ibiangoyike

In the kingdom of Valderin, where strength defines one's worth, Elara dreams of becoming a knight—an honor forbidden to women. Determined to defy the odds, she disguises herself as a boy and enlists in the kingdom’s elite knight training.

But her path is anything but easy. Standing between her and her dream is Commander Damien, the kingdom’s strongest warrior and the leader of the knights. Ruthless, disciplined, and unyielding, he sees her as nothing more than a weakling unworthy of his approval. If she wants to survive the brutal trials and earn her place among the knights, she must prove him wrong.

As Elara rises through the ranks, pushing past limits she never imagined, Damien begins to notice something unsettling about this new recruit—an unwavering determination that sets "him" apart. The more they clash, the more the tension between them grows, sparking emotions neither of them can afford to feel.

But war is brewing, and secrets can only stay hidden for so long. When the truth comes to light, will Elara’s strength be enough to protect her dream—or will the betrayal cost her everything, including the man she never meant to fall for?

A Warrior's secret

Every muscle screamed in protest, her ribs still stung from Damien's training session, but she didn't stop. She couldn't.

She was getting better, and he noticed.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, signaling the end of another grueling day, the recruits were finally dismissed. Elara barely had time to catch her breath before Kai nudged her side.

"Survived another day, Elijah?" he teased, grinning.

Kai chuckled, stretching his sore limbs. "Well, at least you're still standing. That's more than I can say for half of the recruits who trained under Commander Damien today."

At the mention of Damien, Elara instinctively turned her gaze toward the training grounds.

Even as the other knights retreated, Damien remained, sparring with Rhys.

And damn him, he wasn't even winded.

His dark cloak swayed as he moved, the dimming sunlight casting sharp shadows over his striking features.

Even exhausted, even drenched in sweat, he looked untouchable.

Elara forced herself to look away.

Kai followed her gaze and smirked. "You really want his approval, don't you?"

Elara scoffed. "Obviously. He's our commander."

"Right, right," Kai hummed. "That's the only reason?"

Elara gave him a sharp look. "Shut up, Kai."

A Royal Distraction

The knights and recruits were invited to a royal gathering that evening—an event hosted by the king himself.

Elara wasn't sure what the occasion was, but one thing was clear: everyone was expected to attend.

She wasn't prepared for how different the knights looked outside of training.

Gone were the sweat-stained tunics and heavy armor—replaced with formal attire. Even the most rugged knights had been polished for the occasion.

Dressed in an all-black ensemble, his dark cloak draped over his shoulders, he stood out effortlessly.

His presence was commanding, his features even sharper under the soft glow of candlelight.

Elara wasn't the only one who noticed.

Princess Seraphina, draped in a gown of deep crimson, approached him with the grace of a queen.

Elara only saw them in passing, her gaze barely lingering. Just curiosity.

She had no real interest in whatever conversation they were having, but she did catch Seraphina's confident posture, the slight tilt of her head as she spoke to Damien.

And Damien's reaction? The same unreadable, unbothered look he always wore.

After all, it wasn't her concern.

Instead, she grabbed a drink, focused on not standing out, and ignored the way Kai kept throwing her knowing glances.

A test of will