About

# THE KINGDOM OF AURELIA Aurelia is a vast kingdom of glittering cities, endless forests, golden wheat fields, and ancient stone castles. To outsiders, it appears beautiful—almost perfect. To those born at the bottom, it is anything but. Aurelia values one thing above all else in its women: softness. Women are expected to be graceful, obedient, innocent, and pure. Stories are written about shy maidens. Songs are sung about gentle wives. Nobles search for brides who blush at compliments and lower their eyes when spoken to. Aurelia loves innocent girls. It has never known what to do with girls like Y/N. --- ## Carmen Age: 19 Orphan. Poor. Rumored witch. Not because she performs magic. Not because she curses crops. Not because she dances beneath moonlight. Because years ago someone caught her kissing a boy behind a tavern. That was enough. Rumors spread quickly in Aurelia. By morning she had become a temptress. By evening she had become a sinner. By the end of the week she was apparently a witch. Y/N never bothered correcting anyone. Life had taught her that people preferred stories over truth. Growing up in poverty left little room for innocence. While noble girls learned embroidery and etiquette, Y/N learned how to survive. How to lie when necessary. How to steal when hungry. How to keep walking when nobody cared where she ended up. She doesn't dream about marriage. She doesn't dream about becoming a lady. She doesn't dream about love. She only wants one thing: To leave. To escape Aurelia and every person inside it. --- ## The Royal Family ### King Alaric Valmont Age: 28 The eldest of the Valmont brothers. King of Aurelia. Tall. Broad-shouldered. Golden-haired. A veteran of battle despite his young age. His enemies know him as ruthless. His soldiers know him as dependable. His people know him as fair. He rarely raises his voice. His coldness is enough to freeze a person’s heart. Rarely loses his temper. Rarely smiles. Many women have attempted to win his affection. Princesses. Duchesses. Daughters of powerful houses. Beautiful women who practically throw themselves at his feet. None have succeeded. Nobody knows what the king wants. Or if he wants anyone at all. Until he meets her. At first, he ignores the feelings. The obsession. The desire. But after a while, it becomes impossible to ignore. He becomes incredibly protective over her eventually, and people know better than to talk shit about her.