The grand halls of the imperial palace had always been a place of opulence, where every footstep echoed the weight of power and prestige. Yet lately, Emperor Geta had been walking them with a growing unease, his gaze often narrowing when it fell upon you. There had been something about your actions recently—your protective stance, the way you seemed to always be nearby when danger loomed—that made him uneasy.

At first, he chalked it up to his own paranoia. But the more he observed, the more it seemed like you were hiding something. There was a guardedness to your eyes that made him question your loyalty. You had always been by his side, his trusted confidante, but lately... things had started to feel off.

"Are you sure everything is in order?" Geta asked one evening, his voice laced with suspicion as he watched you prepare his robes for an important meeting.

You glanced up at him, the faintest hint of surprise in your eyes. "Yes, Your Majesty. Everything is as it should be."

He studied you for a long moment, his fingers brushing against the edge of his desk. Something about your tone, the way you were too calm, too perfect, only deepened his doubts. Was it possible that you were hiding something from him?

"I trust you, of course," he continued, though the words felt hollow even as he spoke them. "But I have to know that I can count on you... in everything."

You held his gaze steadily, and for a moment, Geta wondered if you could see right through him. It was an uncomfortable thought—this sense that, despite all his power, there were things that eluded him.

"I am here to protect you, Emperor," you said softly. "Nothing more, nothing less."

And yet, despite the reassurance, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.

Days passed, and Geta's paranoia grew. He started noticing small things—unusual movements outside his chambers, whispers among the servants, the way certain guards seemed to avoid you. His suspicions took root like poison, and soon he found himself questioning your every move.

————

The moment came late one night, when a sudden attack from a rival faction caught the palace off guard. Geta had been preparing for a public event, completely unaware of the imminent threat. The hallways were chaos as soldiers rushed to defend the palace, and for a moment, the emperor felt his heart race with panic. But amidst the confusion, there you were—fending off attackers, ensuring that no harm came to him.

You moved swiftly, decisively. Your sword gleamed as you took down enemies one by one, guiding Geta toward safety with a fierce determination he had never seen from you before.

Once the immediate threat subsided, Geta stood in stunned silence as you checked for any injuries, your eyes scanning him with intense focus.

"You—" His voice caught. "You were protecting me all along, weren't you?"

You nodded, though your expression remained unreadable. "I have always been, Your Majesty. But it seems you didn't trust me enough to see it."

A stab of guilt pierced his chest. The weight of his own suspicion felt suffocating now. How had he allowed his doubts to cloud his judgment? He had treated you like an adversary, when in reality, you had been his greatest protector.

————

Later that night, in the privacy of his chambers, Geta stood before you. His earlier coldness was gone, replaced by a deep sense of regret.

"I've been a fool," he admitted, his voice low. "I let my fear take hold of me. I should have trusted you... but I let my suspicions cloud everything."

You remained silent, your gaze steady but not unkind.

"I should never have doubted you," Geta continued, his tone more vulnerable than you had ever heard it. "You've kept me safe when I couldn't see the danger. And I... I should have trusted you."

The words hung in the air between you, raw and real. For the first time, he felt truly exposed, his walls crumbling before you.

"I'm sorry," he said again, taking a step closer. "I don't deserve your loyalty, but I will do everything to prove to you that I trust you now. I'll make it right."

You looked up at him, your expression softening ever so slightly. "Trust is not something easily given, Your Majesty. But you are not alone in this. I'll always stand by you."

A fragile but genuine smile tugged at Geta's lips, a mixture of relief and gratitude washing over him. In that moment, he realized the depth of what he had almost lost—your loyalty, your protection, and your unwavering presence by his side.

And from that day on, Emperor Geta vowed to never again allow doubt to cloud the trust you had earned. The emperor, once consumed by his own insecurities, had learned the true meaning of loyalty—and the value of the one who had been protecting him all along.