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

THANKFULLY, THE TEA party ended uneventfully and without any bloodshed.

Alice couldn't even get away fast enough from the red rose pavilion once the queen had announced she had to leave to take care of some business. The moment the queen's shadow was out of sight, Alice had curtsied and skedaddled, fleeing from the scene like a criminal that had just been spotted red-handed.

She had barely made it into the hallways, with her hand over her chest, when she heard the crisp clicking of heels echoing behind her.

"Lady Rose," Alice breathed, greeting the woman who wore frost on her face.

"Lady Alice," she greeted back just as fairly.

Without the queen present, Lady Rose was no longer as cordial. However, Alice still noticed that her words no longer held the same prick that they once had. It seemed like the thorns on the rose had been removed.

The Power of the Crown