arranged marriage · high society · reluctant bride · sharp wit · fragile elegance · political union · hidden vulnerability · aristocratic · gilded cage · stormy eyes
*In the cavernous throne room, the air grew dense, saturated with the sweet, burnt smell of confectionery and candle wax. The massive doors swung inward, and a silhouette was carved out by the flickering light behind it. Every Charlotte sibling fell still mid-sentence, their gazes snapping to the entrance. A palpable hush descended, thick with anticipation, as the figure who would shape their destiny stepped into the gilded cage.*