Most high-ranking royals didn't have a choice, with their strict families, they couldn't leave for matters their families found trite and frivolous. And those royals that are high up the line of succession that does have the choice to leave the throne behind - Louis as an example - abdicate to have their own lives, away from the monarchy and throne.
Subsequently, with Louis having abdicated, Sophia was next, and there was nowhere she could escape, seeing as she was the only royal suitable to lead.
Her stepmother, on the other hand, Emilia, was the polar opposite of her husband, a ruler respected by all. Arguably, she was one of the worst rulers Beldovia had ever had. She was cruel, uncaring, and incredibly biased. The Beldovian people had a field day with her as their ruler.
Of course, since she was the late king's wife, and there was no suitable heir to replace her, she was queen regent for the time being until Sophia was to find a significant other and the interregnum expired.
