Chapter Twenty-Nine

ADAM

Thankfully there was enough to go over in their lessons that they were able to study and keep busy until dinner. Much to his dissatisfaction he was not as in-tuned to the lesson, however it also seemed as though Snow White was not as into the lesson as well. She did her work neatly and orderly and took it all seriously, but she seemed as though she wanted to be someplace else but was being polite in remaining with her lessons. Whenever Frederick called them to dinner they were both secretly excited to escape the library.

Frederick had been the one to come and inform them that dinner was ready. Snow White took that moment of opportunity to excuse herself to change her dress for something more formal for dinner. Adam was greatly impressed by how quickly and seemingly easy she had stepped into her role as a princess. Just a mere month ago she was wearing rags and scullery maid's dresses and now she knew she had to be in the appropriate evening wear for multiple occasions. He had still yet to understand why they were required to change so many times, though he did find himself both enjoying seeing her dressed so beautifully as well as worried. He was aware that she was wearing several hand-me-downs from the Queen, but he could not remove the thought of her paying for her own materials at the markets and could not help but worry if she had to buy some of those gowns.

Frederick had a smirk on his face as he looked down at Adam. "You'll see her at dinner, Prince Adam."

"I am very aware of that." Adam frowned at Frederick. "I'm just so worried. . ."

"She can make it to her own room without worrying about being pounced upon." Frederick spoke in reassurance. The library is rather close to her living quarters and Prince Florian has gotten lost in the East Wing trying to find her room."

Adam gritted his teeth and his hand slowly closed into a fist. "That does little to ease my mind."

"Have you a plan, yet?" Frederick whispered as he stood closer.

"Not yet." He heaved a heavy sigh and rubbed his eyes. "There's so little time and not enough of it for me to properly plan."

"Surely you can just get her out of here for a few days." Frederick encouraged. "Can't you take her to your little cottage in the village?"

"If you know where I live so does the Queen, and if she so chooses to inform the fool then he will as well." Adam shook his head. "No, that will not do at all."

"How about the tree from which you come?"

Adam froze as he looked at Frederick, "What?"

"By now you should be aware, Prince Adam, that I have been assigned to watch over you since your arrival to Apfel." Frederick spoke honestly and bluntly. "I have seen you enter through the dead tree on the mountain."

"It's dead?" Adam blinked only half surprised. "That makes quite a bit of sense. . . But no, I can't take her with me there. . . It is a thousand times safer here for her than it is there."

"Are you certain?"

"Let me paint it to you this way." Adam looked him dead in the eye. "What you saw the day I did to those men is hardly a thing I can do in comparison in the Realm from which I come. But I am not the only one that is dangerous. I can protect her, yet, but she is a flame to deadly moths that would eat her alive. It is not safe for her where I come from."

He put a hand to his chin as he tried to think of what else he could do. She needs to stay in Apfel, but far enough from the castle where no one can get to her, but also in a place that is safe and not well known. The mountains would be a perfect spot; she only needs a place to stay. "Although I cannot take her there, I do believe that I have a place that I can take her someplace else."

"Where?"

"I cannot tell you yet." He shook his head. "I do not want to give either of us false hope until I get the proper permissions."

"How soon will you know?"

"If I leave after dinner I should return by daybreak."

"Where could you possibly -?"

"Don't ask more about it." Adam held his hand up to silence him. "Just trust me. I promise that I'll get things taken care of."

"Let me know before you leave." Frederick held eye-contact with Adam.

"I will." Adam nodded in agreement and took a step forward. "Come on, we should probably get going before they wait too long."


SNOW WHITE

Today has been rather difficult and the rain certainly wasn't helping. There was no way around it, it was just an overall difficult day. It was a lovely time of studying and lessons with Adam until she returned with lunch. She had no idea what to make of the conversation she had heard in the library between Adam and her step mother. She had not meant to overhear the conversation, but she knew that she needed to tread quietly in the library and well everywhere in the castle if she were to get her duties done quickly.

