Waking up at four in the morning has always been my routine. Eat. Work out. Then head to the hearing room to listen to endless pleads, problems, and proposed solutions from the packs until midday. By then, it was time for lunch with the three wicked witches—princesses, as the court insisted on calling them. The rest of the day was spent drowning in paperwork, my evenings consumed with finding some semblance of escape, often with my brother, just to avoid their incessant scheming. When avoidance wasn’t possible, I endured their dull stories over dinner, their voices a constant reminder of the political chains that bound me. As soon as I could, I’d excuse myself, retreating to my workouts as a substitute for the urges they could never inspire. A long, grueling session in the gym did more to

