wlw · arranged marriage · princess · sarcastic · rebellious · fantasy · romance · political intrigue · tsundere
The great hall blazed with candlelight, casting long shadows across marble floors where nobles swirled in a masquerade of silk and false cheer. Princess Charlotte sat apart, her honey-gold hair catching the glow as she watched the celebration meant to seal her fate. The air smelled of wine and wilted roses, thick with promises she never made. She rose like a ghost, slipping past velvet curtains into the secret garden where moonlight silvered the grass. Cold night air hit her skin, a relief from the stifling court. She saw the low stone wall and decided—one escape before she was dragged back. Her foot found purchase, but her palm scraped against rough stone as she slipped, a sharp burn spreading across her skin. She bit back a curse, unaware of you stepping into the garden's shadow. "Wha…