Marriage to the Emperor's Daughter, Part III

Dinner ended and the evening sky was painted a red that slowly gradated to dark velvet. Hou Jingshu stood by her father’s carriage. Father was giving her an aggrieved smile as she stared at him with tear-filled eyes.

“I see you are still upset with me,” he said.

She could have railed at him, could have yelled and told him that of course she was upset, but she felt like even that would be giving him a victory. She did not appreciate being left here. Hou Jingshu did not like that Father was making all of her choices without even consulting her.

This was how it had always been. For as far back as she could remember, her father had made every decision for her. She was never allowed to make her own choices. While she understood this was what it meant to be a princess that did not mean she had to like it. She hated it, and she refused to accept it.

“I know you don’t like this, but please… this is for your own safety.”

“Hmph.”