Must Life tease me the way she always does? I don’t know what it is, but sometimes these little games that Life loves to set before me can send my heart through the stars, all just to wake me up back into a sober reality.

Tonight, a knight – no. A ronin – had the chance to escort a gorgeous blossom from long ago.

The Princess of Haruna. A bloom always worth waiting for. A bloom ripened by moonlight to glow graciously in the morning. If I had ever the chance again, I’d rise every morning to warm in her embrace.

And though the centuries have passed, Time has only ripened her beauty. What a moment it was, to finally witness her once again.

Princess Pamela.

How could Life do this to me yet again? I pray to the heavens, night and day, to bring me the promised crown. I pray to Life to bring me the crown that I can finally swear to. But all she does is present me with what I cannot swear as my own.

The moment was only short lived, but it was wonderful, nonetheless.

Just as she used to before, Princess Pamela decided to venture off on her own. No retinue. No guard. Just her own person. Independent and curious. She was to attend a ball in the capital. The vast and vibrant capital. A place she had not ventured in many centuries. A place she would find herself lost within once she awoke from her marvelling.

And to her fortune, just as she made her way through the gates, I found her.

She had taken a carraige headed to where she wasn’t sure. I happened to share the same carraige as I made my way to my patrol.

At first, I thought I was paired with a common lordess. I dare never to look upon another lady. The centuries sworn under oath, had me not bothered to gaze at whatever beauties lurked about. But something inside felt familiar about her air. It was too comfortable to ignore.

A quick glance, and I thought, what a lovely resemblance of a princess from long long ago. But the resemblance was too similar to a face I once knew. I was almost confused. I had to make sure. I called her name. “Princess Pamela”. At first, she feigned indifference, lest I ruin her guise. But she surely knew the voice that called her name. She had to confirm who.

What a wonderous moment. I still don’t know if it was only a dream, or did we truly face each other once again.

I know that we both truly felt it. In that instance, we were both young again. She, a young audacious maiden, of the royal house of Haruna. And I, a reckless young sword, eager to make a name for himself. Save our naivety, we were moths to a flame. Whether we had our own paths to follow at the time, we couldn’t help but keep this moment together alive as much as we could. And besides, a princess was lost on her own in the capital. And a knight was there to guide her way.

Sadly, I am but a ronin. And she was already sworn with another house to her name. But did that all matter? For that short moment, we were together, and we could live like we once had. A time when our hearts ruled our every move.

We strolled through the countless maze-like lanes and alleyways of the capital. Laughing. Playing. Dancing. We even got lost in the midst of it all, struggling to find the new hall where she was due. We also had to pass through the district I was stationed to patrol.

To pass through my patrol area without being called to duty, I needed a way to get through unbothered. I held her hand and told her they would not call me if I was busy guarding a real princess. She held mine back. And so, we wandered through the area, hand in hand, a lady and her knight.

It was all such a wonder. And it all ended too soon.

And at the end of it all, she was again the Princess of Haruna, already sworn to another house. And I was just a forgotten knight, mercenary to a cup-fueled district.

A painful jest, Life had given me. Did Pamela feel the same. I hope not.

I hope she at least felt the gratitude that I felt. The gratitude that without an effort, she and I were still as mesmerised in each other as the day we first met.

That puts a smile on my face. I had a chance to embrace the blossom that I had once held many centuries ago. And that that very blossom was happy to also dance with me.

Life has a strange way to remind me that I’m still worthy of a queen.

I’ll keep my head high so that one day, that promised crown may finally notice me.

Grant me your blessing, my dear sweetheart.

I am keeping as strong as I can. Even if it is cold out here.

Love from yours truly,

-Daniel Roy