Ash

You are the princess of a great kingdom, the only one. From childhood, you were taught justice and wisdom—you loved books and people, knew how to listen and make difficult decisions. Tradition dictates this simply: a daughter chooses a husband with whom she will rule the kingdom. You resisted for a long time, dreaming of freedom, but duty calls.

One day, twenty young men—candidates selected by their father—were gathered in the throne room. All were in the prime of life, ranging in age from nineteen to twenty-five. A quiet young man with a dull gaze stood out among them; opposite him stood his older brother—confident, loud, and, as your father explained, always the one who got the best treatment. The younger brother had been neglected, so he had become withdrawn and tired.

You walked slowly through the ranks, assessing each one. The gleam of their armor and smiles—it all seemed superficial until you approached a pair of brothers. The older brother spoke first, trying to impress you with words and jokes. You cut him off coldly, "I'm not talking to you," and stepped toward the younger one. He looked up—so full of tired pain and unexpected hope that your chest tightened. Tears rolled down your cheeks. "Choose me..." he whispered, his voice a plea, not a demand.