“Talk about putting on the pressure,” Duchess said. Then, so Lizzie wouldn’t suspect her plan to win, she added, “This is the worst thronework ever.”

“I’ve been wondering what to do,” Lizzie said as she tossed pairs of socks over her head. “But doing and wondering are totally different things, and I’m not getting anywhere.”

“Me neither,” Duchess admitted as she closed her diary. Having no plan was worrisome, especially since it was Tuesday, and they had only until the end of the day Friday. No way was that enough time.

The dorm room door flew open, and Blondie Lockes stepped inside. “How is everyone feeling this morning?” she asked in her snoopy voice. Of course she was holding her MirrorPad, and the red recording light was on.

“Does no one in this dorm know how to knock?” Duchess asked. “Seriously. This school should offer a class.”

“If I knocked, I would never get in anywhere,” Blondie said.

She was right. Blondie’s thirst for breaking news would stop Duchess from inviting her in. The girl would inevitably find a scoop, whether it was the mess flying out of Lizzie’s closet or the feathers in Duchess’s bed.

But even a locked door wouldn’t keep Blondie out, because she possessed the magical ability to unlock doors with a simple touch of her hand.

“What do you want?” Duchess asked. She tucked Headmaster Grimm’s letter into her desk drawer.

Blondie stepped over a pile of Lizzie’s scepters, then plopped onto a heart-shaped beanbag chair. “Do you know how many hits I got on my Mirror-Cast yesterday?”

Duchess scowled at her. “Oh, how rude of me,” she said sarcastically. “Do make yourself at home.”

“Thanks,” Blondie said. She wiggled her rump until the beanbag chair fit just right. “Anyhoo, the Next Top Villain episode was the most-watched since I uncovered the alarming fact that the Castleteria’s peas porridge is nine days old. You guys are famous!”

A belt whizzed past Blondie’s head. “In Wonderland, a princess never has to find her own clothes!” Lizzie cried from the closet.

Blondie tousled her locks, then smiled at Duchess. “So? Have you made your rotten and nasty plan? What is it? I must know.”

Duchess dumped kibble into Pirouette’s bowl. “In case you haven’t noticed, Blondie, I get the best grades in school, which means I’m pretty smart. So why would I tell you anything?”

Blondie sighed. “You can’t blame me for trying.” She pointed her MirrorPad at the closet. “What about you, Lizzie? What are you going to do for your Villainy thronework?”

Lizzie emerged, fully dressed, except that she’d put her hedgehog on her head instead of a hat. “I don’t know what I’m going to do,” she said. Then she looked around. “Where’s Shuffle?”

“Well, looks like there’s nothing here for me to report. And I’ve got an episode to air.” Blondie hurried from the room, MirrorPad in hand. “See ya.”

For a brief moment, Duchess felt relieved that she wasn’t the only one who didn’t have a rotten and nasty plan. But that didn’t solve anything.

It took a few more minutes for Lizzie to get herself put together. Then she and Duchess headed out to grab a quick breakfast before the first class of the day. As they walked through the Common Room, a morning special edition of Just Right was already under way. Blondie’s face filled all the mirrors. “When asked about the General Villainy thronework, Lizzie Hearts said this.”

The report cut to footage of Lizzie standing with her hedgehog on her head, saying, “I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

Then the report cut back to Blondie. “Well, you heard it here first, people. Lizzie Hearts doesn’t know what she’s going to do. Could Lizzie be out before she’s even begun? Could this be the end for her? Stay tuned for more details as they emerge.”

“Oh, what a mean thing to say. I’d like to turn her into a croquet ball!” Lizzie said with a stomp of her foot. “How can I be out before I’ve even begun? That’s total nonsense. I’ve begun at the beginning, and everyone knows that the beginning is where you begin and not where you end.” She swung her book bag over her shoulder. Then she plucked Shuffle from her head. “That Blondie should be in General Villainy class.”

Duchess wondered if she should take a clue from Blondie. Gossip could be hurtful and do more harm than good. Sometimes it was downright evil. Maybe that could be her thronework—to create a rumor. It was worth thinking about.

Blondie’s MirrorCast wasn’t over. “In other news, Daring Charming is looking for a personal shopper. If you’d like to apply for the job—”

Shrieks and squeals filled the air as half the female population ran from the building in search of Daring.

As Apple White and Ashlynn Ella walked past, Apple said, “When Daring and I have our Happily Ever After, we are obviously going to need an entire castle just for closet space.” They both giggled.

For once, Duchess did not feel envious of Apple. Apple was imagining her carefree life with her future Prince Charming. Her Happily Ever After.

Because Duchess was imagining her own.