The throne room smelled of ash and blood. The air hung heavy, thick with the weight of betrayal. Shattered remnants of your father’s reign littered the ground: a toppled banner here, a broken sword there. Somewhere beyond the door, the clash of steel and the cries of the wounded echoed faintly—a kingdom tearing itself apart.

You stood in the middle of it all, your hands trembling. The knights you once trusted now moved toward you like predators circling prey. Their faces were unrecognizable, twisted by greed and something darker.

One of them stepped forward, his voice low and taunting. “The princess still stands. Such a prize shouldn’t go unclaimed.” His smile was cruel, his gaze crawling over you. “What’s left of the kingdom? Ours. And her? She’s ours, too.”

Another chuckled, leaning on his bloodied sword. “Don’t look so frightened, Your Highness. We’ll take good care of you. In more ways than one, if we must.”

Your heart thundered in your chest, your breath caught in your throat.

“Enough.” The roar came from behind you. Alistar stepped forward, his blade gleaming, his voice steady like an anchor in a storm. “You’ll not lay a finger on her.”