Freida could no longer speak. All her plans had been spoiled by the formidable woman on the arm of her darling. The worst part was that Armin and the Earl of Brise both adored her and defended her against the naysayers who doubted her prowess.
She glanced at the King and Queen, who seemed very pleased that Armin had found himself a new fixation.
“Who is she?” hissed Gwynter. “She seems to have come from nowhere and has taken Clement by storm.”
Marcassin harrumphed. “I don’t like taller girls, no matter how stunning.”
Freida ignored her cousin and focused instead on Armin kissing the woman’s hand.
Wilfred sidled up to them. He held a tray of canapés. “I rejected her application for work at the palace.”
She whirled around. “She’s a servant?”
“Oh, much lower than that. She calls herself Cendrilla Perrault, and she travelled to Metropole on foot.”
“Thank you, Wilfred. Report to me with anything else you discover about this Warrior Woman.”
“Very good, Your Highness.” He bowed and left.
Freida narrowed her eyes and sneered. This Cendrilla was of the same caliber as Momo. No, even worse, because Momo had at least secured herself work at a palace. She watched the woman glide through the crowds on the arm of the Earl of Brise. The man treated her almost like a daughter. A bitter taste filled Freida’s mouth, and she would have spat on the floor had she not been in such high company. Instead, she gnashed her teeth.
All her bitterness, all her resentment and disappointment gathered into a hard shell, which settled around her heart. She glowered at the golden-haired upstart walking among her betters. If it hadn’t been for the trolls and that wretched, oversized freak, she would be betrothed to Armin already.
She would destroy the interloping commoner and get her man, whatever the cost.
Beastly Bride Fairytale: Free Offer
Thanks for reading Beastly Bride! How many fairytales did you recognize in this story?
I’d like to offer you a free ebook containing every single fairytale referenced in Beastly Beauty. You can download it here: www.cordeliacastel.com/beastlytales
Cendrilla by Cordelia Castel
Cendrilla: Book One of The Perrault Chronicles
As the clock ticks closer to midnight, can Cendrilla escape her enemies and put an end to the chaos?
Cendrilla Perrault isn’t much of a catch. She’s not elegant, graceful, charming or hospitable and she’s stuck in a life of serving her stepsisters and emotionally abusive “mother.” Cendrilla can’t wait to come of age and inherit her beloved mansion - and finally make her own choices.
However, Mother has a different plan. After striking up a betrothal with serial wife-killer, Lord Bluebeard, Cendrilla makes a run for her life.
She navigates the United Kingdom of Seven with her new companion, Jack, and encounters the enchantment and danger of magic. With Lord Bluebeard’s henchmen on their heels, they must brave the elements and a myriad of hostile inhabitants to find sanctuary within the capital’s high walls.
Cendrilla is a re-imagination of the classic Cinderella story. It blends fairytales, mythology, and centuries-old folklore into an adventure that turns every damsel-in-distress legend on its head.
The Academy by Cordelia Castel
The Academy: Book Two of The Perrault Chronicles
So much for the ball. Cendrilla has more pressing issues now
When Cendrilla rescues the Crown Prince from abduction by trolls, she thinks taking up his invitation to the prestigious Anti-Magic Army Academy will be the perfect way to escape her betrothal to serial wife-killer, Lord Bluebeard.
All she needs to do is pass her Academy exams and wait until she’s old enough to buy her freedom. This seems like a simple task, but there are several spiteful individuals determined to stand in the way of her freedom.
Worse still, Cendrilla is coming to terms with her burgeoning magical powers that if discovered, could get her executed. Needless to say, she’s very afraid.
And when a not-so-secret assassin makes Cendrilla their target, she finds herself failing the Academy and falling back into Lord Bluebeard’s clutches.
This fast-paced tale will have you hooked, as it hurtles around each twist and turn in a curious backdrop of vindictive Princesses, cunning beasts and one very handsome Prince.
The Witches by Cordelia Castel
The Witches: Book Three of The Perrault Chronicles
There is no rest for the wicked, nor the brave.
Hot on the heels of a band of trolls, Rilla finds herself the only hope of a kingdom fractured by fear and ambition. Having previously saved a group of women from the bowels of the Academy, Rilla is shocked to find they’ve been kidnapped by trolls.
With a less-than-stellar team beside her, Rilla must pick up the slack and the trail before a terrible fate befalls the women. Over mountains, across forests, and into the depths of the dreaded dragon tunnel, Rilla and her motley crew will face more than just the forces of evil that plague the Kingdoms.
Cowardice, disloyalty, and resentment make for powerful enemies, and terrible allies, in a world where anything can happen— and often does.
Armed with just her wits, and a powerful yet completely illegal brand of magic, Rilla has little time, and little help, in her quest to save the lives of others. For in the outlands of the United Kingdom of Seven, danger and deceit rule the day. You never know who you will meet— or who you can trust.
Millissa by Cordelia Castel
Millissa: A Perrault Chronicles Novelette
Magic will be her savior. Or her downfall.
Born into a world as cunning as it is magical, one brave young woman must navigate the court of a deranged usurper King and uncover the truth behind its tangled, horrible past.
To save herself from hanging, she must risk summoning illegal magic into her dungeon cell to fulfill the King’s staggering request: spin straw into gold—or die.
With the help of an imp and a mysterious girl, Millissa must unravel the history behind the King’s terrible curse and the bonds that tie her to Autumn’s ultimate fate.
The truth will either set them free or bind them to their doom. Secrets and lies swirl about the court as a magical storm brews, threatening to uproot the monarchy, a marriage, and the miller’s daughter.
About the Author
Cordelia Castel is the author of The Perrault Chronicles, a YA fantasy series where all the fairy tales are happening at once. When she’s not trying to redeem Lord Bluebeard, she’s relaxing in her London residence with a lovely cup of Earl Grey tea.
Join Cordelia’s Facebook Group and ask a question about the Perrault Chronicles!
How to connect with Cordelia:
www.CordeliaCastel.com
[email protected]
Beastly Bride: A Frog Prince Retelling (Perrault Chronicles) Page 5