Joseph finished a meeting with the Prime Minister at the palace.
He walked through the palace garden and found the princess sitting on a bench, who seemed lost in thought.
{Huh, Princess. She seems worried about something.}
He quietly approached her.
"Your Highness," he said, bowing.
"I hope I'm not interrupting. I saw you sitting here and thought I'd take a moment to talk to you."
Elina looked up, a look of surprise on her face. "Imperial diplomat," she said with a smile. "I was just lost in thought."
Joseph sat next to her, comforted by her presence. "What were you worried about?" he asked.
Elina sighed, her eyes looking out over the garden. "I was thinking about my future," she said. "The marriage my mother arranged for me, and whether it's really what I want."
"I understand how you feel," he said. "Sometimes, it feels like our lives are predetermined, and we have no say in the matter."
