Snow Black

CHAPTER 2

    “Snow White and the Seven Sins” 

    The novel is a retelling of the classic fairy tale Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, wherein the heroine tries to battle against the evil queen with the help of friends she’d met along her journey. The story was a major hit among teenagers who loves reading novels, even though it was still ongoing. 

    I don’t exactly remember how I got in here, and I have no clue on how to go back to reality, but this isn’t the worst part. 

    Snow White, who is embodied by the character of Princess Eira, was born with a twin sister. In the novel, her identity was said to be excluded from the original fairy tale because she was cursed. This curse ultimately led her to her death before the plot even started, and thus leaving Snow White all alone to endure the evil queen’s schemes.  

    And now—I am that cursed twin.  

    Funny how I’ve just started living a new life, and yet I feel like I’m already dead meat. 

    But what should I do now? That, I’m not so sure, but I’m certain it shouldn't be moping in a corner.  

    Divine God, if you do exist, if you were going to reincarnate me into a book, I should at least be in the body of the protagonist! This is my absolute favorite novel, and yet I wouldn’t be able to enjoy it. Wonderful! 

    I stood up from the corner, and then it came to me that I’m in a body of a four-year-old. I didn’t feel so comfortable with it since it felt new. After all, I was originally a teenager in high school.  

    Speaking of my previous life, I can’t seem to remember how exactly I died. The memories are intact in my mind after I recovered them, and yet I couldn’t pinpoint the part where I actually died; or maybe, did I not die? Was it just a sudden transmigration? I don’t know for sure. 

    “This couldn’t be a vivid dream, right?” I thought, slapping my cheeks with both of my tiny hands. 

    “Princess Selene, is there something wrong?” a noble beside me asked. I mindlessly walked back towards the crowd, still haunted by questions that remained rhetorical.  

    “No. I’m fine!” I cheerfully answered, just like a child would. Though, I didn’t lie. I do feel fine—for now, I guess. 

    “Did you see her?” I heard a noble lady close-by ask her companion. 

    “It’s her first time making a public appearance.” 

    “I’m glad I didn’t miss this event. I would’ve been out of place in parties for months to come!” 

    “Princess Eira truly is lovable. I’m sure she’ll grow up as a fine young lady.” 

    “It’s the prophesied child! We shall ask for her blessings if we get the chance.” 

    The guests continued to chatter about my sister, singing her praises here and there. What can I say, she was born to have this kind of attention. If I was really Selene, I would’ve felt awfully envious and humiliated. The king and queen embraced Eira in their arms, completely different from how they treated me. This earned me a few stares, and I didn’t even have to eavesdrop to know what they were about to say. 

    “The cursed child.” 

    “Don’t talk to her, she brings bad luck!” 

    This explains the cold shoulder that my parents, or the original Selene’s parents, gave me. 

    In this world, the temple would always put emphasis on how nature balances out things. If there is bounty, a calamity is sure to strike next. So as if a disaster strikes, the world will be blessed right after. 

    This was the case of the Trumane Royal Family. Before the twins were born, the church received a prophecy that the child in the queen’s womb will be known as the heroine, who will one day, give light to the empire. They were proud and delighted to have such a magnificent child, but that was before they knew that the queen was conceiving twins. 

    The news flooded the kingdom as if the winds whispered of the tragedy that will befall them. That was how, Selene, a then-unborn child, began to be treated with indifference. 

    These people take yin and yang too seriously, but they were surprisingly right about Selene being cursed. 

    Why did I even expect I’d be having fun at this party? The marquees and marchioness were the only ones who greeted me at this party. No other guests seemed to care to even wish me a happy birthday. Not that I care, but it’s disappointing to see them being straight up rude, and to a child even! 

    I didn’t want to leave since they’d think I ran away after everything that happened, but thinking back, I should’ve just left— 

    “Selene!” she called out to me. Her hair followed behind her like a trail of raven black feathers, and her red eyes shined brighter than mine. 

    —the last thing I want is to talk to her. 

    “I didn’t think you’d come!” she innocently said.  

