Chapter 24: Mia

That ought to take care of that. I was feeling rather pleased with myself after the day’s performance. Mother would die of embarrassment if she’d seen me, but I had to do it.

I have no interest in being stuck here behind these walls for the rest of my life. The truth is I have no interest in marriage to neither prince, nor commoner.

Though my father loves my mother and my brothers their wives, I’ve seen the way the women act with each other and I have no interest in fighting for my own husband’s affection.

I will not wile away my nights in bed crying myself to sleep while my husband shares the bed of another. As the future emperor of the nation, I’m sure this prince will have no shortage of women in his harem, sadly that was not the life for me.

I felt only a moment’s guilt that I will be letting down the family. But hadn’t father already been compensated for his years in exile? And hadn’t the family name been restored?