Crown by Reality

Snow White: Deserving

Hunter thought more of the Princess as a whole, in the eyes of the people and to him personally as well, naturally she has a personality of her own. A character to maintain. Morals and ideas in relation to the Royal bloodline. In truth, looking down at her as she focused on the two speaking in whispers, occasionally the old woman raised her voice then slowly died down, his curiosity on the situation grew more and more the longer she kept a close eye on. Undoubtedly, Rapunzel’s back were crawling with a pair of eyes digging her back but she dared not to face someone of high status especially a former Princess, at this observation from the way her shoulders tensed upwards then down to the way her hands twitched surpassing that of a pianist’s finger, it sooner became clear that she must’ve known, Hunter knew the instant she glanced over the shoulder, a vain attempt he thinks, an obvious action even Snow noticed.

In all honesty, he did expect Snow White to be a spoilt brat, he’s seen countless girls and women alike grow up with a silver spoon who never known sufferings and hardships commoners experience in life. They call it a privilege, a blessing, in a way the townsfolk understood that was the case. A difference of livelihood, of status and both sides shared a trait one or two but the absolute truth plastered across their minds was the two lived in difference. Don’t get him wrong, Hunter necessarily doesn’t abhor, dislike the nobility nor the royalty but the fact individuals wearing their titles then flaunting their wealth for all the people, mocking the lower caste and treating them as filthy pigs with snouts in the mud earned him a distaste over them.

Snow White who was raised from birth to her young adolescence, it was expected of her to be perfect. Hell, she was called the embodiment of the Schneewhitten Kingdom for all that was known. Being a Snow White was a title among the fairest, beautiful women which was a title that once given to with a Riyal decree will ascend their status, what kind of kingdom would do that apart from the Schneewhitten Kingdom? None at all! It doesn’t need to be said that the expectations towards her were immensely high, the pressure to uphold her status to be an absolute perfection especially when the King dared, not even their forefathers before would attempt such as a name, even for a King it meant countless of controversies.

Her callused hands speak for themselves, she had a taste of life’s struggles and strife and in an unfair circumstances she did not rightly deserved. He would be lying if he said he believed right away but the proof was spread across her hands. For the nobility and royalty, she was imperfect despite what God blessed her a beauty that no one could possibly compare. What kind of Princess knows how to hunt, or the fact that she had to seek for fruits in the Süss Forest, one must be cautious to pick which fruits are poisonous and what not. He tries not to shiver at the thought, a stomach grumbling and mouth letting out all the contents needed to sustain a body, he couldn’t even try to imagine when the eye plays a trick on someone’s mind.

He holds no doubt that Snow White could’ve experienced it before the most painful, harsh way. Her words echoing once again.

“I do not have the right to complain, in a sense I might have deserved it. I was raised to be a Princess after all, a life without almost a struggle.”

“I think that is not the case, your Royal Highness. No one deserves to have a cruel treatment unless it was a just punishment.” Hunter stated almost immediately, clear within his voice that he was displeased. Snow need not to look to see the frown painted across his lips, “However I am impressed, to have survived thus far,” she perked up to the change, from a cold slice then reverting back to his usual playfulness filled warmth as a small quirk of his lips, to her it suited much better. Not that she will ever admit. “You may be the first among your foremothers to have hunted, scavenged and defend yourself.”

Snow cannot help herself, before she even realized it, she had already manage to show how her heart quietly soared within her. A warm, comfortable feeling around her chest made it all the more add a question why she was feeling. She was pleased, that’s for sure and it showed by the way how she hides her smile, bashful she might add.

If only he knew what kind of life she lived through before…

“My blood carries the ancestors of a thousand-year generation of strong men and women, forged with bronze, silver, gold interlaced with iron, a soul brave with the heart and mind impenetrable.” She repeats the mantra of what her Father always told her, she carried them in her heart. All of this she told him with pride. “I strive to be a living example for myself, to my family and last but not the least to my people.”

Who was she, to deny the knowledge of the fuzzy feeling she has inside her chest. Snow lived, long enough to know that it was an emotion. An obsession she had once replicate with another, another man that she shared. That series of thoughts alone corrupted her heart.

