinced. "and yet you haven't stopped thinking about him since dinner."

you huffed, sinking further into the water. "you're dismissed."

"not until you're out of the bath, your highness." she said with a knowing smile.

you sighed dramatically but said no more, letting the warmth and lavender lull you into something close to peace.

the bath was bliss. warm water and fragrant steam curled around you, carrying the faint scents of rose and bergamot. yunjin poured in a few drops of the finest oils from the village markets, and the surface shimmered faintly under the candlelight. she moved with the quiet precision of someone who'd done this a hundred times before, pouring a delicate rinse through your hair, her voice humming low under her breath.

when the bathwater finally cooled, she wrapped you in soft linen and began to gently towel your skin dry, the subtle glow of the candlelight brushing against your freshly washed skin. the scents of the oils lingered — soft, floral, and faintly sweet. your skin was smooth, warm to the touch, and you smelled like every luxury the royal life had to offer.

she helped you into your nightgown, a pale ivory silk that draped elegantly across your figure, before pulling a shawl over your shoulders, the sheer fabric embroidered with gold thread.

"there." she said, stepping back with satisfaction. "a princess ready to conquer dreams and hearts alike."

you rolled your eyes but smiled faintly. "thank you, yunjin. you can rest now."

her expression softened. "you're sure?"

you nodded, glancing toward the door. "i just… need to speak with my parents. for a moment."

her brow furrowed slightly. "about this morning?"

you hesitated. then nodded again.

yunjin sighed but bowed slightly. "don't stay out too long. it's late."

you gave her a small, reassuring smile. "goodnight, yunjin."

"goodnight, my princess."

you waited for a bit after yunjin left, drying and combing your hair. after a while, the door closed softly behind you, and the cool air of the corridor replaced the warmth of your chambers.

and there he was.

sunghoon stood just outside your door, as still and composed as if he'd been standing there since the dawn of time. his hands were clasped behind his back, his sword at his hip, the silver of its hilt catching the candlelight. his gaze flicked toward you the instant the door opened.

you froze. neither of you spoke.

the faint scent of lavender and scented oils still clung to you, carried softly by the draft that swept through the hallway. his gaze lingered on you for a fraction too long before looking back straight ahead.

you swallowed, shifting the shawl a little tighter around your shoulders. the air between you was thick. not quite hostile, but far from easy.

you lifted your chin, feigning indifference, and started down the corridor. the soft fabric of your gown whispered with every step.

he didn't say anything. didn't move. just watched, the faint sound of your footsteps fading down the long hall as you passed.

you refused to look back.

"where are you going?" the sound of his voice, unmistakably edged, halted you mid-step.

you let out a soft scoff, adjusting your shawl. "relax, sir park." you said. "i'm going to my parents' chambers. i'd like to speak with them for a moment. unless that's forbidden too?"

his eyebrows narrowed slightly at your little jab, but chose not to reply. his eyes flicked toward the dark end of the corridor, scanning instinctively. ever vigilant. ever unyielding.

he stepped away from the wall, falling silently into stride behind you.

you sighed, low enough for only you to hear, but didn’t argue. at this point, there was no point. this was routine now: wherever you went, he followed. a shadow that never wavered, never faltered, never asked.

the soft rustle of your nightgown brushed against the stone floor as you walked. his footsteps trailed yours, precise, measured, a half-beat behind.

the memory of earlier, his nearness, his breath mingling with yours as he'd cornered you against the wall, still lingered far too vividly in your mind. the cold steel in his tone, the intensity in his gaze, it had burned into you like a brand.

and you hated how much the confrontation had rattled you.

the silence between you now was thick, uncomfortable. the kind of silence that wasn't empty, but was loud with everything unsaid. you kept your chin up, eyes fixed ahead, refusing to glance at him.

he hadn't forgotten either, that much was clear in the way he carried himself. his expression remained unreadable, but his jaw was tight, his movements stiffer than usual.

you tried to focus on the hallway instead, the soft flicker of light across the marble, the quiet creak of the old castle settling. anything but the sound of his slow, controlled breathing behind you.

"you don't need to follow me everywhere, they're literally right down this hall." you said finally, your voice softer than intended, though still tinged with irritation. maybe you still felt a little guilty.

