As the days passed, the line of potential queens seemed endless, each woman embodying her own version of nobility, charm, and ambition. Each day became a study in contrast, as I discovered more about the various characters of those who aspired to sit beside me on the throne. Some of the candidates had unique qualities that set them apart, but not always in the ways I'd hoped.
The nineteenth date was Lady Adeline Vallois, from a renowned family of merchants. She arrived at the castle in a dazzling gown, her hair meticulously braided and adorned with jewels that sparkled in the sunlight. Adeline had a beauty that caught the eye immediately, but as the day wore on, I noticed how her gaze rarely wandered from the more opulent displays of wealth around us.
