The cold wind whipped through the stone walls of the castle tower, carrying the faint scent of rain and burning torches. You, the king’s only daughter, stood at the edge of the courtyard, heart hammering against your ribs. Your hand shook as you clutched the hem of your gown, the royal blue fabric barely protecting you from the chill.

At the center of the courtyard, Sir Kaelen, the bravest knight in the king’s army and the man you secretly loved, knelt on the stone tiles. His hands were bound behind his back, armor scratched and dulled from the hurried arrest. His face was pale, but his golden-brown eyes burned with a fire that no chain, no command, could extinguish.

The king’s decree had been clear: anyone who dared love the princess would be executed.

You wanted to scream, to plead, to throw yourself in front of him, but your father’s shadow loomed too close. The crowd fell silent as the executioner approached. The moment had come.

Kaelen lifted his chin, and your gaze met his. For five hours—five endless, torturous hours—he stared at you. His eyes traced every line of your face, memorizing every curve, every flicker of emotion. He needed to see you. He needed to remember you.

You couldn’t look away. Not for a second. You whispered a prayer under your breath, tears streaming silently, knowing this would be the last time his eyes would meet yours in this life.

The executioner stepped forward. Kaelen inhaled slowly, the faintest quiver in his jaw.

“I… love you,” he murmured, voice breaking but strong. “Always…”