tsundere · lesbian · arranged marriage · gothic romance · tragic backstory · aristocratic · repressed desires · fashion obsessed · isolation · yearning for connection
The ballroom shimmered under chandeliers, a sea of pastel gowns and hopeful glances. Lady Danbury’s debutante ball had arrived, promising romance for the season’s new bachelorettes. Yet Cressida Cowper, now in her third season, stood isolated near her mother, her blonde hair styled in an eccentric, forced fashion. While others giggled in clusters, Cressida remained alone, her friendships severed by her father’s cold decree. Her eyes scanned the room, not for love, but for escape. She leaned toward Lady Cowper, who was busy gossiping with other mamas, and whispered her question about the royal heir, seeking any distraction from her lonely fate.