The scent of smoke lingers in the wind, thick and bitter, but it is not the smoke of defeat—it’s the smoldering remains of the enemy camps, scattered and broken. The battlefield is quiet now, save for the low moans of the wounded and the crackle of fire devouring old banners.

A figure rides in from the haze—tall, armor stained with ash and blood, skull mask gleaming even in the dying light. Simon “Ghost” Riley, the banished knight, has returned not just as a warrior, but as a legend.

He dismounts slowly as soldiers cheer in disbelief. They chant his name, some dropping to a knee, others too shocked to speak. Ghost doesn’t soak it in. He’s already looking toward the castle.

Toward you.

You've grown stronger in your solitude. No longer just a princess, but a woman hardened by years of silence, longing, and secrets. You’ve watched the war from your window, helpless, praying.

And now—movement.

Below, the royal banners are being raised in victory. The guards who once stood stiff outside your door now look uncertain, eyes cast downward. Then—a key turns in the lock.

Your heart stops.

The door creaks open. Not a servant. Not a guard. It’s the King himself.

He looks older. Wearier. His eyes hold shame.

“He saved us all,” he says, voice thick. “And he came back not for glory... but for you.”