The duty of a Guardian Knight is to take a blade for the person they protect. To put it more elegantly, it is to do everything in one's power to protect the ward.
Although it might seem like being a death soldier, this position is a highly coveted prize among the children of the nobility. This is especially true when one becomes the Guardian Knight for an important member of the Royal Family.
My grandfather, Darius, was the Guardian Knight for the current King of Asura, Leonard Alec Asura, in his youth. I've heard he was quite handsome back then and was very skilled with magic.
Unlike a death soldier, a Guardian Knight must carry weapons and stay by the protected person's side for long periods, so the role cannot be filled by anyone who isn't deeply trusted.
History proves that after one person becomes another's Guardian Knight, their relationship warms up rapidly.
Thereby establishing a deep friendship.
The Silver Palace is located in the heart of the royal capital, Yars, standing atop a hill that isn't particularly high but is enough to overlook the entire city. The white palace complex glistens in the sunlight like a'silver crown set upon the plains.' The main body of the palace is primarily silver-white, with exterior walls made of special stone reinforced by magic, appearing both solemn and luxurious. From a distance, the palace's spires and arches have elegant lines, and the dome is inlaid with gemstones symbolizing royal power, which are lit up by magic circles at night like stars fallen to the human world.
The interior space is magnificent to the extreme. The central hall, paved with marble, hangs massive portraits of past kings, and the crystal chandeliers are powered by high-level light magic, casting magnificent light and shadows through the stained glass.
But this time, I was going to Ariel's living quarters, the Silver Tear Palace. Led by a servant, I had to walk for nearly twenty minutes just to reach my destination.
The Silver Tear Palace's main structure adopts a Renaissance-style courtly castle design. The main body is built of white limestone, complemented by gilded relief arched windows and Gothic spires, with the dome inlaid with moonstones that emit a faint blue glow at night.
Upon arriving at the palace, the Princess was not inside. After inquiring with a servant, I followed a hundred-meter-long colonnade extending from the palace's east wing and walked into the palace gardens.
As expected of a royal garden, there was a maze trimmed from hedges, a teardrop-shaped mirror pond, and a small hill in the distance.
When I reached the courtyard by the central lake of the garden, I saw today's protagonist.
To my surprise, she wasn't alone; there was a large group of people, with Luke among them, standing closest to Ariel.
Upon seeing my arrival, the noisy, chattering atmosphere suddenly fell silent. Everyone seemed to look at me with unfriendly eyes.
I stepped forward and performed a one-knee knight's salute to Ariel. Normally, at this point, Ariel should extend the back of her hand, allowing me to kiss it.
But it seemed something went slightly wrong.
The people around Ariel surrounded her, as if they were seeing a prehistoric beast.
One bold boy, about thirteen years old, stepped forward and said to me, "Demon of the Darius family, get out! Don't come over here to hurt Her Highness the Princess!" The other children behind him also shouted in unison, "Get out! Get out, demon!"
These people were of varying ages; some were seven or eight, some looked to be in their teens, and some were around five years old like me.
But they all had one thing in common: in my eyes, they were all just children.
So, why would I care about the words of children? Besides, if I were in their position, I would also look down on anyone related to Darius. His reputation is truly foul.
However, I didn't intend to indulge them.
Without waiting for the Princess to speak, I stood up on my own.
I looked at them with calm, emotionless eyes. "Who are you? I am Princess Ariel's Guardian Knight, and I have the duty to protect her. You cannot stay by Ariel's side without my permission. Now, please leave."
The atmosphere suddenly became heated again. That bunch of brats started talking all at once, like a disturbed hornet's nest. A few of the older boys were already rolling up their sleeves, looking ready to fight.