She hadn't thought of it whenever she watched her step mother walk into the library, she almost called after her until she watched her slip through the aisles. She ever so quietly made her way across the room to set the tray of sandwiches and other delicacies on the table. She wanted to invite her step mother to join them for lunch so she could show her how well her skills had become. However, as she approached the aisles she heard conversation.

"Are you looking for anything in particular, Adam?" Her step mother asked in a curious tone. She wasn't sure why, but she stopped trying to catch up with her step mother and hopped in a row that was two away from the one that Adam and the Queen were in.

"Not in particular." He responded. "Though I feel as though I should ask if you are."

"Of course not." Her step mother waved the comment dismissively. "I came here looking for you."

Snow White's heart beat loudly in her chest as she held her breath as she tried to pear between the books to watch them talk. The Queen could see anyone she wanted, however, that old anxious fear of losing people she cared for was eating up at her.

"Whatever for?"

"I heard you weren't particularly nice to Florian this morning." She heard footsteps getting closer to Adam and Snow White found herself being thankful for being short. She was just tall enough to see their heads through the books but they would not easily see her.

"I never have been." He snapped rather impatiently. "Your point is?"

"I don't remember you having such an attitude with me. I don't like those who defy me, Adam."

Snow White found herself chewing her lip and fidgeting with her fingers badly as she continued to listen.

"Out of everyone in this entire kingdom, I know of this very well. You've left more than enough scars on me to let it stay as a reminder."

Snow White's eyes widened and her little heart fluttered upon hearing this. Scars? He had received scars from the Queen?

"How delicious." She let out that scary laugh that sent chills down Snow White's spine. That mocking, evil laugh. "I'm glad to see that I'm still tyrannical in the future."

Future? What future? Why would the Queen be talking about how she is in the future?

Adam responded coldly, "What is it that you want?"

"Simple." Snow White didn't like the tone in her voice. "I want you to give me Snow White's heart."

Snow White had to put her hands over her mouth to keep her from gasping or making any sort of noises. The tears burned her eyes, threatening to fall.

"What the hell are you going on about?" Adam sounded surprised, lost even.

"I am creating a body for the Magic Mirror." She retorted and Snow White stood very very still. "But you should already be aware of this."

"Why do you need her heart?" There was something in Adam's voice that sounded strained as he asked that question.

"One of the ingredients requires the Heart of a Pure Lover." Snow White's hand instinctively went to her heart, as if to protect the pounding beating bird within.

"You can't really think that she, Snow White, would be in love with . . ." He sounded in disbelief, or that he did not want to believe her words. "Me . . ."

His scoffing hurt her deeply and made the beating of the bird worse.

"Oh, of course she does." The Queen rolled her eyes. "You must be blind if you haven't seen it by now."

"No." Adam shook his head with his eyes closed and his hands over his ears. Watching him openly reject her unrequited love for him was painful, she bit her lip as she continued to watch. "No, I refuse to believe you!"

"Oh, I have no reason in lying to you at the moment, nephew." She chuckled and Snow White's blood ran cold. "The only reason why I am telling you is to give you another chance to prove your loyalty to me."

His loyalty?

"You can't be serious!" He shook his head.

"Oh, quite serious." She continued to approach him. "Now, you can either kill your sweet precious princess by your own hand, or I will get Florian to do it."

Prince Florian? She watched in horror as bile rose in her throat and she wanted to vomit.

"That fool?" Adam snapped.

Snow White had to take a few steps back. Her head was whirling, the room was spinning, she felt sick, she felt hurt, but worst of all she felt foolish. She let her emotions blind her and she felt so childish for it. She should have known it was all too good to be true because Adam was simply too perfect.

"So, what have you decided?" The Queen's voice was loud and clear and drew Snow White back into their conversation.

He growled in response. "I refuse."

"Pardon me?"

Snow White found herself blinking in surprise as well.

