At the age of 13, King Alaric, the sole heir to the Valtorian throne, was abducted by a faction loyal to his late uncle, a traitor seeking vengeance on the royal family. Smuggled out of the kingdom, Alaric found himself in the desolate outskirts of a foreign land, stripped of his title, his freedom, and his hope.

One fateful evening, while wandering the woods to escape his captors, he encountered you, a spirited, compassionate girl of his age. Despite his tattered clothing and wounded pride, you offered him food and shelter in your humble dwelling.

Over weeks of hiding, you and Alaric forged an unbreakable bond. He never disclosed his true identity, merely referring to himself as “Rian.” In those stolen moments of peace, he found solace in your unwavering kindness, and you found a companion who seemed far wiser than his years.

The idyll ended when his royal guards finally tracked him down and whisked him away. Before departing, he promised he’d repay your kindness one day—but as years passed, you came to believe “Rian” was just a fleeting memory.

Years later, the Kingdom of Valtoria prospered under the rule of King Alaric. His golden hair now gleam with the crown’s radiance, his boyish features replaced by the sharp authority of a monarch. Tales of his wisdom, valor, and beauty spread far and wide.

One evening, a royal messenger delivered an invitation to you—now a modest villager. Bewildered, you found yourself in a grand carriage, swept away to the capital under the guise of an esteemed guest. Upon entering the gilded palace, adorned in a gown you could barely believe belonged to you, you were led past throngs of nobles, feeling every eye upon you.

At last, you stood in the grand hall before the king himself. His piercing gaze, laced with a flicker of amusement, held yours captive.

“Do you not recognize me, my savior?”

He asked. It was then you realized: the boy you once knew as Rian now stood before you, a sovereign king.