You're the Villain Destined to Die

Adaline sat out back in her family's garden, her toy pink bunny and black teddy bear slouched against short, white wicker chairs. On a matching round table sat small cakes on glass plates decorated with pink flowers and a pot of tea. Tiny teacups with the same fading, flower design shook on their saucers as the young duchess leaned over the table to place a square sponge cake on her teddy's plate. Bits of the sticky confection stuck to the wooden spatula and onto the girl's fingers.

"Here you are Sir Waldo," she pushed the plate closer, licking her fingers. "I hope you and Miss Ribbon enjoy your tea. Cook made it special." Adaline fluffed out her baby blue skirt before lowering onto her seat which gave a slight creak beneath her weight. The tea set, table and chairs used to belong to her mother when she was young. Small strands of woven wood poked out of the seats but carefully positioned tan pillows covered the loose strands to keep them from poking the young girl's skin.

Just as she took a slurp from her cup, Adaline's father walked out onto the veranda with a letter in his hand. Her father was quickly followed by her mother.

"Adaline, I have great news," Duke Henry bent down on one knee to be eye-level with his daughter.

His wife gasped, "You'll get your trousers dirty Dear."

"Is Grandmama visiting?" Adaline sat up straighter, interrupting her mother's chastisement.

"Even better," the duke's chocolate-colored mustache twitched. "Your fiancé has been decided!"

"What's a fiancé," Adaline's exuberance faded, her shoulders slumped.

"The man you are going to marry when you're old enough, the Second Prince, Claude Strongylodon," Duchess Violet held her closed fan over her mouth as if to hide her wide smile. "Your set to wed after you both graduate from the royal academy."

Adaline wrinkled her nose. "A prince?"

"Yes," the duke patted his daughter's head and showed her the letter in his gloved hand. "I had helped the king in a time of great trial and he swore to repay me one day. It seems his repayment to me is your betrothal to his second son."

"I have to send a letter to our relatives!" Duchess Violet turned, her perfectly light blonde, wavy hair bounced as she went. It almost looked white in the sunlight. Adaline had always wanted hair like her mother's. She reached up and grabbed her shoulder-length, caramel curls. Her brother said her hair looked like burnt butter.

"You will meet him soon," Duke Henry stood then went back into the house.

Adaline watched her parents walk away briskly. Any girl would want to marry a prince and become a princess, but she didn't want a prince just yet. He would just get in the way of her wanting to have fun. Since Prince Claude was royalty, she would have to do what he wanted to do when he wanted to do it. Adaline crossed her arms. "I don't want a prince."

"That would be a wise decision for you to follow," a rusty voice behind Adaline made her jump. The young duchess turned to see a woman with dark hair step between the hedges. Her dress was the color of dying ivy tipped with black, like poison dripping off the leaves. The bell-skirt almost touched the ground, brushing against the pointed blade of grass that bowed in the woman's wake.

"Who-who are you? I'll go get my Daddy!" Adaline took a step backwards. Her inattentiveness to her surroundings caused her to back into Sir Waldo. The bear tipped out of the chair, still smiling beneath its button nose. Adaline scooped him up, hugging the bear for support and as a barrier between her and the stranger.

"Child, I have come to help you," the woman's voice made the young girl shiver. "I have foreseen your future and it will not end well."

"What?"

"Adaline Eugenia Merryweather, you will grow up spoiled and vain and selfish. A purer girl will enter your life and will take everything from you, including your life." The woman stood on the other side of a wicker chair and placed her hands on it. "However, I see potential in you and have decided to help you with your fate."

"What do you mean?" Adaline squeezed Sir Waldo tighter.

"Here," the woman bent over at the waist, her gentle smile didn't match her dark persona. Adaline's eyes moved from the stranger's face to her outstretched hand.

"A book?"

"Not just any book," the woman took Sir Waldo, handing Adaline the book. "It's your future...but," she placed her hand over the cover before Adaline could open it, "you cannot show this to anyone else. Absolutely no one, no matter how important they are."

"Okay," Adaline's voice no longer quivered. She turned the book over in her hands. It was dark leather, only slightly thicker than her thumb. The yellow-white pages were woven into the spine with crooked edges, as if mice had chewed on the sheets.

"I must go now but I will send you a helper," the woman looked at the stuffed bear. "A Sir Waldo." She smiled. "Good-bye Lady Adaline."

Adaline frowned as her bear was carried away. How did the strange woman know the bear's name? Had she been watching Adaline play? She came to the conclusion, though, that she had to trade him for the book. Adaline traded food with her older brother all the time. He liked things she didn't and vice versa.

"Adaline," Alexander, her brother, called out to her. "What are you doing?"

"I, uh," Adaline grabbed Miss Ribbon, hiding the book between the large bunny and herself, "I lost my bear."

"We can find him later. Mother wants you to come in now." Alexander stretched out his hand, wiggling his fingers. Adaline ran towards him and took hold. Alexander walked hand-in-hand with his sister, "Did you enjoy your tea party?"

"Very much," Adaline glanced back as if to see the strange lady, but there was no one there. "What do we have to go to Mother for?"

"She wants to introduce you to someone who just arrived."

"Oh."

The two siblings made their way to the foyer. There was a stranger in formal clothing standing in front of Duchess Violet. Adaline's jaw dropped. It was a boy around fifteen years old with spiky black hair that slimmed to the back of his neck and he had a button-like nose.

"Oh Adaline!" Duchess Violet turned, "I want to introduce you to your new personal aide, Waldo."

"It is a pleasure to serve you," Waldo bowed. There was something so familiar about him. Adaline ran up and hugged the boy's leg.

"Adaline! Where are your manners?" Her mother chastised, peeling her daughter off the boy's leg. "Well, at least she likes you."