‘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 wasstraight. 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.’
EPILOGUE
The summer solstice saw both Sonya’s birthday and a royal wedding. It was a grand affair, with far too many guests and far too much fuss, but Sonya didn’t mind any of it—not with Azam by her side.
It was her last day as princess, and while she was sad to be leaving her father, brothers, and the castle staff behind, she couldn’t wait to be Azam’s wife, to return home.
A royal carriage took Sonya and Azam to the Outskirts, and while many came out to see the princess who had given up her crown to marry a tailor, when they turned towards Azam’s neighborhood, the people who came out were there to see Sonya and Azam.
Once the carriage stopped in front of his cottage, Azam turned to her, flashing her a brilliant smile. ‘Welcome home, Sonya.’
She leaned forward to meet his lips with her own, kissing him tenderly. Outside, she heard barking. When she exited the carriage after Azam, she spotted Butterscotch with Caden and Kiri.
‘They’re here!’ Dania shrieked, and before Sonya fully had her feet on the ground, the little girl launched herself into Sonya’s arms. ‘Baji!’
‘Munni!’ Sonya said, hugging her tight and spinning around. ‘I missed you! Oh, I missed you so much!’