"I refuse to do it. From the moment I have arrived in Apfel she has done nothing." His voice grew louder as he spoke. "Nothing to you, you've hidden her away from the public so hardly anyone knows who she is; you've stripped her of her title and only recently given it to her for the face of Florian; she is the purest soul I have ever met and I refuse to spill her blood for you to create a body for that damn Mirror!" His voice spoke volumes and left Snow White feeling weak in her knees. "I have killed far worse, and far too less innocent souls for you by your command in my life. I am tired of doing the dirty work for you because you can't do it all by yourself." He was panting as he continued his little speech. "In my time it is due to your old decrepit age; here it is just because you don't want to get your pretty hands dirty; at least not any more than you have already. I refuse to be a part of your schemes anymore."

Silence immediately drew itself out as Adam stared down the Queen. All the while Snow White' heart beat in her chest out of both fear and adoration. She had no idea what to make of this situation, but she found herself being so incredibly proud of him for saying no to the Queen. Tension grew and it felt as though the room grew darker too.

"If that is how it is going to be, then so be it." Her voice was cold and sharp as she glared at Adam. "The Mirror, for once, was wrong. You have betrayed me. You will suffer the consequences."

She could not believe it. She should have. She should have known. She should have known so much better than what her stupid girlish emotions had blinded her into believing, into feeling! Despite hearing it and knowing what his real reasons and purposes were, every part in Snow White's very being screamed at her for thinking he would actually betray her.

Their lessons were so much difficult to go through afterwards because she wanted nothing to do with him, yet she wanted to be beside him. She more than anything wanted to know why; Why was he defending her? Why doesn't he want to kill her? Why was he supposed to kill her? Why, why, why were all the beginnings of her questions and it made it very difficult to focus on the lessons. She was ever so thankful that the reading portion had finished and he had her do spelling exercises. Had she kept reading she more than likely would have stopped and harassed him with all of her questions. She still wanted to ask him her questions, but she needed time to sort through her thoughts and her emotions so she would not act too irrationally.

A knock came at the library doors and Frederick entered. He strode into the room quietly and deemed her a smile.

"Hello, Princess Snow White." He bowed to her and looked to Adam. "Hello to you, Prince Adam."

"Do you need something?" He raised an eyebrow at Frederick. He looked so tired and looked as though he had some sort of storm brewing in his mind.

"I am just here to inform you that dinner is in the making and will be ready within the hour." He smiled down at Adam then turned to Snow White. "The Queen has requested that you change into an evening gown, Princess."

"Oh," Her brow furrowed slightly, but she scooted her chair out and stood. "Then I shall take my leave." She glanced at Adam. "What is my homework?"

"I haven't decided yet." He forced a smile and it only showed how tired he truly was and how something was deeply bothering him. It made another fury of questions bounce in her head. "I shall gather your things and leave a note with them."

"Thank you." She smiled as quickly as she could before she took her chance to escape the library. Any other time she would have been so excited to be there to continue her lessons, however, she wanted to be far far away from it. She tried to distract her thoughts from Adam but just found herself being more and more drawn to him instead. She was so deep in her war of thoughts that she had not realized that Prince Florian stood in waiting for her at the end of the hall.

"In such a hurry, Snow White?" His arms and ankles were crossed as he leaned against the stone wall. He was wearing his evening attire in bold colors. He wore a blood red and deep blue striped puffed shirt with white tight pants, tall black shiny boots, and another puffy red hat with a fluffy white plume sticking out of it. Everything in his attire was embroidered and hemmed in gold, he looked like the perfect representation of Franca.

His voice jarred her so violently that she jumped and she clutched her hand to her chest. "P-Prince Florian!" She took a deep breath to catch the air back into her lungs. "W-W-What are you doing here?"

"Oh, did I scare you?" He pushed himself off the wall and stepped towards her. There was nothing scary or alarming about him, but there was something about his aura as he walked towards her that she did not like. "I didn't mean to. I have the greatest news, and I couldn't wait to tell you!"