"you already know the answer to that by now." he replied, tone clipped.

you bit the inside of your cheek, the retort dying before it reached your lips.

you walked on.

the heavy oak doors to your parents' chambers came into view, their gold inlays glinting faintly beneath the torchlight. you slowed to a stop, your shawl pulled tighter around your shoulders.

behind you, sunghoon came to a halt as well. he wordless shifted to stand guard a few feet away, eyes leaving your figure to face the other side.

you paid him no mind and pushed the door open, the warmth of the room greeted you instantly along with the soft glow of candles and faint scent of chamomile. your mother looked up from her book, your father from the parchment he'd been reading. both of them seemed surprised to see you.

"oh." your mother said, her expression softening. "sweetheart, you're still awake?"

"i wanted to wish you both goodnight." you said, stepping forward. "and… to talk, a little."

your mother set her book down gently on the bedside table next to her cup of tea. "about?"

you hesitated, wringing your fingers together slightly. "i know." you began slowly, "about the attack this morning."

the warmth in the room dimmed a little. your father's expression hardened, and your mother's eyes softened in quiet apology.

"you weren't supposed to know." your father said after a moment. "we didn't want to worry you unnecessarily."

"unnecessarily?" you repeated, disbelief edging your tone. "father, there was another attack! i'm not a child. i deserve to know when the kingdom's in danger!"

"and yet," your mother interjected softly, "you still ran off today."

your breath caught. "i-"

your father's sigh cut through. not angry, not scolding. just tired. "you frightened everyone, y/n. disappearing without a word."

you braced for the scolding that always followed those words. but instead, he paused, eyes flicking toward the fireplace, then back to you, gentler this time.

"sir park told us." he said, voice even, "that you'd only stepped out for air and that you tried to look for him but he and jungwon might've wandered a bit far during their discussion."

your brows furrowed. "he… said that?"

your mother nodded, smiling faintly. "he explained that it was his mistake for not ensuring he wasn't nearby, and that it was his lack of momentary awareness that you had lost him and were actually looking for him and not running away, contrary to what we thought had happened. he even apologized for it."

you stared, heart skipping. he what?

that wasn't what happened at all. he'd been furious, cold, sharp, ready to tear into you for your carelessness. but to your parents, he'd taken the blame instead.

you swallowed hard, eyes darting toward the door where you knew he stood outside. your chest felt tight, confused.

"he's a good man." your mother continued, misreading your silence. "stern, yes, but fair. i see why jungwon recommended him!"

"perhaps we were right to trust him with you." your father added as he stroked his beard. "maybe we can rest easy about you while the trouble with the nomad attacks come to a stop."

you gave a weak smile, but your thoughts were a whirl. why would he do that? why would he lie to protect you from their wrath?

your mother rose and came closer, cupping your cheek gently. "we only want you safe, my love. the kingdom isn't fragile, we have the best of the best soldiers for lands across. with the threat of random attacks and ambushes peaking around the corner, we just don't want anything happening to you."

you nodded slowly. "i understand."

"good." your father stood, moving to press a kiss to your forehead. "now, off to bed. you've had enough excitement for one day. i'm sure meeting sir park today was its own adventure!"

you nodded quietly, managed a quiet "goodnight", curtsied, and turned for the door. your thoughts loud in your head.

the door clicked softly shut behind you, and for a moment, you just stood there, breathing in the cool stillness of the corridor. the faint echo of your parents' voices faded, replaced by the quiet hum of torchlights spread here and there on the walls and the distant sound of the wind whispering through the castle halls.

sunghoon was still there, exactly where you'd left him. shoulders squared, hands clasped neatly behind his back, and not looking at you but down to the ground.

you awkwardly adjusting the shawl around your shoulders as you began to walk. he again followed a few paces behind, his boots clicking softly against the marble floor.

after a good few steps down the hall, you couldn't take it anymore.

"you told them another story." you said suddenly, not looking at him. "about earlier."

sunghoon's gaze flicked towards the back of your head, though his steps didn't falter. "i told them what they needed to hear."

you slowed slightly, glancing back up at him. "you lied for me."

he didn't respond at first, his face still composed in that maddening, stoic calm.

