The great hall of Bexton Kingdom had never seemed so silent.
Edward stood before the throne with his heart beating harder than it ever had on a battlefield.
The golden banners of the kingdom hung motionless above him, while the royal guards stood like statues along the walls.
On the throne sat King Adrian, Evelyn’s father and the ruler of Bexton.
Edward had been summoned to the palace that morning.
He knew why.
The ancient marriage laws of Bexton had been made clear to him.
Evelyn was the king’s daughter, and no man of ordinary birth could simply ask for her hand in marriage.
The law demanded that any man seeking to marry a princess must first prove his loyalty, courage, discipline, and devotion to the crown.
And according to the ancient law Edward had discovered, there was one requirement above all others.
Seven years.
Seven years of faithful service to the king.
Seven years without betraying the crown.
Seven years of proving that his love for the princess was not merely a passing desire.
Edward had spent the entire night thinking about it.
Seven years was a long time.
But when he closed his eyes, he saw Evelyn.
He remembered her smile beneath the moonlight.
He remembered the way she looked at him when they met secretly in the garden.
He remembered her voice when she had whispered that she loved him.
And suddenly, seven years did not seem long at all.
King Adrian leaned forward.
“Edward.”
Edward bowed deeply.
“Your Majesty.”
“I have heard that you have been studying the ancient laws concerning the marriage of royal daughters.”
Edward’s heart tightened.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“And you know what those laws demand.”
“I do.”
The king studied him carefully.
“Then tell me why you requested this audience.”
Edward took a slow breath.
He had imagined this moment many times, but standing before the king made it far more frightening than he had expected.
“Your Majesty,” he began, “I have come to ask for your permission to serve you.”
The king’s expression changed slightly.
“Serve me?”
“For seven years.”
A murmur passed through the guards.
King Adrian remained silent.
Edward continued.
“I know what the law requires.
I know that Princess Evelyn is not a woman I can simply ask to marry because I have fallen in love with her.
She is your daughter.
She is a princess of Bexton.
Her life belongs not only to herself but also to the kingdom.”
His voice trembled slightly.
“But I love her.”
The hall became completely silent.
Edward lowered his head.
“I love Princess Evelyn with all my heart.”
The king’s eyes narrowed.
“You understand what you are asking?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Seven years is not seven days.”
“I know.”
“You could spend those years serving the crown while Evelyn’s life changes.
She could meet another man.
She could lose her feelings for you.”
Edward swallowed.
The thought hurt more deeply than he wanted to admit.
But he lifted his head.
“If that is what fate decides, I will accept it.”
The king looked surprised.
“But I will never stop loving her simply because the years are difficult,” Edward continued.
“If I have to spend seven years proving myself, then I will spend seven years proving myself.”
King Adrian stood from his throne.
“You would give seven years of your life for my daughter?”
Edward answered without hesitation.
“I would give much more.”
The king walked slowly down the steps.
“Why?”
Edward looked toward the great windows of the hall.
For a moment, he saw the royal garden beyond them.
The same garden where everything had begun.
“The first time I met Evelyn,” he said softly, “I did not know she was the princess.”
King Adrian listened.
“I only knew that she was kind.
She spoke to me without arrogance.
She looked at me as though I were not beneath her.
He paused.
“But my heart did not listen.”
The king remained silent.
“I tried to stay away from her.
I tried to bury my feelings.
But every time I saw her, I loved her more.”
Edward’s eyes became moist.
“Your Majesty, I do not want to steal your daughter from you.
I want to become a man worthy enough to stand beside her.”
The king stared at him for several seconds.
Then he asked quietly, “And if I refuse?”
Edward’s heart sank.
“Then I will still respect your decision.”
“You would walk away?”
Edward closed his eyes briefly.
“If you command me to, I will.”
“And Evelyn?”
Edward’s expression broke for a moment.
“I will love her from a distance.”
The king studied him carefully.
There was no anger in Edward’s face.
Only love.
Only determination.
Finally, King Adrian turned away.
“Leave me.”
Edward bowed.
“Your Majesty.”
He turned toward the doors.
“Edward.”
He stopped.
The king did not look at him.
