Thorns of Love

She had admired the Prince since childhood, harboring a secret dream of one day being with him. To achieve that dream, she had made herself a laughingstock, begging the Emperor for his hand in marriage. Now, she endured his harsh treatment, enduring emotional, mental, and physical torment. And yet, a flicker of joy still danced in her eyes, a smile gracing her lips even as her heart, slowly and surely, withered away.