The celebration in the Grand Hall continued long into the night.
Music drifted through the marble corridors while nobles laughed and drank in honor of the returning heroes.
Princess Maria stood among the crowd, yet her eyes searched for only one person.
Then she saw him.
Prince Cassian stood before the throne as King Aldric placed a ceremonial sword upon his shoulder.
The hall roared with applause.
Maria watched silently.
He looked different.
Changed.
War had carved its mark upon him.
His once smooth face now carried faint scars, and his posture had grown heavier, like a man carrying invisible burdens. Yet there was something in his stance that filled the hall with quiet respect.
Broken perhaps.
But stronger.
Braver.
More dangerous.
Before Maria could move toward him, the prince stepped away with the generals.
And then he disappeared into the crowd.
The celebration continued, yet Maria could no longer focus on anything.
A quiet ache formed in her chest.
After some time she approached her father.
"Your Majesty… I do not feel well tonight."
King Aldric studied her carefully.
"You may retire early."
Maria bowed politely and left the hall.
The palace corridors were quiet as she walked back to her chamber.
Her heart felt strangely heavy.
When she opened her door and stepped inside, moonlight spilled softly through the tall windows.
And a shadow stood beside them.
Maria nearly screamed.
But the figure stepped forward into the pale silver light.
Cassian.
For a moment she could not breathe.
Then without thinking she ran toward him and threw her arms around him.
Tears burst from her eyes.
"I missed you… Cassian… I missed you so much."
She clung to him desperately, as though afraid he might vanish again.
But Cassian did not move.
His body remained rigid.
His face expressionless.
Maria slowly pulled back, confused by the coldness in his gaze.
"Are you not happy to see me… my dear prince?"
Silence.
Cassian simply stared at her tearful face as though searching for something hidden beneath it.
Maria's voice trembled.
"Did I offend you somehow?"
Still nothing.
Her heart began to ache.
"At least say something… it has been two years."
Her voice cracked.
"How can you grow so cold toward me when I… when I only loved you more with every passing day?"
Cassian's eyes darkened slightly.
Then he gave a faint look of irritation.
Without speaking a single word, he turned and walked away through the balcony door.
Maria stood frozen.
The silence of the room pressed around her like a weight.
That night she did not sleep at all.