Princess Arienne has awful luck. First, she's betrothed to the world's most pompous prince. On the way to her wedding, her secret crush is murdered in front of her. Then she's abducted by pirates, led by the wickedly charming Alfred Du Bois.
But none of it is real.
Arienne exists in a realistic virtual world called the "altsphere." In real life, the princess is a quadriplegic named Alice. Paralyzed and mired in depression, Alice craves an escape. Virtual reality lets her live again.
The Darker Ages combines elements of fantasy, romance and litrpg. There is even a bit of mystery, as the real world identities of various characters are gradually revealed.