Malice

It is not expected for a princess to fall for a malicious witch. However, in this eerily fantastical adaptation of "Sleeping Beauty," true love is more than just a fantasy.

Once upon a time, a malicious fairy cursed a line of princesses to death as a form of revenge. A curse that the kiss of true love alone might lift.

I'm sure you've heard this before. The attractive prince. blissfully ever after.

Absolute rubbish.

Tell you what, nobody in Briar gives a damn about what becomes to its princesses. Not the way they take care of their gems, ornate gatherings, and charm-enhancing tinctures. I also believed that I didn't care.

Prior to our meeting.

Aurora the Princess. The last successor to the kingdom of Briar. Nice and generous. The queen-to-be her kingdom deserves. One who doesn't care that my name is Alyce, the Dark Grace, and that people detest and fear me because of the enigmatic dark magic that flows through my blood. The same nobility who pay me to bottle hexes and then call me a monster have humiliated and degraded me. I should be proud of my talents, says Aurora. That she... looks out for me. Even though her curse was caused by a power similar to mine.

However, whatever future I could have with Aurora is already unraveling—she can't bear to kiss another dull prince—and she has less than a year till that curse kills her. I'd want to assist her. Maybe my strength is what can break her curse, if it was started by it. We might create a new planet if we work together.

Again, nonsensical.

Because, let's face it, we all know how this narrative ends. Aurora, the lovely princess. I also—

It's me, the bad guy.