"i don't understand,” you went on, your tone a mix of curiosity and defensiveness as you turned to face forward. "you were furious earlier. you nearly bit my head off, and then you tell my parents it was your fault?"

sunghoon stopped walking and so did you. for a heartbeat, the corridor was utterly still.

his eyes found yours. not cruel, just… deliberate. "because your parents have enough to worry about.” he said, his tone quiet but firm. "and because your carelessness doesn't need to add to their burdens."

you opened your mouth to argue, but he stepped closer. not enough to touch, but enough that you felt the weight of his presence again.

his eyes darkened just slightly. "and if i hadn't," he said evenly, bass in his voice leaking out, "you'd be dealing with a punishment instead of a conversation."

you blinked, taken aback, and turned around to continue walking.

neither of you spoke again until you reached your chamber door. the air between you felt… charged, somehow. awkward and unsteady, but charged.

you paused with your hand on the handle, hesitating. then, before you could second-guess yourself, you turned your head slightly and said quietly, "thank you."

it was small. almost shy. but the words hung there, softer than the candlelight flickering along the walls.

sunghoon froze, just barely. his shoulders stiffened as his eyes flickered toward you in quiet surprise. for the first time, his composure faltered, the faintest crack in his stone-cold armor.

you didn't wait for him to reply. you slipped into your room and shut the door gently behind you, the faint scent of lavender trailing in the air, the only thing left between you.

outside, the knight stood still for a long moment, staring at the closed door. then, quietly, he exhaled, and resumed his post.

you threw yourself into bed, and despite your pounding heart, you forced yourself to sleep.

morning light spilled through your windows, soft and golden, painting your room in a warmth that did little to calm the restless flutter still sitting low in your chest. you dressed quickly, yunjin's careful hands tying the ribbons of your gown, brushing out your hair until it gleamed.

when you stepped out into the corridor, you paused. the man stationed by your door wasn't sunghoon. the unfamiliar guard straightened instantly upon seeing you, fist to chest in salute.

"where's sunghoon?" you asked, trying to sound casual, though your heart gave an odd little jump at even saying his name.

the guard hesitated for a moment before answering. "the red knight retired briefly after dawn, your highness. he's at the training grounds now, overseeing drills and sparring with the men. he requested that i stand guard until his return."

you blinked, caught somewhere between surprise and… curiosity. "training?" you repeated, tilting your head slightly. "already?"

"yes, princess y/n."

you hesitated, then clasped your hands together neatly in front of you. "i see. very well... take me to him."

the guard looked startled. "to… sir park, your highness?"

"yes." you said simply. "to the training grounds."

the training grounds were alive with movement. soldiers sparring, clashing swords, practicing formations and shouting commands. your shoes clicked against the stone pathway as the guard led you through the bustle. the other soldiers immediately took notice of you, some bowing quickly, some calling a polite greeting, and all eyes lingered a moment longer than usual on the princess walking among them. you felt like a delicate doll in the middle of chaos, and for a moment you wished you could disappear.

you strained your eyes, searching for him among the throng of disciplined chaos.

then, over the clang of steel and the thundering of feet, you heard it. the unmistakable, precise clash of two blades meeting again and again. your heart caught as you moved closer, weaving past soldiers who respectfully stepped aside. and then you saw him.

sunghoon stood in the center of a tight circle, his presence immediately commanding. sweat glistened on his forehead, his dark hair slightly damp and falling in strands that framed his sharp, angular face. the tight-fit training shirt stretched over his broad shoulders, paired with loose, flexible pants that allowed him swift, fluid movement. his movements were a deadly combination of grace and raw power, each swing, parry, and step executed with perfect precision. every inhale and exhale was measured, controlled. a predator in the midst of battle.

you couldn't look away. despite your best efforts, your mind went blank, caught somewhere between awe, disbelief, and… something deeper you weren't ready to name.

"impressive, isn't he?" a low voice whispered beside you. you turned slightly to see another knight standing nearby, observing your face as if he knew exactly what you were thinking. he leaned in a little closer, voice quiet, almost conspiratorial.

"only heard the tales before," he continued. "but seeing him like this… it's like a force of nature. some say he's unstoppable, a monster on the field."

you swallowed, still staring at sunghoon, who had yet to notice your presence.

"do you know why he's called the red knight?" the knight asked, a knowing smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

you shook your head, your voice barely a whisper. "i have... some idea."

the other knight's eyes glimmered with a mix of amusement and respect. "because there's no opponent who's ever defeated him. and because when he fights… it's like he leaves nothing but ruin and blood behind him. a force of perfection and terror, all at once. and yet… somehow, he's here, calm now, for the sake of his duty."

your heart skipped another beat, and you felt your cheeks flush. you weren't sure whether it was the intensity of the man before you, or the way his body swiftly moved with expertise.

the rhythmic clash of steel filled the air again, sharp and steady, sunghoon's blade slicing through the hum of noise like thunder cutting through a storm. the soldier he sparred with grunted, barely keeping up with the speed and precision of each blow.

but as you watched longer, you realized this wasn't a fight at all. it was a lesson.

sunghoon's strikes were controlled, measured, never meant to harm. though every swing carried enough weight to knock the man off his feet if he so chose. between each parry, he spoke, voice commanding yet composed.

