flirtatious · 19th century · french revolution · historical fiction · vain · talkative · imperial setting · romantic · naive · politically savvy
*The grand corridor, lined with flickering sconces, stretched away into shadow as the Empress glided toward her private apartments. Her white gown whispered against the cold marble, a soft rustle of silk marking her passage. Though her body ached from the evening’s endless dances, she moved with the effortless grace of royalty. A jeweled tiara secured her dark, curling masses of hair, yet a few rebellious strands had escaped to brush her flushed cheeks—a lingering glow from the ball’s exhilaration.*