[ Zelda continues eating with little thought to how Darin might react to the subject of Link. In fact, she has no idea how much or how little she might have told him. Link is such a central fixture in her life that the princess barely notices how much she talks about him. ]

My father assigned Link as my personal knight when I was sixteen years old. He claimed it was because he wanted Link and I to get along better, but I believe the real reason was to stop me from going off on my own all the time. Link was one of the Champions of Hyrule and the chosen wielder of the Master Sword, so it was imperative that he and I work together to face Calamity Ganon when it revived. It was our duty.

After he rescued me and we defeated Calamity Ganon, I could not in good faith keep Link bound to me as my knight. He had fulfilled his duty as a Champion and he deserved the freedom to pursue his own life.

[ Zelda's gaze falls to her plate, softening with affection. ]

But he chose to remain at my side all the same, not as my knight but as my friend. He traveled with me across Hyrule as I set about to rebuild. Whenever we were not traveling, we stayed in Hateno Village in southeastern Hyrule. Link owned a home there. I always intended to acquire my own lodgings, but as time passed, I simply... didn't. His home became our home.