"your stance," he barked, blocking a high swing effortlessly before stepping in and shoving the soldier back with the hilt of his sword, "is too narrow. you'll lose your balance the moment your opponent feints left."

he pivoted gracefully, sidestepping a desperate jab before countering, his tone flat but instructive. "keep your guard up. always. your sword isn't for show. it's your life."

the ring of soldiers surrounding them stood silent, eyes wide, hanging on every word. the air around him carried authority.

"again." he ordered.

the soldier lunged once more, but sunghoon's blade met his with a loud clang, twisting it effortlessly out of the man's grasp. the sword went clattering to the ground. sunghoon didn't smirk, didn't gloat — he simply pointed at the weapon.

"pick it up."

the soldier scrambled to obey.

you could see it now, the faint sheen of sweat on sunghoon's forehead, the rise and fall of his chest from the exertion, and yet… he looked completely in control. not a single movement wasted. not a hint of fatigue in his sharp, focused gaze.

"again." he repeated, lowering his blade slightly. "you won't learn anything if you hold back because i'm your superior. fight as though your life depends on it. because out there, it will."

his words were cold, clipped. but beneath the ice, there was something else. low, quiet encouragement. not softness exactly, but purpose.

you could feel it. he wanted them to succeed. to become sharper, stronger, capable. it wasn't cruelty; it was demand. a demand for excellence.

the soldiers watching began murmuring among themselves, awe mixed with respect. no one could look away. even those who weren't sparring unconsciously straightened, drawn into the intensity of his presence.

and you stood there, still, your breath caught somewhere between your chest and throat.

sunghoon's blade moved like liquid silver in the light, his expression unreadable, but his every word struck with clarity and conviction.

"skill means nothing without control." he said, circling the soldier slowly, voice low but steady. "and power means nothing if it's not for something worth protecting."

for a man as cold and distant as he seemed, there was fire in those words. and for the first time, you saw why he was so feared… and why he was so respected. because beneath all that ice, there was something burning. something disciplined, relentless, and entirely untouchable.

the soldier picked up his sword again, shoulders squared and eyes burning with new determination. this time, when he stepped forward, there was weight behind his strike. a steadier grip, a firmer stance.

the clang of steel echoed once more across the training yard.

sunghoon blocked the blow easily, but there was the faintest flicker of approval in his eyes, the kind only a trained observer would notice. the soldier adjusted, remembering every correction sunghoon had barked moments earlier. his footing was better, his follow-through cleaner. he parried once, twice, then went in for a feint.

the soldiers around them held their breath.

sunghoon caught the move mid-swing, twisted his wrist, and in a single fluid motion disarmed the man again. but this time, instead of letting the sword fall, he caught it by the blade, reversed it, and handed it back to him hilt-first.

a murmur of admiration rippled through the crowd.

the soldier, panting hard, bowed his head. "sir."

sunghoon's expression remained unreadable, but he gave a small nod. the kind of acknowledgment that meant you did well.

"better." he said, voice cool but edged with faint approval. "you're learning. remember that."

then, straightening to his full height, he turned his gaze toward the ring of watching soldiers. his voice carried over the courtyard, even without shouting, sharp and commanding, the tone of a man used to being obeyed.

"that," he said, gesturing toward the young soldier still catching his breath, "is what i expect from every one of you."

the crowd straightened instinctively, as if pulled by invisible strings.

"discipline. control. improvement." his eyes swept across them, sharp as drawn steel. "our kingdom was attacked not because we were weak, but because the enemy were fucking stupid enough to think they can just come in, scare our people, and steal our resources from us. they think we're weak. complacent. that we believe the walls around us are enough to keep us safe."

he paused, the silence heavy.

"they were wrong."

his voice lowered, cold and certain, every word cutting clean through the air.

"you are not just soldiers. you are the sword and shield of one of the greatest kingdoms in this goddamn realm. when you march beyond these walls, you carry our banner, our pride, our people — our king and queen.”

his gaze darkened.

