Ms. Adella Dunstan dabbed at her tears. She sniffed woefully into a lace-trimmed handkerchief as she sat on a chair in a retiring room. A gaggle of young ladies surrounded her, clucking their tongues in sympathy.

“She’s always been a nasty piece of work,” said one, with a determined nod of her head. “Remember at the Academy? She always nitpicked me.”

“Right? If you want to walk around with bad postures, she should let you!”

“It’s true. And the poor Duke…”

Adella sucked in a breath. Aha! She peered at the speaker from beneath her fluttering eyelashes. “Is she as cruel to Alastair as she was to me?”

The girls looked at one another. Had she just called Lord Wytchwood by his given name? Didn’t they just meet? THe bravest of them cleared her throat.

“Have you met His Grace before?” She asked in a careful voice. “You seem to know him well.”

“I have always known him in my heart.”

“Your heart?”

“He is the cream of the crop in Etria,” she explained. “Since I am the most beautiful lady, it makes sense that we shall be wed.”

“M-Ms. Dunstan, he has been with Lady Giuliana for years and years,” stated the brave soul, brows wrinkled.

“That is how it will be. Don’t you think we’d make a better couple?” She batted her eyes again and the air turned sickly sweet. The girls’ eyes glazed over and they all gave enthusiastic nods.

“Of course! Lady Giuliana is nothing compared to you!”

“We’ll do whatever you want!”

“Let us help you achieve your goals!”

Adella tossed her waves over her shoulder. “You ladies are too kind. It’s nice to make friends. I hope you’ll protect me from that villainess.”

“W-we promise!”

“Could you pledge yourselves to me? Just so I feel safe?”

The bravest dropped to her knees. “I, Alexina Keech, daughter of the Marquess of Calcheth, pledge myself to your cause.”

“I, Penelope Lynds, daughter of the Duke of Silverkeep, pledge myself to your cause.”

“I, Gwendolen Canot, daughter of the Marquess of Greenflower, pledge myself to your cause.”

As she dried her eyes, she declared, “You are so brave to join me in the fight against evil.”

“Evil?” They chorused. “Lady Giuliana is evil?”

“She is keeping Alastair from me.”

They all nodded their heads. “Yes, she is evil.”

Adella locked eyes with Penelope. “You must speak to your sister, Lady Lecia. She might become corrupted by her too. I hear that Lady Giuliana’s mother was a sorceress that enchanted the Earl. That poor man suffered at her hands and now her daughters seeks to get a husband the same way.”

Penelope’s hands tightened into fists. “It’s illegal to enchant others in such a way. I’ll talk to Lecia and father.”

“Oh, you are so brave,” she cooed. “I feel so much better with you guys on my side. Perhaps,” Adella looked away. “No, that is too bold of me.”

“We’ll do anything, Ms. Dunstan.”

“Introduce me to your fiances.”

Alexina and Gwendolen nodded their heads but there was hesitation there now. Penelope did not move. Her eyes narrowed on Adella, brightening again.

“Why do you need to meet them? This is a matter between women.”

Ms. Dunstan’s calm demeanor cracked along the edges. She delivered a cool smile. “You’re right. We don’t need the men involved. Forgive me.”

The trio stiffened, and they nodded with fervor. “There’s nothing to forgive.”

“You may go.” Adella ordered. They spun on their heels like marionette dolls and exited the retiring room. Adella wiped her forehead and let out a long-held breath. Charming people was harder than she expected. She shouldn’t be able to do this now, but she spent a lot of years training her magic for the day she met Lady Giuliana.

She ran through these scenarios again and again and had been foiled tonight by Giuliana. She was unlike the background character she remembered. She might be harder to get rid of this time around. But, Adella was the heroine, so she always won who she wanted. And despite the likes of the Crown Prince running around, she liked Alastair the most.

So, she’d have him. It’d just be a bit harder this time. But she’d do it again.

And again.

And again.

Until she got the ending she wanted. That’s why she came to this world, wasn’t it? To fix what was wrong and put Lady Giuliana where she belonged.

A grave.