Ten Years in the Cold Palace

I spent ten years embroidering clothes in the Cold Palace, raising the deposed crown prince until he was grown.

For ten years, he promised me again and again that he would love me forever.

But once he ascended the throne, he made a woman with the most outrageous ideas his consort.

He let her stomp my kitten to death and break the bones in my hand.

He forced me, with my skin torn and bleeding, to spend the whole night in the pouring rain, and still wouldn’t spare me a single glance.

Later, my health failed and my voice went silent. In despair, I brought my life to an end.

He threw himself at me like a madman, eyes bloodshot, screaming:

“What am I supposed to do now that you’re dead? You said you’d protect me forever. You can’t break your promise...”