I want to guide your smile.

"So thats why you wanted to protect me... i didn't know why you were so insistent." Lucinda peered down at her fingers lost in thought.

Connor softly chuckle "yes, at first that was the reason. But i found something more to it" he stopped twirling the hilt of his sword and peered back at her under his lashes.

•••

It was very early, the sun hadn't risen yet, but Little lucinda sat in the well manicured green lush grass and stared at the distance.

Connor slowly creeped towards Lucinda intending to surprise her.

"Hey" he tapped her shoulder and she jolted in shock. She hadn't expected anyone to be out here also at this hour of the day.

With her hands closed to her chest, she assessed him with curious eyes slightly narrowed.

"I'm Connor, a knight in training " he announced with a triumphant grin but Lucinda just blinked at him.

"Ah... i must have startled you my lady. Worry not, for i mean no harm" he grinned down at her then lowered himself beside her.

"I ehm... don't you think this family has a stick up their ass?"

If his mama had heard him directly insulting a noble family, she would have dragged his ear along with her back to their small cottage and lectured him. He had once been naughty, making his mama run all places around for him.

His smile held a grimace but Lucinda remained silent.

The silent treatment perhaps?

He jumped upright and held his hand to his chest "I'm connor, 11 years old from the southern part of the border, that once had a fishing village. I'm under the commander of sir luther kengrid one of the three empirical general. I wish to be of service to lady Lucinda as her future personal guard".

Connor bowed low when he was done. But silence only greeted him, so he peeked at Lucinda to see her baffled and still shocked.

He wondered whether he had come off too strong when he heard her reply.

"No".

Huh? No?!

"But my lady, i would be of huge service to you. I would always be by your side and-"

"Why do i need to bother, when all i own gets taken from me."

He stammered trying to convince her. Why was he so desperate? Connor made his mind he won't stress if she didn't agree but here he was.... stressing!

"I have no need for your service young lad. Perhaps Valerie will be more interested." She muttered the last part. Bitterness creeping into her tone

No. He didn't want Valerie. No the spoiled young lady. He wanted to serve this dignified young lady who had the air of a leader.

Lucinda stood and dusted her skirt" i must be on my way now"

Connor huffed and rested both hands at his hips " This doesn't mean i have given up my lady. I will be your personal guard."

" i thought you wanted to be a knight" she asked over her shoulders.

"I did. But as a knight will do to save the structure and pillar of the kingdom. The royals and it people. I will protect you like a kingdom itself".

"Don't be foolish. You can't have such loyalty for who you just met." Lucinda turned and calmly walked away.

As she disappeared down the small ridges he continued to helpless hold his chest as he ponders. The little lady was right. But the kindling fire burning in his chest argued against all logic.

He clenched his fist around his worn shirt.

The very next day, close to dusk. The setting sun envelope the vast greenery and luxurious estate in dark golden sparkles.

Lucinda strolled by the river side, her gaze still filled with longing as she stared at the rippling current. Still with the illusion that just maybe she might get a glimpse of her doll.

She had just escaped another toxic dinner with her family as was more than ever needing the one thing that reminded her of her mother.

A sudden rustling sound alerted her, followed by curls of wavy ginger hair and a wide smile atop sparely freckled face.

"My lady".

She blinked for a moment before the face registered to her.

Connor.

"You look gloom my lady. If i was your companion you would have a delightful smile atop your face".

He tapped her nose.

Selena still stood in shock, staring at the young boy hanging upside down a tree. The same tree the incident a few days occurred.

Before she knew it, she scoffed. Chocking on the starting of utter disbelief.

"Ah. As much as i love to see the little doe expression on thy lady. A blissful smile will be better,"

"Oh I know. How about i become thy lady personal guard to guard her smile." He winked. His light brown eyes looking golden with the help of the setting sun rays.

Instead of dismissing him like she had the last time, she instead paused snd took a good look at him. She hadn't known him long, only a once meeting but yet..

"Why do you so insist on protecting me." Her stance was dignified with elegance but her face was alight with budding curiosity.

A low hum, and a hand to his chin. His dandling hair moved with the wind, and a mellow glow seemed attached to him.

"Do anyone truly need a reason to protect someone." Connor blink at her.

"A reason to be human is cowardly".

Her mother had once said something similar, when she had wondered why she choose to protect her and be hurt by her father. When it would have been easier to be by his side.

Her mother had said 'Only a coward will need a reason to be truly human.'

"Instead of a reason, i think this would interest you more," He rumbled through a tight part of his shorts pocket and stretched out something to her.

Bright painted green eyes, with ink black hair along with a beautiful ball dress. Half of it face was gone, but she still recognized it. Her doll. He had it.

She looked up at him in wonder, tears brimming at the corner of her eyes in gratitude.

"If people didn't care about a reason to help, more lives would be saved my lady."

"I request, allow me to your knight my lady. To guide your smile" one of his hand reached the corner of his stretched lips to illuminate the smile on his face as the other continued to reach out her doll to her.

Then, Lucinda had thought he looked like an angel so pure and serene. Maybe sent from her mother— as a blissful smile crossed her lips as she held his hand atop her ceramic doll.

The setting sun shone upon them like the beginning of a friendship in a magical fairytale. Except this story had monsters. And the two kids were willing to charge through the darkness of what society had dictated for them.

And it started with a smile.