Safe & Sound in the Arms of an Elite Knight (Manga)

Born with an unusual birthmark on her back, Chloe Ardennes was immediately branded a “cursed child” by her superstitious family and locked away in their estate for her entire life. Forced to cook and clean, Chloe’s world shatters one day when an encounter with her mother at knifepoint drives her to flee the only home she’s ever known. Desperately seeking refuge, she escapes to the only sanctuary she knows: the royal capital. But is the big city everything she hoped it would be? Just as she finds herself on the brink of despair, a mysterious, gallant knight rescues her, offering a glimmer of hope and the promise of a new beginning.

Having escaped her abusive home, Chloe finds employment in the capital as Lloyd’s live-in housekeeper. But as the distance between them shrinks overnight, neither is prepared for the sudden change. A curious specter from Chloe’s past returns to haunt her, leading her to doubt her worth as Lloyd’s housekeeper, but Lloyd is resolute in his desire to help her heal. Together, they might just be what the other needs, discovering that love, patience, and understanding can heal even the deepest wounds.

Chloe is settling into life at Lloyd’s, where the two’s days are full of peaceful routines, shared meals, and warm conversation. But underlying this comfortable rhythm is a mutual curiosity—Lloyd wonders about Chloe’s past, while she grows intrigued by his own secrets. Then, in a surprising twist, Chloe bumps into Lloyd on patrol—only to learn she’s already won the hearts of his boss’s family! Welcomed into Freddy and Sara’s lives with open arms, Chloe and Lloyd find their circle of loved ones grows bigger by the day. Perhaps this is the push they need to finally discover the joy of a loving family, everything these new connections signify, and how much they truly mean to each other.

Emotions run high as Chloe and Lloyd make their way home from Freddy’s dinner party. What starts as an intimate evening filled with good food and meaningful conversation leads to something deeper. For the first time, Chloe dares to ask Lloyd about his past, but what he reveals threatens to shake even her faith in humanity. Just as Chloe musters the courage to bare her own secrets, danger strikes. The thugs who attacked Chloe on her first day in the capital are back, they’ve set their sights on the elite knight who humiliated them, and this time they’ve brought reinforcements. Outnumbered—but not outmatched—can Lloyd protect them both? And will Chloe remain a bystander, or find the strength to fight for herself and the man who’s come to mean so much to her?

After the run-in with the thugs in the park, Chloe’s life at Lloyd’s estate settles into a shockingly peaceful routine. The chores are manageable, the atmosphere is warm, and, unlike in her old life, Chloe’s not working into the wee hours of the morning. She even has spare time—just what is this luxury? Thanks to a gentle nudge from Lloyd, Chloe takes up an interest in literature, stumbling upon a charming bookshop and its kindhearted owner in the process. Meanwhile, Lloyd runs afoul of a self-styled “rival”: a boastful young noble determined to outshine him at every turn. New acquaintances bring new energy—and new tension. The peace between Lloyd and Chloe starts to shift, ever so slightly. What exactly are they to each other? And what happens when the quiet days don’t feel so quiet anymore?