A part of one of my main projects.

Ruling a kingdom wasn’t what she wanted.

When Ophelia grew up, she was taught that the only way to have value was if you know how to fight. She was handed a sword and shield, and she was struck down until it was second nature to get back up. The arena became her second home, each match treating her like an army cadet, not like a young teenager. Her wounds were her trophies. She would point to each scar, smiling when telling people who she defeated when she got them. Her parents praised her for her victories and ridiculed her for her losses. Her mother taught her combat before literature. Her teachers knew her for being the daughter of a general more than they knew her for who she really was.

Ophelia was raised to be a warrior, not a ruler.