"you carry her safety."

the words made your stomach twist. you, he meant you, but he didn't look at you. not yet.

he continued, pace deliberate, tone even. "every drop of sweat you shed here will spare blood on the battlefield. you will train until your hands blister, until your breath burns in your lungs, and you will not falter. because when the time comes…"

his grip tightened briefly on his sword hilt. "…you will not fail."

no one moved. no one even breathed.

then, silence.

and that was when his gaze finally found you.

it cut through the sea of soldiers effortlessly, sharp and direct, locking onto you with a quiet, unnerving precision. you froze, caught in the intensity of his stare, as if he'd known you’d been standing there the entire time.

he didn't blink. didn't speak. just looked.

a heartbeat passed. then, without tearing his gaze away, he spoke again. tone cool, controlled, but leaving no room for argument.

"training is over. back to your posts."

the spell broke instantly. the soldiers snapped to attention, saluting before scattering in hurried motions, boots crunching against the gravel as they retreated to their stations.

gripped the front of your dress unconsciously, the fabric wrinkling between your fingers as you stared at him from across the courtyard. the faint scent of steel and dust still hung in the air, and the rhythmic clatter of the other soldiers faded into the distance.

for a moment, you just stood there. the morning breeze tugging at the loose strands of your hair, your heart beating a little too fast for your liking. you’d seen knights train before. plenty of times, in fact. but never like that. the raw precision. the effortless control. the quiet, coiled danger that followed every movement of his sword.

you swallowed hard.

before you could overthink it - which you were definitely about to do - your feet were already carrying you forward. one slow, hesitant step after another, until the distance between you and him wasn't quite as vast.

sunghoon remained rooted in his spot, wiping the sweat from his brow with his forearm, posture relaxed yet somehow disciplined — even in stillness, there was that same sharpness about him. you were pretty sure he could kill someone with just a look.

his eyes flicked toward you as you approached. unreadable, as always, and for a fleeting second, you considered turning right around and pretending you were just… lost. or inspecting the soldiers' equipment. or anything else.

you cleared your throat softly, forcing your voice to sound casual. or, well, something close to it.

"you, uh… weren't there this morning."

he raised an eyebrow, tilting his head slightly. "i was ordered to take rest after my night patrol." he said evenly. "and to oversee training."

you nodded quickly, pretending that was all you wanted to know.

"oh. right. that makes sense."

silence fell again. heavy, awkward, yet strangely charged.

you shifted on your feet, gaze darting to the side, anywhere but his face. the words came out quieter than you intended. "you… fight good."

the moment the words left your mouth, you wished you could disappear into the stone floor.

really? fight good? you were a princess, supposedly educated in six languages, diplomacy, and poise — and that's what came out of your mouth?

sunghoon blinked once. then, to your utter mortification, you saw the faintest twitch at the corner of his lips. not quite a smile. but almost.

"thank you." he said, voice low and steady, as if you'd just complimented him on his handwriting instead of his ability to disarm six men without breaking a sweat. "i'm glad my efforts meet your standards, princess."

you glared at him half-heartedly, cheeks warming. "don't mock me."

"mmhmm." he replied smoothly. though the ghost of that almost-smile lingered for just a second longer before fading completely.

you looked at him for a bit longer, your eyes tracing the line of his jaw, the faint sheen of sweat still catching in the morning light. it took you a moment to find your voice again, the words sitting stubbornly in your throat before you finally managed to push them out.

"so…" you started, trying for casual but hearing how small your voice sounded instead, "will you be accompanying me to my lessons today?"

the question hung softly between you, almost hesitant. you weren't even sure why you asked.

sunghoon blinked once, his expression unreadable for a moment. he studied you, the faint shyness in your tone, the way you couldn't quite hold his gaze for long.

and then, to his own quiet surprise, his voice came out… softer.

"not today." he said, the edge in his tone gentled, almost careful. "i'll be occupied for a while. there are still preparations to oversee. if another attack happens, i want the defenses ready."

you nodded, though the tiniest flicker of disappointment pricked at your chest. you quickly brushed it off, patting away imaginary dust off of your dress, pretending it was nothing.

he turned slightly, calling over the soldier who had been guarding your chambers this morning. "you'll continue to escort the princess until i return. make sure she reaches her lessons safely." sunghoon instructed firmly.

the soldier bowed at once. "yes, sir."

sunghoon's gaze flicked back to you one last time. the morning breeze tugged lightly at your hair, and for a heartbeat, one he didn't fully understand, he didn't move.

