I wasn't always wicked. Once, I loved.

I will not make that mistake again. Wed to the highest ruler of the known world, I am a spurned queen, aging, barren, and unable to bear the septuplets that will save our world.

My king, the faithless cur, takes lover after lover while my own chambers echo with emptiness and madness. Yet he will not let me escape, commanding a spell to be cast that chains me to this life.

At last, insurmountable heartache drives me from the castle, and I flee to the scrapheap of the city.

In that place of unloved things, I find a cracked window upon the grass, and when I press a shard of it to my wrist, it draws blood--but just as I think this will free me from my burdensome body, the sharp face of a gray, fanged monster forms in the glass.

The shadow-hungry king.

Our ancient enemy.

He offers me a bargain: if I vow to him some unspecified future favor, he swears that I will bear the septuplets.

As a reward for my willingness, he fills my palms with magic: a vial that swarms within with hundreds of enchantments, each one a ribbon that will enable me to spy upon anyone I wish.

What pathetic, magicless wreck such as I would not accept this gift?

Let those around me lie to my face now.

Let them scorn me behind my back.

With the monster's magic, I will look straight into their hearts.

Venture into a bitter queen's glittering court, where dreams glisten while the wicked listen...

Content warnings: mentions of miscarriage, death of unborn children, one brief mention of someone's past abuse, threat of SA (not carried through)