One

Before I was banished to the East wing, and before the devil ruined my life, it was a place filled with only good memories for me. The east wing was where my cousins stayed when they visited us. I remembered each summer they'd come here, and the adventures we'd have around the palace. We would pretend to solve crimes, assign each person a different role. We would swim in the pool until our mothers' dragged us out, sneak into the kitchen and make us weird snacks. It was the only time, we all felt normal. When we were together we weren't royalty, my mother and father weren't the emperor and empress, and I wasn't the princess. I was just me. I laid on the bed, and closed my eyes for a moment. When I opened them I did what I had been doing for most of my time here. I stared up at the drawings on the ceiling. They were recently done by my cousin Baozhai. "So that when I sleep, I can go to the beautiful places I draw." She'd say. I used to think that this was odd, but recently I've been holding on to that hope. Staying here was destroying me. I wasn't entirely sure if any of my distant family were alive, but I had hoped that they had managed to escape, or hide. A part of me knew that they had probably suffered the same fate as my family. It was the only way for the emperor to solidify his rule. Their death would mean next to no one could rebel. I sighed and got up to sit by my window. The soldiers' training was about to start. This was the highlight of my day. I'd watch them and secretly practice what they were doing. I've always wanted to learn how to fight, and right now, it seemed like the most appropriate thing to do. I didn't know what was to come, so I needed to act smart. I filled the rest of my time with painting and reading mostly political books. I needed to play smart in order to survive in this castle. I've read about 500 books. I've almost finished all the books available in the empirical library on politics. I'll then move on to the diaries of past generals. Reading birthed hope in me. A hope that I can make it in this world. That I will not die within these castle walls. That I'll be able to escape. Once I do, I'd like to escape to the country side. Somewhere I can't be used as a tool. The farm meant my freedom. It meant I was away from the empire, the politics, and their dangers. That was my dream.

I heard a knock on my door, and told the person to come in. It was a maid. " Miss, it's time for your meal."

I nodded and asked her to place the food in front of the window.

" What are you watching miss?"

I gestured towards the guards. " I'm watching the training."

" Why miss?"

My eyes began to glass over. " I simply have nothing else to do right now."

She frowned and apologized. " I'm truly sorry for that miss."

I shook my head. " Don't apologize. It's not your fault." I looked back out the window. " I'll be out of here soon." I whispered to myself as I heard her close the door and leave.

That is a promise.