Eijirou Kirishima was young when he was first brought to the shining castle made from white stone with his mentor, hardly ten years old. Everything and everyone towered over him at that age. All except for one, a small princess.

Eijirou knelt on one knee with his head bowed down in the throne room next to his mentor. His ruby gaze was trained to the rug in front of him as his mentor spoke to the King but he couldn't interpret what was being said due to his own thoughts spiraling from the stress of not wanting to embarrass himself in such an important space.

He nearly jumped out of his skin when a hand rested on his shoulder followed by his name and he looked up to meet his mentor's eyes, his own wide. "Eijirou," he started, gesturing toward the raised platform, "Starting today, you're going to a personal guard, a knight."

The deeper voice of the King drew Eijirou's attention next as he was addressed. "Your new position is to stay by my daughter's side." Gesturing an arm, the King's hand rested on top of a girl's head that Eijirou didn't see until now.

She was younger than Eijirou, two years younger at eight years old. She had a smile on her face and Eijirou couldn't look away from it, subtly feeling drawn to it. "Your duty is protect her at all costs. She is your number one priority. Do you understand?"

Eijirou quickly stiffened his posture and bowed his head again, answering back without a waiver in his tone, "I understand, Your Majesty. I swear to lay my life for her should the need ever happen."

Years later, Eijirou had grown into a respected knight. No longer that smaller boy, he was tall with hardened muscles from dedication. What began as duty evolved into something more as affection took root in his heart. He would do anything to protect that smile if it meant he could see it again. Though he couldn't tell her about his feelings, knowing his lowly birth meant he had no right to cross that line, he was content with how things were. Or he would keep trying to tell himself that.

Eijirou shook his head to silence the thoughts swirling and focused back to his task. One heavy boot crunched on a gravel path as he passed the threshold into the sunny outdoors. Glistening red eyes squinted briefly to adjust to the new light before he resumed his walk into the vast and lush gardens, his head on a swivel to try and spot his princess.