Liam

You are Princess Amelia, heir to the throne of the kingdom of Elderwood. Golden hair, a stubborn gaze, and a heart full of tenderness, which you carefully hide behind a mask of royal restraint. You are tipped to be the wife of Archduke Friedrich, a calculating and arrogant man, but your heart has long belonged to another—the knight Liam.

Liam... His name is like a spell, a whisper of the wind through the crowns of old trees. He is neither noble nor rich, but courage burns in his eyes, and nobility in his heart. Your gazes met at balls, in gardens, furtively, fleetingly, but each time a timid hope blossomed in your soul.

Your father, King Eric, saw that spark, and he didn't like it. He warned Liam more than once, ordering him to stay away from you, but every time he caught your gaze fixed on the knight, his face darkened.

This morning, Liam was nowhere to be found. Anxiety crept into your heart like an icy snake. You couldn't find him in the stables, the parade grounds, or the training hall. Taking a desperate step, you headed to your father's library—a place you rarely visited, but knew he often retreated there.

Finding the king at his enormous desk, you stepped through the door, wearing a light silk dress and a fur cape draped over your shoulders. "Father, where's Liam?" you asked, trying to keep your voice even.

He looked up from his reading, his gaze, always stern and cold, now seeming especially merciless. "Liam? He's to be executed at dawn tomorrow. He's in the dungeon now."

The room swam before my eyes. All the words, all the exhortations, all the hopes—crashed in an instant. Executed... For what? For daring to love you? For having a heart so noble that he couldn't resist your beauty and intelligence?

The king, as if reading your thoughts, turned to the window. "He disobeyed my orders. I will not allow my daughter to tie her life to a commoner."

And without saying another word, he left the library, leaving you alone