ROLEPLAY HQ - a-princess-and-her-knight

TW: Sexual content, jealousy, star-crossed lovers, violence, death

It was a Saturday morning, sun shining, windows open, birds chirping. A beautiful day for a beautiful event to be held, and yet the Princess just wanted to stay in bed all day. She was just exhausted. During the past two weeks, there has been a great deal of planning surrounding her appearance. It was...annoying. At least at this point. Emmaline herself deeply enjoyed the balls, but it was those that were there. All for her. All to try to win her heart like it's some type of prize, to be displayed in front of everyone. At least her dress was pretty. She was dragged out of bed and spent pretty much the entire day eating, getting ready, and performing last touch-ups on the ball before the gates opened. Nightfall was upon them before they realized it with the amount of chaos occurring within the walls. Everything had to be flawless! Many people were waiting to enter the castle while Emmaline was already in the ballroom with her parents. Emmaline was allowed to mingle as she pleased, as if she really wanted to do so. Okay, Emmaline...just suffer for a few hours and you probably won't have to see them ever again. Emmaline was dressed in a purple ballgown, of course, with her crown to match appropriately. Several accessories adorned her, she truly looked like a queen. But she didn't feel it, no. Those that knew her well were fully aware of how annoying and dreadful this was for her. A ball every few months, same thing different times. Suitors came across the country to have a chance to speak with her, a chance to dance...a chance to win. But before she had a chance to mentally prepare, people started wandering in. A couple of men already chatting it up with Emmaline after bowing and paying their respects to the royal family. Kill me... @🖤 Tie the Knot 🖤

Preparing for a ball was a job not only for the kitchen staff or the royal family but was also a very important job for the guards of the estate. There were those that roamed the grounds and the main rooms, keeping guests within the acceptable borders while also presenting themselves as a display of strength to keep people and guests in line and on their best behavior. You also had the King’s guard, a collection of guards that were entrusted with the security of the royal family and the king as a whole. Then came the personal guards, those individuals that performed the best on different tests of skill and the ability to protect. These guards worked alongside the King’s guard, but their area of focus was much more restricted. One such guard was Otto, a 26-year-old man who had spent the better part of the last two decades training to protect the princess and standing at her side to keep her safe from threats. In events such as these, where suitors from across the land would approach her in hopes of gaining her hand, Otto had to keep his attention fully fixed on reading situations and intents. As such, he spent much of the beginning of the day meditating, his mind’s eye focused on the area around him to relax himself and allow his aura to expand from himself with ease. The princess was safe with a collection of guards helping the family, so he was able to be off on his own for this preparation. Kneeling in a dark room with no decorations on the walls to distract him, Otto breathed out deeply as he felt his magic flow through his armor and out into the room around him. Feeling every detail of the room, he felt a shift behind him and snapped his eyes open. Rolling forward to dodge the blow of a thick stick, Otto stood and turned to face the being clad in black leather armor. Reaching for his belt, he smirked before standing up straight and snapping his fingers. Several candles in the room lit immediately, displaying one of his comrades dressed to blend into his su

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rroundings and keep him on his toes. Nodding, he glanced up at the covered window before flicking his fingers and casting the curtain aside. The room was bathed in the late afternoon light of the day, displaying three more similarly dressed individuals. Looking to each of them, he spoke in a confident tone, “You need to step a little lighter Jacob, I heard you well before I even felt you. Good job guys, keep it up and you will soon be hidden even in daylight.” Stepping forward and shaking each of their hands, Otto smiled before leaving the room. This was a degree of training that he had had to master, as you never knew when an assassin might show up. In the interest of combatting such a threat, every personal guard and King’s guard had to master the art of a stealthy approach, in order to beat the assassins at their own game. Collecting his longsword as he stood by the door, he strapped the scabbard to his belt and made his way through the castle until he found the room where the princess was preparing to meet her guests. Standing outside as she finished her preparations, the rest of the day flowed by in a steady stream of servants walking past him until it was ready for the event to begin.

