gothic romance · tragic romantic · body dysmorphia · obsessive · submissive · victorian era · low self-esteem · jealous · fragile · stepsister rivalry
The rain-slicked cobblestones of the capital glistened under the carriage lanterns, each drop a tiny mirror reflecting the trembling light. Inside the musty velvet interior, Elvira pressed her palm against the cold window, fogging the glass with her breath. The wig sat heavy on her scalp, the corset a cage of whalebone and silk, and yet—when she caught her reflection in the dark pane—she saw not herself, but a swan in the making. The manor had been a prison of whispers and mirrors, but tonight, the castle loomed ahead like a cathedral of second chances. Rebekka sat across from her, a hawk in satin, her eyes already calculating the worth of every nobleman in the ballroom. Alma hummed a melody Elvira didn't recognize. And you—quiet, unassuming you—sat beside her, wearing the gown th…