Bound To The Crown

AURIELLA'S POV  "The new royal guard, Your Majesty. Kael Blackwood." At the sound of his name, I slowly lifted my gaze. He was handsome—far more handsome than I had expected. Messy black hair framed his sharp features, and his silver-green eyes held an unsettling confidence as they met mine. I immediately looked away, silently scolding myself. I was a princess of the kingdom and already betrothed. It was unbecoming of me to admire another man. "Do you pledge to protect my daughter with your life, Kael?" my father asked, his voice stern. I glanced at him once more. To my surprise, he was already looking at me. The corner of his lips lifted ever so slightly before he straightened his posture and turned his attention to the King. "I swear upon my life to protect Princess Aurelia from all harm," he said without hesitation. My father studied him for a moment before nodding in approval. "He will be your personal guard from this day forward," Father said, turning to me. "He is to remain by your side and ensure your safety at all times." Without protest, I bowed my head politely. "As you wish, Father." "May I take my leave now?" "You may." I offered him a small smile before rising from my seat. As I walked past Kael, I could feel his gaze following me. There was something strange about him—something mysterious hidden beneath that calm expression. I had only just reached my chamber doors when hurried footsteps echoed through the hallway behind me. Turning around, I found Kael jogging toward me, slightly out of breath. "Princess," he greeted with a grin. "You're quite fast." I blinked in surprise. "Good day, Princess," he said with an exaggerated bow. "Good day," I replied politely. He straightened himself and gestured toward the palace grounds behind him. "Your sword training begins now. I doubt His Majesty would appreciate you missing your lesson on my first day." I sighed inwardly. Of course. The first day of having a personal guard, and I was already reconsidering Father's decision. "You don't seem particularly excited," he remarked as we began walking down the hall together. "About what?" I asked. "Your sword training." He smirked. "You looked as though I'd sentenced you to ten years in the dungeon." A laugh almost escaped me at his ridiculous comparison. "I simply don't enjoy being hit with wooden swords," I admitted quietly. "Then it's a good thing I'm here to protect you from them." For the first time since meeting him, I found myself smiling—not out of courtesy, but because I genuinely wanted to. Perhaps having a personal guard would not be so terrible after all. The training grounds were surprisingly empty when we arrived. Only a few knights stood at the far end of the field, sparring amongst themselves. The afternoon sun shone brightly overhead, making me wish I had remained in my chambers with a book instead. A servant handed me my wooden sword. I stared at it for a moment before reluctantly accepting it. "Do you dislike sword training that much?" Kael asked as he stood beside me. "No." He raised an eyebrow. "You sighed three times on our way here, Princess." "I most certainly did not." "You also looked longingly at the palace gardens as though contemplating running away." I pursed my lips. "That is an outrageous accusation." He chuckled softly. "Is it?" Before I could respond, my sword instructor approached us and bowed. "Princess Aurelia. Today, we shall practice your stance and defensive techniques." I nodded politely and took my position. "Feet apart, Princess," the instructor corrected. I adjusted my stance. "No, not that far apart." I adjusted it again. "Your grip is too loose." I tightened my grip. "Too tight." I fought the urge to groan. After nearly fifteen minutes of corrections, I was beginning to understand why I despised sword training. Kael stood a few feet away with his arms crossed, watching the entire ordeal with an amused smile. "You're enjoying this far too much," I said, glaring at him. "Forgive me, Princess," he replied, clearly not sorry. "I simply never imagined the kingdom's beloved princess would look so offended by a wooden sword." "It is an unnecessarily heavy piece of wood." "It's barely heavier than a loaf of bread." I stared at him in disbelief. "Have you been hit in the head during training before?" "Several times." "That explains quite a lot." For a moment, silence hung between us before he laughed—a genuine, warm laugh that caught me by surprise. The instructor suddenly spoke. "Sir Kael, why don't you spar with the Princess?" My eyes widened immediately. "What?" "I don't believe that is necessary," I said quickly. "I agree," Kael replied. "I quite enjoy being alive." The instructor ignored us both and handed Kael a wooden sword. "Princess, if you are to be protected by Sir Kael, you must learn how to fight alongside him." Reluctantly, I took my position opposite him. "Don't worry," Kael said quietly as he leaned closer. "I promise not to bruise the kingdom's greatest treasure." My face grew warm at his words. "Flattery will not save you if I win." "Oh?" His smirk widened. "Then I look forward to losing." The match lasted less than thirty seconds. The moment I swung my sword, Kael effortlessly blocked it. I tried again and nearly lost my balance in the process. He reached out instinctively and caught me by the waist before I could fall. For a brief moment, neither of us spoke. His hand remained on my waist, and I became painfully aware of how close we were. "Careful, Princess," he murmured with a smile. "I have only just sworn to protect you. I'd rather not begin by allowing you to fall flat on your face." I quickly stepped away, my cheeks burning. "That did not happen." "It most certainly did." He stared at me longer than usual. Having a personal guard would prove far more troublesome than I had imagined. After an hour of unnecessary falling, bruised pride, and being struck on the head more times than I cared to admit, sword training finally came to an end. As I removed my leather gloves, one of the royal