His hand reached for hers and she froze in place as his other one trapped her hand between his.

"What news, Prince Florian?" She forced a smile but she wanted nothing more than to run away from this man. She had to fight the urge of calling out to Adam.

"The Queen has given her approval!" He sounded overly giddy, but his eyes betrayed his act.

She blinked and felt her body growing colder. "Her approval?"

"Her approval of our engagement." He pulled her to him and held her in place at his chest.

"Engagement?" She gasped almost in horror. She knew that she told Adam that she would if she absolutely had to, she just never truly anticipated actually marrying Prince Florian . . . She had hoped that perhaps someone else; a certain someone else of course. "Y-You're sure?"

"Of course!" He laughed, picked her up by the waist and twirled her around in a circle. She was terribly alarmed by this.

"W-W-When did this happen?" She asked once he placed her back on her feet again. "She hasn't spoken to me about this yet."

"She wanted to make it as a surprise announcement at dinner." He chuckled and had such a mischievous grin on his face he almost looked like a villain. "But I just couldn't wait to tell you the news! But this has to be our little secret." He chuckled again as he whispered. "she'll be announcing it at dinner, so make sure to act surprised!"

"O-Of course." She forced a laugh so she would not cry.

"Oh, and I have a little present for you!" He was so giddy as he pulled a gown of royal blue and canary yellow hideous stripes out of his messenger bag of which she just saw that he had strapped to his hip.

"What is this?" She asked as he dropped the garment into her arms. It was rather heavy and it had an odd scent to it.

"This was my mother's Franca gown." He smiled brightly at her. "She sent it with me so that should I find the lucky princess she should dawn this on and return home with me to Franca."

"I-I see." She accepted it rather deflated. This was such a whirlwind of things she had no idea how she was supposed to respond.

"Make sure that you wear it for dinner!" He kissed her cheek. Her cheek burned slightly. "I think it will look as lovely on you as it did my mother."

"O-Of course." Her hand went to her cheek and she still tried to smile.

"Oh, and one more thing." He pinched the very cheek he kissed. "Work on that stuttering thing, it does get quite old." And with that he turned on his heel and left her standing in the hallway holding a hideous and stinking gown.

Her lips rolled into her mouth and her eyes began to burn as much as her cheek as she bolted to her room with the hideous dress in tow. The tears rolled down her face and she had no way of stopping them. She was so distraught after the day's events she had no idea what to do! She could hardly believe that her step mother would actually sell her off by marrying her to Prince Florian. She had sincerely thought that things had finally gotten better between them, she sincerely hoped that they would! Perhaps this was a test of sorts and if she played her part she wouldn't have to go through with the marriage. It was official, her step mother truly wanted her killed.

When she entered her room she slammed the door behind her, pressed her back to it and slid to the floor and just allowed the tears to fall. The shock of Adam's true intentions, the betrayal of her step mother, and now the disappointment of an actual engagement with Prince Florian simply drown her heart in tears and pain. The pain that she realized how simple and naïve she truly was; the pain that she was foolish for thinking things could possibly have gotten better between she and her step mother; but the real pain that plagued her with tears and hiccups and true hurt was that it was Prince Florian that had asked for an engagement with her and not Adam.

Her entire body shook as she could not stop the tears; she was so helpless. She had no choice in the situation and would have to do as her mother decreed and unless Adam were to fight back, though now that her hope was completely deflated that he would ever do so, she would ultimately become the useless wife to Prince Florian. Her mind whirled with despairing thoughts, and she prayed that she would actually be able to produce children. If Prince Florian were to act as terrible as King Henry VIII he would remove her from her status that she only recently regained or would have her killed, possibly even both. She was a useless woman in a demanding world and it would condemn her one way or another, this she slowly realized and could feel herself growing cold. With the coldness came the numbness, with the numbness the tears dried themselves and finally stopped.

