The warm water ripples in the bathtub as I let my hand drift through it. 

My maid, Mary, brushes my hair while Ali, my other maid, periodically refills the tub with warm water. 

Bathing is a ritual expected of a queen. Is it something I find enjoyable? No. To me, an hour a day spent lying in warm water could be better used elsewhere, but one mustn't implement all changes at once. 

A grimace appears on my lips as there's a knock on the door. 

Mary immediately stops brushing my hair and picks up the red robe from the chair in the corner of the room. Ali moves to the door, opening it just enough to keep the waiting person from seeing me unclothed in the bath. 

'Your new bodyguard, Your Majesty,' Ali announces with a bow but does not admit the young man. 

I sink further into the bathwater, a small smile forming on my face. 'Let him in and leave.' 

The maids exchange a brief look of surprise before setting down their tools, bowing, and exiting the room. 

Tyron, my newest and fifth bodyguard in just a month, enters the bathing chamber as the maids leave. 

The new silver armor, adorned with a red emblem featuring a golden crown, fits well on his muscular frame—a body honed by five years of rigorous training, earning him not one but four awards. The young man is only four years my senior, fortunate enough to hail from a noble family; otherwise, such costly training would have been unattainable. His brown, shoulder-length hair is neatly slicked back, and his stubble suggests a lack of time for shaving. His green eyes remain emotionless. 

'Your Majesty,' he greets with a slight bow of his head. His gaze flicks briefly over my naked body before settling on the white wall behind me. 

'You requested my presence.' 

My hands slide beneath the water to rest on my bare legs, sensuously gliding from my knees to my thighs. 

'Indeed.' 

His stance remains rigid, though I notice his eyes discreetly stray toward me. 

'Tyron, why did you want this job?' 

The young man looks momentarily surprised before returning his gaze to the wall, his hands clasped behind his back, sword sheathed. 

'I am honored to serve the crown, Your Majesty.' 

I let out a dry laugh as I push myself upright, exposing my chest above the water. 

'The crown has been a tyranny for the past century. Guards barely earn enough to live on. So, tell me truthfully—why do you want this job?' 

Tyron keeps his face impassive and, unlike his predecessors, avoids looking at my bare body. He stands motionless, eyes fixed on the wall. 

'My family expects me to advance myself, given that they funded my training. I am an only son, and my father is aging; the income must come from somewhere.' 

I nod slowly. 'Noble.' 

'Thank you, Your Majesty.' 

My hands move through my wet red hair, gliding down my neck, over my shoulders, and onto my chest. 

'If I were to offer you more in exchange for your body, would you consider it?' With those words, I rise from the bath. Water cascades off my body, droplets tracing paths from my chest to my stomach and slowly down my legs. My hair falls partially over my breasts but not enough to conceal them. 

His predecessors had failed long before such an offer. Their hands had reached for me before being escorted out by guards, banned from the grounds. Henry, the second, had even been caught with his trousers halfway down. 

Tyron, however, merely looks surprised by my proposition. He remains still. 

'May I ask for clarification, Your Majesty?' 

I lean forward slowly, picking up the robe from the chair, my chest tilting more in his direction. 

'I assume, given your age and status, you are familiar with activities in the bedroom.' 

Tyron straightens his back as I sensuously let the fabric slide over my arm. 

'Your Majesty, with all due respect, I take this role very seriously and am grateful for this opportunity. However, I am unwilling to trade my body for additional income. I prefer to earn my and my family's living through my skills.' 

With those words, I drape the robe fully over my body, concealing myself entirely. I straighten my posture and look him directly in the eye. 

'From this moment, you are out of your probationary period and will receive a 100% raise in your first year.' 

His eyes widen in surprise as they meet mine. He bows deeply. 

'Thank you, Your Majesty.' 

I nod, smiling. 'You may leave,' I say, retrieving my undergarments from the small table by the bath. 

Tyron turns to leave but quickly pivots back. 

'May I ask why you summoned me to this place and time?' 

I smile as I dress, ensuring he cannot see my body. 

'I am a new queen, unmarried, unbetrothed, and without family. My position is fragile, as you know. The choice of a bodyguard is unlike that of my predecessors, leading to applications from across the land. Many men apply in hopes of winning my hand. It is not always possible to filter them out during interviews. I seek a guard who takes the position for the role, not for my hand or body.' 

A smile touches his lips. 'And I've passed?' 

I nod. 'Your five predecessors had begun undressing themselves.' 

The young man chuckles softly, nodding. 

'You may go. I will speak with you later about your schedule.' Tyron bows. 

'Your Majesty.'