Where the Hallways Part

After a long day in the town, Charlotte had retired to her chambers, visibly exhausted. That left only Hoche and Jack making their way through the quiet corridors toward the knights’ quarters.

As they walked, Jack gave a thoughtful hum. “Hey, Hoche.”

“What is it, sir?”

“About today’s mission.”

“I carried out my orders exactly as instructed.”

“You did. You really did. But—” Jack trailed off, hesitant. He searched for the right words—but before he could speak again, Hoche broke the silence.

“Did you truly believe someone like me could serve as a bodyguard for the princess?”

Jack blinked, taken aback. It wasn’t just rare for Hoche to speak unprompted—it was rarer for him to ask a question like this. The meaning behind his words was clear: he knew. He knew that, despite doing exactly what had been asked of him, the result had left everyone uneasy.

Still, Jack nodded without a moment’s doubt. “Of course I did. You follow orders without fail, and you don’t judge the person giving them. That alone sets you apart from most people.”

Too often, when men of strength saw a young, beautiful, and naive princess, they either dismissed her or cloaked her in overbearing kindness.

As always, Hoche offered no visible response.

“But, y’know,” Jack continued, scratching his cheek with a grin, “maybe you could try being a little more . . . flexible?”

“Is that an order?”

“Nah. Just a tiny, harmless request.”

“Then I refuse.” Hoche turned away.

Jack stifled a chuckle at the reaction, his voice full of amusement. “Yeah, figured as much.”

It seemed like that would be the end of their exchange—until Hoche spoke once more, his voice barely above a murmur.

“She’s . . .”

“Hm? You’re talking about Lotte?” Jack asked.

Hoche didn’t answer the question. He simply continued, “She is . . . dangerously reckless.”

The bluntness of the statement caught Jack off guard. He laughed again, this time with a hint of disbelief. “Hey, now, isn’t that a little disrespectful? You’re talking about Her Royal Highness, y’know.”

“I’m aware my words are impertinent,” Hoche replied. “But what kind of royal walks so freely into a crowd, unguarded? She speaks with commoners, even tries to accept food from them. She’s the princess of this kingdom, is she not?”

“Well, that’s just how things are around here. Peridotia’s pretty laid-back like that.” Jack said it as if he were the laid-back spirit of Peridotia itself.

Hoche narrowed his eyes. “You say that, but peace is never guaranteed to last.”

“Maybe not. But now, we’ve got a proper bodyguard looking out for her, don’t we?”

At those words, silence fell again. A meaningful one this time. Jack’s expression grew more serious, his easy smile gone. Only the sound of their footsteps echoed through the hall. Eventually, they reached the corridor’s end, where their paths would diverge—Hoche to the left, Jack to the right.

Without looking at Jack, Hoche spoke. “Three months. That was the agreement.”

The words dropped into the still hallway like a stone into water.

“Yeah,” Jack replied, voice heavier than his face showed. “I forced you into it.”

A secret no one else knew—a private pact between them.

Three months. Such a short time. And yet, somehow, too long.

“Even if I’m assigned to duties like this . . . when the time comes, I will leave. You know that.” Hoche’s tone was no longer his usual flat monotone. There was a flicker of resistance—almost desperate—in his voice.

Jack, as if to put him at ease, gave a slow nod. “Of course. When the time comes, I’ll return that pendant to you. No questions asked.”

“Then, why would you do this? What is the point?” At last, Hoche turned to look at him, those piercing blue eyes searching for an answer.

Jack met his gaze—and sighed heavily. “I told you, didn’t I? Just a whim.”

“I am not the only one being swept up in that whim,” Hoche said, his voice sharper now. “The princess is. So is everyone around her. As commander of the knights, you’re causing trouble for all of them.”

“I only made the suggestion. Neither you nor Lotte refused it, did you?”

“That’s nothing but sophistry,” Hoche muttered, glaring at him.

Jack let out a dry laugh. “Fair enough.” Then he turned to face him fully. Hoche hesitated, but their eyes locked.

“Tell me, Hoche . . . Do you resent it? That fate chose a careless fool like me to pull you back—when you had already resigned yourself to the end?”

At those words, Hoche frowned. Jack could see it—the storm of words swirling just behind his eyes, thousands of things he wanted to say. But the chains around him wouldn’t let them out.

“I hate it,” Jack said, bitterness curling at the edge of his voice. “That word—‘fate.’ It makes me sick.”

Hoche looked up, surprised by the venom in his tone. Jack’s gray eyes, however, only held the calm resolve.

“But you know what? Whether I saved you, or you ended up here, that too was fate. And for once, it gave you a choice.” There was a quiet strength in Jack’s words. He meant it. Every word. “If you hate this assignment for whatever reasons—if you resent my decision—you have that right to say so.”

Hoche pressed his lips into a thin line . . . then the words slipped out like a breath.

“I follow orders. That’s all.”

His voice was clipped, guarded, as if clinging to duty was the only way to shield himself.

“That answer will do for now.” Jack’s gaze lingered a moment longer. “But soon, you’ll have to choose. To return, or to stay.”

Hoche turned his head, avoiding being pierced further by that gaze.

“I do not belong here.”

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Hi guys, I'm AiTommy!🥰💕

Thank you so much for reading my original novel, The Princess and the Blade!

You can read up to Chapter 14 for free until the full book is released next spring in March 2026 on Amazon and other platforms.

After the release, I will need to keep most of the chapters hidden because of Amazon KDP’s policy. You will still be able to read the Prologue and possibly Chapters 1 and 4, but the other chapters will no longer be available.

This series will be a trilogy that follows the love story between Charlotte and Hoche, as well as their relationships with Jack and the people in the castle. It is not only about the bond between the main characters but also the connections they form with those around them.

As you may have noticed, I am planning to include many illustrations in the physical book. I put all of my art skills into the cover and the interior artwork, so it is something you will want to keep on your bookshelf💪✨️

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I hope you will enjoy my characters and their emotional journey!🥰💕🌱