"Happy Birthday!"

"Happy Birthday princess!"

"Happy Birthday your highness!"

"Thank you!" Aria called behind her before continuing to run through the halls.

Lloyd stood with Hanabusa and Kaname in the great hall, watching the servants beginning preparation for the ball that night. Mistake was going over the list as Svern and Layla stood in their corners, refusing to look at each other. The door opened and in ran Aria, catching her parent's attention who both put on a smile.

"Happy birthday my little star!" Layla hugs her tightly.

"Thanks mom," Aria smiles.

Svern picks her up and held her "What do you think of the party decorations?"

"They're really pretty," Aria replies as she wraps her arms around his neck "thanks daddy!"

"Your thirteenth birthday is a special occasion," Layla says "Our princess is on her way to adulthood."

"Yes, but not quite there yet, you're still my little girl." Svern adds as he put Aria back on her feet.

On the other side of the room, Lloyd was staring at the family with a peculiar smile. Mistake leaned down and pulled on his ear.

"Focus!" Mistake shouts.

"Ow," Lloyd pulls away and rubbed his ear "come on mom, It's my birthday too."

"I'm well aware Lloyd, but that does not excuse you from work." Mistake lectures. 

"You're being unfair," Lloyd grumbles "it's like you care more about your job then your son."

Mistake sighs "You're still too young to understand my actions, Lloyd."

Lloyd looks confused as Mistake walked away to direct the other servants again. Lloyd turned to see Aria staring at him, when she noticed she smiled and waved to him. Lloyd returned the smile before following after Kaname to the other knights.

"Come dear," Layla took Aria's hand "Let's get your dress fitted."

"Okay mama," Aria replies as she follows her mother.

Svern waves to his daughter as she left with her mother.

"Alright everyone," Svern turns to his staff "let's get moving!"

Lloyd sighs as he followed the knights in training to the captain of the royal guard.

"Father," Kaname calls out.

"Ah there you are," the captain turns to him with a smile, he hands him a paper "This is where the royal guards will be stationed during the party. All you kiddos have to do is keep your eyes on the princess, simple as that."

"Do we have specific areas we need to stand?" Hanabusa asks.

"No, but as the princess's future protectors you need to do your utmost best to make a name for yourselves." the captain replies "If they see weakness in her forces, they see a weakness in the crown."

"Understood," Kaname nods.

"I know I can count on you," the captain places a hand on Kaname's shoulder "make me proud my son."

Kaname nods before gesturing for the young knights to follow him out. They all sat on the fences of the training ground as the servants continued rushing to prepare the party.

"I never understood the celebration of one's birth," Rima sighs as she kicked her legs.

"It's more or less to show the people that their princess is growing up," Hanabusa tells her "Seeing as she's the next leader and all."

"And it is our job to show that we will be a force to be recon with as soon as she takes over," Kaname lectures them "you all must remember that we were hand-picked from our kind to serve the crown."

"More like I was born into it," Lloyd mutters.

"Oh yeah, It's your birthday too right Lloyd?" Hanabusa turns to him "You and Princess Aria were born on the same day."

"Yeah," Lloyd replies as he looks off into the sky.

"He doesn't seem so happy about it, why'd you have to bring it up?" Shiki questions.

Rima hit Hanabusa over the head and he whines.

"It's nothing like that," Lloyd tells them "My birthday has always been overshined by hers and it hasn't bothered me one bit."

"Wasn't there some prophecy or something made about you guys?" Rima asks.

"Yeah," Lloyd nods "the day we were born, that crazy old man got a vision or something."

Kaname stopped hitting his training dummy, he turned to the group as he laid his wooden sword over his shoulders.

"The prophecy of fate," Kaname says, the others turned to him as he continued "from what I heard, the prophecy stated that two children will be born identical to each other. As long as they were by each other's side, they would lead Del to a new era or destroy it."

"A new era?" Lloyd questions.