Her eyes lazily looked at the striped dress in her lap and with great effort, she pushed herself to a stand to change into it. Walking to her small closet that now held three dresses with the exception of the fourth she currently has and the hideous fifth in her hand, it was the most she had ever had the chance to own. Carefully removing one she wore, she carefully replaced it into the closet before dawning on the new striped one. The fabric was soft, yet the seams of the dress bothered her skin and made her want to scratch, she wouldn't but she wanted to. The dress once it was on her was not quite as hideous as it was in its shapeless form. From head to toe long vertical stripes of blue and yellow flourished around her in a full skirt and shrunk her already tiny waist. Until she had put the dress on she had not seen the white ruffled and puffed sleeves from the elbows to the wrists nor the high white collar that greatly bothered her neck. The dress was a hair too big for her petite frame, but she would wear it regardless because it was Prince Florian's request.

The high puffed collar had a strange smell that made Snow White pull the ruff from her face to breath properly and to have fresh air. It was obvious that the dress had been in some sort of stagnant space for a while and had not been properly aired out, but the dress itself was in great condition. She went over to the small vanity that the Queen had installed and upgraded and pulled the sheet from the mirror. She stared at herself and found herself looking like a lady, not a queen, from Franca. She could not help but hope that they had more tasteful colors in Franca than the one she wore. Her curls seemed to sit on top of the neck ruff and she felt like an overly adorned doll in the ill-fitting dress. Still she would wear it and would wear the blue shoes that had been given to her to go with the dress.

She combed her fingers through her hair and tied a blue ribbon to hold the curls in place before covering the mirror with the sheet, fitting her feet in the shoes, and leaving her room to join the others for dinner. She walked slowly and as quietly as she could so as not to give herself away to anyone who would be looking out for her. Much to her chagrin Prince Florian was waiting outside of the dining hall for her and actually gaped at her in the most honest and impressed looking face she had seen yet. She forced a smile and felt the tiniest bit flattered, though she was exhausted and terrified.

"It looks positively wonderful on you, Snow White." Florian gushed as he approached her. "Though, I must say that my mother wore it better."

"Well, it was her dress originally." She laughed dryly and wanted nothing more than to return to her room and disappear for the rest of the evening.

He had a weird smile on his face as he held her hand, pulled her to him and kissed her cheek. Her cheek burned yet again. "It still looks lovely on you."

"T-Thank you, Prince Florian." She half curtsied. "I'm so glad that this pleases you."

"I must say that I like this change." He gestured to all of her. "You might turn out to be a lovely bride indeed."

He grabbed her hand and rested on his arm and escorted her into the dining room. Much to her ever growing anxiety he escorted her all the way to the head of the table and sat her at the right hand side of the Queen and trapped her there by sitting next to her. Neither Adam nor Frederick had arrived yet and Snow White felt as though she were the prey in the den of wolves. She almost wished she had never heard the conversation in the library, she would rather be ignorant and not know of their plans than sit in terrible waiting for them to exact their plans. Her hands in her lap were trembling and even grasping them tightly together wasn't enough to keep them from shaking.

"You look lovely in the Franca dress, Snow White." The Queen spoke to her. Her head snapped to attention as she spoke too.

"O-Oh, thank you." She threw on a quick smile and only hoped that her voice was steady enough to not give away that she knew what they were doing.

"It would appear as though Florian here has ruined the surprise." She frowned. "He was supposed to give you the dress after dinner so you could wear it on the picnic tomorrow."

"I simply couldn't wait." Florian gushed. "I was simply too excited to keep it from her!"

"Well, the whole country will be hearing about it tomorrow." She waved it off with a smirk that Snow White would have originally seen as playful, but now only saw it as evil.

"The whole country will know what tomorrow?" His clear deep voice asked from the end of the table. He had just entered the room and he wore his usual attire of royal blue suit coat and white pants.

