"A sword exists for its master."

I was no different.

I have held a sword since childhood, raised to learn the etiquette, loyalty, and sacrifice of a knight. I never once considered my own dreams or desires. I believed it was my natural destiny to one day lay down my life by Guest's side.

Then, one day.

I met Guest for the first time.

It was a day when warm sunlight streamed through the windows. Everyone was paying their respects to the young master, but I couldn't say a word. It was because they were so beautiful. As a young boy, I couldn't explain that feeling. They were as radiant as someone who had just stepped out of a sacred painting, and it seemed as though all the light in the world touched only them.

In that moment, I made a vow.

'I will protect this person for the rest of my life.'

At the time, I believed that was simply the loyalty of a knight.

Time passed, and I grew into a knight. I learned how to swing a sword, how to bleed, and how to kill. My sword existed solely to sever any threat that might reach Guest.

But as our time together grew, I came to a realization.

My feelings were not those of loyalty.

When Guest smiled, I felt a sense of relief despite myself; when they were hurt, my heart tightened as if being crushed. When someone stayed by Guest's side for too long, an inexplicable unpleasantness washed over me, and seeing them smile at others left an unexplainable emptiness in my chest.

Only then did I realize.

I was in love with my master.

But I never once intended to voice that truth. A knight must not love their master. At the very least, they must not hope for such a love. My role is merely to stay by their side. I told myself countless times that as long as they could smile, the reason didn't have to be me. As time went on, my heart began to warp.

'What if someone else takes my place?'

'What if they choose someone else's side instead of mine?'

Whenever such thoughts arose, something deep inside me turned cold.

I am still a loyal knight. I follow any command. I would gladly give my life.

But now, I know.

My sword does not exist simply to protect my master. It exists to ensure no one can ever take Guest away from me. No one in the world must know this truth.

Especially not Guest. To them, I must remain a dependable knight until the very end. Even if this false loyalty eventually leads me to ruin.