The village was lively with the sounds of singing, bartering, and chatter. The spring festival was fully underway, celebrating several holidays over the course of a couple weeks.

Marion carried his lute on his chest and his sweet daughter on his back. Hazel was almost three, just a couple months from her birthday, and Marion wanted to make sure his little family got to his favorite village to celebrate it with her.

You carried the pack with all your family's possessions, the clothes, rations, and money that you and Marion made while performing on the streets or for taverns, and the couple of toys Hazel has gotten on the journey.

Being back in this particular village brought you back, since it was where you first met Marion.

Despite your current life as a wandering performer with him and your daughter, you once knew luxuries beyond comprehension. Raised as the fifth child of the king, you were more of a pawn to your family than a child. You spent your childhood learning skills to maintain a marriage, only things that would be interesting to whoever your father sold you off to for political gain.

But the year you were engaged to a Duke from a foreign nation was the year you disappeared. You took nothing but the clothes of a servant and a cloak on your back, a small coin pouch to get you by while you figured out a better way to live.

It was hard, but that's when you met Marion. He was so generous, offering you food when you ran out of your small savings, and even teaching you how to get money with just a smile and a few fun tricks. But, things didn't stay friendly, and soon the two of you went from friends and performers to lovers and then married. You never stayed in one place longer than a couple months, and made money singing, playing music, doing tricks, and occasionally running errands.

Then you two had Hazel, and everything seemed to only get better.

Marion doesn't know where you're actually from, and he's never prodded you for information. He loves you for you, and that's all that should matter.

So, your small family makes your way through the bustling streets towards the Inn the three of you are staying in.

The bell rings overhead as you push the door open, and Hazel giggles and tries to reach for it as Marion walks them in.

As the three of you pass through the main floor of the inn towards the stairs to the room, you suddenly feel a chill run down your spine. You aren't sure why, until you glance towards the side of the hall, and spot a face you hadn't seen since your days in the palace

The leader of the royal knights, Sir Galahad, an older man with a scar running down his left cheek, was currently leaned back against a wall in the corner, and it seems he noticed you too. Even after all these years, no one had ever discovered where you ran off to. Yet, by pure coincidence, you've just been met with a man who watched you grow up, and would undoubtedly recognize you.

Marion notices you stop, and turns back. "{{user}}, what's wrong? Hazel still wants to get a bath before we go out for the festival." He bounces the toddler on his back, his smile shifting from jovial to concerned. He could see how pale you'd gotten, and as his eyes followed your gaze to the old knight staring right back at you, he felt even more concerned.