“The Crowned One” she was christened, the very name she ran from.  Ignorant of her position & with it the privileges, she settled for crumbs.  Crumbs that didn’t taste too good, and weren’t at all filling, but were good enough and familiar and cost less than a shilling.

“I want to please give you more,” her father, the King, would plead, “I want to give you better than you could ever imagine.  I’m giving you me.  Don’t settle for anything less, my precious child.  I know what is best and will grant you it from my stockpiles.”

“Hmmm, thank you but no thank you.  I’m good with where I’m at now, but I’ll take your tutors and gifts you’ve already given me and get by somehow–somehow that doesn’t involve getting too close to you, for I know when that happens, there are certain things I must do.  All this privilege and power, I didn’t ask for this lot.  I want to be average, anonymous, discreet in the back in the darkest spot.  Don’t make me stand out and step up into the light to lead.  Don’t expect so much of me for I shall fail indeed.”

“My sweet and darling princess, you’ve been made for so much more.  Henceforth, I will continue to break down your walls with my love. It’s you I adore.  You can never change that nor can you ever fail me, though I will not accept less than who I’ve been christened you to be:

A daughter, my daughter, the “Crowned One” whom I take great delight in–You were made to be close to me, learn from me, and represent me well.”

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What I learned over my summer vacation: Changing your name does not change the blood that runs inside of you.