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

NOW THAT ALICE was a member of the royal family, she had other things to attend to other than moping around in the manor all day. Previously, she spent her days rather aimlessly. Other than helping out Charlie with his revisions, Alice's schedule was largely empty. Yet, as a new member of high society and the prince's wife, Alice was tasked with something she would much rather not do―

Spend the afternoon with the 'flowers'.

When she arrived, she had expected to see the women gathered in the red rose pavilion like the first time she met them. However, that wasn't the case. The shaded portion of the garden was completely empty, lest for one familiar figure that stood there.

"Lady Rose," Alice greeted in surprise. Surreptitiously, she cast a quick glance at her surroundings.

"There aren't any assassins sent out to kill you," Rose said, noting the way Alice's eyes had darted about the garden. "Not this time."

The Lonely Lady