"i'll see you later, princess." he said finally, voice steady but lower now.

you opened your mouth, wanting to say something. maybe be safe, or don't overwork yourself. but the words tangled themselves up and stayed unspoken. so instead, you just nodded, eyes darting down to the ground as you murmured a quiet, "alright."

he turned and walked away, his stride strong, deliberate, the kind of gait that made the other soldiers instinctively move aside.

you watched his back for a moment longer before sighing, turning toward the hallway that led to your lessons. you told yourself the small tug in your chest was nothing. just fatigue, maybe. or guilt for annoying him the day before.

but as you walked, your thoughts betrayed you, looping back to the sound of his voice. that rare, softened tone, and the strange warmth that had bloomed quietly inside you at hearing it.

you didn't see it, but behind you, sunghoon paused briefly in his steps. his eyes followed you as you eventually disappeared from his view, unreadable, contemplative, before he finally turned away and continued on.

a few days passed. quietly, but not uneventfully.

you found yourself slipping into a strange new rhythm with sir park sunghoon. it wasn't something either of you acknowledged out loud. it simply… happened.

your mornings no longer started with his clipped orders or the heavy silence that used to weigh between you. now, it was more… tolerable. lighter, even, in a way that neither of you could quite explain.

he still stood by your door every dawn, polished and composed, every inch the disciplined knight he was. but when your sleepy self stumbled out, hair slightly mussed and muttering something about how mornings were "a crime against royalty." his lips would twitch almost imperceptibly. almost.

you caught it once — that ghost of a smile. and to your horror (and maybe delight), you'd stared too long.

the guards noticed too. whispers floated through the halls. how the cold, unshakable red knight seemed to soften whenever you were around. no one dared say it aloud within his earshot, of course. but it was there, in the way he looked at you a beat too long before averting his gaze, or how his tone changed ever so slightly when addressing you.

and you felt it too.

there were still moments where he was distant, commanding, unreadable, but those moments were now punctuated with something else: faint traces of warmth beneath all that steel.

like when you tripped over your own gown during lessons (again), and he reached out just in time to catch you, his hand firm around your wrist, his tone exasperated but low. "you really should pay more attention, princess."

you had mumbled something about your gown being cursed, and he had huffed - not laughed, not quite - but there had been a sound there, a flicker of amusement that felt like sunlight breaking through storm clouds.

and then, one morning, while he walked beside you to your lessons, you realized something.

he no longer trailed silently behind you. he walked with you.

"sir park." you said once, glancing sideways at him as your slippers brushed against the stone floors. "you don't always have to follow so close, you know. i'm not planning on disappearing again."

he gave you a single, side glance, sharp, assessing, yet softer at the edges now. "habits die hard." he said simply.

"so do tempers." you countered with a faint smirk.

this time, you definitely saw the corner of his mouth lift before he schooled it back into that stoic mask.

you didn't point it out. you wanted to keep it - that fleeting, unspoken moment - for yourself.

and though the castle still buzzed with reports and training drills, with talk of defense and rumors of another possible raid, your world had narrowed, quietly, to this rhythm between the two of you.

sunghoon still carried that cold edge, his presence like frost. but with you, it wasn't quite freezing anymore. and for reasons you didn't dare name yet, that realization made your chest feel… warmer than it should.

the morning sunlight filtered through the glass panes of the royal greenhouse, soft gold spilling over the rows of green and silver leaves. the air was warm, fragrant with mint and lavender - and it felt like peace.

your tutor had sent word earlier that morning that he'd taken ill, so it was just you, your sleeves rolled up, tending to the plants you loved most. for once, no lectures, no duties. just you and the earth.

well. you, the plants… and him.

"you know." you said lightly, crouching beside a pot of wolfsbane, "for someone who's supposed to be guarding me, you look like you're judging my plants."

his reply came smooth, cool. "i'm judging the fact that you're handling a toxic herb without gloves."

you looked up at him, amused. "and i'm judging your lack of faith in me. i've been doing this since i was twelve, sir park."

"and yet you still managed to burn your sleeve off the last time you tried to make a salve." he countered dryly.

you gasped. "you remembered that??"

his gaze flickered, a faint smirk ghosting across his lips. "hard to forget the smell of smoke and panic."

you pouted, muttering under your breath as you turned back to your plants. "that was one time."

silence settled, but not an uncomfortable one. this was how things had been lately. quiet, with threads of easy banter weaving through the air, soft and unspoken.

you didn't know when it happened. when speaking to him stopped feeling like pushing against a wall of ice and started feeling… natural.

you were mixing a salve of comfrey and calendula when you heard him inhale sharply, a barely-there sound, but enough to make you glance up.

he was standing the same way, stoic and still, but there was a small wince when his fingers flexed around his palm.

