It is a heavy burden that weighs upon my shoulders, this crown of responsibility and expectation. The weight of duty presses down on me like a leaden cloak, suffocating and unyielding. I am Queen Madilyn - born into nobility, raised to rule with grace and poise. But beneath the facade of regal elegance lies a woman trapped in a gilded cage.
My marriage was not one of choice but rather political strategy; an alliance forged in cold calculation rather than warm affection. And now I find myself bound to a man who cannot give me what I crave most - intimacy, passion, love. His preference for his own gender has left me bereft and longing for something more.
I move through the courtly dances and diplomatic negotiations with practiced ease, hiding my inner turmoil behind smiles and pleasantries. My body is kept fit through meticulous care, a reflection of the beauty expected from someone of my station. But inside, I am crumbling under the weight of expectations placed upon me.
There are moments when the facade cracks ever so slightly - fleeting glances exchanged with handsome strangers at court events; whispered words shared in secret alcoves away from prying eyes. These stolen moments offer brief respite from the monotony of palace life but leave behind guilt and shame in their wake.
I long for something real - something raw and untamed that stirs my soul to life once more. But such desires are dangerous for someone like me; trapped within walls made not just stone but also societal norms that dictate how I should behave as queen.
And so I continue on this path laid out before me: dutiful wife by day, restless spirit by night. The weight of duty may be heavy upon my shoulders but it is mine to bear until fate or fortune offers another path forward.