Trash of the Royal Family (Ao3)

XVI

"I DON'T WANT TO GET MARRIED!" exclaimed Iris. A royal decree from the palace arrived early in the morning, wishing her and the Third Prince to marry. Iris, the county's daughter from the Northwest, apparently did not like the 'good' news and threatened her brother with fleeing and becoming a nun! The Sten Marquessate ruled the Northwest, and anyone with two brain cells knew what would happen to anyone who dared to oppose the Marquessate.

"THIS IS A ROYAL DECREE, IDIOT!" says her brother.

"IDIOT OR NOT! I WILL NOT MARRY INTO THE PALACE! I REFUSE TO MARRY INTO THE PALACE!" Her shriek was nearly as loud as her flat warning. The Count dismissed his younger sister's tenacity with a dismissive wave of his hand.

"Brother, just say no and let your little sister pick someone for herself! I want to marry for love!"

"You like that Second Prince, right?" the count gritted, trying not to tear the royal decree. He was well aware that doing so would condemn him to the ropes or six feet to the ground.

As the county's daughter, she preferred swordplay and archery to embroidery and painting. Women, on the other hand, are not permitted to become knights. She wanted to be a part of the battle, but high society wouldn't let her. Women are regarded as the embodiment of grace and humility. Holding a sword would make every noble make fun of her family.

She was forced to be a sweet daughter, despite being loud and boisterous enough to kill her brother.

When she read the portion, she grunted, 'to grant you the highest honor, the Third Queen presents you with a betrothal with her son, his highness the Third Prince.'

She didn't like it. She had no desire to become a part of the palace. She aspired to be a soldier. She would rather be free and fight than suffer in a four-cornered decorated room with a pathetic excuse worse than a concubine. She despised the inner palace, particularly the harem.

"You won't even consider marrying the second prince," her older brother said.

They had grown up together. They used to play and talk about their lives, but she never imagined that the ordinary person, her first love, was a member of the royalty she despised so much. Her parents should have survived if it hadn't been for the Royal Family. Zed Crossman betrayed his people for the royal family.

Her heart pounded with excruciating pain. She continued, passing by the Second Prince while holding her heart in her palm. Their once-joyous laughter had turned cold and distant.

But she never expected to meet the infamous Seventh Prince. Robbit was standing nearby, holding a child. The boy bore a striking resemblance to him. He was there with a smile she hadn't seen since they split up in resentment.

"Let's play later, pretty-noona!"

Ah. What a very bright child.

If the royal had been filled with children like this, it would have been ideal. She didn't expect that black-haired child to grow up the same way. That sweet child would eventually turn into everyone else in the princes.

That's right. She couldn't live like that because if she married, she wanted to be the only person her husband had. She didn't want to share and will never share. She, like her parents, wished to be the only love, the only treasure her husband would accept, rather than someone who would be discarded like trash once the favors were gone. Her dream was to be the only person her love would ever have.

But that was never going to happen at the Royal Palace. Her child will undoubtedly be a greedy prince with a silver tongue who will pave his way out.

Even the pressing issue of her marriage to the Third Prince was getting to her.