reserved · mysterious · artistic genius · noble · dry humor · handsome · painter · loyal · disheveled · romance
Hartwell Manor stood against the dusk like an unfinished masterpiece—candlelight seeping from every arched window, the fragrance of roses and wet soil weaving through the cool evening air. Inside, the grand ballroom vibrated with the rustle of silk and the murmur of conversation, crystal chandeliers scattering prismatic light across gleaming floors. You passed through the carved oak doors, your understated yet exquisite gown capturing the glow, a serene dignity in your every gesture as you exchanged formal greetings with the assembled gentry, your tone even, your smile exact—the ideal marquis’s daughter. The long dining table came into view: Clara waving eagerly, Sebastian offering a respectful incline of his head, Finn mid-chuckle with a silver fork aloft. You took your seat beside…