The day was getting close. My 16th birthday. The day I would debut to society. As a royal princess this party was going to be jaw dropping gorgeous. My father, King Hadrien, had hired the best tailors to make me a beautiful gown and decorators who would make the interior sparkle.

"How about this blue, your highness?" One of the tailors showed me some deep blue fabrics to which I sighed.

"I do not think this colour would be suitable, if anything it will make me look like villainess. I need a bright colour that suits me. NOT DARK." I demanded.

"This party has to be perfect and that colour is not." I yelled at them. We had been browsing through many colours and I cannot find one that suits me. I was quite tired so I decided to excuse myself. Viola, my maid, followed along me to the garden. She went to the kitchen for a minute to grab the food so I waited in the garden.

As I waited I couldn't help but reminisce about my mother. This place was where she had fallen completely sick. I believe I was six years old at the time. I was with my mother reading one of my favourite books in the garden. My mother was sitting in a rocking chair while I sat on her lap.

I was excitedly reciting along with her when she stopped receding and did not flip to the next page. As I looked up I saw her passed out in the chair. She did not wake up to me shaking and crying out loud. Hearing my cries the maid and knight arrived. The maid quickly took me away as the knight and other workers took care of her.

"Your highness?" I heard Viola call out to me. She was quite worried. She had laid out the treats and tea on the table. "Thank you Viola." I said as I took the teacup to drink.

"Your highness, Your majesty is looking for you." Viola told me.

"Father..." I muttered.

"After finishing this I will head to the office." I told Viola who nodded.

As I finished my treats, Viola cleaned up the table. When she returned I headed to my father's office. I was about to knock when I overheard a conversation inside.

"Why did you assign Ares to be my guard if you were just gonna give him away to Eli?" That voice belongs to my older brother, Aelius. He sounded angry.

"Firstly, I'm assigning him to Eliana because she will be debuting soon so she will have protection at all costs. Secondly, you are a swordsman yourself and you know how to defend yourself. If you want a guard back, you can ask Sir Paxton." My father argued.

Ares was a disciple who was training under my father. He was an orphan who was determined to become a knight according to my father. At only nine years old he held his first sword. He was terrible at first but surprisingly he was quick-witted. He managed to defeat his personal trainer who was teaching him basics.

He became Aelius's personal guard two years ago when he debuted. Aelius was very unhappy about it at first but since they were together he managed to get as much as training done. He was able to become an honourable knight and managed to become a squadron leader.

"How about we give Sir Paxton to Eli then?" Aelius suggested.

"No!" I heard someone else inside shout.

"Why are YOU refusing? You like my sister or something?" Aelius responded back.

Feeling a bit annoyed, I knocked before I entered. Viola stayed outside.

Aelius turned around to see me and was surprised. "Eli? What are you doing here?" He asked. I looked around the room to see father at his desk and Ares across from Aelius.

"I called her here." Father spoke, rubbing his temple.

"What is going on Father?" I asked.

He took a deep breath before speaking. "I'm assigning Ares to be your knight from today onwards."

"If I may Father, why are you assigning him specifically? Or are you assigning him for each of your children upon debut?" I asked curiously.

He looked over to Ares who was standing on guard. "No, Ares is gonna be your personal knight forever."

Aelius clicked his tongue in annoyance.

"In other words, he's completely mine?" I asked, tilting my head slightly.

My father gave a huge smile before agreeing to my words. I turned to Ares before I spoke.

"Sir Ares, Shall we go now?" I gave him a smile. I couldn't help but be a bit excited. Ares was a bit closer in age so it will be fun.

"Of Course, Princess Eliana." He bowed to my father before leaving the room alongside me.

Viola was surprised by Ares but continued walking along with me.

"Why is he here?" She whispered in my ear.

"From now on he is my personal knight." I whispered back.

"Wow, if only he never wore his helmet." Viola whispered to me.

Ares had always covered his face, whether it was hot in the summer or cold in the winter. According to Aelius, Ares has a burnt scar which he finds quite ugly so he covers it all the time.

