Hey guys this is my first book so I hope you like it❤️❤️
Chapter 1
*And they lived happily ever after…*
The words sparkled in my diary—sorry, my *novel*—scrawled in glittery purple ink. In my head, I was Princess Madelyn, waltzing through a moonlit forest with a prince who was equal parts K-drama heartthrob and mythical hero. His eyes glowed like starlight, and he was about to whisk me away on a midnight adventure when—
"MADDYYYY! COME DOWNSTAIRS RIGHT NOW!"
My mom's voice shattered my daydream like a sledgehammer through a glass slipper. I groaned, snapping my diary shut and stuffing it under my pillow. Why couldn't the Ice Queen give me five seconds of peace? That's her nickname, by the way, and trust me, I'd never say it out loud. If I did, she'd probably chain me to the dishwasher for life. Mom's not just strict—she's *all-out crazy*, with a capital C. Picture someone who can turn a laundry list into a full-blown interrogation.
"Hey, guys, I'm Maddy," I muttered to an invisible audience, flopping back on my bed. "You probably know that already, since my mom screams my name loud enough to wake the dead." Seriously, her voice could summon ghosts. Every day, it's "Maddy, do this!" or "Maddy, stop daydreaming!" But how am I supposed to stop when my brain's a 24/7 fairy-tale factory, churning out princes, castles, and epic love stories?
I scanned my room, my personal delusional kingdom. Fairy lights twinkled above my bed, casting a soft glow on my posters of enchanted forests and K-pop idols taped to the walls. My desk was a glittery mess: colorful pens, crumpled notes with story ideas, and a tattered copy of *Cinderella* I'd read since I was a kid. My diary—er, novel—was my escape from this creaky old house we call Mushroom Kingdom and the chaos of my family, where everyone's got a not-so-flattering nickname.
There's me, Maddy, the *Delulu Queen*, a title bestowed by my oh-so-lovely older sister, Catherina—aka Cassie, aka Cassie the Bitch. I don't call her that to be petty (okay, maybe a little). She's *mean*, especially to me. Like last week, when she "borrowed" my favorite hoodie and "accidentally" used it to clean her makeup brushes. Total Cassie energy. Then there's Mom, the Ice Queen, ruling our house like it's her frozen fortress. Dad's the only chill one, but he's always working late at the auto shop, probably to avoid the drama.
"MADDYYYY!" Mom's voice hit banshee levels, making the windows rattle.
"Coming!" I shouted, smirking. I know it drives her up the wall when I dawdle, and yeah, I kinda live for it. I yanked on my mismatched socks—one with sparkly moons, the other with tacos—and shuffled to the door, glancing back at my diary. One day, I'd finish that story. One day, I'd ditch this sleepy town of cornfields and gas stations for a life of adventure and romance. A prince sweeping me off my feet? Dumb, right? But everyone's got a speck of delusion in them, don't they?
I clomped down the stairs of Mushroom Kingdom, our nickname for the drafty house we've lived in forever. The living room was a mismatched jungle of thrift-store furniture and Mom's prized crystal figurines, glinting like tiny ice shards. Perfect for the Ice Queen's vibe.
"Look who graced us with her presence—the Delulu Queen herself," Cassie sneered from the couch, her manicured nails flying across her phone screen. She looked like she'd just walked off an Instagram photoshoot, with her sleek blonde ponytail and yoga pants that probably cost more than my entire wardrobe. Me? Frizzy brown hair, thrift-store jeans, and a T-shirt with a cartoon wolf howling at the moon. Ironic, considering I'd been daydreaming about mystical creatures lately.
"Nice to see you too, Cassie the—" I stopped short. No need to start a war before dinner. "What's the deal?"
Mom stood at the kitchen counter, slicing carrots like she was auditioning for a slasher movie. "The deal is you're late for dinner prep, young lady. I called you ages ago."
"Sorry, I was… writing," I said, swiping a carrot slice. Mom swatted my hand like I'd committed treason.
"Writing that ridiculous book of yours?" Cassie scoffed, not looking up from her phone. "What's it now? Another prince rescuing you from your tragic life?"
I stuck my tongue out. "At least I've got dreams. Your brain's probably just a TikTok algorithm at this point."
Cassie's eyes narrowed, but Mom cut in before she could clap back. "Enough, you two. Maddy, peel the potatoes. Cassie, set the table."
I grabbed a peeler and started on the potatoes, my mind drifting back to my diary. Maybe Cassie had a point—my dreams were absurd. A prince? But I couldn't shake the feeling that something bigger was out there. I wanted more than this life of chores and sibling snark. I wanted magic, love, a story that felt alive.
But sadly my life was just school and my best friends.
I was so lost in thought, I didn't notice the air shift—like the room got heavier, charged with something electric. The front door creaked open, and Mom's head snapped up, her knife pausing mid-chop. Cassie even stopped texting, which was a miracle.
We heard a knock on the door making Cassie and I giving each other side glance wondering if we were expecting anyone,mom walked to the door looked into the peep hole and whispered to us to behave.
Mom opened the door and he walked in
Tall, with messy black hair and eyes so dark they seemed to swallow the light. He wore a leather jacket and jeans, a silver chain glinting at his neck. His presence filled the room, like he carried a storm with him. He wasn't just a guy more like a man—he was *something else*. Dangerous. Magnetic. Like he'd stepped out of one of my diary's wilder pages.
His gaze swept the room, landing on me. One corner of his mouth twitched, and I swear his eyes flashed gold for a split second. My breath caught, and the world tilted.
"Hello "