guards approached and bowed. "Princess, the royal ball with the dukes, princes, and princesses of the neighboring kingdoms will commence in a few hours." I sighed inwardly and nodded. Another royal obligation. He bowed once more before taking his leave. Turning to Kael, I noticed the smug smile tugging at the corners of his lips. I tilted my head in confusion. "Is something amusing?" He shook his head. "Nothing at all, Princess." "You're a terrible liar." "I've been told that before." I narrowed my eyes at him before rolling them and dropping my wooden sword onto the rack. Without another word, I began walking back to my chambers, with Kael following at a respectful distance. "Prince Lucien Ashford of the Kingdom of Vespera..." Kael began casually as the palace maids adjusted the final touches on my gown. "I hear he is your betrothed." "Yes, Kael," I replied with a small sigh as I smoothed my hair. "I am to marry him in a few months." Prince Lucien and I had been engaged for nearly three years. Ours was a political arrangement—a union that would strengthen the alliance between our kingdoms. We exchanged letters occasionally and met only when diplomacy required it. I did not love him, nor did I dislike him. He was simply my future. "Oh?" Kael said, crossing his arms. "Congratulations, Princess." The words sounded polite enough, but his tone suggested otherwise. I turned sharply to look at him. "Are you mocking me?" "Of course not." "You sound disappointed." "I sound disappointed?" "Very." His lips twitched slightly before he shook his head. "I merely find it unfortunate." "And why is that?" "Because every nobleman in the ballroom is about to realize they never had a chance." I blinked at his response, uncertain whether it was meant as flattery or another one of his teasing remarks. Before I could question him further, the grand doors slowly creaked open. "Princess Aurelia Valmont of the Kingdom of Aurelis!" Straightening my shoulders, I took a deep breath and stepped forward gracefully as applause echoed throughout the ballroom. Bright chandeliers illuminated the grand hall, their golden glow reflecting against polished marble floors. The moment I entered, noblemen immediately approached me with eager smiles and polite bows. Before I could take another step, several dukes requested a dance. As expected. With my royal smile perfectly in place, I accepted one of their outstretched hands. "You look breathtaking this evening, Princess," the duke complimented as we began to dance. "Thank you." "I hear you are betrothed to Prince Lucien Ashford of Vespera." "I am." In truth, I had hoped to see Prince Lucien tonight. It had been several months since our last meeting. "He hasn't arrived?" the duke asked. I discreetly scanned the ballroom once more. "I have yet to see him myself." "Then I suppose that is fortunate for me." I smiled politely, pretending not to understand his meaning. As the music continued, I found my eyes wandering toward the edge of the ballroom. Kael stood silently beside the royal guards, dressed in his black uniform embroidered with gold. Unlike the others, he did not seem impressed by the grandeur of the occasion. Instead, he simply watched. At one point, our eyes met briefly before he raised an eyebrow as if asking whether I was enjoying myself. I almost laughed. After several dances and countless conversations about politics and marriage prospects, I excused myself. "Please forgive me," I said politely. "I would like some fresh air." Making my way through the crowd, I quietly slipped out onto the palace grounds. The cool night breeze immediately embraced me, carrying away the suffocating expectations of the ballroom. The moon hung beautifully in the night sky as I made my way toward the royal gardens. For the first time that evening, I could breathe. Taking a seat on one of the stone benches, I looked up at the stars and smiled faintly. "You should be at the ball, Princess." Turning around, I found Kael standing a short distance away. Under the moonlight, his silver eyes seemed brighter than before. "Will you tell my father, then?" I asked teasingly. He smiled as he approached. "My duty is to protect the Princess from all harm," he said before taking a seat beside me. "Not to stop her from doing what she wishes." "Even when what I wish is abandoning an entire ballroom full of nobles?" "Especially then." I laughed softly. There was something strange about him. Most people around me were careful with their words, fearful of offending the Crown. Yet Kael spoke as though he saw me as something more than my title. "Do you not wish to return?" he asked. I shook my head and stared down at my gloved hands. A moment of comfortable silence passed between us. "Twenty years," I finally said quietly. "Twenty years of being the perfect princess, and somehow I still feel as though something is missing." He remained silent, allowing me to continue. "I smile when I am expected to smile. I speak when I am expected to speak. Soon, I will marry the man chosen for me and become the Queen everyone wishes me to be." For the first time in years, speaking those thoughts aloud felt strangely relieving. "Why am I even telling you this?" I chuckled softly. "We've known each other for less than a day." "Perhaps," he replied calmly, "some things are easier to tell a stranger than those closest to us." His words caught me by surprise. It felt strange—being listened to without interruption or expectation. Not because I was Princess Aurelia of Aurelis, but simply because I was Aurelia. I stood from the bench and brushed the folds of my gown. "We should return before Father sends half the kingdom looking for me." Kael rose to his feet before offering me his hand with a slight bow. "As you wish, Princess." I looked down at his outstretched hand before placing mine in his. For the first time since I turned eighteen, I found myself smiling—not because royal etiquette demanded it, but because I genuinely wished to. And somehow, that realization frightened me more than anything else.