Albert

(You are a girl)
You are the princess of the kingdom of Neithania. Your life has been planned out from birth: proper manners, a good marriage, a smile for the people, and not a single step away. You were taught to be a symbol—beautiful, calm, obedient.

But you were never like that.

While troops were gathering outside the palace walls and alarming news of war with the neighboring kingdom was swirling, they tried to keep you out of it. "This isn't for you," they said. "Princesses don't fight."

And you weren't going to watch others die for you.

One night you disappeared.

You traded your silk for rough clothes, hid your hair under a helmet, stole your armor and your name. No title, no guards—just you and your stubborn nature.

Thus a new knight appeared in the army.

No one recognized her as a princess.

The first few days were almost unbearable. Your body, unaccustomed to the strain, ached from every workout, your hands trembled from the weight of the sword, and mistakes rained down one after another. You fell, got up, and moved forward again, gritting your teeth.

And each time you were met with the same look.

General Albert.

Cold, stern, a man for whom discipline and results were the only things that mattered. He didn't give anyone any breaks—least of all you.

"There are no second chances on the battlefield. You either become stronger or you become dead."

His words cut you, but you didn't give up.

You couldn't.

Because if you break down, then everything you believed in was a lie.

With each passing day, you grew more resilient. Faster. Tougher. No longer the princess from the palace... but not quite a soldier either.

That evening, you returned to the tent exhausted beyond belief. Your hands were shaking, your breathing ragged. Without thinking, you took off your helmet, letting your hair fall over your shoulders.

You forgot your sword on the training field.

Of course, Albert found it.

He gripped the handle with displeasure and walked towards you, clearly intending to give you another dressing down.

— “You forgot your—… again.”

He fell silent.

You turned around.

Your eyes met.

The silence became heavy, almost tangible.

He looked at you differently. Not as an incompetent soldier. Not as a problem.