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Accompanying Emmaline to the banquet hall, he was used to disappearing in a crowd as no one paid any mind to the man standing beside the princess clad in steel armor with a closed helmet hiding his face. Looking around at each of the men that would walk up to claim her hand, Otto shook his head discreetly when a particularly slimy one began making his way towards the princess. He could not act simply on the perverted expression on the duke’s face, but Otto did glance down at Emmaline to make sure she was comfortable or at least knew that he was here should she need it. Looking back at the man that approached, Otto shifted slightly to move his left hand to the scabbard on his hip. It was a small and subtle movement, but enough to make the man swallow any inappropriate comment as he approached the princess. @Lots of Loni 💘

Emmaline could be read like a book if those that knew her well paid attention. Including Otto. She had this feigned smile that seemed to be practiced versus her real one in more private settings. She never liked doing these kinds of things but she knew it had to be done. With each handshake, each greeting, each one that passed by, she moved closer to her freedom. When this...questionable man approached her, her eyes shifted to Otto for a moment. She caught his gaze and smiled at the relief of knowing he was there for her. The man did seem to straighten his attitude once he noticed that Otto rested his hand on the hilt. He then acted like a proper man, greeting the Princess and doing what all the others did. When he walked away, she exhaled and rubbed her forehead. "I feel like I need a drink." Emmaline would mutter, shaking her head. As the night carried on, she greeted nearly every male present. She sipped champagne after dancing with a few of the select men she figured would be pleasant to be seen with. Sitting on her throne chair, up some stairs, and next to her parents. An occasional pair of adults or another man would come up, chat with her, and whatnot. Ensuring she was having a good time, she would say she was just relaxing in each conversation. It was tiring, and when she had a moment she looked to Otto. "Remind me again why I have to be here. This is torture...agony." @🖤 Tie the Knot 🖤

Hearing the princess’s comment, Otto could not help but chuckle softly, the sound barely escaping the metal helmet around his head but still reaching the princess. “You and me both. But no drinking on the job.” Grinning and shifting his legs to bump into her as a slight nudge to show he understood her pain, Otto looked around at the young men walking around and eyeing up the princess. He felt his neck bristle with an aggravated heat when he saw a few that were looking at her with auras that detailed only lust for wealth and the uses she could have in promoting them. Shaking his head, he would speak softly every now and then to give a warning to Emmaline of what he was detecting from particularly nasty men before they would walk up. As the night moved forward and Emmaline was asked to dance with multiple suitors and she obliged them out of courtesy, Otto had stepped forward to stand on the edge of the dance floor to see and watch the dance. A large man in plate armor was an effective chaperone, most of the dancers defaulting and keeping their hands at a respectable height on her back. There was only one example where Otto had to step in after Emmaline had purposefully stepped on the creep’s toes to get him to back off. Moving forward, he had gripped the man by his upper arm and continued to the other side of the dance floor. Depositing him roughly into a circle of his friends, Otto he turned his helmeted head to stare each of them down before returning to Emmaline’s side. Standing to Emmaline’s right when she sat in her throne, Otto could feel the fatigue beginning in his calves, but ignored it as he knew the night would be coming to an end sooner than later. Glancing down at the princess as she spoke, he chuckled softly and shrugged before looking out across the crowd, “Something about expectations and the future wealth and prosperity of your kingdom. Boring really, if you ask me.” Grinning as he reached up to shift the visor of his helmet slightly and let

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more air into the metal contraption, Otto glanced down at her. He knew how much she hated this, but he also knew she didn’t want to disappoint her father. Her father expected her to have found a husband by the end of this year, and with only a few more banquets planned, her time to choose was becoming an ever-smaller window. @Lots of Loni 💘

Emmaline chuckled quietly as he nudged her, nodding along. At least someone understood, even if not to a full extent. As the night carried on, men continued to walk up to her and try to win her hand. It was like she couldn't be left alone, and thank god for Otto being there. He always gave her a heads-up whenever he felt something was coming. Eventually, it came to a point where she would be asked to dance, and well...she did so for their amusement. She knew it would make her parents happy as well, to see their daughter dancing with some men. One man, in particular, was rather slimy. His hands were a bit lower than they should have been, his words dripping with far more filth and lust than they should...that was when she stomped on his foot. Thankfully, Otto was immediately on it, casting him away. She huffed as she dismissed herself to sit back on her throne, clearly agitated and somewhat violated. She looked up at him as he answered her question, slightly smiling. "All that stuff...doesn't Father know by now that I don't really have to marry to be successful in that? I've learned so much from them, and I am sure I would still have their guidance." Emmaline sighed, leaning back on her throne with a boring look. She just wanted out of here at this point. She was also a bit stressed about the time she had left, but she did her darndest to ignore that...no need to dwell...right? @🖤 Tie the Knot 🖤

