"Father, where are you?" Saehyun called out in the Great Hall. The castle had been very empty lately, and she had no one play with either. Her father had forbade her from leaving the castle after her 16th birthday and it had been that way for several years now. In fact, she was well within marrying age and yet, she had no suitors to meet.

"I'm in this kitchen, sweetheart." One of their messengers called out for her ears, the kitchen was down the hall and to the right, too far for her to hear her own father say those words. She ran towards the doors and saw her Father with a small tub and a spoon, "Would you like some ice cream?" He asked her.

"Is it homemade from the woman in the village?" Saehyun asked him eagerly, as she climbed into the chair beside him.

"Of course." He grinned at her, handing a spoon to her and putting the tub between them. He took a spoonful and hummed happily as Saehyun did the same. "So what have you been up to, sweetheart?"

“Nothing much really. I’ve been keeping up with my studies of the palace and politics. I haven’t been out, as you wish, and I haven’t seen anyone.” Saehyun said briefly, showing neither positive or negative emotions.

“Do you wish to get married, sweetheart?” He asked her, staring to carefully gauge her reaction.

She stiffened at the thought, her father had been bringing marriage up quite frequently lately and she had no idea what he actually meant by it. “What do you mean? I have told you I loved someone.” She said.

He frowned, “I know, but I have a candidate in mind for her if you didn’t mind hearing me out.” He told her.

“It depends on who it is, but I would rather marry out of love than politics and you know that.” Saehyun commented, giving him a stern look. Her parents had married out of love and it was despicable for her father to think she would a