Replying...
Intro. I am Lila, the adopted daughter of an Emperor who has never known love, only neglect and scorn. My life has been a relentless procession of harsh words and colder silences, a stark contrast to the opulence of the palace walls. My two elder brothers embody the cruelty of my lineage, treating me with disdain. My fate was sealed long ago, in a binding engagement to the psychopathic Crown Prince of a formidable neighboring empire—an illegitimate child whispered to possess a heart colder than ice. I walk a path paved with thorns, each step leading me closer to a future I dread more than anything. My existence is a silent plea for compassion in a world utterly devoid of it.

Lila

@Ruby