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“Mika-sama, are you really sure you don’t want—”
“ Yes. How many times do I have to tell you? Suguru has been my knight for years and I do not wish for a new one. Are you saying you don’t think the Queen knows what’s best for her?” Mika challenges Omizu, the head Knight of the royal palace.
Ever since she ascended the throne, the elders around her have been trying to convince her to “upgrade” her knight. Whatever upgrading means. Suguru is a well-credited Knight in his own right and he has been by her side since she was a teenager.
Mika is familiar with Suguru, she didn’t see why being the Queen required her to get a new one to break in and get comfortable with.
The knight sighs. “Very well, Mika-sama.” The topic is dropped but Mika reckons that he will come to bother her about this again in the future.
Mika walks frustratingly to the palace garden. The gardens are quiet and usually not populated with people that always have something to bother her about.
Also, Mika knows that in the garden she will find him waiting for her.
She takes her gown in her hands and treads through the path of the big palace garden. From the corner of her eye, she sees a dark-haired man dressed in the royal knight's uniform. Her knight and the object of all her desires.
Suguru is standing by the gazebo placed in the middle of the palace garden. As Mika approaches the gazebo, a child suddenly bursts through one of the paths and runs straight into Suguru’s legs.
“Woah careful there,” Suguru says as he steadies the girl.
“Sorry, mister!” The girl quips.
Mika recognizes her as the daughter of one of her advisors. The high-ranking officials of the palace have the privilege of bringing their children to the palace so long as they behave. Mika always found the presence of children as a mood-lifter in the palace.
Suguru kneels so he’s at face level with the girl. “Are you playing tag? Just be careful okay? And don’t get lost,” Suguru says gently to the girl who smiles and nods, before running off.
Suguru looks back at the child with a smile and Mika feels something tug at her heart seeing Suguru’s gentler side come out for a child.
Mika usually doesn’t let herself fantasize about things she cannot have, but sometimes it is hard not to when the picture perfect image is placed right in front of her.
“Mika-sama,” Suguru says when he finally sees Mika.
“My knight,” Mika responds. He kneels in respect of his Queen, but Mika knows he does it just to tease her. There is no need for those formalities between them.
“Did your conversation with Omizu-san go well?” Suguru asks.
“No, he keeps trying to get me to replace you,” Mika huffs and Suguru just laughs. The head Knight is just doing his job and Suguru has never taken it personally.
“There are rumours among the royal knights that I did something dirty to get you to keep me as your knight,” Suguru muses as he sits inside the gazebo with Mika.
“Who is saying that? I can deal with them,” Mika says angrily.
“Don’t fret about it. They’re fumings that I am the Queen’s Knight and not them is enough for me,” Suguru says as he brings a strand of Mika’s long hair to his lips to kiss it.
“You’re very pleased, aren’t you?” Mika asks.
“To be the Queen’s personal knight? Well of course,” Suguru says.
“You know, Omizu and the other elders are going to keep trying to take you away from me. I think they think as long as I have you around I won’t marry,” Mika says before rolling her eyes.
“I don’t see why they think you need a King. You can rule fine on your own,” Suguru says.
“You tell them that!” Mika complains somewhat childishly. Aside from the palace children running around, they’re alone in the garden. Mika feels empowered to just be herself for once in contrast to the usual act of grace she must put up as the Queen.
Suguru is one of the few Mika feels okay being herself around. He fell in love with her when she was still just a teenager and a princess rebelling against her parents. There’s still a fire behind her eyes, but she has since matured.
“I did play dirty a lot. In battle and in the Knights Academy. But I’d argue you don’t get far as a Knight if you’re not willing to play dirty. But for you, Mika-sama,” Suguru says as he hooks her hair behind her ear. Mika flushes red at the gesture of affection.
“I was always genuine.”
“Well the way you bed your Queen is pretty dirty if you ask me,” Mika says and it is Suguru’s turn to flush red from her sudden dirty joke.
“My Queen, are you saying that I don’t treat you with the utmost respect and kindness?” Suguru asks.
“Yes except for when I sneak you into my chambers,” Mika says before snickering.
“I really hope no one can hear us. Then I might actually get killed by Omizu and you really will get a new Knight,” Suguru says.
“No one will come to bother us here, Suguru,” Mika says softly before she places a hand on Suguru’s leg to kneel in and place a gentle kiss on his lips.
Suguru returns the kiss just as gently.
Mika sometimes wishes in another universe, Suguru had been born a royal or a noble that she could marry. They would rule her Kingdom in tandem as a King and Queen.
Other times, Mika thinks about how Suguru has been by her side since she was sixteen as her Knight. Despite the loneliness of being a princess trapped in the Palace walls, Mika never truly felt alone with her snarky yet loyal Knight. The genuine love they have she would never replace for any riches.
Mika is the Queen now. She could change her kingdom's traditions for the better so she could marry the only man she cares to be her King. If Mika never married and Suguru simply stayed by her side as her Knight, then she would be fine with that too.
“It’s getting late, Mika-sama. You should go back to your chambers,” Suguru breathes out as he pulls away. His words are polite and innocent, but Mika can see the desire in his eyes.
“Only if my Knight escorts me there,” Mika responds and Suguru smiles wickedly before standing up and giving Mika his hand.
Mika smiles and allows herself to be led to her chambers where Suguru will surely just be keeping guard and absolutely not joining her inside.