The princess's knight (2)

"What is it, Grandfather?" I asked Grandpa curiously.

"You know that every royal family's princes and princesses get a personal knight to serve them as their bodyguards when they turn fourteen." Grandpa said.

"Yes, of course, I know. My sisters both have personal knights who follow them everywhere." I answered.

Lisa has Larry as her personal knight and Lucy has Vincent as hers." I said.

"And, I have got a personal knight just for you!" Grandpa said.

"For me?" I asked curiously. "But I thought that I wasn't entitled to have my own personal knight. I remember that stepmother was against the idea when father brought it up." I said.

"Don't worry Alicia. I have chosen your personal bodyguard. Rosa won't do anything if I say so." Grandpa said.

"Thank you, Grandpa." I said. I felt touched by what Grandpa did for me. He and Richard were the only ones who were good to me in this palace.

"Leon, come here." Grandpa called.

From the shadows, emerged a young man. He had dark brown wavy hair and yellow eyes. He was wearing the knight's gray uniform. When he came closer, I noticed his handsome face and that he was pretty tall.

"Alicia, this is Leon Fiztergald. He is 18 years old. He is one of the royal guard's youngest and most outstanding knights." Grandpa introduced him to me. "Leon, this my granddaughter third princess of Ethiopia Alicia Heist Johns." Grandpa introduced me to him.

"Good morning, Princess Alicia." Leon greeted me. I nodded back to greet him.

"We will do a private ordaining for Leon to be your bodyguard, is that okay Alicia?" Grandpa asked me.

It was a custom here in Ethiopia that for a child of the royal family to ordain a personal knight, its declaration would be made in the grand hall. Many people would bear witness when the knight would take oath in front of their master or lady. Then the master or lady would ordain his oath binding his oath forever.

"It's okay Grandpa, I don't need many people to bear witness. The ones that matter to me the most are all present here. You will be my witnesses." I said as I smiled. I looked at everyone near me. From Grandpa to Richard to William. They were the only ones to show me kindness in this life of mine. I was happy to have them.

"OK, Alicia." Grandpa said. "Leon, is that okay with you?" Grandpa asked Leon.

" Sir Robert, it is already an honor for me to be serving the royal family as a personal knight for the third princess. I won't ask for any recognition or glory, just by doing my job I will obtain my pride, happiness, and joy." Leon said as he smiled at me.

Looking at his smile, I couldn't help but wonder if I had seen his smile somewhere before. I just couldn't remember where.

Suddenly, Leon started walking towards me. He stopped about a meter away and kneeled before me. He took out his sword and offered it to me.

"I, Leon Fiztergald, a knight of the royal guards, hereby solemnly swear from this day on my sword will be used to protect the third princess of Ethiopia, Alicia Heist Johns. I now promise to forever render my service to her. My body and soul will now only be bound by oath to only her forever." Leon said to me as he presented his sword to me. I slowly took it from him.

"I, Alicia Heist Johns, the third princess of Ethiopia, have heard this oath taken by Leon Fiztergald. I hereby accept his sword which will now be used to protect me. From this day on, I will use his service. I will reward him when he does good and punish him when he does bad. Now, I will forever hold your words in my heart and bind your body and soul to me by this oath." I raised his sword and gave it to him.

I gave the sword back to him and he then put it back. After that, he slowly took my hand and kissed it. This gesture made me blush.

"Rise, Sir Leon, my personal knight." I said a bit awkwardly.

Leon stood up and smiled at me. His smile was stunning. And once again, I couldn't help but wonder where I had seen his smile.