The throne hall slowly emptied.
Yet no one dared leave too quickly.
Every noble who walked out carried the same expression—one of complete disbelief.
The lost princess had returned.
Not only returned...
She had been welcomed by a king willing to shake an entire kingdom for her.
Outside the palace, the news spread faster than the evening wind.
"The princess lives!"
"The Silver King found his sister!"
"They say he wrapped his own royal cloak around her!"
"They say anyone who insults her will disappear!"
"...That last one is definitely true."
Within an hour, the entire capital was celebrating.
Bells rang from temples.
Merchants closed their stalls early.
Children ran through the streets shouting,
"Princess Roseline is home!"
Inside the palace, however...
The atmosphere was far calmer.
Louis had escorted Roseline personally toward the eastern palace, refusing to let anyone else accompany her except Kingston, Sir Cedric, Aunt Evelyn, and a handful of trusted guards.
The palace itself overlooked a crystal lake that reflected the moon like polished silver.
Fresh flowers lined the pathways.
Every room had already been prepared as though someone had been waiting for its owner for years.
Roseline stopped at the entrance.
"...This was all prepared?"
Louis nodded.
"I ordered it years ago."
She turned to him in surprise.
"You... never gave up?"
"I never accepted that you were gone."
His answer came so naturally that Roseline felt her heart tighten.
Kingston quietly looked away, giving the siblings a moment.
For years, he had dreamed of marrying Roseline.
Now he understood something deeper.
Before she became his wife...
She was someone's precious little sister.
Someone who had spent years searching every corner of the continent just to bring her home.
Louis noticed Roseline's eyes becoming glossy.
Without saying anything, he gently placed a hand on her head.
"You are home."
She smiled through the tears.
"I know."
Later that evening...
Louis invited Kingston to his private study.
Unlike the grand throne room, the study was warm and quiet.
A chessboard rested between two armchairs.
Bookshelves reached the ceiling.
The fireplace crackled softly.
For several minutes...
Neither of them spoke.
Louis moved the first chess piece.
Kingston answered with one of his own.
Silence continued.
Finally...
Louis broke it.
"You love her."
Kingston smiled faintly.
"I do."
"How long?"
"Long before I knew she was a princess."
Louis studied him carefully.
Kingston looked directly into his eyes.
"I fell in love with Roseline."
"Not her title."
The room became silent once again.
Louis looked at the chessboard before giving a small nod.
"I know."
Kingston blinked.
"You... know?"
"I had people watching in your kingdom! He said with a raised brow. Referring to the shadow guards he left after the wedding.
Kingston nearly laughed.
"Of course you did."
"I watched everyone."
Louis calmly moved another chess piece.
"I know every man who ever approached my sister. I did my research after finding out she's my sister."
Kingston suddenly felt grateful he had always behaved himself.
Louis continued,
"There were many."
Kingston raised an eyebrow.
"Should I be jealous?"
"No."
Louis's lips curved into the faintest smile.
"They were removed."
Kingston stared.
"...Removed?"
"They stopped appearing."
He would never allow what happened to his mother to happen ro his sister again.
Kingston wisely decided not to ask any further questions.
Meanwhile...
Roseline wandered onto the palace balcony.
The night breeze carried the scent of blooming jasmine.
She looked over the glowing capital below.
So many people...
So many lights...
All celebrating because she had come home.
Aunt Evelyn stepped beside her.
"They've waited for this day for years."
Roseline rested her hands on the balcony rail.
"I don't know if I deserve all this."
Aunt Evelyn smiled gently.
"My dear..."
"You never had to earn your family's love."
"They love your parents and the present king.... your brother. Although he's feared, the people love him. So expect that love too. It's your parents sacrifice my dear."
Roseline looked at her.
"You were loved before you were born."
The older woman brushed a strand of hair behind Roseline's ear.
"And after everything you endured..."
"...you deserve to be loved twice as much."
Roseline leaned into the embrace she was offered.
The emptiness inside her heart no longer felt quite so empty.
Far away, hidden in the shadows beyond the palace walls...
A cloaked figure watched the brightly lit eastern palace.
"The lost princess..."
The stranger's lips curled into a sinister smile.
"So... she's alive after all."
A black raven landed on the figure's shoulder.
"Inform the Master."
"Our hunt begins again."
The raven took flight into the darkness.
High above the kingdom...
The moon disappeared behind gathering clouds.
And somewhere beyond the borders of Highcrest...
An old enemy smiled.