Once upon a time...

"This is the decree of the fourth king of the great Azurre, every female first born that shall be delivered from now on will not be a part of her family, she will be sent forth and serve in the temple all days of her life immediately when she's born. She will not involve herself with anything else in the community and most especially with men. For this reason, all women who are about to give birth must attend to the 'Joggu-house' and get registered to keep a record of their deliveries and most importantly to give birth there only. There will only be one 'Joggu-house' in the whole empire so pregnant women must plan carefully on how to adhere to this. For every home delivery, the entire family will be executed. This is the will of the gods."

Scaring as it was, the announcement left behind a lot of frustration to all families in the great Azurre kingdom.

Nothing felt meaningless than to let a female child be the first out of your womb.

Everyone hoped for a male child as their first. Could they control the gender of their firstborns? Completely out of control! What more could they do than cross their fingers for nine months? Could that change the child's gender in her mother's womb? Not at all...

What about consulting the seers who could foresee the child's gender? And so what if it's a she? Would the woman risk her life carrying her in her womb and going through the labor pains and then handling her to the shaman thereafter?

Walking down the uncommon streets of the great Azurre, a good number of pierced immature female babies could be seen.

Isn't life a free gift? So sad....

***

[In the reign of king Josephat II, the twenty second king of the great Azurre]

After resigning from his job, general Melich took refuge in a small and simple house. At least he didn't kill himself, he was still determined to get his daughter out of that prison they called a temple. Getting drunk couldn't help him at all, when the alcohol left his mind, the heartache immediately got stronger than it was. He loved his wife more than his own life, he couldn't accept her death. Worst of it all she died giving birth to her beautiful baby girl, too bad she was her first child. The tiny beautiful little thing had to be grabbed from her dying mother. He lost them both, there was no more need to serve the nation that had been so cruel to him.

'I will definitely get my daughter out of there!'

But how would he recognize a child he didn't even get to see? He probably just wanted a child who was at his daughter's age.

....

Falling into her husband's arms helplessly, Heniolla sobbed her heart out. Jabal wrapped her in his arms then kissed her forehead gently as a tear dropped from his eye. He kindly held her hand and took her inside their room.

"This is so cruel Jabal. She is my first child how could they just take her away from me? Just like that?" Heniolla stated in grief. Her heartache was so strong. Her husband was hurting too but he had to be strong for her. He wiped her tears then held her face with both his hands and looked into her eyes.

"The next one you give birth to will be ours indeed." Jabal said.

"Still..." Heniolla said as tears rolled down from her eyes.

"I wish I could do something but you and I know that I can't. Traditions and customs have been passed on from generations to generations and the leaders of this kingdom have no intention of abolishing them. Please let us be strong." Jabal said as he stared at her wet eyes.

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There was a celebration in the prime minister's house. They were rejoicing over the birth of a baby boy.

The prime minister and his wife received so many presents from numerous noble men and other close friends. It was such a beautiful day for them.

"Milka," prime minister Seth called his wife after hugging her from behind.

"Yes my lord." Milka replied as she smiled.

"You made me so proud." Seth confessed.

"I am so happy that I did my lord." Milka replied gracefully.

'Of course I had to make you proud my lord.' She thought.

On that thought, she smirked.

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"Why are you not sleeping yet Adah?" Anna asked her roommate.

"Same goes for you, why are you still awake?" Adah asked.

"Because you're endlessly rolling on that bed, it's irritating me." Anna replied after rolling her eyes. "Please don't trouble my sleep." She added.

"It's just that, I never thought that being a midwife would get this complicated for me." Adah said.

"What do you mean?" Anna asked after she glanced at her.

"I don't want to trouble your sleep, Goodnight." Adah said then covered herself with her bed sheet.

"It's sad watching those mothers cry when their baby girls are taken away from them. After everything they go through in the labor room, it really hurts. I think every time a woman realizes that she is pregnant for the first time in this empire, that becomes their greatest fear." Anna sadly stated.

Adah sighed.

"Just sleep my friend." She said.

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Twenty four years later..

Crown prince Morris was practising the sword with his best friend, Michael in the palace.

"Our brothers' fighting skills are amazing." Michelle told princess Miranda as they watched the two friends.

"Of course." Princess Miranda agreed. The two ladies smiled at each other, they were really good friends way from childhood.

"Girls," Queen Helena called as she approached to where the ladies were standing.

"Oh mother," princess Miranda responded.

"Yes, your majesty." Michelle bowed to her.

"You are just as beautiful as your mom Michelle." Queen Helena complimented.

"Thank you so much your majesty." Michelle said with a smile on her face.

"Milka was just like you in her youth." The queen added then smiled politely.

Miranda looked at Michelle's smiley face then circled her arm around her waist.

"She is beautiful in and out mom." Miranda said.

"Of course." The queen said. "Well...I came to tell you that we will be throwing a birthday party for you both the day after tomorrow, since you're all born on the same date." She said.

The two ladies stared at each other excitedly.

"Wow! I have always wished for that mother, I think my twenty third birthday is going to be my best." Princess Miranda stated delightfully.

"It's such a privilege your majesty. Words cannot explain the joy in my heart after hearing that. Indeed my twenty third birthday is going to be my best." Michelle said.

"I am glad it made you both this happy." Queen Helena said.

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Michelle was looking at herself on the mirror as she smoothed her hair with a comb. She was engrossed in thoughts.

"The crown prince should have noticed you by now." Milka told her.

"Mother, I can't control that." Michelle replied after closing her eyes and sighing deeply.

"There is absolutely nothing stopping you. The princess likes you and you are actually the most beautiful girl in the entire city. Nothing will stop you from being the crown princess, nothing Michelle." Milka claimed ambitiously.

"You forgot that the prince has never noticed me despite of everything you mentioned." Michelle turned to her and said in a solemn tone.

"That doesn't matter, he will need a crown princess anyways whether he likes it or not and that must be you." Milka boldly said.

Michelle sighed.

"Mom please let me sleep." She then climbed on her bed. Milka walked out.

'Why can't you just fall for me Morris? Why?' she wondered.

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The temple was isolated from all buildings in the city. It was on a mountain in the deep woods.

On a hot afternoon, the temple maids were having a bath in the river. They were all marked on their backs with the same mark. It was a symbol of the temple. With that mark, they were recognized as temple maids.

They were not to be touched by any man. They would just serve in the temple all their lives.

Two aged ladies who were their leaders were watching them from afar.

"This may not be what they wanted for themselves." Lady Zillah said after shaking her head slightly.

"They have no option just like we didn't have. They should just accept it." Lady Rose replied.

The girls started matching back to the temple after they had taken bath. Even their laughter didn't sound sincere, it felt more than prison...