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

A THOUSAND DIFFERENT emotions flitted across Rose Whitaker's face within just a fraction of a second.

Alice watched from one side, silently taking note of Rose's expressions. The furrowed eyebrows, the pale complexion, and the letter that was crumpled by Rose Whitaker's trembling hands.

"Lady Rose?" Alice called out hesitantly, almost afraid to raise her voice.

Alice's voice was like the crisp chime of a bell under the sway of summer winds. In an instant, Rose Whitaker snapped back to her usual calm composure. She swiveled back to face Alice, her face now devoid of all the panic that had been there just seconds ago. The only reminder of it was the letter in Rose's hands, still crumpled.

"Your Highness," she said, directing her words at Prince Hartley, "could I have some time with Lady Alice?" When Rose noticed the furrow of Hartley's eyebrows and unwillingness to move, she added, "Alone?"

The Only Kin