The throne
The novel begins with the main character sitting in front of her throne, looking at it and thinking that if she were to be born the second child, she would have never had to worry about being a good Queen. The presence of the throne is important for the main character and is also used here as a metaphor to represent the crushing sense of responsibility the future Queen felt.
Marriage
Eadlyn is expected to get married, and that as soon as possible. Marriage is seen by her parents as a need and also a duty their young daughter has for the country. Eadlyn would rather avoid getting married but she knows that she cannot put off forever finding a suitable partner. Marriage is also used here as a metaphor and in this context, it is used to represent the idea of continuity and stability.
Rotten fruit
When Eadlyn passed through her town, the people who saw her started throwing rotten fruit towards her. Eadlyn tries not to let herself be affected by these actions and she continues to push through the crowds. The rotten fruits and vegetables that are thrown at her are used here as a metaphor to represent the anger the people felt towards Eadlyn.
The kiss
After a lot of pressure coming from her parents and the rest of the people at the court, Eadlyn gives dating a try and agrees to go out with one of the men considered as being suitable for her. At the end of the date, Eadlyn kisses the boy and then returns home. Kissing the boy did not cause Eadlyn any form of pleasure and made her feel uncomfortable. Still, Eadlyn did it because it considered it as her duty. Thus, because of this, kissing is used here as a metaphor for sacrifice.
The heart attack
At the end of the novel, Eadlyn's mother has a heart attack and dies, leaving Eadlyn alone and without any form of support. This event changes Eadlyn and her view on life and makes her behave in a more mature way. Because of this, the death of Eadlyn's mother is used here as a metaphor to represent the passing into adulthood.
