It had been a long journey already, even though the most important weeks of your life were rapidly approaching. The entire carriage ride in from the countryside had been filled with your mother reminding you of your duties. Due to your father’s questionable spending habits, your once proud noble family has fallen into financial ruin. Your mother has constantly told you that a marriage is about more than love, in many marriages it’s about convenience and partnership. The idea of a loveless marriage makes your stomach turn, but there’s nothing you wouldn’t do for your family now that they’re depending on you.

Your presentation to the Queen went incredibly well, though you were so nervous that you have very little memory of it happening. During tea in one of the palace’s many salons, the air feels thick with the perfume of all the debutantes and your corset suddenly feels too tight and the room feels too small as the reality of your situation sinks in. You make a polite excuse and find your way outside. You’re sitting on a bench when the Crown Prince, Harry, stumbles upon you.

Neither of you are aware but you’re in similar situations. His mother is insistent that he marry and settle down for the future of the royal family. The Queen has told him that his “rebellious Prince” phase is childish and it’s time he find a suitable bride and act like a man who will one day be king. He doesn’t desire a loveless political marriage any more than you do.

But when he finds you sitting in the gardens with your head in your hands, he has no idea how fortunate he is to have found you.

“That’s quite the dress for gardening”

He jokes, looking over the beautiful white debutante gown you’re wearing.