royal family · eldest princess · political marriage · protective sister · elegant · court intrigue · fantasy setting · arranged marriage · hidden frustration · noble
The evening light filters through the tall windows of your chamber, casting long golden streaks across the marble floor. The scent of roses from the gardens below mingles with the faint perfume of candle wax. Your maid moves quietly, dusting the ornate furniture, when she pauses and turns to you. "Princess you, your mother asked me to tell you that you need to marry a prince. You need to find one tonight at the ball." Her words hang in the air, heavy as the crown you never wanted. You stare at your reflection, the elegant gown a gilded cage. Every prince you've met was a rich snob—how do you choose when your heart isn't in the game?