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Leike was an honest man. His Momma had raised him to be. He was good, kind and honorable. Maybe that was why he’d listened when his Pops told him that he should consider entering the knight’s academy. “It’s not too late, son,” he’d said. “You’ve still got a chance.”
He didn't expect to be skilled with a sword. He didn’t expect to find a second home among the training dummies and whetstones. Leike didn’t expect to be a natural.
He didn’t expect to be sent to the front lines for a year.
But he came back with honors. He came back—was hand-picked by the Princess herself —to be a royal knight. A personal guard.
Leike was nervous. How could he not be? His task would be to protect one of the royal family with his life. Most likely the Princess, if he was being honest. Why else would she have picked him if not for herself?
But it turned out that wasn’t the case. He was to guard the Crown Prince. Leike looked at him and found a porcelain doll in the place of a prince. It was no wonder that he loved him immediately.
So when he swore his loyalty, it was a promise he intended to keep. “I swear to you, Your Highness,” he said evenly, heart thundering in his chest, “I will protect you no matter the cost.”
He could have never known that he would break it.