EXIST FOR LOVE

一

≿━━━━━━༺ CHAPTER 1 ༻ ━━━━━━≾

This wasn't the fucking plan.

"Damn it," I cursed under my breath, biting my lip in frustration as I witnessed battle break out around me, "My Prince, stay close to me."

Who the fuck set a fire.

Nodding, Canute quickly grabbed onto the sleeve of my coat, clearly timid at the absence of his retainer.

"Your Highness! Quickly!" Ragnar yelled to Canute, catching both of our attention, watching him almost get slashed by his own soldier.

"Ragnar!"

"Idiot, what if you had hit the prince?!" he exclaimed, the soldier muttering a string of apologies.

"Your Highness! Ragnar! Where are you?!" Shouted a man somewhere in the smoke.

"See, people with common sense check first."

"Hey, his highness is over here!" The same soldier yelled out, making your eyes widen at how dumb he must be. Not to your surprise, a spear came flying through the smoke and right through the soldier's chest, killing him almost instantly, his corpse collapsing onto the ground.

"Looks like we found the prize," Thorkell's men appeared and started to laugh, assuming they'd win with their large numbers.

"Looks like I was the fool," Ragnar scowled, pointing his blade toward the men.

Before the battle could engage, a horse on fire appeared out of nowhere and ran off into the distance, leaving behind a boy that seemed to be close in age to me.

Curious, I watched as one of Thorkell's men approached him and swung his axe. It appeared that the boy disappeared. But instead, he was crouched right below the man with his knife in his neck. Pulling out his knife, the body fell with a large thump to the ground, silencing the group of men.

Not bad.

"You're Prince Canute if I'm not mistaken?" He spoke, taking off his cape, my eyes widened in recognition, "I've come to rescue you, wait right there."

That's the kid that managed to cut two fingers off Thorkell's hand!

Reaching for my large double-sided axe, I let it fall to the ground as it made a loud sound of impact, catching the attention of Thorkell's men, fear coursing throughout their bodies.

"T-That axe...no way."

"You're going to fight?" Canute whispered to me, I nodded in response.

"You will have Ragnar," I said back, patting his arm once he let go, sending me a worried glance from under his helmet.

Walking next to the blondie, I gave him a side glance to which he glared back at me.

"I don't need a damn royal guard's help," he spat, a snarl clear on his features.

"The fire isn't gonna hold back for this fight, puny," I teased, lifting my axe to hold it in both hands, looking into the fearful eyes of Thorkell's men.

"Y-Y/n?" One stammered as I lifted my brows in surprise.

"Was it the axe that gave me away? Or my voice?" I grinned, excited for the oncoming battle as I crouched with my axe held up right above my shoulder, ready to swing, "No hard feelings' boys—"

"Thorfinn!" Thorkell's loud voice boomed through the smoke, pausing my movement. The spoken man's gigantic body slowly became visible, a large smile plastered on his face, making both Thorfinn and I annoyingly suck our teeth. The boy got into a fighting stance while I put my axe back in my leather harness, crossing my arms in disappointment, and walked back to the Prince, "But wait Thorfinn, I must ask two questions."

"I'm glad you're safe," Canute whispered coming back to cling to my arm.

"I didn't even fight...sadly," I sighed, looking back to Thorkell and Thorfinn. A look of shock was evident on Thorfinn's face.

Does Thorkell know this kid?

A large creaking was heard making me snap my neck in the direction of the burning tree beside us.

"No!" Ragnar cursed looking at me in panic as I simply picked up Canute in my arms, rushing away to avoid being crushed.

"Y-You mustn't pick me up like this," Canute stammered. Looking down I observed his flushed face, noting how I picked him up as one would their bride.

"My apologies, my Prince," I bowed my head, setting the boy back on his feet, "Forgive me."

With a nod the Prince was back to his usual self, clinging to my arm.

Even though I had only known the boy for a few months, he had complete trust in me. Before when I was assigned to him, he was completely closed off and only looked to me as another guard. But after walking in on me changing once, his view of me completely change.

My sex wasn't much of a secret, but it wasn't very clear at first glimpse. I sure as hell didn't make it obvious either with a large and thick coat along with a helmet that covered most of my face, as well as me only ever whispering to the Prince, avoiding others hearing my more feminine vocals.

"I'll let you have the prince, for now, we'll finish this later!" Thorkell exclaimed from across the sea of fire towards Thorfinn. For a moment our eyes met, and the only signal I got was a single thumbs up with a large stupid grin.

Why the hell did I agree to this shit.

༻✧༺

"I, Askeladd, Son of Olaf, humbly accept this appointment," the blue-eyed man looked up once again, his hand to his heart as he continued to kneel in front of the Prince, "As such, your highness, as his protector, I wish to look upon the face of His Highness."

"Your Highness..." Ragnar mumbled, eyeing his Prince. Canute, with no complaint, removed his helmet in full confidence.

His blonde locks swayed in the wind but only silence was heard when everyone set eyes on him.

"Don't you mean princess?" Askeladd's right-hand man said, wide-eyed as he looked upon the Prince causing me to let out a soft laugh, gaining the attention of the blonde leader.

"And his guard?" Askeladd pressed on, looking up at me, making me frown and suck my teeth, annoyed I'd have to expose myself so early on.

"You don't have to," Canute whispered to me, eyes filled with worry as I only shrugged.

"The man's requests must be met," I smirked, undoing my helmet strap and removing it, my h/l h/c hair falling from where it was contained.

"I am Prince Canute's guard. My name is Y/n, daughter of Bryndar."