Shuhua clutched the reins tightly as she galloped after Soyeon. Minnie and Miyeon flanked her. They were heading out of the city into the forest. For the others, they were simply leaving in order to reclaim their old lives. But for Shuhua, she was leaving hers behind forever.

--

“A Princess must never cry,” Mother instructed her on her eighth birthday.

Shuhua looked down at the remnants of the cake on her plate. She wanted to eat more. Indeed, she had begged Cook and Mother for an extra slice, but they had refused. When she squeezed out a few tears, Mother had gently wiped her tears away with a napkin and left her alone.

That’s when she learned that crying wouldn’t get her anywhere.

--

“A Princess lives for her people,” Father had told her on her tenth birthday.

Shuhua looked around her at the crowd of people gathered outside the castle gates. Father was already climbing onto his horse. She made a face. Earlier she asked if today, for her birthday, she could go into the city. But as always, Father said no. He said it was too dangerous, that he couldn’t spare the guards to make sure she was safe. So, she had snuck out onto the ramparts and hid as she watched Father and his King’s Guard get ready for her birthday procession. If it was her procession, why couldn’t she go?

But Father told her that the procession was to lift the subjects’ morale, not for her. He said it was important to make sure the country felt happy. That’s why today was a national holiday.

“You’ll understand someday, when you’re Queen,” he had reassured her when he swirled his robe around his shoulders.  

But Shuhua didn’t care about that. All she wanted to know was if she’d ever leave these walls.

--

“A Princess must always look put together,” Yuqi imitated Shuhua’s tutor once lessons finished on Shuhua’s twelfth birthday.

Shuhua giggled and slapped Yuqi’s shoulder. Yuqi clutched at her shoulder and collapsed to the floor.

“You broke my shoulder Shuhua!” she cried, rolling around in mock agony.

“You’re seriously the queen of bluffing!” Shuhua replied as she pulled Yuqi up into a sitting position.       

Yuqi pouted and Shuhua gave her a hug. They weren’t supposed to do this, but Shuhua didn’t care about rules. Not today, anyways. Because she loved Yuqi like a sister and she’d shower everyone she loved with as much affection as she wanted to.