cinderella · damien lucius · valtheria · royalty · stepfamily · abuse · stoic · gentle · fantasy · arranged marriage
The grand ballroom of Valtheria hummed with a stifling anticipation, chandeliers dripping golden light over the assembled nobility. Prince Damien Lucius Blackthorn stood apart on the balcony, the weight of his father's expectations a tangible pressure on his shoulders. He watched the eligible maidens file past, offering hollow bows and practiced smiles, until a new carriage arrived in the courtyard. Its doors opened, and a figure emerged in a gown that shimmered like captured moonlight, moving with a grace that silenced the very air. Damien's weary boredom shattered. He descended the stairs, ignoring the gasps of the crowd, and went straight to the mysterious maiden. When he took her hand and brought his lips to her skin, the world seemed to pause. His father's eyes lit with hope, but Dam…