"what's wrong?" you asked, straightening.

"nothing." his reply was immediate, tone firm.

you raised a brow, stepping closer. "don't you 'nothing' me, sir park. you winced."

he sighed quietly, as if regretting ever standing within your sight. finally, he lifted his hand. the rough, calloused palm marred by a shallow but nasty-looking cut. "just a scratch. happened during morning drills."

you frowned, unimpressed. "that's not just a scratch. you're bleeding."

"it's nothing worth troubling the princess over."

"oh, shut up." you muttered, already moving toward your workstation. you gathered a few herbs and a small jar of salve, your steps purposeful. "sit."

"what?"

"sit down." you repeated, tone leaving no room for argument.

he hesitated - clearly not used to being ordered around by you of all people - but in the end, he obeyed. with a faint exhale, he sat at the edge of a wooden bench, watching as you approached him with the calm precision of someone who knew exactly what they were doing.

when you reached for his hand, he didn't expect you to pull him that close.

his breath caught. your fingers - soft, smaller than his - were steady and careful as you cleaned the cut, grinding a mixture of crushed aloe and yarrow into a paste.

"you really shouldn't ignore wounds." you murmured, focused entirely on his palm. "even the small ones can fester."

he couldn't answer. because all at once, the world seemed to shrink. down to the warmth of your touch, the faint floral scent clinging to your hair, and the soft concentration in your face as you leaned closer, your lashes lowered, your brows furrowed in care. he could feel the ghost of your breath when you blew lightly over the salve to dry it.

and for the first time in years, something foreign and disarming unfurled in his chest.

you, oblivious to the turmoil you'd caused, tied a small strip of linen gently around his palm. "there." you said softly, finally daring to look up. "better."

his eyes, dark and unwavering, met yours. there was something different in them, something that wasn't just duty or discipline.

he swallowed once before saying, quietly, "you didn't have to."

"i wanted to." you replied, looking back down to your herbs, trying to ignore the heat creeping up your neck. "i love herbology. it… helps me feel like i can do something that matters. heal people instead of just being locked away."

you hesitated, voice quieter now. "that's why i get so protective of our people. why i tried to leave during the raids. i just… wanted to help."

sunghoon watched you, really watched you. the sincerity in your words, the fire in your eyes when you spoke of protecting others. and for the first time since he'd been assigned to you, he saw you for who you really were. you weren't reckless. you weren't naïve. you were brave. too kind for the world you lived in.

"you're different from what i expected." he said finally, his tone low but softer than usual.

you blinked up at him, surprised. "and what did you expect?"

his mouth quirked, barely noticeable. "a troublesome royal who couldn't tell aloe from poison ivy.”

you gasped in mock offense, but he stood before you could retort, his expression unreadable again. "you've proven me wrong."

and though his words were few, the way he said them - calm, measured, and sincere - made your heart skip in a way you didn't understand.

you watched him walk away to return to his post, the faint bandage you tied around his hand catching the sunlight.

and you couldn't help but smile.

another few set of days passed, quiet, and strangely, uneventful. no attacks had happened just yet, but all reports coming back warned everyone to still be on their toes.

the nomads hadn't gone yet, and it continued to unnerve everyone in the kingdom.

but, amongst everything going on, as the sun rose and the moon set with every passing days, you had come to a shocking revelation:

that you had come to be infatuated with sunghoon's entire being.

and unbeknownst to you, and seemingly himself... so had sunghoon.

the ballroom was warm with sunlight when you stepped in, soft music humming from the musicians in the corner. today's lesson was ballroom dancing, something you actually enjoyed — when you weren't expected to dance with anyone.

sunghoon stood behind you, arms behind his back, expression cool as always. he looked so out of place in the pastel-colored room, like a shard of winter dropped right into spring.

your dance instructor, madame yvonne, strict, sharp, and terrifying —clapped her hands the moment she saw him.

"sir knight." she barked.

his brows twitched almost imperceptibly. "yes, madame?"

"come here."

you blinked. sunghoon blinked. both of you slowly turned to her, equally confused. madame yvonne pointed at the floor beside you. "the princess needs a dance partner."

sunghoon straightened immediately. "i- madame, with respect, i am on duty as her guard."

