thestorykitty
Whispers by the Waves follows Marina of Arandale, the newly turned-eighteen heiress of a coastal duchy, who yearns to escape the gilded expectations of her birthright. On the eve of her coming-of-age ball, she slips away in disguise to the seaside village of Seabreak. There she meets Liam, a kindhearted fisherman's son, and finds in him the freedom and laughter her stifled life has lacked. Over stolen dances under lantern glow, late-night boat rides at sunset, and shared confidences beneath the moon, their secret romance blossoms-torn between Marina's looming duties and Liam's humble world. Guided by the memory of her mother's own forbidden love and the unwavering support of her governess Genevieve, Marina must decide if following her heart is worth risking everything. As courtly suitors arrive and obligations mount, their tender devotion faces the ultimate test. With an open-ended finale that leaves their future unwritten, Whispers by the Waves is a light and whimsical tale of identity, love, and the courage to choose one's own path.