Lyall waited for as a response before he felt the heavy scepter of the monarch rest upon his shoulder. Immediately he was filled with warmth, preemptively assuming that it was a sign of acceptance. However the King's next words chilled his freshly warmed soul to it's very marrow. In all of the versions of this meeting that he had played in his head while climbing the stairs, he had never considered the question that the King had just laid upon him. Though it was just a simple question, Lyall already tasted defeat at his lips. Why should the King entrust his one and only daughter to a young Elven child that wasn't even fit enough to be chosen as a lowly guardsman at the orphanage. Looking at his small childish hands, he quickly scrunched his fingers into a fist as he did what the King commanded and stepped forward until he was close enough to see the unhealthy pallor of the King's complexion. 

Despite the Kings immense power over the realm, he resembled a sickly elderly gentleman more than a proper monarch with how frail and aged the King looked. What may of once been an attractive ruddy face was marred by the scarring of Time. Taking a few seconds to gather a proper response, Lyall wondered what [i]would[/i] be a proper response to the King's question. What did he have above any other man in the country? What exceptional quality did he possess that should elevate himself above his peers? 

"With all due respect Your Majesty, I know that I am not the strongest, quickest, nor most experienced Elven boy in Esper. I know why you would ask what makes me so different, and the only thing that I can say is that I have always been a loyal servant of Your Majesty for as long as I can remember. It is for that reason that I can tell you with such an assured air that I will bring your daughter back safely. I'm not doubting the loyalty of your ten soldiers that were slain and I grieved as well for their losses, but I have been waiting my entire life for a chance to serve you. If you allow myself to act as your daughters guard, there is not a single monster or man that could touch a hair on your daughter's head for I am willing to do whatever it takes to serve Your Majesty and His Kingdom. That is the only promise I can make to you that I know I can keep."