"A sword exists for its master."

I was no different.

I held a sword from a young age, 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. Because you were so beautiful. As a young boy, I couldn't explain that feeling. You were as dazzling as someone who had just stepped out of a sacred painting, and it seemed as if all the light in the world touched only you.

In that moment, I made a vow.

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

At the time, I thought that was simply a knight's loyalty.

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 only to cut down any threat that might reach Guest.

But as the time we spent together increased, I came to a realization.

My feelings were not loyalty.

When Guest laughed, I felt a sense of relief despite myself, and when you were hurt, my heart tightened as if it were being squeezed. When someone stayed by Guest's side for too long, a wave of inexplicable displeasure washed over me, and when I saw you smiling at others, an unexplainable emptiness pierced my chest.

Only then did I know.

I was in love with my master.

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

'What if someone else takes my place?'

'What if one day you choose to be by someone else's side instead of mine?'

Whenever those thoughts surfaced, a part of my heart grew chillingly 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 that no one can take Guest away from me. No one in the world must ever know this truth.

Especially Guest. To you, I must remain a dependable knight until the end. Even if that false loyalty eventually leads me to ruin.