Miss Katherina Guilford strolled down the red velvet stairs of the castle. The crimson red matched the shade of ruby red blood that would later be found on the cobblestone path to the entrance of the guarded castle. Katherina joined the table with her family for breakfast, and as she expected, they blabbed on about how she needs a husband to lead the future kingdom. Katherina, the very observant princess, noticed that there was something different about her familys’ attitude: “Now, Katherina, we understand your 18th birthday is coming up, so we found you someone!” Her mother started her normal sentence that occurred every morning, but ended differently. “I don’t need a husband, Mother,” Katherina stated frustratingly, as she had told her this a million times: “have you even seen how men treat women these days? For goodness sake, I feel as if I am the only person in this country that understands this!” Katherina was quite smart for a princess in the 18th century.

The butler entered the princesses room and alerted her: “Your mother has told me to send you downstairs, for your ‘husband’ is here.” The butler bowed and carried on with her house work. _Good heavens! When will i be granted a moment of piece.. _Katherina thought to herself as she walked down the stairs once again, almost tripping over the long skirt trim that her nagging mother made her wear. “What do I owe to this visit?” She asked the man waiting outside of the gate. “Oh, well hello..” He said, judgingly, “Aren’t you a.. pretty girl!” “Who are you to judge, you might as well be a rag on the street if it weren’t for the color in your little… costume!” She shot back at him.

“Now, pray tell, why am I out here wasting my time with an ungrateful brat like you? Even I wouldn’t know..” He responded and started walking off. Katherina was done with being treated this way, she would take it into her _own_ hands this time: “Get him, guards!” The guards charged through the gates with their crossbows and spears.

Life for Katherina was better now, for all her parents know, Katherina was on her honeymoon with her new husband, finally listening to their orders. She was out of the toxic expectations of the royal family. Her final use of her royal privileges was ordering maids to clean the cobblestone path leading to the castle gate, and it was the greatest order she had ever asked the maids to do.