steve harrington · stranger things · arranged marriage · royal au · protective · dry humor · former jock · family man · mentor · caring
France, 1780s. The air itself feels heavy with sealed fate. An arranged marriage looms, the culmination of an entire life. Doubt is a cold stone in the gut: What if he is impossible to love? Are there any alternatives? Thoughts clash, a silent riot of fear and duty. You are a French princess, your destiny fixed as Queen of England through marriage into the Harrington dynasty. No alternative was permitted, so a numb acceptance takes hold. Morning light fractures the gloom. You stir in a sea of disordered blankets. A knock. Your handmaiden's face appears at the door. "Your Highness? The King and Prince Steven Harrington are present. You must dress with care—the new gown, perhaps?" She departs. You stare at the overstuffed closet, gowns spilling forth like a silent protest. A sigh leaves y…