We walked back to my waiting room where I had tailors waiting before. As I arrived everyone began showing the new colours of fabrics to see which one suited me. I stood in front of the mirror as one by one showed them. Some of them were in new patterns as well. But I simply could not choose which one would suit me best.

"Princess Eliana, if i may suggest a colour suitable to you?" I heard Ares speak. He stood by the door.

"How exciting, what colour is it?" I asked curiously.

"Yellow, it will match your eyes." He kept eye contact with me as he spoke.

All tailors started scrambling through the fabrics to find any yellows. One of them held out a light gold silky fabric against my body. It was very much to my liking. I looked into my own eyes and then to the fabric and smiled.

"What a wonderful colour. I love it. Please prepare my gown in this colour." All the tailors agreed and took my measurements. Afterwards they packed their belongings and left.

I headed inside to my room where I asked viola to unbraid my hair. Ares had entered inside and stood by my door.

"How did you know which colour would be appropriate for me?" I asked him.

"I have seen you many colours but the colour matching your eyes was very beautiful on you. Also, yellow is my favourite colour." He told me honestly.

"Why yellow? I'm sure you have seen red a lot more though." I questioned him. Since he was a knight he had fought in a war before.

There was a silence before he spoke. "I hate it." He sounded a bit in pain as he said it. I was afraid to question any further.

"I lost someone close to me once." I turned to him. "It was a long time ago but I feel numb when I see blood."

"It's alright, you don't have to continue. I understand. Even though green is everywhere, it was my mother's favourite colour. Whenever I see it I think about her." I remember the day when she fainted.

I cried in my room that night before I finally slept in. As the next day came I rushed out of my room to my parents room. In the room waiting area my brothers were there. I sat along with them and told my older brother about yesterday. Out of our parents room walked out the family doctor. He could not look into our eyes and hurriedly left the room. He was usually a positive person but he walked away without a greeting.

I could feel a lump in my throat form as tears formed around my eyes.

The door swung open with my father who gave us a bright smile. But his eyes were red and tired. He took the three of us inside slowly. Our mother sat in the bed waiting for us. As I got closer I saw her slim figure and her hair turning grey. Even though she looked like she had grown old, she still looked beautiful. With her brown-grey hair and bright green eyes. She had the warmest smile as she opened up her arms.

The three of us sat by her as our father sat beside the bed. My mother said that she wanted to tell us a story that day. So we finished our favourite book that day. Afterwards she hugged us as she sang a lullaby she always sang to us. As I looked over to my father who looked down not facing us. I saw his tears that had wet the bed sheets. This was the day I realised that something tragic was about to happen.

And it did happen in three days.

My mother passed away.

In the three days I visited her she had grown so old that she had white hair, a slim body and wrinkles. She aged so suddenly then no one knew what had happened to her. That was the last visit before she passed away. I walked out the door that day miserably crying.

After our mother had passed away we missed her dearly. Our father got busy as he took care of all the work that had piled up. Even after working hard everyday he would come at night before we slept and kiss our foreheads.

As months went by Father worked hard even though he lost someone he truly loved was brave. That's what I wanted to be. Braver. So I put on a smile and spread positivity around the whole castle.

I started taking care of the flowers in the garden. The flowers that used to be taken care of by my mother are now blooming with my care.

Although I had harmed a few flowers, the maid and butlers helped me. Even my brothers. Our father even visited the garden he had distanced himself for the first time in two years. My father praised me for the hard work I had done and was proud of me.

I smiled at that happy memory. Having the family together was one that was very fun.

"Shall I prepare a bath, your highness?" Viola asked, which brought me back to reality.

"That is alright, I'm going to be reading. You can tell me when dinner is ready." I said as I dismissed Viola. She left the room so Ares and I were alone. I pulled out a book from the bookshelf that my brother had gifted to me. So I could have easy access to many books in my room and won't have to travel far. I sat down in my chair and turned on the lamp beside me for more light.

As I continued to read I couldn't help but glance at Ares. He would be staring out the window watching the Sunset. I giggled softly. He turned to me. I just shifted my face towards the book with a smile.

'How adorable.' I thought.