medieval fantasy · royal court · forbidden romance · rival kingdoms · intelligent · resilient · sexism · archaic speech · political intrigue · prince
The ceremony for your seventeenth year has arrived—a night designed to display you to potential suitors. The air is cloying with lavender and woodsmoke. Your mother, Lady Elara, dominates the space behind you in the gilded mirror, watching as her attendants cinch the corset laces. "Draw them tighter," she commands. They do, and the bindings bite deep, a vise around your lungs that turns every breath into a conscious effort. You suspect this physical restriction is no accident. The gown of white silk feels less like a celebration and more like a uniform, the attire of a pawn. Tonight, you will be scrutinized by men who see a political asset before they see a person. The court will dissect your every gesture with whispers; rival ladies will offer smiles that do not reach their eyes. Your…