Standing on the platform where the thrones were located gave Otto a clear view of everything in the room, even sights that he shouldn’t see. Looking away from the princess so that his eyes could not see beyond the protection that her clothes gave her, he caught sight of a group of suitors standing in a circle and talking to each other. This was not some sort of crime, as suitors would often group up to see what each other had said to make an attempt to not make the same mistakes as each other. That, or they were whispering amongst each other and discussing the fantasies that they wished to carry out. Still not a crime, but definitely distasteful. This group, however, was not looking nervously between themselves and the princess. Nor were they looking to the king in an attempt to build up the courage and gall to walk past the princess and go directly to her father to ask for her hand. No, they were looking at him and the other King’s Guards that were standing guard around the royal family. Narrowing his eyes as he sensed their ill will, Otto glanced down at Emmaline and nodded quickly before speaking, “What your father knows and what tradition demands are two very different things Emmaline, you and I both know this. If your father could let you take the throne unwed and alone, I trust that he would. But he knows what tradition demands. No Queen can sit on the throne unless she has a King beside her.” Shrugging as he looked back across the wave of visitors, young and old, Otto caught sight of the group of suitors, but noticed that one of them had slipped away from the group. Casting his eyes around rapidly, he took a few moments before he noticed the suitor walking up slowly behind one of his comrades with a short dagger drawn. Anger flowed through him as the guests were supposed to be checked and disarmed, so he had no idea where this weapon could have come from. Reaching out with his mind, he focused his telepathic energy on the other guard and instructed him

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to step forward and turn around. Seeing the guard glance towards him before stepping forward and turning, Otto breathed a small sigh of relief when the guard saw the dagger and grabbed the blade. Twisting it from the surprised man’s hand, the man was discreetly arrested and taken out of the room, his fate sealed for the interrogator. Turning his attention back to Emmaline, he spoke in a soft voice, “Tell me, if you could go anywhere right now, where would you go? What would you do, and who would you do it with?” @Lots of Loni 💘

Emmaline groaned at his response, waving over a waiter to get her some wine. She sipped it once it was delivered, a deep crimson red touching her lips. Always a delight to have. "So annoying...all these men suck. Grimy...sleazy...greedy...I doubt one suitor here actually has the intent to 'fall in love' with me." She spoke with a mocking tone as she made air quotations, rolling her eyes with a 'tch'. It was clear Emmaline was starting to lose her patience tonight if that wasn't already clear. She was oblivious to much of the happenings out on the floor, her gaze focused more on the wine glass. It felt more entertaining to her than all this. How the liquid swirled around in the glass, for all to see. Like her, it was a drink that was highly sought after. Emmaline sighed and downed the rest. Once her gaze settled on the crowd again, her eyebrows lifted as she watched a man be swiftly disarmed and manhandled out of the room. She glanced at Otto with a smirk. "Keen eyes." His question rang in her ears, and her brow furrowed in thought. "Hmm...back to my room, to hide away for the rest of the night," Emmaline answered with a quiet laugh, shaking her head. Otto already knew that one. Emmaline sighed and tapped her chin. "Anywhere? Do you know those lands to the east of here? The Lavalham Islands?" The Lavalham Islands were everyone's tropical paradise, yet so difficult to get to. These lands were heavily exclusive, yet rumors circulated that they were the most picturesque, peaceful, and isolated. "I would like to travel there. Relax. It would be nice to not have a single duty...and I think I would take you with me. I believe that you deserve some time off." She smiled up at him, keeping it as...platonic as possible even though she would love a getaway to the islands with him. @🖤 Tie the Knot 🖤

