I am an unwanted child, born from a tremendous mistake. I have no right to my future or possessions. Even my position is merely a facade, one in which I hold no real authority. In short, I do not own myself.
As soon as I was born, the emperor immediately killed my mother, claiming she was shameful for attempting to seduce him. Although I am his child and he spared my life, he still neglected me.
I have no recollection of my mother, but I have heard that she also hates me. I am the reason she was executed, so it is only natural to blame a life that was suddenly created.
I am currently under the care of the emperor's most unfavored concubine, although she has never shown any affection toward me. She still accepts me, if only out of respect for the emperor. Nevertheless, I respect her for taking in someone as unwanted as I am.
Today was an auspicious day for the country because the war has come to an end, and the emperor held a grand banquet, to which, naturally, I was not invited. I have known for a very long time that I have been forgotten, but I am fine with it. I have long since lost interest.
Night fell, and I was surrounded by darkness. I looked at the sky and thought that maybe if I just died, everything would end, but I immediately pushed the thought out of my mind.
If I die, I will only become more of a nuisance than I am now, and being here is not so bad after all.
Suddenly, I heard a knock on the door of my shabby courtyard. I hurried over to open it and found a eunuch holding a scroll in his hand.
The words he uttered made me freeze in place.
"Imperial Edict!
The marriage of the Ninth Princess, He Yanyu, has been agreed upon by the two countries, Su and Lou.
the edict!"
So it is an edict. I can't believe what's happening. Is this a punishment for me? Is this the reason for the sudden end of the long war? It's impossible—I'm just an important person.
"He... He Yanyu accepts the edict.
I have no choice. As I said, I am not the one who decides my fate. I accept the scroll containing the imperial edict, which no one can question or refuse.
When he confirmed that I had it in my hands, he immediately asked to leave.
I opened the scroll and read its contents just as he shouted.
À suivre...