Prologue

The capital city buzzed with life, neon lights illuminating the streets as sleek cars zipped past ancient palaces. A strange mix of tradition and modernity, the kingdom of Celestine was a place where royals still held power but mingled with the chaos of the contemporary world.

Inside the grand glass-walled palace, Prince Nani sat cross-legged on a velvet couch, scowling at his reflection in a tablet screen. His perfectly styled hair and angelic face didn’t match the irritation simmering beneath.

“This is absurd,” Nani huffed, throwing the tablet onto the coffee table. “I don’t need a babysitter!”

His personal secretary, Mira, cleared her throat. “Your Highness, it’s not a babysitter. It’s a bodyguard. Considering the recent threats—”

“It’s *always* about the threats!” Nani snapped, arms crossed like a petulant child. “No one’s going to harm me. This is just an overreaction from Father.”

“He insists,” Mira said, unfazed by his tantrum. “And so, Sky will be joining your security detail starting tomorrow.”

“Sky?” Nani raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite himself. “What kind of name is that for a bodyguard? Sounds like a puppy.”

Mira smiled thinly, trying to hide her amusement. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

---

The next morning, Nani’s curiosity turned to outright disbelief as he laid eyes on Sky for the first time.

The bodyguard was tall, broad-shouldered, and undeniably handsome—his tousled black hair and boyish grin giving him an effortless charm. But then he tripped over the entrance rug, almost crashing into the ornate vase near the door.

“Woah! Close one!” Sky straightened, laughing nervously as he caught the vase just in time. “That could’ve been bad.”

Nani pinched the bridge of his nose. “*This* is my new bodyguard?”

Sky beamed, as if Nani’s words were a compliment. “Yup! Sky at your service. I promise to protect you with my life, Your Highness.”

“Protect me?” Nani’s lips twitched into an incredulous smirk. “You can barely protect yourself from a rug.”

Sky flushed but didn’t lose his grin. “Hey, everyone’s got their quirks. Besides, I’m great in high-pressure situations.”

“High-pressure? You mean like walking and not falling?”

Sky chuckled, scratching the back of his neck. “You’re funny. I like you.”

Nani blinked, thrown off by the earnest reply. “This isn’t a game, you know. You can’t just ‘like’ a prince.”

“Why not?” Sky shrugged. “We’re gonna be spending a lot of time together. Might as well be friends.”

Nani rolled his eyes. “Friends? You don’t even know me.”

“Then I’ll learn.” Sky leaned forward, his smile turning softer, more sincere. “That’s kind of my job, right? To understand what makes you feel safe.”

For a moment, Nani didn’t know how to respond. Sky’s words carried an unexpected warmth that made the prince’s heart skip a beat. But instead of acknowledging it, Nani scoffed and turned away.

“Just don’t get in my way,” he muttered, trying to hide his flustered cheeks.

Sky’s grin widened. “Deal.”

And so, the stage was set. A stubborn prince with a soft heart and a clumsy bodyguard with a puppy-like determination—both unaware that their story was just beginning.