Once upon a time there was a stunning and lovely princess who lived in a castle. She is a noble young lady who carries herself with poise and dignity. She listens attentively. And when she speaks, she carefully chooses her words. She exercises control over her emotions and makes choices based on what's right rather than on how she feels. Her beauty was spoken of throughout the lands. Poets wrote tomes filled to the brim with sonnets and limericks devoted to her gorgeousness. Artists filled entire galleries with paintings and sculptures trying desperately to capture her near perfect form. Her father, the king, had raised her to be a fair just, ruler and over time her only concern became the happiness and safety of her subjects.

 

One day, the princess wanted to go out of the castle. She got no one to accompanied her. Then, she thought that her favorite private knight maybe will accompany her to the town or somewhere else. He is a stellar battlefield athlete, he’s also a genuinely nice guy. That’s the reason the princess chooses him as her private knight. She walked out of her room and bumped into her knight. The knight bowed once he saw the princess.

 

“My knight, I want to go out for a walk. Will you accompany me?” the Princess requested.

 
“It would be my honor, my Princess” said the knight.

 

After a moment, both of them went out of the castle.

 

“Lead the way will you? Where should we go?” the Princess asked.

 
“As you wish. Let’s go to the fountain in the centre of the city? If that's okay with you?” asked the knight.

 

“Sure. I would love to go there. With you, my knight.”

 

They started their journey without any words. Both of them didn’t say any words.

 

“Your highness, we're here. There's a lot of citizens. Are you okay with this crowded place?”

 

“I'm fine. Don't worry. I would love to know my people too.”

 

The knight jumped on the black chair near the fountain. He tried to gain people’s attention. They started to notice the knight who trying to convey a message.

 

“Guys, the princess is here!” the knight shouted.

 

The crowd started to gasp and stared at the princess in awe. They started to clap like a seal as if they saw a show or something. The princess bowed and gave them a bright and beautiful smile.

 

“Hey. Don't.” The princess whispered.  “Hey, my knight. Out of this place, can we?”

 

“Well, you seem awkward. I’m sorry if this caused by me. Okay, let’s go out of here.”

  
“No. I just don't like attention like this. Would love to go to the park, Near the castle. Can we?”
 

“As you wish. I will lead the way.”

 
“Thank you, my knight.”

 

“So, we're here and there's no one and I can’t be alone with you here, your Highness. That would leave a bad view to the king, and other royal people. We need to go somewhere else where there's people.” the knight exclaimed.

 

“Let's go then”

 

“Well, I’m out of idea. You, your Highness choose a place, and I’ll lead the way.”

 

“Let's go to the market”

 

“wait. Are you sure your Highness?”

 

“Why?”

 

“With the smell of the market quite unpleasant?”

 

“Is that so wrong?”

 

“It doesn’t suits you.”

 

“No. Being a Princess doesn't suits me at all.”

 

“Forgive me, Princess. Can you said it again? You are princess. Of course it suits you.” asked the knight.

 

“No it's not. I want to be an ordinary people. Not all this attention.” the Princess answered it humbly.

 

“Well, we can’t change our fate, but we can turn that fate into good things. How about a visit to a farm or the garden?”

 

“What farm? Cow? Goat?”

 

“No, of course not. The berries farm.”

 

“Berries sounds good. Let's go.” the Princess responded to it joyfully. “Lead the way, please?” asked the Princess with a smile on her face. 

 

“I will. By the way, my Princess, would you...” the knight stammered. He gathered all the courage to express his wants.

 

“Yes? Tell me, my knight. Spill it out.” the Princess told him with curiosity.

 

“If this is okay for you, would you like to walk beside me, so that I can protect you easier.”

 

“Sure my knight. You can.”

 

“Really? Well, okay then. Thank you.”

 

“Yes, my knight.”

 

Knight's face turned red. He walked beside the Princess silently. The princess noticed it, the awkwardness. She’s curious. She’s worried just in case the knight uncomfortable with her by his side.

 

“Hey. Are you okay? You seemed uncomfortable.”

 

“No, I’m okay. Of course I am. Just, this is the first time I walk beside you. So, it quite nervous for me.” the knight told her shyly.

 

The knight took a glanced at the princess. He was in awe. He asked himself, why on earth she’s so beautiful from this view? He loved the moment. The moment that he spent with the princess. He wished that the time would stop for a moment so that he can stay with her much longer.

 

“So, Where do you live, my knight?” the princess asked him questions so that he might feel a little bit comfortable and talked to her.

 

“I lived at the outside of the city, near the scout post where I used to work, before promoted to your knight. Why? What’s wrong with that sudden question?”

 

“Nothing. Just wonder. Are you married yet?”

 

“No no no. I’m not.” The knight denied. “Why?”

 

“Nahh, Nothing. You should find your soul mate. She might be somewhere, out there.” She told him with a wink.

 

The princess’ question did make knight’s heart skip a beat. 

 

“Yes she is, but I will find her after my job protecting you is done.” He said.

 

“My knight, You've done enough.”

 

“No I’m not.”

 

“But i want you to stay. Is that too much to ask?”

 

The knight’s face turned red, total red.

 

“Ye... yes I will, your Highness.” The knight stammered.

 

“My knight. I'm tired.” “Can we stop for a while? This heels hurt me.”

 

Without any words, he took off his cloak and put it on the grass.

 

“Sit here, my Princess. Take off your heels.”

 

“You shouldn't. My knight.  It's okay.”

 

“No I’m okay. You should be comfortable.”

 

“Well then, If you insist. Thank you.”

 

The knight smiled and bowed at the princess. She took off her heels. The knight took a glanced at the princess while she taking off her heels. He spotted some dark bruises on the princess’ heels. He quickly knelt down and told her.

