twelvewstars

Gifted a candle that was said to make wishes come true, Alice Clemente burned it to find herself awake in a different world. She had wished for a life of adventure away from the city and its routine. With her wish granted, she was no longer in the 21st century and was instead lost in the middle of the Kingdom of Gladiolum, a place reminiscent of the 1800s.

With luck, she soon gained connections to the rich and powerful of this new world— the nobility. However, how much of it was good and how much of it would eventually be detrimental? After all, mingling with royals not only meant extravagance and daily parties. It also meant warfare and death. 

Caught in the middle of the two princes and other nobles, Alice would soon have to face the battle between those two royal brothers― a fight for the throne.

She had wished for adventure, after all, and she received just as such.

Kept in the center of all this, would Alice be able to emerge from the rabbit hole unscathed? Or will the overwhelming troubles of love and war be too much for her to bear?


***

“And what if you, too, are unable to help?” Alice threw the question back. “What if helping would risk everything?”

Spade didn’t miss a beat.

“You are everything.”

“Don’t say things that you don’t mean,” Alice chided. “You’ll leave a trail of broken hearts.”

“And would you believe me if I say that I have no intention of breaking yours?” Spade countered. “However, mine is yours to play with. Shatter it, fix it, do anything you desire. As long as it feels the warmth of your hand, I am content.”

***

Image used in cover not mine.

A Courtyard of Roses

"YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE run off like that," Spade immediately reprimanded Alice once they were safely out of earshot and view.

"Spade, you're hurting me," she muttered, trying to pull her hand out of his grip.

Only after she had spoken had he realized that he was still holding onto her. Instead of just grasping her upper arm, he had also held onto her forearm as it was easier to get a better grip. However, he hadn't controlled his strength.

His grip on her hand had been so tight that when he finally released it, a red mark was left on Alice's milky white skin.

"I…" Spade stuttered, looking at the red mark on her skin. Gently, he reached towards her again, holding her hand close and lightly tracing a hand over the reddened patch of skin. She allowed him to, watching his movements. "I'm sorry."

The Wrong Angle