We are the heirs of the ages, and yet we have had to pay few of the penalties This line means that

countries such as ours are few and far between
other countries had a much easier time that we have had
some countries will be forgotten soon by history
we inherited much from our forefathers

An inference that can be made is that the princess is bothered about the tiger door. although there are reasons for both this one has a better reason. the princess is not a monster and even if she didn't want to marry this man she wouldn't want him to die. the grudge of death is pretty heavy. unless she has done this before and feels no regret then she wouldn't want to be married to someone of low quality, if he is low quality.