As the two carriages of Calonia departed from the palace grounds, Princess Giovanna sat quietly in one of them, lost in thought. She couldn't believe that the king had agreed to her suggestion, giving her a significant role in his court. The competition among the princes to become the next crown prince was a brilliant idea, and she was eager to see it unfold.
Giovanna's mind wandered back to her childhood, and the lessons she learned from her mother, Queen Athelea. As the eldest of three daughters, Giovanna possessed all the qualities of a future leader, but her mother had never shown her the love and trust she deserved. In fact, her mother would rather give her away in marriage than consider her for the throne. Giovanna's heart still ached from the pain of her mother's rejection.
But she was determined to give her future husband the chance to prove himself, to show the world his capabilities. The competition would be the perfect opportunity for him to shine.