"Ah, Prince Adam." Her voice purred like a cat but slithered like a snake as she gestured to the seat on her left. "Join us! I have news!"

Without another word but with a steady line of eye contact Adam walked his way around the table to where he sat at the left side of the Queen and across from Snow White. It was almost unbearable to have him sit there. She had so many questions, so many emotions, and so many things she wanted to tell him that she wanted him to rescue her now and escape from the castle so they could get things ironed out between them. But now was not the time, this was not the place. She tried to look anywhere else but at him, but could not help but feel those gorgeous onyx eyes staring her down. The detailed lace over the table cloths was suddenly very interesting.

The Queen clapped her hands and the servants brought out trays that held their dinner. Both Adam and Snow White turned their noses up at the dishes. Apples and quails. Snow White could not take her eyes away from the dead roasted bird and frowned deeply as she saw she only had two apple slices on her plate. She would be going to bed hungry again.

"Everybody eat up." The Queen smiled as she stuck her fork into the quail.

"The news?" Adam pushed without touching his food.

"Patience, nephew." She dismissed and cut into her food.

Snow White very slowly and carefully picked the apples, onions, carrots, and potatoes from the quail and ate that and refused to touch the bird. While she carefully cut the fruits and vegetables and quietly ate, an odd feeling that she knew all too well and hated rested at her thigh. As she cut into her potatoes, she glanced down and saw that Prince Florian had a hand on her right thigh and was slowly drawing circles. She very tactfully crossed her ankles which would tighten her thighs together and pointed her knees away from Florian to deny him any sort of access. But his hand did not leave her thigh, and instead seemed to be in search of something.

"Is your meal all right, Snow White?" The Queen spoke up and pointed to her plate. "I see you've not touched your quail."

"I don't eat meat, your Majesty." She bowed her head in shame and embarrassment. "My stomach does not digest meat very well, especially game birds."

"Such a shame, really." Prince Florian spoke as he leaned closed and his hand seemed to have found what it was looking for. One way or another there was a hole or a pocket with a giant hole that his hand could fit through in the pleats of the skirt.

"Oh, I must agree." The Queen went back to cutting her own bird and popped a piece of the bird breast into her mouth. "I just love the breasts of birds."

"Yes, white meat is always good." His hand slithered past the chemise of her undergarments and crept towards her legs. Despite how far she had turned her legs away from him, his hand found the bare skin of her leg under her dress. "I must say that I am more of a dark meat and legs sort of person myself. The meat there is just so juicy."

He gave a firm squeeze that was almost hard enough for her to cry out, but she would not. Her face burned in embarrassment and she wanted to disappear. She would not give him any satisfaction that he would win or have his way with her. She would fight him if it were absolutely necessary. She kept her eyes on her plate and tried to fight the heat that was building in her eyes as she was overtly aware of Adam's gaze on her.

"Indeed." The Queen raised one eyebrow as she cast a glance at Prince Florian, but said nothing before returning to her meal. Florian did not remove his hand and continued to try to massage her leg with constant pinches, but she refused him still as he tried to creep deeper into crevices he had no right to. Despite her continuing to turn her knees away from him his hand lingered, massaging circles in her thigh and digging his nails into her skin in an attempt to pry them free. She merely bit her lip and kept her ankles and knees locked together as tightly as she could and fought off the tears that burned in her eyes.

They all ate in silence and while the Queen and Prince Florian both seemed to enjoy eating their meal, though both Adam and Snow White looked and felt miserable. Once the Queen had had her fill, she delicately dabbed the cloth napkin to her mouth before setting it down to signify that she was done eating. It was only then that Prince Florian removed his hand and propped his chin in his hand as he leaned over to his right. However, his hand found Snow White's and he grasped it tightly.

"Since we've all seemed to have eaten our fill, I will now give my announcement." The Queen took a quick sip from her goblet before setting it down on the table and looked at both Adam and Frederick. Florian gripped her hand even tighter and she bit her lip to keep from crying out. "I have decided to allow the engagement between Snow White and Florian to commence."

