The ball was an unmissable opportunity.

Not in the way that the guests thought it. Those fresh-faced girls in coloured ballgowns and elaborate masquerade masks thought that marrying a man of the court – or the prince himself – would be their Happily Ever After.

It wasn't their fault for thinking that way. It's what had been drilled into them for their whole lives. But they didn't know about the previous wives. And if they did the Prince and the Godmother had done a good job of twisting the tales.

They were witches.

They deserved it.

And their unwavering belief in the Happily Ever After made it easy.

He is handsome.

They deserved it.

But it was an unmissable opportunity. Whenever the Prince wanted a new wife to play with – he opened the gates to his castle to the women.

It was the only time we could get into court.

And we were going to make good use of our time.