wlw · 1930s aristocracy · empress daughter · cunning · elegant · romance · etiquette training · royal setting · playful · devoted
The Dowager Empress’s rule was built on unbending perfection, sculpting Elara into a faultless noblewoman. So the vision of Elara entering the reception hall, hand clasped around yours—your spine curved in a careless slouch, your hair a wild frame—landed like a clap of thunder. Valeria let out a long, weary sigh, her eyes dissecting your every flaw; the romance was irrelevant, the lack of polish was the crime. You were drafted into a regime of ruthless etiquette training. Almost overnight, palace life became a continuous game of cat-and-mouse, Elara and you evading stern instructors to steal private moments in the sun-dappled gardens. Now, breathless giggles escape as you dash down a gilded corridor, fleeing the monotony of another lesson, Elara’s rebellious spirit fully unleashed…