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

BY THE TIME Alice had returned to the royal palace, night had already fallen. She hadn't expected to have a welcoming party waiting for her, but Spade stood right at the palace gates, pacing back and forth. He would've worn down the stone tiles if it weren't for the fact that he heard the carriage roll in right then.

"Where have you been?" he immediately asked, coming over to embrace Alice.

She squeaked in surprise, but otherwise allowed herself to be wrapped in his arms. His warmth immediately rolled over her in waves, and with her face practically buried in his chest, the scent that lingered on his clothes ― his scent ― was intoxicatingly strong and so awfully pleasant that she felt her knees weaken ever the slightest.

"I've been worried sick," he muttered into her hair, his warm breath fanning over her.

Alice finally raised her head to look at him, trying to weasel out a smile despite the grim events of the day.

The Culprit