What Hunter did not know, she knows. She deserved what this world has thrown at her.

“Enough about the past, let us speak about something else. Do you have anything in mind as we wait upon their return?” she changed the subject, reluctantly she did without him noticing. Her breathing held at bay awaiting for his response in hope he haven’t noticed the sudden shift of her mood.

Hunter hummed in agreement, glancing at Gothel and Rapunzel going up and down the stairs they go in a hurry, carrying baskets of herbs and flowers, the sorts someone can pick from the gardens except the witch herself at times occasionally casts a spell, green sparkling dust floated in the air when she did. Ah, no matter how fascinating he sees it, he cannot avoid the piercing beauty beside him to leave in suspense.

“She does have a fine long hair does she not? I could have mistaken it for a rich merchant’s threads made of gold. Is that why you keep on staring at her? Peculiar is it not?”

Was she lying that she does not have a certain attraction towards women? No, no, that was not the case. He internally shook his head, does the golden locks of her hair caught her eyes. Maybe, then he could’ve noticed her eyes connecting the length hanging up and down. Besides, he definitely assured that her intense gaze was far from a love at first sight, now that is something he chuckled to himself whom Snow ignored or she simply doesn’t care what he will do. Digging in deeper, a hint of curiosity swirled around her eyes, he took notice the first time his eyes laid first among her golden orbs that her eyes expressed more than words can ever do, Hunter wouldn’t know either why but for him it was enough.

For now.

“Well yes, her hair is… enormously long, and I thought mine was untamed.” Her fingers subconsciously trailed through her long ebony wavy hair. It wasn’t exactly bad per say, in comparison to Rapunzel, hers was sun in her hair. Her hair must have caught the morning throughout the day from early morning to evening until the sun was never to be seen until the daybreak. Vibrantly long, shiny as a wax on the floor, perfectly straight and brimming with life, beams strands of golden light hair reflected like mirror from the candlelight’s glow. Her golden locks of hair latched on to any holds and bearings from the sheer length that it needs to be held by her hair.

In reality, her hair wasn’t her main focus. It was her plain existence in this world. She did not belong here. Rapunzel did not belong with Mother Gothel the Witch in such a good, motherly and daughter relationship. It simply does not add up. This must be a twist in this second life, interesting it would seem then again, there are things that she hardly believes.

“Pardon me, your Highness but we can… yes, um, we can go.. please follow me upstairs. Mother is finished on arranging the preparations..!” Rapunzel bowed quickly, as quickly she did, her feet carried her as fast they can to run her from the embarrassment her actions sends poorly. Oh, she was not going to sleep properly with all the events that transpired!

Snow White and Hunter looked at each before letting out a small huff of amusement before calmly following her, careful not to step on the hair unless that wait for an accident to happen by tripping to their fall. The two can agree that the woman’s antics were funny, amusing, but there’s also a lingering sense of pity overall. At the second floor of the shop reveals a boiling cauldron in the middle, at the corner stood Gothel who threw a random rag somewhere else on the floor before facing the two.

“Your requirements on slaying the Seven Demons with that knife has been met,” Gothel beckoned Snow to come, which she readily complied followed by Hunter who remained close by her side. “Place the Knife on the table please.”

“The Obsidian Knife, I have heard many legends and stories regarding the existence.” Hunter leaned over as Gothel used her glasses, checking every inch of the blade, every clean slate of the edges, and the handles with exact precision, “They say a wound cannot be properly healed once inflicted, even a small cut or cannot be healed at all.”

“They say the origins of it came from the True Mirror, passed down to the Royal family, usually to the women as a gift. Very few, let us say,” her wrinkled hands carefully held it slowly, for much closer inspection. Snow and Rapunzel stays within distance, as if they were lenient at first. “the numbers on my fingers knows better than I that in times of immense struggle, shattering the glass would give birth to a knife.”

Snow glanced over to her, all knowing what she meant. Gothel held a smug smile on her lips when she looked up to see the fairest lady among the land clearly shattered the Queen’s mirror.