"Shirayuki," he mumbled to himself. "That's a beautiful name." I could only look at him as he contemplated, his sake cup in font of him untouched. The snow outside had turned into a blizzard, the howls of the unforgiving wind blaring, clattering against the terracotta roof. The chill pierced through the wood-and-paper walls, but he seemed indifferent, his gaze still focused on the snow through the wooden shutters. "Thank you," I replied nervously. He finally brought the cup to his lips, and sipped in silence. "Sometimes," he said, his eyes getting slightly hazy, "I wonder how things could come down to this." "Didn't you yourself tell me not to question His Majesty?" I said, giggling. "Indeed I did," he chuckled, smiling at me, "But sometimes you can't just help but wonder." After a short silence, he spoke again. "What about you?" he asked me, "What do you think of all this?" "In my time with you, I have only come to understand so much," I replied, "So I don't really know." He seemed satisfied with my answer, and fell back to watching the snow through the window. I lied. I had lied straight through my teeth. Indeed, I do understand. In an empire of lies, there is no virtue. In a nation of delusions, there is no rationality. -cover edited by me-

"Paradise Singles?" she said aloud, her voice almost echoing off the walls of the empty patisserie. "Parasite," I corrected her. "Eh?" "Basically it means a leech. They're referring to people like us as leeches," I said, before sipping on my tall glass of white chocolate mocha. Sawa-chan looked rather confused, but that didn't mean I wasn't pondering either. Indeed, "Parasite Singles" seem to be a rather misleading term. A slip of the tongue it may be, but I'm sure "Paradise Singles" would fit us better. A life revolving cakes, best friends, a decent career, shopping, wouldn't that be paradise? No worrying about boyfriends, no worrying about problematic in-laws, that's the life for us. Not to mention mooching off our parents of course. -COMING SOON-

**WINNER of The People's Choice Watty Award** Finn Harlow met his soulmate in kindergarten, but fate wasn't kind and she ended up marring his best friend. After years of watching in silent agony, he's certain he's met a girl who can finally mend his broken heart--until he finds her in the arms of her lover. In walks Holden Drake; dark, mysterious, and dripping in confidence. All the things Finn wishes he was. He promises to turn Finn into a modern-day Casanova and offers a guarantee that no woman will leave Finn again. But something about Holden doesn't seem right and the deeper Finn pries, the more he stumbles into a world of sex and scandal, leaving him forced to decide if he will risk it all to chase his first love, or succumb to the invitation and join Holden's club.