    Yeah, it’s not like it’s my birthday too. 

    “How could I possibly miss this? I was so excited, and my maids even dressed me up perfectly for my birthday.” 

    “Right. Do you wanna eat some cakes? I heart they prepared red velvet,” she invited, tugging the end of my sleeve towards the table filled with food. 

    “Sure, let’s eat a lot!” I responded since I couldn’t refuse her with that many nobles snitching up on our interaction, waiting to find fault in our innocent conversation that they could use against me. 

    With assistance, we each climbed on our separate seats. We sat together, stuffing ourselves with cakes, puddings, scones, and tarts. Lemonade was served instead of tea since children still aren’t fond of that kind of beverage. 

    Eira sure is a child that radiates brightness. You can’t help but laugh and giggle when she’s around, and that’s how I felt. This is truly a charm that only belongs to the protagonist!  

    “Try topping the tart with cream, then eat it in one bite!” I challenged her back after she made me eat cake with jelly. She eagerly took it on and giggled while trying to fit the whole thing in her mouth, careful not to have the cream sticking on the sides of her mouth. 

    “Princess Eira,” someone called behind us. They were two young noble ladies, whom I recognized among the guest earlier. 

    “Greetings to your highnesses,” the two of them curtsied. 

    “I am Elvea from the house of Rowan,” the first woman introduced herself. 

    “And I am Sephine from the house of Goldona,” and they both greeted us a happy birthday. For all I know, they were only able to greet me since I was with Eira. If I wasn’t, then they couldn’t be bothered. 

    They only approached us to ask Eira for her blessing, which she would’ve happily complied with if she knew how to give one. 

    Time flew by in a blur, and I’m satisfied that I’m nowhere else than my bed. 

    My maids were ecstatic, asking me how the party went. I know that they’re aware of how the people see me, and yet maybe they didn’t think I would notice, or that the nobles wouldn’t act so disdained towards a child. To be frank,     I don’t think I would notice that I was being treated as some kind of a misfortune-bringing beast, that is if I was a normal four-year-old. 

    Thankfully, the Onyx Castle wasn’t anything near abandoned. Although I’m only assigned a few maids, they were able to maintain the castle and care for me at the same time.  

    My room wasn’t lavish, but the bed sure is comfortable to sleep in, and that’s what matters for me. Maybe I can live a peaceful life here after all. I just need to find a way to lift this curse—or maybe I spoke too soon. 

    “You wench!” my cheek turned hot after receiving a hard slap. 

    “Mo-mother?” my voice croaked, “What’s wrong?” 

    “I shouldn’t have let you anywhere near Eira! Look at what you did! How could you let your sister eat all that sweets ‘til she can’t stand anymore?” 

    What? And she’s saying this is all my fault? Did she just slap me because of a simple tummy ache? 

    “She ate on her own accord. She loves sweets—” 

    “Stupid brat, know your place! We were merciful enough to not abandon you, and yet you repay us with this?!” 

    I looked away as my brow furrowed. Does she have no one else to blame? Why take it out on your daughter who’s still this little? 

    I knew her parents hated Selene, but the novel didn’t say anything about physical harassment. 

    “You ungrateful wench, I’ll be sure to teach you a lesson this time.” 

    “Wait—”, I raised my arms up defensively, thinking she’d hit me again, but she grabbed my arm and dragged me out into the hall instead. My maids were outside my room, quivering for me. I guess they know they wouldn’t be able to stand up against the queen if they didn’t want to be punished, and I also can’t let them get hurt because of me. 

    I let mother drag me up a flight of stairs. I’d stumble from time to time since the steps were too high and narrow for my little legs, yet she wouldn’t stop to care, earning me a few bruises and scratches on the knees and shin. 

    When we reached the top, she threw me inside the only room that those stairs led to. The doors shut and it left me splayed out on pitch darkness. I heard keys dangling, and the door was locked before I could even stand on my two feet. 

    “No food and a little water,” her voice resounded outside the thick wooden door, bolted shut, “I hope you fattened yourself enough last night, enough to stay alive for three days.”