Lord Griffin's Mighty Return

Chapter 3

Startled, Selune rushed to him, checking for a pulse. Her breath caught in her throat when she realized he was still alive, just unconscious.

 

But in this moment, even someone like Selune, who was usually calm and composed in board meetings, found herself at a loss.

Her family was falling apart, and the next, there was an unconscious stranger in her room. She had no idea how to deal with any of it!

Perhaps her attitude toward him had been a bit too harsh earlier—after all, he was just an innocent bystander caught up in all of this.

‘Just wait until he wakes up’, she thought, trying to regain some sense of control.

‘Then, I can get him to a hospital, get him out of here, and explain everything to my father and Aunt Elina.’

‘The engagement can still go on, and my father will forgive me. Maybe everything will go back to normal…’

With that faint hope, Selune dragged the man back onto the bed.

As she moved him, a ring slipped from his pocket, hitting the floor with a soft clink.

What’s this?

Curious, she picked it up. It was heavier than it looked, and the material felt strange—cold and smooth.

The golden band radiated an icy coldness, and embedded in the center was a crest. It looked just like the tattoo on the man’s back.

Selune squinted at the worn inscriptions inside the ring.

A single letter stood out, barely legible but clear enough: “G.”

She frowned, inspecting it for a moment before setting the ring down on the nightstand.

What’s this all about?

Who was he? Why had he collapsed by the sea? How had he taken down her father’s bodyguards without breaking a sweat?

Too many questions, and no answers.

Selune sighed, exhausted, both physically and emotionally.

She glanced at the man. All she wanted now was for him to wake up and explain everything to her family.

She tried to shake off her thoughts, but sleep came for her. Without realizing it, she drifted off beside the bed.

When she awoke, warmth spread over her body. Someone had placed a blanket over her.

Startled, Selune jumped up. Her eyes focused immediately on the man.

He was awake. Standing in front of her.

How had he gotten up? Selune had always been a light sleeper, but she hadn’t heard him stir at all.

She crossed her arms over her chest, step back cautiously. “You’re awake. Who are you?”

The man’s gaze locked with hers, his expression distant, confused.

He scanned the room, as if trying to make sense of his surroundings.

His eyes lingering on the pale curtains, the soft mattress, and the silk pillowcase beneath him.

Then his gaze shifted to her—pale golden hair, standing there wrapped in the blanket he’d placed over.

“I… don’t know. Where am I?” His voice was hoarse but deep.

“I’m Selune,” she replied, trying to stay calm. “This is my home. I pulled you out of the sea.”

“The sea?”

The man repeated the word, frowning as though trying to recall something.

“Yes, you passed out by the sea. Don’t you remember?” Selune prompted.

The man shook his head, looking lost. “No…”

“How about your name?” she pressed, urgency creeping into her voice.

Another shake of the head.

“Do you remember anything?”

He paused, staring at his hands as though they weren’t his own. “I… don’t remember anything.”

Classic case of amnesia, Selune thought disappointly. Asking him for his identity right now would be pointless.

Quickly, she got an idea.

She quickly picked up the ring that had fallen earlier and held it out to him.

“This should be yours. Maybe it’ll help.”

The man hesitated, then took the ring from her.

The moment his fingers brushed the metal, his eyes widened.

The coldness of the ring seemed to trigger something.

The look in his eyes shifted, and suddenly, a flood of memories crashed into him.

Visions exploded behind his eyes - Bloody waters, warplanes falling from the sky, the smoke of sinking warships. Among the chaos, he thought he heard someone calling his name.

“Arthur…”

“All Hail General Griffin!”