"and now," she snapped, "you will guard her from embarrassment by not letting her dance alone. come. now."

you felt heat rush to your face. "m-madame, it's alright, really, i can practice by myself-"

"nonsense. get into position. both of you."

sunghoon looked like he would rather fight ten armed soldiers than do this. his jaw clenched once, twice. then he exhaled slowly, stepping toward you with stiff movements, like he was walking to his own execution.

he stopped in front of you, and you could SEE the panic hiding under all that practiced composure.

"…princess." he said quietly, voice lower than usual, "i must apologize in advance. i've never done this before."

"it's okay." you whispered, equally embarrassed. "i'll… guide you?"

"you will." madame yvonne declared. "now. his hand here-" she grabbed sunghoon's wrist and slapped his hand onto your waist, and you couldn't help the soft gasp that slipped from your lips.

sunghoon froze. absolutely froze, his ears turned pink instantly. while you nearly died on the spot.

"and princess, your hand on his shoulder."

you reached up and placed your hand where your dancing tutor instructed you to, feeling the tense, solid muscle beneath his shirt.

sunghoon inhaled sharply — too sharply.

"…my apologies." he muttered.

"for what?" you murmured back.

"i... i've never danced with anyone before..." he said under his breath.

you almost choked on air.

"and now," madame yvonne continued, completely unfazed, "your other hands should meet. gently. not like you're about to start a duel."

sunghoon hesitated. his gloved hand hovered awkwardly in the air before you slowly reached forward and placed your palm in his.

you watched his adam's apple bob up and down as he swallowed hard, his hand dwarfing yours, warm and steady, but trembling just slightly. he tightened his jaw, probably noticing it himself.

"good." your teacher said. “now follow the rhythm. princess, lead him if you must."

the music swelled softly.

you took a step back. sunghoon took a step forward at the exact same time, causing you both to collide slightly. he immediately stepped back like he'd touched something forbidden.

"i-" he tried again, voice low and noticeably strained, "i'm not… familiar with… this sort of coordination."

"it's okay." you whispered, voice almost as low as his, gently tugging at his hand. "just follow me."

he looked down at you then. really looked. and something in his expression shifted, just barely.

"…very well." he murmured.

slowly, hesitantly, he let you guide his movements. your feet glided, his followed. the distance between you felt nonexistent. every time he exhaled, you felt it brush your forehead. every time you moved, he adjusted to match you. even though he was clearly unsure, clearly flustered, clearly trying to keep his composure from shattering completely.

you accidentally stepped too close at one point, your chest brushing his.

sunghoon stilled. you could feel his heart beating fast.

then, with obvious effort, he lowered his gaze, whispering, "princess… y-you must keep distance. for propriety."

"right. sorry-"

"don't apologize." he murmured, a little too quickly. "it's just… new."

you thought back to all the times you've danced with other people, and how at this time with sunghoon, it felt so, so different.

"for me too."

his eyes flickered up again.

that did something to him. you saw it right there, in the tiny softening of his brow, the faint parting of his lips.

but then the music changed and he stumbled again, stepping the wrong way.

you caught his arm, steadying him.

"lift your left foot first, not your right." you said quietly as you gave him a small smile, shy but encouraging. "like this. mirror me."

and he did. slowly he began to move with more confidence, no longer stiff but controlled, precise — like he approached everything else in life. the knight melting just slightly with every step you guided him through.

your instructor circled you both, nodding approvingly. "good. very good. surprising, given how hopeless you looked at the start."

sunghoon's jaw flexed, embarrassment creeping up his neck. but he didn't pull away from you.

finally the music faded and madame yvonne dismissed you. sunghoon immediately released your waist, stepping back like he needed air — but the moment his hand dropped from your body, he looked almost… startled. like the absence of your warmth had shocked him.

"you did well." you said softly.

his breath caught, barely noticeable. "i only managed because you guided me." he replied, voice lower than usual — almost gentle, almost warm. "thank you… princess."

your heart skipped.

he looked away quickly, ears pink again, trying desperately to pull his cold mask back up. but it was too late. you'd seen it.

and he'd felt it.

part 2

authors note: THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE LONGER BUT I NEVER KNEW THERE WERE LIMITS FOR WRITING ASDFGHJKL.

it's ok i'll just continue in part 2 and the good stuff will be in there hehehe. usually i'd prefer if it's all in one single fic but oh well, too many ideas floating around grrrr.

reblogs, likes and comments appreciated! hope you guys liked it and look forward to the continuation!

( ◡̀_◡́ )ᕤ

-twocups

(divider credits: @uzmacchiato)

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