Grimilde looked down at the papers spread across the hardwood desk. The court advisor, Edgar, had presented her with all the materials she had requested regarding the Terran province.
"I see nothing irregular... Edgar?"
"Yes, Your Majesty?"
"What are your thoughts on the matter?"
"I wouldn't attach too much importance to what happened, but I would keep my eye on the marquisate. If what the messenger said is true, sooner or later they will slip up. Right now, there are more pressing matters in the kingdom to which you must turn your attention."
Grimilde rubbed her temples, beginning to sort through the papers she had checked several times, and decided to listen to Edgar. The advisor had been busy monitoring the regent even in recent years, and for now, that was enough for the queen to trust him. Her late husband, though taciturn and distant, was a great connoisseur of people. However, that didn't mean he could predict their every move. Queen Grimilde had learned not to trust anyone blindly in foreign lands. The only person she could trust was Princess Snow White. That girl was far too good, and this strength could become a weakness without the right wisdom. For now, however, there was no need to worry. Grimilde would take care of her.
"Thank you, Edgar... you may return to your usual duties. That will be enough for today. I still have to deal with the tax inquiries."
"Of course, Your Majesty. If you need anything else, please don't hesitate to call me." Said Edgar, bowing. The man left, closing the door behind him. He adjusted his collar, a hard expression on his face, then walked away.
Grimilde continued her queenly duties until evening fell, and tired of working and dealing only with royal affairs, she decided to look for Snow White. She reached the wing of the castle where the princess was staying and discovered she was not in her room. She saw one of her maids and asked where she was, but the girl in question, visibly agitated, told her she might be in the library, though she wasn't sure. The queen continued to search for Snow White, but it was no use; she wasn't even where her maid had indicated. Grimilde had a bad feeling and walked quickly toward her chambers. Then, as soon as she entered, she removed the veil covering her mirror and asked aloud, "Mirror, where is Snow White?" Her voice was firm but the concern was evident.
"In the kingdom of Arran..." Grimilde gritted her teeth in frustration at the mirror, but kept trying: "Tell me, mirror, is Snow White in the city?" The mirror was difficult to use at times. It didn't provide all the answers, but it could only be used to its full potential by Grimilde.
"No." That answer made the queen's veins freeze.
"If not in the city... is she in the forest?" The question had been difficult. The thought of her being in the forest was terrifying.
"Yes," it hissed softly.
Grimilde knew she wouldn't get anything else from the mirror, so she asked one last question before ordering the guards to go find the princess. "Snow White... is she alive?" Her voice broke.
"Yes..." At that answer, Grimilde began to breathe normally, but her heart continued to beat rapidly. For the next few hours, she busied herself with starting the search and questioning the princess's handmaiden about what had happened, interrogating her about the incident. Then, after losing patience with the girl (who claimed she knew nothing), she left the castle, even ignoring her advisor, who urged her to stay. She didn't care about her commitments, she had to find the princess! She had a bad feeling.
"Your Majesty, you can trust the guards; they will find the princess. Why don't you go and rest in the meantime?"
"How can you suggest such a thing, knowing the princess is in the woods alone and vulnerable!" Even the advisor had never seen the queen so out of control. Edgar remained silent for the rest of the time as he watched the queen prepare to leave the castle. Grimilde only partially donned her black armor, deciding she had no more time to waste, then, riding her steed, followed by a pair of guards, quickly left the palace. Edgar gnawed on his thumbnail, grimacing, hunching his shoulders. It wasn't supposed to be this way, he thought, then returned within the castle walls, escaping to his study to continue mulling over his plan and his goals. He slumped into a chair, picking up a thick book and checking the instructions he'd read over and over again over the years: practicing dark magical arts was illegal and blasphemous, so finding manuals was nearly impossible. You needed the right connections and influence to move things along without attracting too much attention... Sooner or later, he'd put his skills to use. He was tired of remaining in the shadows.
Snow White had managed to reach the city with the help of one of her maids and had had the pleasure of relaxing among the people, wandering among the stalls, just as she had once done, before her father's death. The girl didn't want to be sad, so she forced herself to think of something else, to have fun with her maid Mariella. It hadn't been hard to convince her to come. Mariella was sweet and kind, always willing to help. Despite this, Snow White would never have allowed herself to exploit this trait. Mariella was aware of the risks. In any case, they would have taken a quick tour.
Unfortunately, the day wouldn't end with a carefree return to the castle. A person had been following them since they entered the market, hiding in the crowd, pretending to be a commoner, then slipping into an alley and disappearing.
She was startled by the sight of a mysterious stranger in an alley. She felt, deep down, that something horrible was about to happen, and the person in the black hood had instilled a visceral fear in her. She had seen something evil, magical, and wicked in that black figure cloaked in a long robe. The princess had become certain of the truth behind her premonition when Mariella had disappeared into thin air, leaving no trace for Snow White to follow. She searched tirelessly until she saw her again near an alleyway shadowed by a tall building. The princess smiled reassuredly and waved to Mariella from afar, but she turned and continued on her way without a word. Snow White had noticed something strange about her; she hadn't seen her face well, hidden by a veil she'd worn over her head, but she couldn't stop; she would have to follow her to help her. She found herself wandering through narrow streets, away from the crowds, and soon she came to an isolated space enclosed by walls.
"Mariella?" he called, first softly, then louder. The girl remained facing the wall, her back to the princess. Snow White began to feel cold; her hands trembled, and so did her lips. When Mariella moved to turn around, Snow White didn't even have time to look at her face before she disappeared, enveloped in black smoke. In her place, a large black crow appeared, cawing and flying toward the princess. Snow White raised her arms in fear and screamed, but felt nothing, only dizziness, before falling to the ground in the middle of a green meadow. Before her lay a dark, gloomy forest.
Where had she gone?
The agitated girl, with tears in her eyes, got up and began wandering through the woods, jumping in fright every time she heard a howl or the sound of beasts hiding in the vegetation. Why was all this happening to her? She soon realized that beyond the animal sounds, there was something else urging her to flee the area, to run for her life. Heavy footsteps, then a trot, and before she knew it, a knight on his horse appeared before her eyes. One look was enough to understand that it was something demonic. Snow White screamed and began to run with all her strength. The demon pursuing her was shrouded in black smoke, his eyes gleamed with bloodlust, and his steed looked hideous, with protruding bones, sharp teeth, and white eyes. The girl tried to escape her fate, continuing her flight despite her aching feet and her arms bleeding from the bushes along the way that had attempted to tear his skin. She heard the death-bringing trot of the horse, the mocking cawing of the crows, and soon she lost control. He missed a large root along the way and stumbled, falling down the side of a hill, only to stop at the bottom of the slope, unconscious.
The dark knight stopped his steed, looking down at the young woman, stained with blood and with a faint heartbeat, a weak and frightened butterfly, then turned and did not return.
Snow White succumbs to sleep, unable to keep her eyes open.