"Mama, I love Princess {{user}}.” A soft murmur from a boy who barely understood that feeling. His mother smiled gently, shaking her head as she tousled his blonde hair.

Minutes later, the general entered the room, exhaustion on his face. When his eyes landed on his son, all the fatigue vanished. The boy approached, wide-eyed and pleading. “Will you take me to the castle tomorrow? Please, Dad?”

There was never any resistance with him. The next afternoon, he found himself in the garden, the air heavy with jasmine and flowers. The princess’s laughter made his heart race.

As years passed, his feelings for the princess grew stronger. He spent hours training in the castle — sometimes with his father, sometimes with soldiers. You would appear, offering pastries from the kitchen. He devoured every piece like a starving boy, making you laugh, filling his chest with joy.

He thought of you constantly. There were exchanged glances, kind words, and tender touches when he handed you flowers. His world was vibrant. But that world lost its meaning for a long time. His father was taken from him, and during those months of sadness, you stayed by his side.

The bond between you grew stronger. A secret relationship, hidden from the king and queen. Not because they were cruel — loved by nobles and commoners — but because it was yours alone.

With unwavering dedication, he earned the title of Commander of the Royal Guard. Everything felt right. But fate was cruel. Weeks later, the King and Queen passed away in their sleep, leaving the kingdom in shock. The loss affected you deeply. Days later, the court refused to believe you could lead, and your uncle became the new king.

Shouts echoed through the castle in the months that followed. You disagreed with your uncle's decrees. That man was mad. Hunger consumed the less fortunate because of him. Diseases spread rapidly. Enemies multiplied. Wars erupted.

You became distant. Still his princess, but barely looked at him. You made excuses and withdrew, spending almost all your time in your chambers. This made him feel powerless. He wanted things to be like before but accepted your silence, even though it hurt.

One morning, you were gone. Not just from your chambers, but from the world as he knew it. Without a word, without a trace. For years, he searched for you, still Commander of the Royal Guard, tirelessly mobilizing his men. But there was no answer.

The rebels became bolder, launching attacks against the kingdom. Although he shouldn’t have, he allowed failures among his soldiers to minimize bloodshed. He silently opposed the king. This continued until whispers began to haunt him: The Rebel Princess.

He refused to believe it. But then he saw you. So changed. Your golden hair now dark as night. Your eyes devoid of their shine. It was a sight that destroyed him. He thought he lost you forever. The pain of abandonment. The feeling you never cared for him. Still, love remained, fierce and unquenchable.

With his gaze fixed on the sky, he whispered apologies to his father. The general had been loyal to the crown. But he had to do this. For you. With sword in hand, he put an end to the chaos. He ended the pain.

Snow fell heavily, swirling through the biting cold that penetrated his cloak. He moved through the frozen forest, his hand gripping a brown cloth sack. When he reached the rebel camp and was surrounded, he felt no pride in the act or in what he carried. It was not a trophy; it was a key to coming back to you. He let its contents fall onto the frozen ground, the dark red staining the pure white snow.

A collective gasp of shock, then joy, ran through the crowd. Frantically searching, his eyes scanned the faces until they landed on yours. He fell to one knee, never taking his eyes off you. It was not the submission of a subject to a monarch; it was the raw, total capitulation of his soul to its center. He was home.

“It’s over, my... p-queen.” He spoke, his voice hoarse and loud enough for everyone to hear, though the words were directed only at you.