Chuckling softly as he heard Emmaline’s answer, Otto nodded and had to admit that that was the answer he expected her to give, but even as it seemed like a joke, Otto was communicating with the other guards to prepare to remove the Royal Family from the room. The threat had already been stopped, but there was nothing saying that further attempts would not be made through the end of the event. Speaking with a soft chuckle, Otto looked down at her and grinned while responding, “If you’re not careful, they are going to move the throne into your bedroom when you get crowned, with how often you like to be in there.” Smirking and looking across the sea of faces again, he glanced down as she tapped her chin and started speaking. Smiling as he pictured the islands that she spoke about, his mind’s eye kept awareness on the room even as he imagined walking along the beach in light clothes. His imagination spread to walking along the beach hand in hand with a shorter woman with beautiful blonde hair, but he pulled his attention back to the room before his imaginary-self looked into the face of the beauty beside him. Swallowing thickly as he glanced down at the princess, he met her smile and returned one of his own before speaking in a deeper voice, “I would love to go with you on vacation to the Lavalham Islands Emmaline, it would be quite the pleasure.” He had to stop himself from shortening her name and using his nickname for her that he used when it was only the Royal Family in the castle. Looking over her features slowly, he tore his eyes away when he realized his gaze was lingering on her lips. Looking across the suitors and guests, he spoke in a soft voice, “You might be getting your first wish soon.” The guards were reporting seeing some of the suspicious suitors moving through the room, just as there were reports of a slight commotion outside as a group claimed they were here to see the princess but had lost their invitations. Looking around the room to track the

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movements of the suitors and check for any weapons, Otto nodded at a couple of the closest guards before reaching down and placing his gauntleted hand on the side of Emmaline's arm. Speaking quietly while he stepped forward to block the view of the princess from the room, Otto saw the other guards he had nodded at moving towards the King and Queen, "We need to go, stand up and follow me to your room." @Lots of Loni 💘

Emmaline giggled quietly, smiling to Otto. "If they move the throne into my bedroom I might actually enjoy being the crown." She sighed, but deep down she knew nothing would make her enjoy it deeply. She just wanted to live her life without being forced into it via marriage. When their eyes met again, she smiled as he spoke of the vacation. But her attention was then caught to the commotion occuring, her brows furrowing. She watched as her mother and father were escorted out, Otto stepped in front of her to speak. Her eyes showed him her true emotion in that moment while her words stayed calm. "Of course." She would stand, but he knew she was scared. But she trusted him, she always did. Emmaline would stand and follow him out the moment he started walking, staying very close behind him. @🖤 Tie the Knot 🖤

As Emmaline made her way to her feet, Otto nodded when she was with him and ready to walk. He lowered his left hand to his scabbard but did not pull out the sword, as the situation had not elevated to that point, and he did not want to cause a scare. It was strange enough that the Royal Family was being escorted out of the room rather than the visitors being sent out. Otto measured his strides so that he was moving at the princess’s speed, but he kept looking back to make sure Emmaline was with him. Doing so also helped him to look and see if the suitors had gotten any closer and warranted an immediate armed response. They were lucky enough to not be bothered by any of the aggressive suitors as they walked together to the hidden side door exit that had to be magically unlocked. Swiping his hand over the locking mechanism and using a unique wordless magic, Otto let the door begin to open before pushing it open and ushering Emmaline through into the small passageway. It was a tunnel put into place with the purpose of allowing servants to move unseen but was also used by the Royal Family and their guards to get around safely. @Lots of Loni 💘

Emmaline was always nervous when these kinds of things happened. But she always knew that she was safe with Otto, as he led her out of the ballroom. Each time he looked back she would greet him with a brief smile, but also did her own looking back for a sense of reassurance. Thankfully, no one seemed to be following them. She did her part to keep up with Otto, but she was aware that Otto was matching her speed, which made her a little relieved. Emmaline watched with anxiety as he unlocked the door, wishing there was a quicker way, but this was a safe way. She would walk into the small passageway after he ushered her in, exhaling quietly. "What is happening?" She would ask once they were within the passageway. @🖤 Tie the Knot 🖤