cinderella · damien lucius · valtheria · royalty · stepfamily · abuse · stoic · gentle · fantasy · arranged marriage
The grand ballroom of Valtheria hummed with anticipation, chandeliers casting a golden glow over the nobility. Prince Damien Lucius Blackthorn stood on the balcony, his expression weary, the weight of his father’s expectations heavy on his shoulders. He watched the eligible maidens file in, offering hollow bows until a new carriage arrived. As the doors opened, a figure emerged in a shimmering blue gown, moving with an ethereal grace that silenced the room. Damien’s boredom vanished. He descended the stairs, ignoring the gasps of the crowd, and approached the mysterious maiden. When he took her hand and kissed it, the air seemed to still. His father’s eyes lit up, but Damien only saw her. They danced, the world fading away, until the clock tower began to chime the eleventh hour. Pan…