Chapter 22: Here for me.

Princess Sophia's curiosity got the better of her as she drew closer to the group. She couldn't help but wonder who this mysterious stranger was, and how he had managed to gain access to the palace. The king was notoriously strict about allowing men into the palace, and yet, here was this young man, laughing and chatting with her sisters.

As Sophia approached, her sisters turned to her, their faces lighting up with excitement. "Princess Sophia!" they chimed in unison, rushing to hug her. But Princess Emma remained standing behind the stranger, a look of annoyance flashing across her face.

Sophia's eyes narrowed as she took in the scene. She knew that Emma had been forced to wait for her to get married before she could even consider suitors, due to the palace's strict traditions. And now, it seemed that Emma's admirer had finally gained access to the palace.

The stranger's face looked familiar, and Sophia's mind flashed back to Emma's 17th birthday celebration. She remembered seeing him in the crowd, bearing a gift for Emma. Since then, he had been trying to visit Emma, but the king had always refused him entry.

....

But today, something had changed. Sophia's refusal to marry had set off a chain reaction, and now, it seemed that the king was willing to consider Emma as a potential bride. The stranger's presence was a clear indication that the king was ready to move forward with Emma's marriage, regardless of Sophia's feelings.

As Sophia's eyes locked onto the stranger, she felt a pang of unease. What did this mean for Emma, and for their family's future?

The stranger, Jasper, stepped forward, his eyes locked onto Sophia's surprised face. He bowed down slightly, his movements fluid and respectful. "My princess, you are here," he said, his voice smooth and courteous.

Sophia's eyes widened in shock, her mind racing with the unexpected display of respect. She hadn't anticipated Jasper to show her such deference, especially since she was certain Emma must have told him about the king's disapproval of him entering the castle because of her.

As Sophia's thoughts whirled, memories of her childhood flooded her mind. She recalled how her parents had always shown her more love and attention, encouraging her to pursue martial arts training from a young age. Her parents' reasoning had been clear: as the future queen, Sophia needed to be a strong leader, both physically and mentally.

In contrast, Emma had often felt overlooked and underappreciated. Sophia remembered how Emma would watch her with a mixture of admiration and jealousy, longing to be given the same opportunities. As they grew older, the rift between them had grown wider, with Emma feeling increasingly resentful of Sophia's privileged position.

Jasper, sensing Sophia's silence, introduced himself again. "I am Jasper, my princess." But before he could say more, Emma stormed over, her face flushed with frustration.

"Stop talking to her!" Emma shouted, grabbing Jasper's arm and pulling him away from Sophia. "You're here for me, not her!" Emma's eyes flashed with anger, and Sophia felt a pang of guilt for inadvertently causing tension between her sister and Jasper.