Chapter 30
‘Baba, I have made my choice,’ Sonya said, voice strong and sure. Her father and brothers were seated for breakfast, and when she made her announcement, they all stopped what they were doing.
‘Well, by all means, do tell!’ the king said, smiling. They were all excited. She knew they only wished to see her happy and settled.
‘I have chosen Azam,’ she said. The dining hall fell into complete silence.
‘The tailor?’ Shahmir sputtered. Irfan only looked amused, while Mustafa was stunned. Her father seemed to be losing his wits.
‘Yes, the tailor,’ Sonya replied. ‘I love him, and he loves me, and we intend to spend the rest of our lives together.’
‘With whose permission?’ the king asked, voice steely as he recollected himself.
‘With my own!’ Sonya cried. ‘All these years, you have kept me locked away to protect me, and I have listened to your every demand, every whim, but no longer. I am grown now, and I can make my decisions for myself—especially one as important as this. I should be given that right.’
‘You have that right, Sonya,’ Shahmir said. ‘Of course you do.’
‘And I choose Azam,’ she said. Her brothers looked at one another, silently communicating. Then, they nodded in agreement. They each sat back.
The king made a sound of protest. ‘A princess cannot marry a commoner!’
‘Then I will cease being a princess,’ she replied.
‘Do you mean that?’ he asked. ‘Think very carefully, Sonya.’
She did not need to think about it, but she did anyway. She had never been happier than when she was away from the castle. The castle was not home.
Home was the little cottage in the Outskirts; it was her small room and Kiri snoring next door; it was Dania chasing the chickens; Winnie and Enzo bickering; and walking with Caden and Butterscotch; and the market and the bookshop and Bunto’s.
It was the life that she had chosen for herself.
Home was Azam, and the love that was tailor-made for them. That was worth anything, least of all her title and her crown.
‘I mean it, Baba.’
The king narrowed his eyes.
‘Baba, if this is truly what she wants …’ Shahmir said.
The king set his jaw. ‘Call him in.’
Azam was waiting just outside, and a soldier went to retrieve him. He entered, and while Sonya could see he was a little bit afraid to stand in front of his king and the princes, his back was straight. He did not look down or away. Azam held the king’s gaze as her father assessed him.
‘Do you love my daughter?’ he asked.
Azam did not hesitate. ‘Do I breathe?’
Mustafa scribbled something down on a piece of paper.
The king tsked, still not convinced. He looked at his daughter. ‘But what about your safety?’ he asked.
‘The people of the Outskirts are good,’ Sonya said. ‘No one will harm me, there.’
‘We protect our own,’ Azam said. He cleared his throat.
‘Your Majesty, if I may.’ The king nodded.
Azam took a deep breath. ‘I love your daughter. I love her more than life itself, and if you allow us to wed, then I will honor and cherish her. I will respect and appreciate her. I swear I will shower her with love and affection. I will love her more every day. In me, she will find comfort, peace, love, and joy. Everything that I am—everything that I will be—is hers and hers alone.’
Sonya was moved to tears. Even her brothers looked impressed. They stood, raising their glasses in a toast.
Finally, the king stood. He looked apprehensive, and she knew he did not wish to let her go. There was fear in his eyes. ‘But …’ He trailed off, brow furrowed with concern.
‘Baba, I can take care of myself,’ she said. ‘And anyway.’ She turned to Azam. ‘I won’t be alone.’
Her father released a long breath. ‘How can I refuse?’ he asked. He walked to Sonya and Azam, pulling them both in for a hug. Her brothers cheered, clinking glasses and clapping.
‘Thank you, Baba,’ Sonya said, pulling back.
There were tears in the king’s eyes as he regarded her. He touched her cheek. ‘You look so much like your mother.’