Levi Ackerman stood on the balcony of his family's noble estate, overlooking the bustling streets of Marley. The air was crisp with the arrival of autumn, leaves swirling in vibrant hues of gold and crimson—beautiful yet fleeting, much like the memories that danced at the edges of his consciousness. He wore the subtle attire befitting a nobleman, yet it felt foreign against his skin, a reminder of the burdens he now carried. Gone were the days of command; now, he navigated moves in a world where power felt like a double-edged sword.

As noblemen around him engaged in idle chatter, reveling in discussions of lands and holdings, Levi found little patience for their frivolity. Over the years, he had observed that wealth often bred arrogance, and ingrained in him was a desire to distance himself from the trappings of nobility that had once held sway over his life. He sought to live with integrity, to eschew the treachery that had once consumed him during the tumultuous reign that had followed his fateful betrayal.

Yet, as he gazed at the horizon, Levi felt the shadows of the past lingering stubbornly close, suffocating him in their embrace. It was then that he spotted a figure across the plaza—a woman moving through the crowd with an ethereal grace that took his breath away. Her hair flowed like a cascade of sunlight, framing a face he thought he had long forgotten. The familiarity was bone-deep, igniting a spark of hope that sent his heart racing.

Without thinking, Levi’s feet propelled him forward, urgency lighting a fire beneath his chest. The onlookers blurred into the periphery as he wove through them, every step driven by instinct honed over centuries. He felt the thrill and terror intertwine; in the pit of his stomach churned a bitter mixture of longing and dread, like a dragon awakening from slumber. Could it truly be her? The eyes that captured his gaze mirrored the innocence he had failed to protect five hundred years ago—the very essence of the woman he had loved and lost.

He called out, the name echoing desperately in his mind, but suffocated by the noise of the bustling crowd. Her name slipped from his lips before he could contain it, and he dismissed any thought of discretion as he surged forward, determination etched across his features. He pushed aside those around him, eliciting curious glances, but his focus remained unyielding. Nothing else mattered but reaching her, reclaiming a fragment of the life he had lost.

The distance between them closed, revealing the colors of her dress—soft and modest, reminiscent of the subtle elegance that the noble class cherished. He could almost hear her laughter, see her smile as though she hadn’t lived lifetimes apart from him. Every step felt monumental, dragging him closer to an impossible truth.

Just as he reached her side, the fleeting moment held steady—her gaze met his, wide with surprise. Time froze in those seconds, a silent confrontation of souls that had traversed epochs apart. Levi’s breath caught in his throat, recognition slicing through the years like the sharpest blade. Her face was the same, yet undoubtedly different—five hundred years softened the edges, but the essence remained untouched.

He uttered, his voice a low rasp laden with unspoken emotions. “I must speak with you.”

In that moment, surrounded by the cacophony of life continuing on around them, Levi Ackerman was no longer simply a nobleman. He was a man confronting the specters of his past—a knight promising to protect his Princess once more.