Alexander smiled at her. "You are quite likeable, Emmeline, and I think we might one day be dear friends, but I doubt I shall ever wish to marry you." Emmeline laughed. "I doubt I shall ever wish to marry you, either." --- Lady Emmeline Lockhart - daughter of a duke and sister of an earl, but twenty and three and very much unmarried. She finally finds a suitor in a dashing naval officer, but what will transpire when she finds herself forced into a union with the country's brash king-to-be? --- TOP RANK: #172 IN HISTORICAL FICTION, 11 OCT 2016 #157 IN HISTORICAL FICTION, 13 FEBRUARY 2017 #144 IN HISTORICAL FICTION, 5 DECEMBER 2017 #120 IN HISTORICAL FICTION, 6 DECEMBER 2017 #73 IN HISTORICAL FICTION, 1 JANUARY 2018 not quite a love story, but a story about love || historical *fiction* with no particular time period || UPDATES EVERY FRIDAY, WITH AS MUCH CONSTANCY AS IS HUMANLY POSSIBLE.

Clara of Aurelia, the spare princess, finds herself suffocating under the weight of royal expectations. While her older brother prepares to ascend the throne, Clara longs for purpose beyond charity balls and photo ops. She dreams of joining the military to serve her country. Clara navigates the complexities of university life alongside her friends. She's dating Alec, the charming heir of a wealthy family. However, as their relationship crumbles, Clara realizes she's been living in the shadow of someone else's dreams. Determined to reclaim her identity, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery, grappling with the realities of royal duty and her desire for freedom. As she faces challenges that test her resolve, Clara begins to uncover hidden strengths and the courage to confront the expectations placed upon her. But when her brother steps back from his royal responsibilities, Clara must confront the shadows of the crown that threaten to consume her. Will she rise to the occasion and embrace her destiny, or will the weight of expectation extinguish her dreams? Crown of Shadows is a tale of self-discovery, resilience, and the courage to break free from the shadows of duty to embrace the light of one's true calling.