My First Choice

The Rebellious princess

Put on all your masks
And impress the guest
As long as they are impressed
Your emotions doesn't matter.

---

Huuda's room was a spacious chamber with high ceilings and large windows that let in a flood of sunlight. The walls were adorned with tapestries depicting scenes of desert landscapes and brave warriors, reflecting her love for the outdoors and her desire to become a warrior.

Her bed, made from sturdy acacia wood with a plush mattress, was situated in the center of the room, draped with a velvet canopy in a deep indigo, symbolizing her royal status. In one corner stood a dressing table with a mirror, where she could prepare herself for the day.

Against one wall stood a tall bookshelf, filled with volumes on history, strategy, and martial arts, showcasing her thirst for knowledge. Nearby, a carved wooden chest held her armor and weapons, polished and ready for use.

The room was illuminated by brass lanterns and a fireplace, casting a warm glow over the space. A large window seat, cushioned with embroidered pillows, offered a cozy spot to sit and gaze out at the vast desert beyond the palace walls.

The overall atmosphere was one of comfort, practicality, and a sense of purpose, reflecting Huuda's personality and her aspirations to become a warrior-princess.

**

I stomped my foot, crossing my arms over my chest. "I don't want to wear that stupid dress, Khadimah! I hate fancy clothes! They're so uncomfortable and silly."

My maid, Maryam, tried to reason with me. "But, ya Sayyidati, you will look beautiful in this dress. It suits you perfectly. And you know your Malika wants you to make a good impression."

I scowled, feeling my face heat up with frustration. "I don't care about how people see me! I don't want to make a good impression. I just want to be myself, not some fancy doll on display."

Maryam looked at me with sympathetic eyes. "I know, ya Sayyidati. But sometimes we have to do things we don't want to do. It's part of being an Amira."

I felt a surge of anger and rebellion. "I don't want to be an Amira! I want to be a warrior, like Baba. I want to fight and defend our kingdom, not wear silly dresses and attend boring majalis."

Just then, my mother, the queen, swept into the room. "What's all the commotion about?" she asked, her voice stern and commanding.

I stood my ground, my heart pounding with excitement and fear. "I don't want to wear this dress, Ummi. It's uncomfortable and silly. I want to wear my own clothes, my comfortable clothes."

My mother's face darkened, her eyes flashing with anger. "Huuda, you will do as I say. You are an Amira, and you must behave like one. Look at your sister-she is always graceful and elegant. Why can't you be more like her? Why can't you be someone I can be proud of without creating a commotion? Not everything revolves around you. You have duties to abide by, and one of them is behaving like a true lady of the court, just like your sister does."

I felt a surge of anger and resentment toward my sister, who always seemed so perfect and obedient. "I'm not like her, Ummi! I'm different. And I don't want to be like her. I want to be myself."

My mother's face turned red with anger, her voice rising. "You will wear what I say, and you will behave like an Amira."

I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes. "Ya Ummi, being an Amira doesn't have to be about wearing glamorous clothes. A true Amira should know how to protect her kingdom and her family. That's why I want to train with my brothers and become a warrior princess."

My mother's face grew stern, and I saw disappointment in her eyes. "No more of this warrior nonsense! You will do no such thing. You are an Amira, and you will abide by the rules, for I am your Malika, and you must obey me."

I snapped, my breath echoing in my mind as I felt helpless. "Exactly! You are my Malika, not my Ummi, because if you were my Ummi, you would try to understand me and not just compare me to someone I am not and will never be."

Tears ran down my cheeks as my mother checked if the dress fit, her hands cold and unforgiving. I felt like a prisoner in my own room, my heart heavy with sorrow and frustration.

"You will understand that what I am doing is for your own good when you grow up. For now, you are just a child, so I will forgive this nuisance, but it will not be tolerated in the future. You must grow up and start acting like a true princess, not a disappointment," she muttered and left.

I felt my heart sink as I heard voices in my head that made me want to scream and beg them to stop. Those voices were screaming at me for not being able to be enough.

I lay in bed, my body shaking with sobs. I felt like I was trapped in a life I didn't want, a life that wasn't mine. I was never going to be able to be what I wanted to be. I guess that's the price of having expectations when I know I am just a puppet.

---

A fire that ignite in you
Will determine
Your dreams and hope .