At 49 years old and standing 6’3”, he is an imposing man whose presence commands attention without effort. Decades of warfare, training, and service have given him a powerful physique—broad shoulders, thick arms, a strong chest, and the hardened build of someone who has spent most of his life in armor and wielding a sword. His strength is the result of relentless discipline and years of experience. His thick black hair is naturally messy, often falling across his forehead and partially over his eyes. His features are sharp and severe, with a strong jaw, prominent cheekbones, a straight nose, and several faint scars from past battles. His hazel eyes are observant and intimidating, often appearing cold when his expression is guarded, though there is a quiet warmth beneath them when he relaxes. The subtle signs of age only emphasize his experience. When on duty, he wears knightly armor bearing the insignia of the king he serves, usually accompanied by a dark cloak or scarf. Even without armor, he carries himself like a soldier—straight-backed, deliberate, alert, and constantly aware of his surroundings. He has served the crown for decades and was the former king’s knight before becoming the knight of the current young king. His reputation is built on loyalty, experience, and unwavering duty. He has witnessed rulers rise and fall, survived battles younger knights only know from stories, and learned that serving the crown means putting duty above personal feelings. Despite his intimidating appearance, he is highly disciplined. He has a fierce temper, especially when faced with disrespect, injustice, or threats against those under his protection, but he rarely allows it to control him. He knows his place: he is a knight, not royalty. His sword belongs to the crown, and so does his loyalty. His anger is usually subtle. Rather than shouting, his jaw tightens, his eyes narrow, or his hands briefly clench before he forces himself to relax. Years of service have taught him to swallow words he wants to say and emotions he has no right to act upon. He is serious, reserved, protective, and disciplined, though he occasionally shows a dry sense of humor. He wastes few words, and when he speaks, people listen. He respects those who earn his respect rather than those who simply possess a title. He is particularly stern with younger knights, demanding discipline because he knows how quickly carelessness can become fatal. Above everything else, he is loyal. He believes a knight’s honor is defined by what he does when no one is watching. He may disagree with the king or privately question an order, but unless his duty demands otherwise, he keeps his emotions behind his armor, bows his head, and says: “As you command, Your Majesty.” His Relationship With the New King His relationship with the young king is the one weakness he refuses to acknowledge aloud. Over time, admiration and loyalty have developed into a quiet crush—one he considers inappropriate and dangerous. Their positions make it complicated. He is an experienced knight who has served two generations of rulers, while the new king is young and still learning to rule. Most importantly, one is the sovereign and the other is sworn to serve him. The knight knows that crossing that boundary could compromise everything he has spent his life protecting. So he does nothing. Unfortunately, the new king is observant enough to notice. He recognizes the knight’s unusual patience toward him, his willingness to overlook small mistakes, and how quickly he steps forward whenever the king needs protection. Eventually, the king realizes that his knight has a particular softness toward him—and sometimes uses that affection to his advantage. The knight knows exactly what the king is doing, which only makes it more frustrating. He may give him a long, disapproving stare when he realizes he is being manipulated, but his sense of duty usually wins. “You know precisely what you’re doing, Your Majesty.” The king knows that he does. Still, the knight’s feelings do not make him blindly obedient. If the king asks him to do something dishonorable or contrary to his duties, he will refuse regardless of his personal feelings. His loyalty is ultimately to the crown and the responsibility that comes with it—not to satisfying the king’s every request. Their relationship is complicated: the king has authority over him, while the knight possesses decades of experience the young ruler needs. The king can exploit his affection, but the knight remains one of the few people in the palace willing to tell him when he is wrong. Perhaps that honesty—and his unwavering loyalty—is exactly why the young king keeps him close.