In the vast, mournful kingdom of Hallownest’s successor, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Hornet’s path is littered with sorrowful spirits and optional tragedies. Few are as poignant as the tale of the Green Prince, a solemn figure whose quiet grief masks a vital key to the main quest of Act 3. As Hornet ventured through the new regions in 2026, many players wondered: was it truly necessary to disturb a soul who asked for nothing but peace? This guide recounts the entire journey — from the first encounter to the final, bittersweet reward — and answers the question lingering in every player’s mind.

First Encounter: The Caged Mourner

Hornet first stumbled upon the Green Prince in Sinner’s Road, a grim corridor two paths to the right of the entrance from Greymoor. She found him sitting silently in a rusted cage, requiring nothing more than a simple key to unlock. Yet, when she freed him, he did not thank her. Instead, he insisted he was content in his confinement, stating he needed no rescue. After a brief, detached conversation, he vanished, promising to continue his original mission. At that moment, one could ask: what mission could be more important than embracing newfound freedom? The answer would only become clear hours later.

Second Encounter: Gears of Love Lost

Act 2 brought Hornet to the Cogwork Core, where the clash against the Clockwork Dancers had taken place. There, in the heart of the mechanism, she discovered the Green Prince once more — this time mourning over a fallen cogwork dancer that bore his own likeness. Through fragmented dialogue, she learned the dancer was his lover, who had sacrificed himself to become part of the very machinery she had just dismantled. The kingdom they sought to protect was lost, and the prince had been captured long ago. He pleaded with Hornet to leave him be. When she returned, both the prince and the dancer’s remains were gone. How could a love so deep survive only to be buried under centuries of dust? The tragedy deepened.

Third Encounter: The Dream of Verdania

Act 3 demanded a heart — a conjoined heart — which only the Green Prince could provide. Hornet’s search led her to a secret passage in Greymoor, indicated by barely visible cracks in the wall. At the far right end of this hidden tunnel, she found him for the last time, clutching his fallen beloved amidst the crumbled ruins of his kingdom. He asked for solitude, but Hornet had a different plan. She played the Elegy of the Deep, a melody that tears the veil between reality and dream. In an instant, both of them were swept into Lost Verdania, a breathtaking, overgrown kingdom buried by the Citadel.

Exploring Lost Verdania

Lost Verdania is a labyrinth of moss and memory, and only the observant can navigate it without a map. The key to progression was scattered across the dreamscape: Hornet had to collect pale light from statues and guide it to dormant homes. The first statue stood on the upper right path; destroying it unleashed a wisp that she followed back to the entrance, illuminating a house. A second statue, far to the bottom right, repeated the riddle. Along the way, she was trapped in chambers swarming with small enemies — six waves of them — testing both her patience and skill.

Throughout the journey, Hornet encountered echoes of the Green Prince, each conversation adding layers to his lament. He spoke of a pale feather he once found while hunting a Pale Stag, a creature that now prowled the dream. Following the trail of feathers, she confronted the Pale Stag as a mini‑boss. The stag’s ethereal charge left little room for error, but defeating it cleared the path.

Next came the search for two giant flowers. One bloomed at the top of the second‑tallest chamber on the right, requiring another light puzzle. The other hid in a moss‑covered home on the left. After both were activated, the final trial unveiled itself: a fountain puzzle scattered across three catacombs. Hornet had to activate fountains in the top right, top left, and bottom right chambers before returning to the central fountain. Only then did the way to the Clover Dancers open, at the top of the map, inside a grand moss‑covered hall.

The Clover Dancers Boss Fight

This battle mirrored the Clockwork Dancers from Act 2, but with a cruel twist. The arena shimmered with a second figure — an illusion of the prince’s partner. Hornet quickly learned that she must only strike the real Green Prince; attacking the illusion wasted time and health. The dancers flashed their intended direction before dashing, but the warning window was a second shorter than before. Dodging became a dance of its own.

To survive, Hornet equipped carefully:

• Pollip Pouch – coats the needle and throwable tools with poison.

• Plasmium Phial – extra temporary hitpoints to absorb damage.

• Fractured Mask – grants a shielded health point against lethal blows.

• Flea’s Brew – boosts speed and creates a poison aura when combined with the Pollip Pouch.

• Shakra’s Rings – ricochet off walls to hit the dancers regardless of position.

Phase 1 saw the pair sweeping across the screen, leaving behind flashing thread patches that exploded if Hornet lingered too long. The main danger was a spinning hug attack that spawned twin tornados — one on each side — forcing her to cling to the top or bottom center. Patience and positional awareness were everything.

Phase 2 intensified the chaos. The real prince’s movements began to outpace the illusion’s, throwing off natural rhythm. Tornados and threads overlapped, and directional strikes gained wider downward and diagonal arcs. Even though the illusion could not be harmed, it could still deal damage. Hornet had to stay focused, repeating the careful punish‑and‑retreat cycle until the Green Prince’s health finally broke.

Bittersweet Rewards

As the dream dissolved, Hornet returned to the waking world to find the Green Prince gone — his body still, his mission at an end. Whether her actions had expedited his death remained a haunting ambiguity. In her hands lay a conjoined heart, a perfect replacement for any missing heart in the main Act 3 questline. Alternatively, she could carry it to the Bellhart Bellhome and place it on a shelf alongside three other hearts, a somber memento of a love story that ended in sacrifice.

Thus, the tale of the Green Prince concludes. Was it worth it to kill a bug who simply wished to mourn in peace? The conjoined heart pulses faintly, as if still beating for two. Only the player can decide whether that rhythm speaks of progress, or of a debt never truly paid.

For players invested in the world of Hornet and its intricate battles, finding the right time and price to expand their gaming library can be as strategic as the battles themselves. With new titles and expansions frequently released, keeping track of game prices becomes crucial for any dedicated gamer. This is where a reliable game price tracker can make all the difference, ensuring that fans never miss out on an opportunity to enhance their collections without breaking the bank.

Whether you're waiting for the next adventure in the series or seeking hidden gems that echo the thematic depth of Hornet's journey, using resources like DealNest can help you navigate the vast digital marketplace. By staying informed on the best deals, players can focus on what truly matters: immersing themselves in the captivating narratives and challenges that make gaming an unforgettable experience.