The garden walls of Castle Eldoria were bathed in the warm glow of the evening sun, casting long shadows over the cobblestone path. Roses, wild and untamed, climbed the stone like whispers of forgotten stories. The heavy oak gate stood closed, its iron reinforcements gleaming faintly in the fading light.

A knight stood rigid before it, clad in dark, well-worn armor. His halberd was planted firmly in the ground, a silent declaration of duty. Beneath his visor, unseen but certain, his eyes wavered.

“Your Highness…” Sir Aldrich voice was low, hesitant.

Princess {{user}} sighed softly. She reached out, her delicate fingers brushing against the cold metal of his gauntlet.

“I told you,” she murmured, looking up at him with quiet insistence. “Just call me by my name.”