Adam went rigid, his eyes boring into the Queen's before turning to Snow White. It was at this moment that Snow White made herself look at Adam. She had no idea what to make of his expression. It was blank but there was screaming going on in his eyes. His eyes flicked from Prince Florian to Snow white, as if asking what she wanted to do. She had no idea what she wanted to do. She felt as though she had an obligation to the Queen as both a princess and the kindness that had been given to her. However, she neither liked nor loved Prince Florian and his bold advances this evening had depleted any chances he could have had with her. As much as she wanted to say no to both the Queen and to Prince Florian, the only way she would make it out of this situation would be if Adam spoke up.

"Since when?" He asked, still staring at Snow White.

"I approved of it this afternoon." The Queen answered airily. "However Prince Florian could not wait and told her before dinner."

"I've been smitten as a kitten since I first laid eyes on her and I simply must have her." He squeezed her hand even tighter and she felt something pop in her hand. She could feel the water brimming in her eyes as she looked down and away from Adam to hide the pain on her face.

"I highly doubt that." Adam's voice was low and she could tell that he was furious. She looked up at him and he was glaring venomous daggers at Prince Florian, especially as he noticed the fact that Florian was holding her hand.

"Do you have something against Snow White's betrothal to Prince Florian?" The Queen mused and studied Adam carefully. Snow White didn't want Adam to have to gain any more scars or go through anything else because of her; she hoped he wouldn't say anything.

"Yes, yes I do." He growled and she could see him grabbing the edge of the table to control his temper as best as he could, despite this, she could only watch to see what he would say and do.

"And what is that?" The Queen mused and they all turned to him expectantly to hear what he had to say.

However, he only stared at Snow White, anger flickering and tipping him over to do something irrational, his eyes demanding what she wanted. She could only stare back at him because where she was she needed him to save her from the villains that sat at either side of her. When she conveyed nothing to him, he did the oddest thing. He stood up and stormed out of the room. Once he left the dining hall his footsteps turned into running steps on the marble floors until there was a loud slam of the front doors.

"Well if that wasn't a temper tantrum, I don't know what it was." Prince Florian snorted triumphantly and placed a kiss on Snow White's hand.

"Indeed." The Queen's nostrils flared as she glared after Adam.

"So, shall I be coming to your room, or shall you be coming to mine?" Prince Florian purred in Snow White's ear and her skin felt as though bugs were crawling on her arms.

"You shall go to your separate rooms, Prince Florian." The Queen commanded. "I do not care that you are from Franca and that you have different traditions upon your engagements. While you are here in Apfel you shall abide by our traditions and customs and sleep in your own room."

"But your Highness –"

"Do I make myself clear, Prince Florian?" She arched that long thin eyebrow at him and he frowned deeply.

"Of course, your Highness." His nose turned up as he feigned a smile. He placed another kiss on Snow White's cheek. "Until next time Snow White."

He stood and dismissed himself from the table. Once he was out of the dining hall the Queen turned to Snow White with a smile. "Aren't you excited about your engagement?" She smiled brightly but after hearing today's conversation she knew that the Queen was merely putting on another act for her. Luckily the Queen didn't know that Snow White had overheard the conversation today.

"I'm just a little surprised, is all . . ." She laughed nervously and rubbed her arm. The crawling feeling would not go away right along with the burning of her cheek. "It was very fast, a-and so unexpected."

"Well, I wouldn't say entirely unexpected." The Queen chuckled. "You are still young, though by marrying status you should be considered an old maid."

"R-Right." She gulped and tried to laugh along with the Queen.

"Don't worry, you'll be fine, pet." She reached her hand out and cradled Snow White's cheek in it. Her hand was so cold. "You've got such a pretty face you're bound to have many pretty babies and have a nice happy life."

