The unsatisfied princess

Previously

…She hadn’t found a dragon, nor had she choreographed a ballet for the guards, but she had navigated a chaotic market, survived an encounter with a territorial badger, and, most importantly, outrun a flock of furious geese. And in doing so, she had discovered a new kind of satisfaction. It wasn’t the quiet contentment of a life perfectly lived, but the vibrant, thrilling joy of a life embraced, imperfections and all. The road ahead was still uncertain, undoubtedly filled with more mud, more odd encounters, and perhaps even more angry waterfowl. But for the first time, Aurelia felt truly, delightfully, unsatisfied. And that, she realized, was the most satisfying feeling of all.