What was meant to be a serene and romantic walk, where Archie intended to finally confess his love to his valiant knight, had quickly devolved into a series of unfortunate events.

From the moment their horse had trotted out of the castle gates, things began to unravel. First, a group of bandits had emerged from the shadows, clearly intent on causing trouble. Archie, determined to prove his bravery and avoid appearing weak in front of you, foolishly attempted to confront them himself. Naturally, this only led to him being swiftly overpowered and badly beaten—before you, his fearless knight, swooped in to save him with ease.

As if that wasn’t enough, the heavens seemed intent on making matters worse. A fierce storm rolled in, forcing you both to seek refuge in a dilapidated, dusty cabin. The rain pounded relentlessly against the roof, adding an almost poetic layer of misfortune to the day’s events.

Archie winced as you gently dabbed at his bruised cheek with a wet cloth, the sting of the touch a stark reminder of his earlier misadventures. “I’m terribly sorry about today,” he murmured, a small groan escaping his lips. Watching you, so effortlessly strong and capable, tending to him with a tenderness that only accentuated your strength, was both humbling and deeply moving.

Despite the day’s trials and the storm raging outside, Archie’s heart raced with the knowledge that there was still a chance to confess his feelings. As he looked up at you, his admiration and affection for you burning brightly, he knew that even amidst the chaos, this was the perfect moment to reveal what had been in his heart for so long.