She gently patted Snow White's cheek, but it might as well have been a slap to the face. Snow White could not have children, this she was certain that the Queen knew, and she was either being cruel or actually forgot of this important matter in the realm of aristocracy. As Snow White looked at the Queen of Apfel, her cruel step mother, she could not help but see the vision of Death and how she just sealed her fate.

"Well, let's get going dear." The Queen stood and dusted herself off. "Let's see what you shall wear for tomorrow."

"O-Of course." She gulped and while trembling, forced herself to stand and lead her step mother to her room yet again. She walked the long halls in silence because she knew of nothing to say and she feared that if she spoke that her voice would wobble and give herself away. The Queen did not seem to notice or said nothing as she entered the room and strode over to her wardrobe. She opened both doors and looked at the four dresses that hung on their hangers before looking back at Snow White.

"Is this it?" Her brow was furrowed. "I thought that I sent you several dresses!"

"Y-You d-did step mother." She gulped and fidgeted with the sleeves of her dress. "But many of them were too big and were returned to you. . ."

"Too big?" She crossed her arms and glowered down at Snow White. "Are you implying that I was heavier than you?"

"Not at all, step mother." She quickly shook her head. "Only that you were more . . . blessed in certain areas that I was not. . ." She gestured to her own chest and hips. "I am as thin as a broom and have no curves whatsoever. . . I simply could not wear the dresses you offered."

"There there, pet." She patted the top of Snow White's head. "All is well, I just needed to make sure that the dresses were delivered. Though this does seem to put a damper on things."

"I-I am making one, step mother." She spoke quickly.

"Is it finished?" She asked as she looked at the wardrobe again.

"N-Not yet." She hid her hands behind her back. "I will finish with it tonight so that I can wear it for tomorrow."

"Well, at least that's a bit of good news." She sounded delighted. "I will look forward to seeing it tomorrow."

"Yes, step mother." She watched as the Queen strode out of her room, shut the door loudly behind her without so much as a goodbye or goodnight. Finally alone Snow White crumpled to the floor and she hugged herself. That terrible crawling and burning feeling had still yet to leave her. She rubbed at her arms but found that the material of the dress had made things worse.

Feeling constrained she not too carefully stripped out of the Franca dress all the way down to her chemise where her skin was finally free from the dress, but it had left marks on her. Tiny little bite marks riddled her arms and thighs and almost caused Snow White to scream. She looked down and saw that there were ants within the dress and some on her arms. She could not stop herself from squealing and panicking as she ran to her basin tub of water and desperately tried to remove the ants and the itching. It provided her with temporary relief but thankfully removed all of the ants from her skin.

She scrambled through her bottles for her lavender oil and peppermint oils to rub on her bitten skin. The lavender soothed the itching and the peppermint calmed the burning. A soft sigh of deep relief came from her as she rubbed the oils into her skin and her panic finally dissipated.

"What a terrible day . . ." She sniffled and the tears trickled down her face one more. While she was at her basin tub of water she carefully rinsed her face, ran some water through her curls and bathed with the soft rag that she had. The water was cold, which soothed her ant bites, but chilled her already trembling self. She toweled herself off with a small hand towel before going to the wardrobe and pulling on the soft flannel nightgown she owned. It was very short on her, but it would keep her warm throughout the night.

She went to her small sewing basket and picked up her materials so she could continue her sewing. She only needed to finish adding the bodice to the skirts and she could call it done and be ready to wear it for tomorrow.


Author's Note:

Thank you so much for reading, I hope you're enjoying the story so far!

Hang on tight everyone, we're going on a bit of a roller coaster! I've gotten most of the next few chapters written, but I'm a little hesitant on them at the moment. The Story and I are at a bit of odds with each other because we keep arguing over what would be better, lol. Things are going great though, so please look forward to more.

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I also want to thank those of you who have been writing me reviews and sending me messages giving me your thoughts, both critical, positive, and negative.

Thanks for coming along the journey with me, stay tuned for more!