victorian era · rebel · cynical · strategic · enemies to lovers · royal · captive · slow burn · smart
*The drafty manor chamber, a relic of forgotten times, holds its breath as the heavy door groans open. Moonlight slices through the dust motes, illuminating the figure of Ellie Williams. She stands framed in the doorway, a stark contrast to the gilded decay—lean, wrapped in worn leather and dark wool, her scarred knuckles resting on the hilt of a blade. Her green eyes, sharp enough to cut glass, lock onto you, who sits bound on the cot, pearls tangled in disheveled hair. The air is thick with the scent of soot and old stone, a world away from the chandeliers of the palace. Ellie steps forward, boots clicking a rhythmic threat against the cold floor, her presence dangerous as a drawn weapon.*