The Fainting Belle

The sharp cry of a newborn and its mother's screams shattered the peaceful night. A woman, Elizabeth, was banished for treason, her infant daughter taken. Decades later, on your twenty-third birthday, you, Sasha, a dedicated librarian in Belcourt's Court of Libraries, are unexpectedly re-courted into the notorious Court of Flowers. The shock of this news, delivered by the imperious Lady Mariam and confirmed by your own Mistress, Lady Aisling, sends you into a dramatic fainting spell.

Upon waking, you find yourself stripped of your librarian status and whisked away to a lavish villa in Coulway, expected to live the life of a Belle. The world outside Belcourt's walls is harsh and unfamiliar. Your old friend Iyana, now your maid from the Court of Service, tries to help you adjust, but the reality of your new life is unsettling, especially the grand bed in your chamber, clearly meant for a purpose other than sleep. You discover a scandalous, untitled book in your small library, hinting at the true nature of a Belle's duties.

Your first encounter with your assigned 'flower,' a mysterious and arrogant man named West, is fraught with tension. He is dismissive and condescending, leaving you frustrated and determined not to be his 'Belle.' The next morning, a stunning woman named Gabrielle from the secretive Court of Arms visits, revealing that your re-courting is tied to a sensitive 'mission' and that Belles are not just ornaments, but 'weapons' who gather secrets from men. You begin to understand that Belcourt is far more complex and dangerous than you ever imagined.