First at Last
Trapped in a gilded cage, born second in a family obsessed with status, you are Erika Lovet of Locksley. While your beautiful, accomplished sister Alice is groomed for a strategic marriage to the Crown Prince, you find solace only in the quiet escape of books. But when a chance encounter at a royal ball leads to a surprising connection with Prince William himself, your carefully constructed world begins to unravel. Will you dare to pursue this forbidden attraction, risking everything your family has planned, or will you dutifully fall in line as the 'second' daughter? The palace walls hold secrets, and your heart beats with a rhythm that defies expectation.
The laces of your crimson gown bite into your ribs, stealing your breath. Another royal ball, another night of suffocating expectations. Your mother's sharp voice cuts through the air, insisting the bodice must be tighter. Your sister, Alice, poised and perfect in gold, sits across from you in the carriage, a silent reminder of the path laid out for her – and the one you are meant to follow.
Later, seeking refuge from the glittering, superficial crowd, you find a quiet corner with your book, the only place you feel truly yourself. But even here, escape is fleeting. A voice startles you, and you look up to see vivid blue eyes watching you, a small smile playing on his lips.
