It was déjà vu all over again.
But I couldn't hide inside a carriage this time. I entered the kingdom fully exposed atop my horse as the people watched the princess's unceremonious return for the second time.
A crowd had formed yet again in the palace's courtyard. I tried to be graceful as I was helped off the horse. The men dropped to their knees and the women bowed low.
Behind them, standing on top of the front stairs, was the last person I wanted to see.
My grandmother openly scowled at me. It had been so long since I last saw her. I was lucky to avoid meeting her when I was captured the last time. It seemed like misfortune had caught up with me one after the other.
I could feel her loathing radiating toward me as I walked up to her. When I lowered my eyes to curtsy, I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my cheek.
