As the celebration carried on, the atmosphere grew livelier. Nobles, large and small, began to indulge in the carefree spirit of the evening. The ballroom filled with couples forming spontaneous dance circles, swirling and twirling across the polished floors. The women, draped in shimmering gowns, and the men, sharp in their tailored suits, moved with elegance and grace, their bodies flowing in time to the music. The air was thick with flirtation and allure, as if the very walls of the hall were charged with a kind of romantic electricity.
In the Golden Duchy, under the rule of Princess Veronica, women were not seen as fragile or secondary. The Duchy's culture, shaped by its powerful female ruler, did not view women with disdain or disregard. Female nobles were not only allowed to practice the art of combat magic but were also permitted to maintain their own personal guards. However, being a knight came with its own set of challenges. The biological duty of bearing heirs slowed the growth of a female knight's magical prowess after childbirth. For most noblewomen, especially those of noble birth, martial training wasn't high on their list of priorities. After all, why risk sunburn or physical strain when they could maintain their beauty and the family's honor with other means?
Yet, for high-stakes wars like the one they had just fought in, it was not uncommon for noble families to send their capable daughters to participate in the battles, hoping to forge connections with their peers while also demonstrating their family's commitment to empowering women. Princess Veronica, herself a woman, naturally appreciated this.
As the music shifted from heroic, soaring epics to passionate love ballads, the mood of the ballroom changed. The ambiance became more seductive and romantic, the soft melodies drifting through the hall like whispers of longing. Yet, despite the growing warmth of the room, Princess Veronica remained indifferent, her gaze distant as she watched the dancers.
Seated in her place of honor, Veronica's dark eyes betrayed a hint of weariness. She watched the couples spinning in graceful rhythm, her lips pressing together in mild distaste.
"These fools," she thought to herself, "Always so enamored by this shallow display. It's so tedious."
With a slight frown, Veronica rose from her seat. She glanced around at the crowded hall, her eyes meeting the jovial nobles' faces, but she felt nothing but boredom. Her sense of accomplishment from the recent victory still lingered, but the festivities felt hollow.
"I need some air," she murmured to herself, turning toward the door.
Not wanting to leave her side, Lord Clobber, ever faithful, followed her, standing by her as she exited the hall. His armor clinked lightly as he adjusted his gear and removed his helmet, setting it down on a nearby table before stepping after her.
Outside, the night sky had already settled into a deep velvet black, the stars glittering like diamonds against the inky backdrop. The air was crisp and refreshing, the cool breeze caressing Veronica's skin, soothing her, lifting the weight from her shoulders.
As she walked slowly through the courtyard, her mind wandered, drawn to the peaceful surroundings. The beauty of the night—the gentle whisper of the wind and the quiet hum of the world at rest—was a sharp contrast to the chaotic noise of the ballroom behind her. Here, away from the clamor and the disingenuous flattery, Veronica felt at peace. Her heart began to lighten.
In these rare moments of solitude, Veronica's thoughts drifted back to a time long past, to when she was young, full of energy and dreams. She remembered the days when she had been surrounded by her family: her doting father, the king, and her brother, who had always been by her side. There had been Vivienne, too—at the time, just a small golden dragon no bigger than a grown wolf, but already fierce and loyal. Back then, Vivienne had been her greatest companion, her most treasured friend.
She smiled at the memory, but that smile faded almost as quickly as it appeared. But everything changes, she thought. Everything always changes.
As she grew, she became the subject of envy, the object of desire for the noble houses. Each one hoped to gain favor through marriage, to be aligned with the royal bloodline. But Veronica had resisted. She didn't want to be a pawn in someone else's game. Instead, she chose to forge her own path. With Vivienne by her side, she left the castle, embarking on a journey of exploration and battle, fighting for her place in the world.
Years had passed since those early days, and with time, Veronica had learned many lessons. She had come to understand the transient nature of power, wealth, and fame—things that so many others chased after like moths to a flame. She had watched as the nobility in her Duchy became complacent, their will eroded by comfort and stability. The younger generation seemed incapable of achieving what their forebears had, and that disappointed her.
Still, Veronica had never been one to seek such superficial gains. She had learned the hard way that true strength, the kind that could give a person control over their life, came from within. Real power was earned, not inherited. And in her case, that meant constantly striving to become stronger—both in her combat skills and in her understanding of the world.
But even now, she wasn't the strongest. She had faced challenges she couldn't overcome, like the mighty Sylon, and though she had managed to strike a deal with it, she had not yet been able to defeat it. She had needed time—time to grow stronger, time to learn, time to build the power that would one day make her the ruler she dreamed of becoming.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of hurried footsteps approaching her. She turned, her eyes narrowing slightly. A figure emerged from the shadows: Lord Clobber, the golden-haired knight who had been so eager to follow her out here.
A small smile crept onto Veronica's face. Well, well. My little rose is quick to follow. It seemed that he couldn't stay away for long.
Her mood lifted a little, the tension in her chest easing. His presence, though unexpected, was a welcome distraction.
"You're not going to enjoy the feast, Clobber?" she teased, her voice carrying a light, mocking tone. "You're not going to join in the revelry of wine and dance? Or have you come out to join me under this desolate, quiet sky?"
Clobber froze for a moment, clearly caught off guard by her words. He had expected to be chastised, not mocked. But quickly he recovered and answered, his tone calm, respectful. "My duty is to guard you, Your Grace. I have no time for wine or dance."
He stepped closer, standing silently beside her. "Please, allow me to remain at your side," he added. His words were simple, yet his sincerity was evident.
Veronica's smile faded, but her interest piqued. She could see the conflict in his eyes, the slight hesitance in his stance. It was a rare thing—a knight so devoted that he would disregard even his own enjoyment to ensure her safety. How curious, she thought.
She had been toying with the idea of sending him away. Why not let him enjoy the night? But something inside her resisted. She had seen so many who were loyal to her because they had something to gain, something they could use. Clobber's loyalty, however, was different. He seemed to be here not for ambition, not for some personal gain, but simply because he cared—perhaps more than he realized.
She smirked, then, a playful glint in her eye. "You wish to stay by my side, then? Very well. But you're free to go and enjoy yourself, Clobber. Tomorrow, you can return to your duties. I won't need you guarding me out here."
Clobber looked at her for a moment, hesitation flashing in his eyes. His instincts told him to obey, but something in him resisted. His role was to protect her, and that was where his heart truly lay. He knew that as her guardian, he was meant to stand by her, even when it meant forsaking his own pleasures.
He shook his head slowly, his gaze unwavering as he responded. "My duty is to protect you, Your Grace. I do not seek enjoyment. I seek only to be by your side."
His words were quiet, but their weight was undeniable. Veronica watched him for a long moment, her eyes narrowing as if searching for something hidden beneath the surface.
He wasn't like the others, she realized. Not like the sycophants who fawned over her, pretending to care only to secure their own power. Clobber... was different. There was a certain purity in his loyalty, a certain warmth in his attention, and though it was unconventional, it stirred something in her she hadn't expected.
For the first time in a long while, Veronica felt something akin to... warmth. Something that made her wonder if she could ever allow herself to trust someone again.
As the cool night breeze brushed her skin, she felt something else, too—a deep, insistent ache in her heart. She quickly suppressed it, her walls going back up as she pushed those feelings away. She would not let herself become vulnerable again. Not after all she had been through.
And yet, for just a moment, her heart softened as she looked at the knight who stood faithfully behind her.