“She’s here!”

“Ai-Ai, Your Highness you cannot go rushing off…” I ignored eunuch Van as I rushed out the door. I’d been up since before the sun came up, counting down the hours until her return and now she was finally here.

I walked hurriedly once I left my palace grounds instead of the running lope I’d started out on. Let that be enough for him. He hurried to keep up, grumbling all the way.

There was a smile in my heart. I’d never experienced it ...