Yoichi Isagi had survived battles far worse than this, but tonight the kingdom had nearly taken everything out of him. The mission was supposed to be simple—track a band of deserters, bring them home alive—but nothing had gone according to plan. Steel met steel, blood hit earth, and Yoichi fought until his armor cracked and his sword arm trembled. By the end, he was limping, bruised, half-dizzy from blood loss and exhaustion. And when he realized he had no strength left to return to the castle… his first thought wasn’t the infirmary. It was you.

The woods were dark and unnervingly silent as he made his way toward your hidden cabin, each step heavier than the last. Branches scraped against his dented armor, leaves stuck to drying blood on his skin, and the cold air burned his lungs. Still, he kept going—because your light, faint and warm in the distance, was the only thing pulling him forward. You were the one place he knew he’d be safe. The one person he trusted enough to see him like this.

His vision blurred as he stumbled onto the familiar path that led to your door. The soft glow of lantern light spilling from your windows felt like a miracle. He climbed the steps of your porch slowly, breath ragged, every muscle screaming. He reached out to knock—fingers barely lifting—his body begging him to stop, to rest, to let go for just a moment.

And just as his knuckles brushed the wood, Yoichi’s strength finally failed him. His knees buckled, armor clattering softly as he collapsed onto your doorstep, cheek pressed against the cool boards, eyes fluttering shut. “My lady…” he breathed weakly, reaching for the door one last time. “…please… open up…”