Kaname shrugs as he lifts his sword off his shoulder "Seeing as you and the princess were born with similar features, they knew the prophecy was about you. That's why you're the princess's personal servant."

"If some silly prophecy is the reason my life is this way," Lloyd smiles "then I couldn't be more grateful. I couldn't imagine my life without my best friend now."

"I'm glad you think that" Kaname kicks his wooden sword at Lloyd "cause you better be prepared for the future ahead then."

Lloyd picks up the sword and spins it around before holding it properly "Bring it on."

The knights spent their time training until time for the ball arrived that night. The thing about Del was it wasn't a typical kingdom. Every year when it was time for a party, everyone was invited, rich or poor. The citizens were lining up hours before to get into the palace.

Lloyd and the rest of the young knights were lined up around the hall. The main knights were watching over Layla and Svern, who were on opposite ends of the party. Which has become normal in the late years.

"Happy birthday your highness!"

"You look beautiful!"

"T-thank you."

Lloyd turned around to see Aria standing in front of him.

"Well, well, isn't it the star of the night." Lloyd smiles to her.

"Shut up," Aria mutters looking down.

"You look pretty," Lloyd complements.

"You always say that" Aria says.

Lloyd looks around to see the people watching them with curious eyes and warm smiles. Lloyd holds his hand out to her.

"Would you like me to escort you your highness?" Lloyd asks.

"Y-yeah," Aria replies as she takes his hand.

Lloyd leads Aria through the party, always watching the people around them. Aria peers down to see him carrying one of the training swords as the other knights.

"Is something wrong?" Lloyd questions, seeing her looking down.

"I-uh- nothing!" Aria says quickly.

Lloyd looks confused at her behavior; his princess is never this nervous. She's had plenty of birthdays like this one before, so why was this one different?

"Um, can we get some air?" Aria asks.

"Yeah, that should be fine." Lloyd replies before turning to make hand signs to Kaname.

Kaname signs back, letting him know he understood. Lloyd took Aria out to the balcony, and she walked to the rails, looking up at the stares.

"It's a full moon," Aria mutters.

"It's always a full moon on our birthday," Lloyd comments as he walks over and leaned on the rails beside her. "I'm glad we could come outside; I was getting so bored in there."

"You always find the party's boring," Aria replies as she took her heels off.

"So do you," Lloyd smiles to her "I guess that's just another way we're so alike."

Aria hummed in response as she continued staring up at the sky. Lloyd turns around and looks up with her.

"Thirteen years," Lloyd says "where has the time gone?"

"You talk like we're old," Aria giggles. 

"We will be, before we know it." Lloyd says.

"I see you've been given one of the training swords," Aria points to it "it's not the best quality."

"No but it'll get the job done," Lloyd replies "I'm not exactly in the boat to get a better one."

Aria watches as Lloyd takes the sword out and shows her.

"I see," Aria stares at the dull sword.

Aria reaches out and Lloyd drops his sword, being startled.

"Ah, whoops." Lloyd bends down to grab it.

"Get rid of it," Aria mutters.

"Huh?" Lloyd looks up at her "What do you mean?"

"A knight should never drop their weapon Lloyd," Aria pulls a large box out from behind the column "perhaps, this will entice you to keep it."

"What is it?" Lloyd asks.

"Just open it," Aria kneels down in front of him and places the box on the ground.

Lloyd opens the box and pulls out a newly made sword, the metal was black, and the handle had a single purple gem on it.

"I could never accept such a thing," Lloyd says in surprise. "This looks pricey."

"You will and you must," Aria commands as she stood up and looked down at him with a smile "what will my great knight ever do without his own weapon?"

"I swear," Lloyd shed a tear as he looks up at her "with this sword," he took her hand and placed a kiss on her hand "I will always be by your side to protect you your highness."

The wind blew in the air that night, as the moon shined down on the two. The stars seemed the glisten with every word spoke, signifying their promise.

"I have no doubt you will." Aria replies. "My dear knight."