Chapter 19: Worst fate.

As the king departed, Queen Isabella felt a crushing sense of defeat wash over her. She slumped against the wall, her mind reeling with the weight of the king's decision. She understood his perspective – if Sophia wasn't ready for marriage, then her presence in the castle would only serve as a constant reminder of her disobedience.

The queen's thoughts drifted to her younger daughter, Princess Emma. She had once considered the possibility of asking Emma to marry one of the princes instead, knowing that Emma was more receptive to the idea of marriage. However, tradition dictated that the eldest daughter must marry first, and the queen knew that bypassing Sophia would be a grave injustice.

If Emma were to marry before Sophia, it would not only undermine Sophia's position as the future queen but also create a potentially explosive situation. What if Emma's son were to inherit the throne instead of Sophia's? The very thought sent a shiver down the queen's spine.

After what felt like an eternity, the queen finally gathered her strength and made her way to Sophia's chambers. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for the difficult conversation ahead.

"Sophia, my dear," the queen said softly, as she entered the room. "We need to talk. Your father has made a decision, and I'm afraid it's final. You're to leave the castle tomorrow morning."

Sophia's eyes widened in shock as her mother's words hung in the air. "Leave the castle?" she stammered, her voice trembling. "Where do you expect me to go?" Tears rolled down her face like a torrent, as if the very thought of being separated from her family was too much to bear.

Hearing her mother's words was like being punched in the gut. It felt like they were disowning her, casting her out into the unknown without a second thought. Sophia's mind reeled as she struggled to comprehend the situation.

"Mom..." Sophia stuttered, her voice cracking with emotion. More tears streamed down her face, hot and salty, as she gazed up at her mother in desperation.

The queen's expression was etched with a deep sadness, her eyes filled with a helpless despair. "I understand, my dear," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "But if you don't leave by tomorrow, I fear your father might ask you to marry the prince again."

Sophia shook her head violently, her watery eyes flashing with determination. "No, no... I don't want to marry any of them," she exclaimed, her voice firm despite the tears.

The queen's face was a mask of resignation. "If you don't want to, then I'm afraid you are leaving this castle tomorrow morning," she said, her voice firm but laced with sorrow.

Sophia's eyes widened in horror as she stumbled backward, as if the words themselves were a physical blow. "To where, Mom?" she stammered, her voice trembling. "I... I don't know anywhere in this village..."

The queen's eyes seemed to cloud over, as if the memory itself was painful. "To your uncle's place in New York City," she said finally, the words dropping like a bombshell into the silence.

The room seemed to spin around Sophia, the words echoing in her mind like a mantra. New York City? Her uncle's place? It was a fate worse than marriage, a fate that seemed to stretch out before her like an endless, dark abyss.