A Classical-Era Fantasy
She stood at the very bottom of the power ladder and asked three men the same question: “Between the realm and the woman you love, which matters more?”
The first was a lord-general who had begun as her rival. “The realm, of course,” he explained. “A nation needs a wise ruler, and a ruler must put the country before his family.”
He chose power without hesitation, and she was cast aside.
The second was a prince with whom she had shared life and death several times. “With a realm to your name, why worry about finding a beautiful woman?” he explained. “Born into the imperial family, I’m naturally entitled to the throne. And there will always be more beautiful women.”
He betrayed her lifelong conviction that a person should love only one partner.
The third had hated her at first sight, and she had felt the same. But as the world changed, whenever the two of them faced trouble or danger, their hearts would somehow beat as one. He was the imperial uncle, a man who wielded power across the court. “I can have both the realm and the woman I love, or either one, or both together. This old man listens to only one person.” His meaning was perfectly clear, without any need for flowery embellishment.
“…”
The first time she heard it, she bumped into a door. Thinking it over later, she found it sweet as candied fruit, sinking deep into her heart.
She had no illustrious family behind her, only the label of “criminal from a fugitive family,” and the added distinction of being the former dynasty’s chancellor’s daughter. Nothing more.
She lived as freely and casually as an ordinary person, with clear lines between gratitude and grievance. Sometimes she was mischievous and clever; other times she was cold-faced and decisive. She was the sort who yielded to kindness but never to force. Like a star in the night sky, she would shine whenever she was needed. By day, she would simply keep a low profile and take things easy.
