‘Whoever marries my daughter will inherit my kingdom,’ he said. And with these words, I began to realise how badly I had miscalculated. ‘Send out the heralds with the news: I seek a husband for the bold and beautiful Atalanta.’ I wrenched my wrist from his grasp, more forcefully than I intended, and he stumbled a little. My chest was still heaving from the elation I had felt only moments before, the thrill of my own strength, the rush of my own fearlessness. ‘I’ve sworn I’ll never marry,’ I said, my voice carrying loud and clear to all the assembled listeners. ‘There is no man that can ever
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