by Shikiha
In an age where kingdoms rise and fall with the turning of a season, Marit, once a knight of a distant land, now lives as a traveling scholar. Earning his keep through teaching, he moves from town to town with little more than a pack of books and a quiet hope to one day settle somewhere lasting. His journey leads him to the refined kingdom of Elymere, where he is offered an unexpected role as tutor to the crown princess. What begins as simple lessons soon draws him into a court of delicate politics, unspoken expectations, and a young woman struggling to define herself beyond the life chosen for her. As their bond deepens, Marit becomes more than a teacher. He becomes a steady presence in a court where alliances fracture easily and trust is rarely given. But beneath his calm demeanor lies a past he does not speak of, one shaped not by words, but by decisions that still echo in silence. In a kingdom built on order and purity, some truths are far more dangerous than any blade.