 

“My liege, your foot.” Said the knight with his eyes wide open.

 

“No. It's nothing.” The princess obviously tried to hide it from him and bear the pain by herself.

 

“I saw it, allow me? If you're okay with it?”

 

“Okay.” The princess trusted him.

 

“Wait, I forgot my ointment.”

 

“Nahhh. It's okay. I'm fine.”

 

“No you're not. That leaf can do, wait here.”

 

 The knight dashed to the nearest bushes and picked few leaves that can treat the bruises. He carefully choosing the leaves so that there’s no insects or anything.

 

“Show me your foot.”

 

The princess showed him her bruises. The knight took off his gloves and put the leaves on the dark bruises on her heels. She flinched due to the touch of the leaves. She bite her lips because she’s holding the pain and didn’t want the knight noticed it. she tried to hide the pain from him. She looked at the knight, so did him. Their eyes met. She gave her sincere and bright smile at him. The knight can see the tears in her eyes, because she’s holding the pain.

 

“Hold on, princess.”

 

“I am.” She told him with a light voice.

 

“I know it's quite hurt.”

 

The knight took off his scarf and wrapped her heels with the leaves on it. He wrapped it gently and carefully not to hurt her more.

 

“Okay. It's done. That will do.” Said the knight while finished it.

 

“Why did you use that? It's yours my knight.”

 

“I’m okay with that. It's my job to protect you and keep you safe.”

 

“Not until that extend my knight. It's yours. And it's already got dirt on it.”

 

“No. I’m okay with that, but, after you're healed, I want you to keep it. It's from my late grandmother, her last gift.”

 

“I knew it. It's something precious. My knight...”

 

“Yes, and that’s why I use it, on you.”

 

“I don't think I can continue our journey. What should we do my knight?” she asked with concerned.

 

“If you're okay, I would like to lift you to the castle, or you got somewhere else to go?”

 

“No you can't. I'm heavy. No no.”

 

“No, you’re not. Let me try.”

 

“I'll force myself.”

 

“No, you don’t have to.”

 

“Should we go back to the castle?”

 

“Yes, of course. Jump on my back.”

 

“I'll try to walk by myself.” 

 

“If you insist. Are you sure you can walk?”

 

“Let's go. I'm fine. Yes 100% sure.”

“Okay then.”

 

The knight took the cloak and the heels. The princess barely stand on her feet. She tried to take a step, but she almost fell on the grass. The knight held her, not letting her fall. He can’t stand anymore watching his princess like that. Without any words, he lifted her on his back. The princess quickly wrapped her hands tightly around his neck. She’s shocked. He started the journey towards the castle with or without princess’ permission.

 

“See, you’re not heavy at all.”

 

“Oh my god. My knight. Are you sure?”

 

“Just stay still. Yes, I am.”

 

“I know myself. I’m heavy... Well then.”

 

Both of them enjoyed the way-back-to-the-castle scenery. The sunset, the breezes, the chills, the moment. The knight stay silent.

 

“So, tell me princess, do you enjoy today?” he barely asked her a question.

 

“I do my knight, I do. My knight...” she tried to ask him something.

 

“Yes? What it is?”

 

“Why did you stay as my knight?” she asked while yawning. She’s kinda sleepy on the knight’s back.

 

“My liege? You're sleepy aren't you?”

 

“Answer me” she told him with a deep voice.

 

“Well, I do love my job, protecting you. I take my oath, to protect you, till king's further order.”

 

Apparently, the princess fell asleep. She didn’t listened to the knight’s answer. She’s sleeping soundly on his back. She does love the warmth of the knight’s back.

 

“Already asleep.” The knight talked to himself and smiled.

 

“...and of course I stay as your knight, because I fell in love with you, and I know my love is forbidden to the kingdom.” He confessed with a slow voice to prevent the princess woke up.

 

After a few minutes, they arrived at the castle while the knight who is still piggyback the princess. When they reached at the gate, they bumped into the king, princess’ father.

 

“Your king, forgive me. Princess is wounded and she's tired, so I lend my strength. I know what I done is wrong, but I don't want her to exert herself.” He told the king while bowed a little bit since the princess still on his back.

 

“Oh, it's okay. You've done well enough. Send her to the bed.” The king ordered him.

 

Without any words, the knight walked to the princess’ room. He put her on her bed and wrapped her with the blanket.

 

“Sleep well and sleep tight my beautiful princess.” He whispered and slowly leave the room.

 

The princess awake.

 

“My knight...”

 

“Oh, I’m sorry. Did I woke you up, my liege? I’m so sorry.” The knight apologized.

 

“No you didn't. Thank you my knight, for a beautiful day.” She told him with a smile.

 

“No thanks is necessary. It’s my job.”

 

“I think I asked you something. But I can't remember it, Did i? Or didn’t i?”

 

“Yes you did. You asked me why I stay as your knight, and I answered it, but you slept.” The knight told her honestly.

 

“Am i?” she wondered.

 

“Yes you did.”

 

“Well. Forget about that because I want to sleep. We’ll talk about this later okay, my knight?”

 

“Well, okay then. May you have a goodnight sleep, my princess.”

 

“Once again. Thank you my knight. Will never forget this wonderful day.” The princess uttered.

 

“No thanks is necessary. I will not too.”

 

“And I'm sorry because you need to carry me all the way to the castle.”

 

“No you didn't have to. It’s my job and the king allowed it. Well then, I'll go now.”

 

“Good night my knight”

 

“Okay then, have a full rest princess.” He wished her and left.

 

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Written by: NS & NN