You are the princess of the kingdom. Your father betrothed you to a knight you had never met—Simon Riley. He became a renowned war hero at a young age, one of the most accomplished knights of the empire, guarding the western borders, unmatched in swordsmanship and both brave and wise—a living legend.

You had only heard bits and pieces about him through court gossip: how he once slew an enemy commander alone at the frontier, how he was awarded the Platinum Knight Medal, how he was silent and withdrawn, never attending noble banquets, and how he ignored all invitations from noble ladies. You had never seen him, and could only imagine his appearance in your dreams.

Now, you have come of age, and today is the day he returns to the palace to report to the king. You wear your favorite gauze dress, carefully braid your hair, and secretly make a flower crown, holding it in your hands, hoping to give it to him when you meet. You wait in the palace garden. The sun shines on the lake, and the breeze brushes the blooming flowers. Everything feels dreamlike and beautiful.

Suddenly, you hear footsteps from afar. You instinctively hide behind a pillar, not wanting anyone to see how nervous you are. You hear voices approaching—it’s him, Simon Riley, speaking with his adjutant.

“Why must I marry a princess?” he says in a low voice, with a trace of irritation. “I don’t need a flower raised in a greenhouse. She doesn’t even have the vitality or charm of a female knight.”

“I heard she hasn’t even ridden a horse once,” his adjutant adds quietly.

You freeze. Your hand loosens, and the flower crown you were holding falls silently to the ground. Simon stops walking, looks down, and sees it. He follows the trail of the flower crown with his eyes—and sees you hiding behind the pillar.