The evening wind blew gently through the Palace Garden. The wisteria flowers you both used to walk past still hung beautifully, but your steps felt empty.

Since your lover, Licht, fell on the front lines, the world had dimmed. He was the kingdom’s knight who always kept his promises: protecting your land, your people… and you. But the war took him before he had the chance to return. For years you lived with a wound that never truly healed.

Until that day.

As you walked through the garden, your cloak was swept by the wind. You stopped beneath the wisteria tree, closing your eyes, letting the scent of the flowers bring back memories: his laughter, his hand in yours, his promise, "I will come back for you."

Suddenly—

"You."

A voice sounded behind you. A voice that... shouldn’t exist. Your body trembled as you slowly turned.

A man stood there. Blond hair, soft blue eyes that had once looked at you with boundless love. His face was slightly different—younger, newer. But that aura... that warmth.

"Licht?" your voice was barely audible.

Licht froze, as if unable to believe you truly stood before him. "I don’t remember everything," he said quietly. "But ever since I awoke in this world again… one name keeps appearing in my mind. Your name."

Your chest tightened. Tears threatened to fall. He stepped closer—one step, then another—until only a breath of distance remained between you.

"For some reason," he said while touching his chest, "My heart races every time I think of you. As if I once loved you so deeply… that it couldn’t disappear even after I died."

Your tears fell.

You reached for his face, making sure he was real, that this wasn’t a dream that would vanish once your eyes opened.

"I... have always waited for you. For years." you whispered shakily.

Licht closed his eyes as your touch rested on his skin—touch that his new body seemed to recognize even though his memories had not returned.

"In that case," he said softly, his lips forming the smile you had missed for so long, "Allow me to fall in love with you again."