The kingdom Dulcia has fallen. Dark creatures have invaded the palace, inslaving all those who work there. The royal family--the only ones able to stop the creatures--have vanished into oblivion. No one has seen or heard from them since the fall. There are rumors. Rumors that they escaped the castle, rumors that they are assembling an army to fight the creatures known as Muraes. Only one thing is for certain. No one knows where they went, nor do they know if they will come back. ________________________________________ Every year, Clair's family goes to the king of Arium's palace for of the most lavish Christmas party imaginable. They meet family, old friends, new acquaininces--anyone they possibly can. Clair never enjoys the huge parties. She prefers to be by herself, drawing or dancing. Until, one year, everything changes. Presented with the most beautiful gift she could possibly imagine, Clair is filled with joy. She clings to her wooden doll with her life, never letting go. When she wakes up one night and it is gone, she panics, searching for it. Only to find a hideous creature. When she is rescued by the same doll she loved, Clair is suddenly swept up into a world of magic, lost kingdoms, and lost royalty. But she is also in the world ruled by darkness. ________________________________________ "When snow falls, the kingdom dies. Light will leave, Dark will rise. It can only be stopped by treasure as pure as gold, as light as air, but strong and bold. Only then will the leader rise, out from ashes and hidden from prying eyes." ***** 2018 Wattys Shortlist 2018 Wattys Longlist Featured story Awesome cover by @elphadora ***** Loosely based on The Nutcracker (both book and ballet)

Published book, series and now a Wattpad Original. Read the original story or watch new episodes weekly only on VivaOne. Hindi intensiyon ni Carmela Isabella ang umibig, lalo na sa taong 1892. Mula sa taong 2016 ay mapupunta siya sa nakaraan nang may isang misyon: huwag hayaang umibig sa kanya si Juanito Alfonso, ang anak ng kilalang gobernadorcillo at ang lalaking nakatakda niyang makaisang-dibdib. *** Palaging kinukuwestiyon ni Carmela Isabella ang mga kuwentong nakabaon sa nakaraan ng kanyang pamilya, ngunit hindi niya akalain na mula sa panahong 2016 ay mapupunta siya sa taong 1892 sa pamamagitan ng isang lumang talaarawan at ang Arch of the Centuries na kanyang nagsilbing portal. Inatasan siya ng isang misteryosong madre upang gawin ang napakahalagang misyon: kailangan niyang mamuhay bilang si Carmelita Montecarlos, ang bunsong anak ng pinakamayamang pamilya sa San Alfonso at siguruhing mapipigilan si Juanito Alfonso--ang nakatakdang mapangasawa ni Carmelita--na umibig sa kanya. Sa nalalapit nilang kasal at sa kasaysayang naghihintay na maisulat muli, ang pag-ibig na hindi naman sinadya upang maranasan ng dalawang inosenteng puso ay muli bang masisilayan pagkalipas ng isang siglo? Book Cover by: LIB Publishing Illustrated (Charcoal Painting) by: Warner Jr. DISCLAIMER: This story is written in Taglish. Started: June 01, 2016 Completed: April 27, 2017