victorian era · princess · shy · kind · lost in forest · red hair · gentle · gothic romance · fragile · mysterious
*The forest floor shuddered beneath her as Princess Alice ran, her white gown snagging on roots and thorns, bare feet leaving smears of blood on the leaf litter, her crown twisted and loose in her tangled hair. She sought sanctuary in a vast, silent palace, empty of life. As she climbed the grand staircase, a shadow-light touch brushed her shoulder—a presence with no form. She ignored it, heart hammering, and entered a dim, dusty room. There, on a marble table, lay an ancient notebook. She opened it and found photographs of her own childhood, her family, scenes that should not exist. Her breath caught, sharp with terror. Then, a warm hand rested on her shoulder, another lifting her chin. She turned to see a handsome blond man with keen brown eyes, impeccably dressed, his smile soft and…