Everyone was whispering it, hushed voices filled the ballroom over the music.

"Princess Winter?"

"The Princess Winter?

"She looks just like her mother."

"Is she here to challenge Princess Morgan?"

Currently Princess Morgan was dancing with one of the Dukes of Cressida. He was tall and handsome and strong, someone Morgan had her eyes one. It wasn't for romantic reasons, it was for far worse and diabolical reasons.

Morgan grit her teeth in anger and her grip tightened on Duke Wendell's shoulder. He noticed the dark look on her lovely face and raised his eyebrow. He turned his head to see what distracted his princess and somewhere by the base of the steps was a lovely girl in a lovely lilac dress. Her hair black as night, lips read as the bloody rose, and skin as smooth as porcelain. Just like the rumors foretold. She was just as beautiful as Morgan but not as strong.

To Wendell, she looked like a weak lamb in a den of lions.

"My love," he whispered into Morgans ear, "You are far more beautiful that wee little lamb. Why not continue to dance with me and ignore her?"

"If it was so simple to ignore a pebble in ones foot," she sent one more glare in her direction and turned away.

"Trust me, Morgan. She couldn't hold a candle up to your beauty and power," he said. His hand brushed a stray strand away from her face, admiring his soon to be wife.

"She can become just as powerful," she hissed. "She has her own little  faction; the people and very little of nobility. I have the entire court in one hand and if she was to ever to make a movie, it would all fall apart and I would loose my title."

His lips turned into a cruel smirk, "Why not just nip the bud before it blooms?"

If it anyone knew how to cut someone down, it was him. He's done it before and to get a crown, he'll do it again.

Duke Wendell had two older brothers and a younger one who were suppose to claim his current title. He was and would be a snake in disguise.

Through careful manipulation, deceit and some murder he had finally taken hold of the title that was meant to be his. One brother was in an insane asylum, one had broken his neck 'accidentally' falling off his horse, and youngest was missing.

Poor boy, lost in the forest to be eaten by the beasts.  Pity.

He was an ambitious one, he wanted more and when he set his eyes on the Crown Princess, he knew he had found his ticket for more. More riches, more power, and certainly more women than Morgan. That is once he disposes of her.

All it took for him was a few cherished gifts, some well placed kisses and some carefully written poetry.

Pathetic.

If only it were that simple, he was an idiot who thought he was smart and Morgan used that to her advantage.

"Yes," she said. "Will you do me the honor of killing her, my love?" She batted her eyes and forced a blush onto her face. Internally she retched at the thought as her eyelids slid half way, giving him a very sultry look as her lips curved up seductively.

"And what do I get as a reward?" He asked, his hand sliding down her waist a few inches.

"My hand in marriage," she said. She pulled him away from the crowds and into a corner, "And so much more."

"My Queen," Wendell said as he lifted her chin up and pushed her against the wall, gently "We have ourselves a deal."

He was smug and unsuspecting as Morgan kissed him back, he thought he had acquired a throne. In reality, Morgan had acquired a pawn. What Duke Wendell of Cressida didn't know was that Morgan was the devil in disguise and this was not his game.

She gently pulled away, "Why don't we enjoy this party before we retire?"

"What the fun in that?" He said.

"I have guests to attend to, my love."

"But-" she silenced him with a kiss. "We'll see," she said before sauntering off.

"We'll see indeed," he said as he wiped the lipstick off his lips.