Until the hutner's arrival, time stood still. I only wanted to get as far as I could from the man I hate most in the world, and in order for me to disappear without any trace. I had to find snow white. And yes, I could just run away. But not only I was encountering danger to myself by doing it, I put at risk the whole kingdom in a conquering of a forgein king and not a very kind one. I wasn't sure if Snowhite and, may God forbid me, the spineless prince could do a good job. A million questions, a million difficult decisions. Yes, and maybe no... But all if these were interrupt /spanby the sound of steps.
"Your majesty, you asked me to come," the hunter kneeled, looking at the floor.
He didn't want to see me that much.
"Some time ago I asked you to kill Snowwhite. And I ask you to bring her here."
"What are you going to do with her corpse, your majesty?!" He stepped forward, half standing, with a terrifying look on his face.
"I know she's not dead," I lean backwards.
"How long...?
"From day one."
"You knew and did nothing?"
"What did you want me to do? To hang you?"
"You aimed to kill your own daughter.
"No, no, let us not confuse," I leaned forward, holding the thone's handles. "She is not my daughter as much as I am not her mother."
I felt the anger piling in my chest. She loved her father, though she only saw him during meals' time. As for me, everything was good as long as he was alive. After that? She didn't even switch a word with me, didn't even bother to dine with me! She preferred to sit with her new nanny. And then people don't understand why I didn't love her. And all those nonsense I made her work like a slave. It was the nanny who told her she would learn to know her people better this way and grow some compassion. Like hell it helped.
Just in that moment I was able to admit to myself everything I denied until then.
"Anyway, I want her here!"
"But I don't know where she is. I let her go, and..."
"Then find her!" I looked at him furiously "Unless you want the nice prince of the neighboring principality/span to marry your wife!
"Who...?"
"Let me summarize the previous events. My kingdom was conquered, the conqueror married me to a widow king who had zero interest in me. If it's not enough, the lovely king who conquered my principality/span wants to marry his son to me! Snowhite should marry him instead..."
"I see..."
"Then go already!"
"Right away, your majesty."
I know what they say. I have zero human skills. But I knew that the faster I forget about him, the better. Not that it helped that much.
Think how it is to run a kingdom, amusing an old annoying king while I keep waiting and waiting and waiting.
"It surely takes them long enough, don't you think? Fridrich asked as we sat dining.
"Well, as I told you, we did not know about your arrival. She is in her studies, far far away. It would take time to bring her back."
"You don't like her too much, do you?"
"Yes, my young son is a disgrace. I can understand why you have no interest in marrying him."
And he had bad things to say about me.
SInce this conversation, passed one, two, seven and ten days have passed! For thirty days the hunter did not return with Snowwhite. Fridrich started to nag me often that he has to leave for his kingdom, without suggesting the option to get out of my sight already and Snowhite will be sent to him later. Instead, he suggested time and again for me to marry his son instead. Seems like his patience was at its end. And the truth? Mine too.
"Don't you think you make him wait for far too long?" Herbert asked on the 30th day with his feline voice.
"Want to find Snowhite instead of the hunter? Be my guest."
"So you're waiting for him?"
"Yes, and I am not intending to marry someone younger than me."
"Why didn't you say so earlier? I will find her right away."
"Good luck..." I just wanted him to go. I never could stand him. What a snob.
"The servant just turned away and the hunter entered the throne room like a storm.
"Horrible news, your majesty!" the hunter said as leaned on his knees "Snowhite is dead!"