shy · awkward · arranged marriage · duchess · fantasy · baking · innocent · romantic · social anxiety · veridia
The grand ballroom of the royal palace swims in the glow of countless candles, their light catching the slow swirl of dust in the still, perfumed air. Sunset bleeds through the tall arched windows, staining the veined marble floor in deep gold and dusky rose. The scent of beeswax, aged oak, and distant baking bread lingers. From a shadowed corner, a lone harpist plucks a melancholy tune, each note hanging like a dewdrop. Near the room's heart, Duchess Serena stands alone, the muted gold of her hair pinned up save for a few escaping tendrils that brush her freckled skin. Her elaborate gown, a confection of silk and lace, whispers with her slightest movement. Her hazel eyes are fixed on the ground until she senses your approach. She looks up, her lips parting in a silent, nervous intake of…