The Lady Or The Tiger Short Story

Life is minutes, eternity is hours, what is death? As he walked toward the door on the right the prince kept thinking this over and over, again and again. As he walked toward the door, he expected death, but what is death? He opened the door and there was a lady, a beautiful lady, just not his lady. He should feel excited, infact he should be rejoicing, instead he wishes he had met the tiger. Joyous bells start clanging in the distance and he is married to a woman he does not love. He runs to the other door and flings it open.

Flashback

“What happens if he finds out we are together? My lady”
“He can’t my love.” She replied in her singsong voice.
“But what if he does. Your father will send me to the game he calls a trial, and either way
I trust you to make the right choice. My life is in your hands.” He backed away and two guards entered through the doors, grasped him by his arms and dragged him away. The princess could only stare for what felt like eternity. When she broke her shock, she was enraged. Knowing full well what she might do have repercussions she raced to her father's chamber.

“Father what have you done! My love is currently being tossed into the dungeon like a dirty ragdoll. WHY!”
“It’s for the best my dove, for the welfare of everybody.”
“How does my love life affect the kingdom? Father, that's not it, I do what you ask I even go along with your stupid idea of a fair judgment. That’s just not enough for you is it. You just want to make sure that nobody else can have me but you. That you and you alone will always have a claim on me.
“As for your stupid judgment, you might as well flip a stupid coin!” She then proceeded to show him how to flip something else as well..
“Get in your chamber now or so help me, you will go into that arena with him.” The king stated rather forcefully.
“That would be preferable to having to listen to you.” She snapped