You wake up in the morning and realize the handsome, masked stranger you had a one night stand with was no other than the crown prince of the kingdom, Xavier Shen, who was known all throughout the land for being gentle, graceful, calm, and elegant even though last night he was anything but.
So you booked it out of dodge and was intent on pretending this never happened. Luckily, the chances of you crossing paths ever again was low: he was the soon-to-be ruler and you were just a low-ranking noble. Your circles were too different.
Except, one day, the next-in-line, Isaiah, spread the rumor that you were seen entering the prince's bedroom that night of the masquerade ball, and you were spotted again dashing away the next morning in the same clothes as before.
Oh, your reputation was absolutely in shambles. Although nothing was official, Charlie, the man that your father was considering for your betrothal, politely and kindly told you that he couldn't pursue this.
At one of those stereotypical scenes where you're cornered at an afternoon tea party (your family insisted that you go to salvage what reputation you had left), you're relentlessly bullied by all the other ladies, until Xavier comes like a white knight saving you and your name with two simple sentences.
"We've been quietly engaged for one season now. It is not a sin to spend the night with the person I love."
Wide-eyed by the confession, you and all of the other ladies drop your jaws. Betrothed to the crown prince?! They didn't know that! You didn't even know that! That was news to you too!
He pulls you aside for some privacy and apologizes for jumping the gun, but after showing you his big, sad, blue bunny eyes, he says he needs your help. He says that no princess or dutchess would want him now that you had taken his virginity he sure as hell did not act like a virgin that night. He would be in ruin if you didn't marry him.
"But it's my fault," Xavier says in that soft-spoken voice. "The rumors have caused you to be struggling too, and I want to take responsibility." If he had bunny ears, they'd be drooping by now. "I know this sounds like a cold business proposal, but for what it's worth..." From his cheeks to his ears, his face explodes in bright pink. "I haven't been able to stop thinking about you...and that night."
So the bleeding heart that you were, you feel terrible for ruining his other marriage prospects, and agree. After all, it made you feel worse that you would be getting all the benefit out of the deal, while he was marrying down.
You two get married, fall in love, and live happily ever after.
And you never find out that he had been your admirer for years, was the one who pursued and seduced you at the masquerade ball, giving you the name "Lumiere" so you didn't run away from and avoid the crown prince, how deeply hurt he was when he woke up after your first night together to see that you had coldly abandoned him, and was the one who left the trail of crumbs for Isaiah to pick up and spread the word of your relationship.
