As soon as she stepped into the garden she took a slight breath and watched the princesses and queens chatting in their little living circles. It was the perfect opportunity, she slowly made her way out and sat down at some table to rest and quickly get ready like a "princess".

"You're ten minutes late."

The blue haired girl said delicately to her friend as she sipped her tea. Mal hadn't even noticed her there, she was tired and worried someone would see her.

"I know."

She spoke simply, but honestly delays were already natural.

"Congratulations."

"Why?"

"It's your record, last month you were 30 minutes late."

"Ok, good then."

Lady said as she changed from her comfortable sneakers into her high-top shoes.

"Let's go to the bathroom and I'll help you get ready."

"I love you."

The two sneaked out towards the bathroom.

"You've already put on mascara, that's new."

Evie remarked in surprise.

"I didn't know you'd be here."

Evie swiped more blush on her and rolled her eyes at the statement.

"If you hadn't run so much it you would be impeccable and I'm always at the princesses' tea."

"You're the only one who likes these things. I'm just curious who came up with these teas every month. I mean, what can change so much in a month? Can't you just talk to each other by text?"

Mal complained as he always did.

"It happened to be the queen, who also happens to be your mother-in-law. Now close your eyes."

Mal knew how lucky she was to have Evie in her life, as she simply did everything from her dresses, advice and last minute makeovers.

"But, she was so busy this week helping me at the public library I thought she'd give up, that's why I invited her."

"You're mean, but Aurora organized this tea Party."

"Really? Didn't she have other things to do, like sleep?"

"Mal!"

"I'm serious, she has a kingdom and still wants to organize this meeting?"

The two started laughing and suddenly they saw a little girl coming out of the bathroom and they both fell silent. The six-year-old princess was identical to Audrey.

"Hi, Ashley!"

The future queen said gracelessly and knelt down to the child who simply looked at her and her friend with disdain and left.

"I told you so."

Evie said laughing at the treatment her friend got.

"That's why I'm not having kids."

She turned back to her friend tidying her up.

"Why?"

"They're going to be born in Auradon."

"Hey!"

"Tommy is an exception."

This is an important part of the story. A few months ago Evie and Doug had a beautiful baby boy who they called Tommy, I mean Doug put that name in since he got the name wrong at the register. Evie wanted Theodore, because according to her it was more princely, but thanks to Doug's mistake the baby was called Tommy.

"It's Theodore."

Corrected her friend.

"It's Tommy, our little Tommy, he'll be pleased to know his dad got his name wrong."

"He's only four months old Mal."

"Look, trust me I've had experience with strange names."

"That I know, Mal Bertha."

She recalled laughing.

"Are you finished now?"

"Yes, I did a great job."

"I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Me too, but you know what could be a great sign of gratitude?"

"What?"

"Arrive on time to try on the new dresses."

"I promise."

Over time Mal got acquainted with the queens and princesses who were there, but honestly if he could he would only stay with Evie and Belle. What they kept talking about was her big wedding to Ben. This was sure to be the wedding of the century, not just because he was the king, but because it had been almost six years.

The end of the party was coming and there were far fewer princesses. Ben's fiancée went to the table to pour herself some more mint tea.

"Your Highness, if I may."

A lady appeared beside her wanting to help find the right tea.

"I'm not married yet, it's just Mal."

She said simply.

"Alright, Mal, what tea are you looking for?"

"Mint. Excuse the rudeness, but are you a queen?"

Mal looked at her suspiciously, she had never seen the lady before and had been attending these teas for so long that she thought she knew every princess and queen.

"Imagine, I'm Tulip, I'm from a kingdom a bit far from here, I'm a sorceress."

Mal looked quickly at the startled woman, but when he turned to her eyes they took on a strange coloration and Mal heard another sentence come out of her mouth "I'm Tulip, queen of Origon."

"Is it far from here?"

Mal asked not realizing she might have been bewitched.

"A day and a half's journey."

"And you came just for this meeting?"

"Part of being a queen, isn't it?"

"Again, I didn't get married, so I'm not queen."

Mal corrected her patiently.

"But you soon will be and you'll see how things are."

"What do you mean?"

"Do you really think I wanted to be here with all these women talking about the same subjects every month?" Mal laughed, for the queen should be the first person who agreed with her. "You lose your freedom, you no longer have your own will, first the kingdom, people and all the meaningless rules, but what am I talking about? You've probably always dreamed of it."

"To be queen? No, far from it. Let's just say that the place I came from didn't allow me to dream much."

She spoke, stirring her cup as she remembered her past.

"I know where you come from, that's why I say it. I thought I came from a place where having nothing makes anyone corrupted to the pleasures of royalty."

"No, not me at least, I assure you being queen was not one of my plans."

"And what are your plans? I mean, you are young, you must have dreams, desires and plans. Do you want some advice? If you have dreams, do it before you put that crown on your head, or you'll regret it for the rest of your life."

Mal seemed startled by the queen's words, especially when she seemed to understand everything she was going through.

"Regret it?"

Mal asked curiously.

"Oh, if you only knew. When I knew I was going to get married I wanted to run away and I really did, I ran away, but a week later my father passed away and someone was supposed to take the throne. So I came back, got married and end of story"

"Don't you love your husband?"

"No love is worth as much as freedom. Now, I'm going back, the crown calls me, it's been a pleasure, future queen Mal."

"Likewise."

"No love is worth as much as freedom" Mal thought about that blessed phrase all day. Every appointment she had, that phrase seemed to echo inside her.

(...)

"How was it?"

"Tiring."

The lady then said three magic words and changed shape. She was still old, but this time her appearance was similar to that of a century-old witch.

"I think you'd better cooperate, Tulip."

"The girl was thoughtful obviously, but hypnosis doesn't work with full force on her."

Tulip told about the encounter with Mal.

"How so?"

"The spell holds for a few minutes and a few words, but not with full effectiveness."

Tulip explained.

"A few minutes is all we need to end the engagement."

"Then you'll have to give back all my powers."

The witch blackmailed them.

"Not a chance."

"I'm not leaving here without my powers!"

Tulip warned.

"You have to go, your sister and Helena will be here soon."

"Fairy Godmother and Circe working together? It's really bad."

Tulip laughed.

"Get her out of here."

"Say I missed them."

The witch disappeared and the three of them were left sitting at the table pretending to read books as the fairies had said.

"There is a doubt in this love, we must explore it."