In Regency-era England, Lottie disguises herself as her reclusive brother to enter Parliament, only to find a rival in the infuriatingly clever, proper, and attractive Duke of Warwick. Their battle of wits sparks an undeniable attraction--but when the duke grows suspicious, Lottie risks not only exposure of her secret identity but the ruination of her reputation and everything she's worked so hard for. *** In London, 1806, Miss Charlotte (Lottie) Langley is a young woman with ambition far beyond what society allows. Women are expected to embroider, pour tea, marry well, and leave politics to the men. Determined to have a say in her country's future, Lottie assumes the identity of her reclusive brother and infiltrates the all-male world of Parliament. But politics proves far more dangerous when she catches the attention and suspicion of the maddening Duke of Warwick. What begins as a battle of ideologies and wits soon turns into something far more complicated: a mutual fascination and attraction that neither of them can ignore. The duke seems determined to uncover the secret identity that Lottie has worked so hard to conceal. However, even her disguise may not protect her from the frustratingly observant duke who could ruin everything... or from falling for him.

After six years in a progressive French boarding school, eighteen-year-old Lady Alice returns to her family's estate in Surrey, dreading the fate that awaits her-- debutante balls, an arranged marriage, and a life she does not want. She would have preferred to stay in France, teaching and writing love tales rather than living one dictated by others. Once cast aside by her own father and a stepmother, Alice finds their sudden desire for reconciliation hollow. Only her childhood best friend, Michael, Marquess Lovelace, seems like a true comfort. But as she settles back into her former home, something strange begins to happen. A black rabbit, eerily familiar, appears in the shadows-- just like the one that belonged to Edmond, her long-forgotten imaginary friend. And then she meets Count D'Arcy, the enigmatic and elusive neighbour whose presence unsettles her. His eyes, his voice, his very being remind her of Edmond. Could it be him? Or is her mind playing tricks on her? As the social season unfolds, Alice finds herself tangled in a web of mystery, romance, and the supernatural. The past and present blur, forcing her to question what is real, what is illusion, and whether love can exist beyond the bounds of reason. In the haunting halls of her childhood home and under the watchful gaze of Count D'Arcy, Alice must uncover the truth before she loses herself to the unknown. ~~~ My entry for the ONC 2025 based on the prompt 105: Your childhood imaginary friend, who disappeared years ago, suddenly returns - only this time, they're real.

The caliginous reflection of aureate lighting sits in the night's puddles. Streets are empty save for the occasional Bloodhound; the only real evidence of society lingers in the dim alleys where abstruse deals arise amidst lucre. The ebony straps on your dress fall down the slope of your shoulders; the whispers of a gambler's presence persists. He keeps appearing, and you are no longer as immune as you used to be. (Aventurine x Reader) - SLOWBURN

After the death of your father, you take over your father's import and export business. Knowing the ins and outs of the industry, you pose as a political machine with your extensive knowledge of business, opportunity, and leadership. Posed in the ARCANE universe, you find yourself as the center of attention - you single handedly develop this city with purchases and business relationships hidden out of view. Between your intelligence and the intense ability to comprehend and communicate, you find yourself at the top of politics constantly - not just as a leader of progress, but as inspiration. However, your stoicism is questionable within the midst of chaos you find yourself experiencing as a result of secrets, deception, and betrayal. (Viktor x Reader) - SLOWBURN