"In the quiet of night, when the world sleeps, My heart stirs with the whisper of your name. In the shadows, we find our haven, Where love blooms, untamed by the chains of duty. For you are my light in this darkened hall, The secret I carry, close to my soul. In your eyes, I find my strength, In your arms, my peace. Though the world may never know, In the silence, our love sings true."

Sir Aeron remained kneeled on the cold stone floor before the king while he read out the poetry never meant for his eyes. A servant had found them and immediately ran to their king... His whole life upheaved by a single servant... He'd written it a few days prior, debating on whether to leave the writing for the Queen or not. It wasn't the first he'd given her. He had planned for it to not be the last either.

It appears that he might never get the chance.

King Draegar Velennis' face turned a bright shade of red as he ripped up the paper, tossing it to the side for some poor serving girl to pick up later. Aeron did not dare look up, all that awaited his gaze would be a tyrant king filled with rage, and beside him would be the wife who had stolen Aeron's heart.

"Who gave you the right to fill her head with such nonsense?" King Draegar roared, his rage echoing off the high ceilings of the throne room. His icy blue eyes bore holes into Sir Aeron whose head bowed in a show of submission that was far from the defiance raging in his heart.

Aeron did not answer. What could he say? That he loved her? That he saw her for what she truly was, a woman deserving of respect and adoration, not a mere trophy for a tyrant to flaunt?

"Love letters," the King spat the words out like poison, his gaze shifting from the torn pieces of parchment to the knight who knelt before him."To my queen, my wife." Draegar shouted and stood up violently from his throne. "You, a knight sworn to my service, dare to covet my queen?!"

Aeron held his stance, his head bowed, his expression unreadable. He wanted to confess his love, to shout it to the world that he cherished her more than life itself, but he knew the cost.

"I serve the crown, my king," Aeron finally broke the silence, his voice resonating throughout the hall, its steady timbre belying the turmoil within, "I have never faltered in my duty."

"Your duty!" Draegar scoffed, his icy gaze piercing. "Tell me, Sir Aeron, is it your duty to woo my wife with your words, to fill her head with fantasies of traitorous love?"

Aeron clenched his jaw, but he held his tongue. His gaze remained fixed on the marbled floor, disciplined as ever. He couldn't look up. He couldn't see the eyes of his beloved staring into his soul as he was receiving his verdict. Not when the only thing he would see was pain, worry.

"Your words paint pictures of a paradise that doesn't exist, Sir Aeron. Your duty was to protect her, not to seduce her!" The king's voice echoed off the stone walls of the hall. A bitter laugh escaped his lips. "I have a whore of a wife."

Each word was a blow, each accusation a dagger to his heart. But the last one, that stung the most. It took every ounce of his self-control not to snap. To not let his anger show, to not lunge at the King, to not let his sword find its home in the tyrant's heart.

Aeron's eyes shot up to face his king as he rose from his kneeling position, an auburn fire blazing in his eyes. "She is no whore," He bit out, his voice barely a whisper, yet it carried through the court.

"Your majesty, I've failed you," he continued, his voice steadier now, his gaze never leaving the king's, "I allowed my heart to overstep its boundaries, but Queen is innocent in this! She has been nothing but loyal and true to you, to the crown." His eyes moved to the Queen, watching her and the crown that sat upon her head. One given to her by a tyrant that cared little about her. King or no, he did not deserve her.

"If that is a crime for me to love a woman, then I am guilty as charged. But I will not stand by and let you insult her. I accept any punishment you give me, my king. But do not punish her for my own mistakes. All of the blame was on me."

He had to ensure she would be viewed as innocent, even if it meant sullying his name and meeting the headman's axe.