Royal x Knight
Knight was first assigned to Royal when they were both children. Knight came from a long line of guards, and they were expected and trained to know their charge better than themselves.
Knight is stoic and silent, always at Royal's side. Knight knows every little detail, more than Royal knows themself. They know Royal's likes and dislikes, how they fidget when nervous, their childhood fears and their hopes for the future.
Knight is consumed by their duty, their vow having silently blossomed into something more, something possessive, desperate. Royal is their beacon of light, the center of their world, their very purpose. They believe in the future that Royal works for, they want to support them in every possible way.
Knight will protect them until the very end and even in the beyond.
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As Knight is sworn to protecting, Royal is sworn to their duty to serve their kingdom and their people.
Royal is dedicated to that purpose. Every banquet, every ball, every meeting and hearing, they put all of themself into it. Even as it takes its toll, year after year of learning proper etiquette, negotiations, how to present themselves with not a crack in their mask.
The rare moments they had in free time growing up, Royal would observe Knight at combat training, curious, as they practiced a style of fighting much more ruthless and merciless than the more showy and proper style Royal was tutored in.
Now, Royal's days are filled with endless counsel and foreign envoys. They are never free of patterned silks and strings of precious jewels. They are trussed up for presentation to the kingdom, to smile and wave and offer compliments to smooth over relations.
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And in every obligation, Knight is never far from Royal's side. A steady presence, they're always alert, aware of every movement, of every small change in Royal's features.
And their gaze is hawkish and suspicious at everything surrounding Royal, ready to usher them to safety at a moment's notice. Their uniform is like a second skin to Knight, the metal plating durable and solid at their vitals but flexible around joints for movement and reaction. They have fashioned themselves into a living shield for Royal.
As they keep watch in the ballroom, sometimes Knight's eyes can't help but catch on how candlelight flickers across Royal's face and the symphony of silver and gold that clings like spiderwebs to their body.
But they always snap out of their trance to resume guard, reminding themselves of their foremost duty, protecting Royal before all else.
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Royal is secretly in love with Knight, though they're barely aware of it themself and would never admit it even if they were. It's the sort that exists subconsciously, easy as breathing, not needing to be spoken aloud.
Knight has been by their side all their life.
Knight has been there to protect them in every way, to skillfully usher them away from pushy dignitaries encroaching on their space and know when it all becomes too much.
When Royal thinks of Knight it's of their constant presence, of constancy. Knight can anticipate their every move, and it's like a safe haven for them.
Knight's stoicism is a wall, one always there for Royal to take shelter behind. Royal can't help noticing the way Knight's brows furrow and their eyes narrow as they survey threats, how their hands are home to decade-old callouses. How Knight always situates their body at the most vulnerable sides of Royal subconsciously, like it's just second nature to them.
So Royal can't help a sort of possessiveness over Knight, they are their sworn protector after all, their vow was to them, it ties them inseparably together.
Knight's devotion is like armour to Royal, it gives them strength to do what is necessary.
Wherever they go, Knight will be by their side. In every council, on every battlefield, through every sickness and at each victory and every loss. Even when Royal eventually marries, likely in a political alliance, Knight will be there all the same.
After so long, Royal cannot imagine a life where Knight is not there. They're too intwined, an extension of the same existence.
And so Royal tries to mask the jealousy when Knight, when their protector, interacts with other guards, even if its required for assignments, it's a sort of casual intimacy that Royal feels is denied to them.
It's one that Royal tries to fill through small touches on Knight's arm or holding their arm because 'they need the support, they're so very tired.' They're small and infrequent but Royal relishes in them, the way that Knight seems to become even more statuesque than usual, more guarded. But Royal can see the cracks in Knight's facade, how they never complain about their treasured propriety and masquerade necessity same as Royal.
So in the courtyard, when a lowly, starry-eyed trainee leans too close into Knight's orbit, Royal seethes. How dare they disrespect their superior like that? Royal can't help their pettiness. They abruptly turn to leave the area, knowing it will force Knight to end the exchange. Knight always immediately follows after them, loyal, closing the distance in easy steps to Royal's side. Where they belong.
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And Knight knows they belong by Royal's side, believes in their heart that it's their place. After all, who are they without Royal?
Royal's coming of age ceremony, Knight was right there alongside them. Their coronation, each name-day, each milestone, every struggle and every inevitable triumph. Knight is witness, an ensurer of things that they believe must come to pass in Royal's path to rightful glory.
Knight is ever watchful. Every late night Royal has spent looking over new proposals for the council until the sun begins to rise, Knight is there to lay a blanket gently over their shoulders when they fall asleep at their desk.
But even then, Knight has always been careful not to touch Royal unless necessary. Not just for decorum's sake, for how could they dare to casually touch royalty? But also because they regard Royal with near reverence, as someone to be worshipped, a being finally worthy of the admiration their rank demands.
So Knight can't help how their nerves bristle when a visiting noble is too intimate with Royal at a ball. Their hand resting too heavy on Royal's shoulder or when the dance ends but they don't let Royal go immediately, Knight feels anger simmering beneath their skin.
So when that noble is stumbling drunkenly through an empty palace corridor late in the dark night and suddenly finds themselves slammed up against the wall, an unknown arm pressing at their throat, who can blame Knight for their reaction? The noble needs a lesson in manners after all, a reminder in the respect that is owed to royalty, especially to one such as Royal.
Knight lets the noble go after they beg for forgiveness, swearing not to do it again after they darkly promise a painful fate if they forget. Knight watches them stumble away, choking for breath, and Knight is assured that they'll keep their hands to themselves for the remainder of their stay.
Knight's reaction is part for the sake of Royal's safety, part out of envy. It's the noble's disrespect towards Royal but also Knight's jealousy at their self-imposed inability to do the same.
After all, Knight can only see their hands as soiled, blood-soaked from killing, even if it's in the name of duty. It's why Knight stiffens whenever Royal touches their arm or offers their hand for Knight to kneel before and press their lips to gloved skin. Knight is too tainted, undeserving of Royal's touch.
But, even so, Knight would gladly do every darkness over again. To take all the worst of the world onto themselves. To do every dirty thing necessary to ensure Royal's life and safety and carve a path for them. Let Knight damn their soul to hell, if only to spare Royal from the same fate.
