“Princesses ought to be seen, and not heard.”

When I was very little, I found this rule stifling; however, I am now sixteen, and as I grew older, I realized the value of being quiet. It gave me the chance to watch and listen.

I saw how my father treated the wealthy kings, dukes, and princes who visited our castle, and he treated them better than our own people and our servants. My governess had instilled in me a value for all human life and the fact that royals are intended to serve their kingdom; and this appalled me.

I saw the men that would be my potential suitors as we visited other kingdoms, and I saw how harsh and crude they were in their attitudes toward women.

I saw from a distance how politely the servants and citizens treated each other and how they cared for one another. They didn’t have enough money to corrupt them the way it had corrupted my father and other men like him.

When my father asked me today if I had any suitors I was interested in, I shook my head. I may be quiet, but I’m not blind.