The scent of honeysuckle and the laughter of children filled the air as I skipped through the gardens of our castle. It was a perfect summer day, and the world seemed to shimmer with joy. I was ten years old, a princess of the kingdom of Aethel, and life was a tapestry of sunshine and laughter. My parents, King Alaric and Queen Elara, doted on me, their only child. I was loved by all who knew me, a tiny crown princess with a heart full of dreams.
And then I met him. Kael.
He was an orphan, a boy with eyes as blue as the summer sky and a smile that could melt the coldest heart. He was a year older than me, but it mattered little. From the moment I saw him, I knew I was in love. He was everything I had ever dreamed of: kind, brave, and with a spirit that burned brighter than the sun.
His dream was to become a knight - a protector of the innocent, a defender of the weak. He wanted to keep everyone safe, including me. And I, in turn, vowed to be worthy of his love, to be the princess he would one day protect.
As the years passed, our bond grew stronger. We shared secrets under the whispering willow tree, raced through the fields of wildflowers, and spent countless hours lost in each other's company. He confessed his love for me when we turned eighteen, his words as sweet as honey and as strong as steel. "I will love you forever, Elara," he whispered, his hand clasping mine. "Forever and a day."
And I, with tears in my eyes, vowed the same. "Forever," I whispered back, "and a day."