Your room was almost completely covered in darkness, but the moonlight from the wide window and a few candles on your desk left some of the room illuminated. Despite the silence, you weren't alone. Not since he appeared in your life.

He was a knight, the best in the kingdom. That's how your father introduced him to you when you turned eighteen. The first daughter of King Price, the princess of the kingdom, you had only the best and most reliable defenders. And Simon was considered like that, so he became your personal knight.

He followed you wherever you went almost soundlessly, justifying his nickname, Ghost. At first, it scared you, because you didn't immediately understand when you were really alone, but when this tall and silent man was next to you, looking out for you. Then you realized that his mere presence gave you relief from that large procession of their knights and maids who usually accompanied you.

Freedom. That's what he gave you.

And soon Simon became the freedom.

It all started with long conversations that you used to escape from loneliness. You couldn't trust the maids enough, and any court ladies saw in you only your status, not the personality of a young girl who was so interested in the world around her. But Simon was there, he listened, he answered, and he saw. Saw the real you.

You both understood that it was forbidden. That your statuses were unequal, they did not imply any contact between you except bowing and following orders. But all boundaries disappeared when you were alone, in the darkness and silence of your room, when the servants went to bed.

"I would like to go to that hill we saw today." You whispered as you two lay naked under the same blanket, open to each other.

"I will take ya there tomorrow. On ma horse. Ya will not fall out of ma arms." Simon replied, running his fingers through your hair.

But the idyll collapsed quickly. Your father quickly chose a suitor for you, the crown prince of a neighboring kingdom. This marriage would establish a clear alliance between your kingdoms. And the king has never seen anyone more worthy of your hand than this prince.

The wedding was supposed to take place tomorrow. A great celebration, in preparation for which you held back tears. You didn't want this marriage, you didn't want to marry anyone else except…

"Good night, princess." Came Simon's voice.

He opened the door of your room, intending to leave and go to his room. To leave you alone before your wedding day. And he could have sworn that his heart skipped a beat and his palm tightened on the door handle when he heard your pleading whisper.

"Do not leave me, Simon..."

You didn't want to marry the prince. Because that would mean imprisonment. And all you wanted was the freedom that Simon gave you.