After the announcement, I walked to the carriage and sat inside. After a long wait, my supposed parents finally joined me, and the carriage immediately began moving toward the castle.
As always, silence reigned in the air, and I acted as though I had not heard the announcement at all.
When we reached the castle, I stepped out of the carriage and hurried to my quarters. I slammed the door shut and locked it. I was breaking a rule, but I could not take it anymore—it had become unbearable.
The decisions, the rules, the food, the acts, the plans—everything was against my wishes.
Then I heard a loud knock on the door. I did not wish to answer, so I didn't.
"Unlock the door now!" my supposed mother shouted.
I said nothing, choosing only to wait and see what would happen. I realized, to my surprise, that I was enjoying the sound of her raised voice—her frustration. It felt intriguing. It made me feel… happy.
She began to bang on the door, and soon I heard more footsteps approaching, their number growing with each passing second.
The banging grew louder, and I knew they would not hesitate to break the door down if I did not unlock it soon. So I stood up and unlocked it.
My supposed mother pushed the door open. She looked furious—like a beast preparing to torture its prey. Behind her stood several maids, their faces tight with worry.
"Everyone should leave this instant," she said calmly.
Immediately, they began to move away.
She stepped into my room, walking closer and closer to me. With every step she took, I stepped back. I couldn't retreat for long. She reached me, gripping my face in her hands and pressing my cheeks harshly with her fingers.
"You think you can play by your own rules, you brat," she said.
"For this act you have displayed, I may decide to ship you off with bandits or people of low standing," she threatened, her demeanor unchanged as her grip tightened on my cheeks.
"Behave," she said.
Then she shoved my face away.
Then she walked away like nothing had happened. I rubbed my cheeks and watched her leave. Her threat scared me.
...
The next day, maids and butlers were decorating everywhere for my coming-of-age ceremony. It wasn't really a coming-of-age ceremony because it wasn't my birthday, and I wasn't even turning fourteen.
I was already sixteen, and here, that meant I was considered too old—not married
I sat on my bed, thinking about what life would be like if I were to get married in Thaloria. My mind played a scene that went like this: a man in his early forties, hideous and intimidating, staring at me, surrounded by twelve children who looked just like him but had a few of my features.
I shuddered. The thought made me feel truly scared and desperate to flee.
I stood up from my bed and walked toward the hall where all the preparations were taking place. As I moved, my eyes wandered, searching for possible ways out of the hall.
It was simpler than I expected. The hall led directly to an exit outside the castle.
I felt overjoyed.
I could just blend in with the people attending the ceremony and flee without being noticed.
...
Later that evening, I was dressed in a bright, long red gown decorated with stones and rubies, which made it look quite classy. It was a dress made for someone who wanted attention—it shined brightly and clung tightly to my body.
My hair was left down, my face fully painted, and my neck and wrists were weighed down with heavy accessories.
This kind of dressing made it seem impossible for me to flee.
Loud music began to play. Guests started to roam around, while some simply sat and stared. Everyone was busy with one thing or another, while I sat there, thinking of better ways to flee from this castle.
"You know you have to stand at some point," my supposed mother said.
I stood up and exclaimed, "Ei," not expecting her voice to interrupt my thoughts.
"Why do you seem so shaken?" she asked, her gaze unwavering as she stared at me.
"I was startled because I didn't expect your voice, my queen," I said, avoiding her eyes.
She stared at me for a few seconds, then finally said, "Move around and dance. People are eager to see you, and besides, it's your ceremony. What use is it if you don't move?"
She smiled.
"Act decent, or I promise your remaining days here will be… a wonderful experience to my sight and not yours."
She gave a wide smile, then walked away.
I stood up and began to walk around, greeting people with the fake smile I had plastered on my face because of my supposed mother's threat. I continued greeting everyone until I heard a voice that wasn't familiar.
"Good day, milady."
I turned and saw a strange-looking man standing before me.
"Good day," I replied.
"I am Duke Bellingham's son, Conour," he said.
"Nice to meet you," I said, still maintaining my forced smile.
"Would you like to dance, milady?" he asked.
I really wanted to say no.
"Sure," I said instead.
He took my hand and led me to where the music played, and soon we began to dance.
"You have quite beautiful eyes, milady," Conour said as he moved a little closer to me.
"Thank you," I replied, trying not to sound uncomfortable.
As we continued to dance, he began to bring up sensitive topics—things I never wished to talk about.
"Do you wish to birth twelve male children at once?" he asked.
"No. I find that impossible," I replied, trying not to glare at him.
"You know nothing is—" he began, but I interrupted him before he could finish.
"You seem not to know when to zip it," I murmured, loud enough to be heard.
"Excuse me?" he said, clearly offended.
I looked at him, bowed briefly, and walked away. I was not ready to apologize, and I only hoped he would not be quick to report me to my supposed mother.
As I kept walking back toward my seat, I heard another man's voice.
"Hello, my princess."
Now I'm beginning to question my luck, I thought.
"Good day. And how may I be of help to you?" I asked, trying to hide my frustration.
"I am Atlas, the son of the Chief of Affairs and Laws, and I would like to have a dance with you," he said.
I didn't refuse. I let him dance with me—but it didn't end well. And the same thing happened six more times, none of them ending well either.
I humiliated Conour, stepped on Atlas's foot, pulled Chris's clothing, made a terrible comment about Lander's hair, and with the other four, I simply ran away from them.
It was definitely not my night.