“If you serve me for seven years, you will not be treated as a man seeking a reward.”
Edward turned back.
“I understand.”
“You will be judged more harshly than other men.”
“I accept it.”
“You will obey the crown even when obedience becomes difficult.”
“I will.”
“You will defend this kingdom with your life.”
“I swear it.”
“And during those seven years, you will not demand Evelyn’s hand.”
Edward’s heart clenched.
He slowly bowed his head.
“I swear.”
King Adrian finally looked at him.
“Then your seven years begin today.”
Edward’s breath caught.
“Your Majesty?”
“You asked to serve me for seven years.”
The king extended his hand.
“I grant your request.”
Edward stepped forward and took the king’s hand.
“I will not disappoint you.”
King Adrian’s voice became firm.
“Do not make that promise to me.”
Edward looked confused.
“Make it to Evelyn.”
Edward’s eyes softened.
“I promise.”
That evening, Evelyn stood in the royal garden beneath the silver light of the moon.
She had been waiting.
She had known something was happening.
Edward had been summoned by her father, and all day she had feared the worst.
Lady Clara stood several steps away, watching her friend anxiously.
“Princess, perhaps you should return inside.”
“No.”
“Evelyn—”
“I need to see him.”
Clara sighed.
“You know the king may not approve.”
Evelyn looked toward the garden entrance.
“He must.”
“And if he doesn’t?”
Evelyn’s eyes filled with sadness.
“Then I will find a way.”
Before Clara could answer, footsteps sounded among the flowers.
Evelyn’s heart jumped.
Edward appeared beneath the archway.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Edward caught her gently.
“You came.”
“I promised I would.”
She looked into his eyes.
“What happened?”
Edward smiled.
“I asked your father for something.”
“What?”
“Seven years.”
Evelyn stared at him.
“What do you mean?”
“I asked him to allow me to serve the crown for seven years.”
Her lips parted.
“Edward…”
“Seven years,” he repeated softly.
“At the end of those seven years, if I have proven myself worthy, I will ask him for your hand.”
Evelyn’s eyes filled with tears.
“You would wait seven years for me?”
Edward gently wiped a tear from her cheek.
“I would wait seventy.”
She shook her head.
“I don’t want you to suffer for me.”
“This isn’t suffering.”
“What is it, then?”
Edward smiled.
“It is the road I have chosen because it leads to you.”
Evelyn placed her hand against his chest.
“And if the road is difficult?”
“I will walk it.”
“And if your heart becomes tired?”
“I will remember you.”
“And if seven years feels like forever?”
Edward leaned closer.
“Then I will count every day as one day closer to you.”
Evelyn’s tears finally fell.
She wrapped her arms around him.
“I love you.”
Edward held her tightly.
“I love you too.”
For several moments, they simply stood beneath the moonlight.
No crown.
No kingdom.
No ancient law.
Only two hearts holding on to each other.
Then Evelyn whispered, “Promise me something.”
“Anything.”
“Do not become someone else just to earn the right to love me.”
Edward looked at her.
“I won’t.”
“Remain the Edward I fell in love with.”
He smiled.
“And you remain the Evelyn I fell in love with.”
She laughed softly through her tears.
“Seven years.”
“Seven years.”
“And after that?”
Edward touched her forehead gently with his.
“I will ask your father for your hand.”
“And if he says yes?”
Edward smiled.
“Then I will spend the rest of my life making you happy.”
Evelyn closed her eyes.
“I’ll wait.”
Edward kissed her forehead.
“Then I have everything I need.”
Behind them, hidden among the shadows of the palace corridor, King Adrian watched silently.
He had come searching for his daughter.
Instead, he had witnessed something he had not expected to see.
Not rebellion.
Not ambition.
Love.
For the first time, the king began to wonder whether the ancient law had been created not to keep love away from the throne…
But to make sure that only a truly devoted heart could reach it.
And so Edward’s seven years began.
Seven years of service.
Seven years of sacrifice.
Seven years of proving that his love for Evelyn was stronger than time itself.
And neither Edward nor Evelyn knew what those seven years would demand of them.
But they knew one thing.
They would face them together.