Red Shoes & the 7 Dwarfs

Chapter 24: Bon Voyage

"Snow come now, you- you can't be serious." King White held his daughter's hand as she took a deep breath.

"I am Papa. I can't stay cooped up here pretending I'm doing fine when I want so much to travel." Snow White had swallowed hard. The previous day she'd looked in the mirror, noticing she'd lost some weight and that she'd not been sleeping well. She had dark circles under her puffy red eyes.

"Snow please, if you leave I'll be all alone." King White's eyes welled up.

"It'll only be for a month Papa. I just need some time. And I need space, a different one from here. I can't stay at the palace, and whenever I leave, I always bump into-"

"Now don't tell me you're afraid of them are you?"

"No Papa, it's just hard seeing them together. I thought I'd be able to handle it, but I really am not doing well with seeing them so happy together, so carefree when I'm-"

"Say no more, I understand. It has been a month since the two started courting." King White sighed.

"Yes, I know. And I'm sure the invitations for their engagement ball will be sent out soon."

"Will you attend?"

"I don't know, maybe, but for now I need space and freedom." Snow White took a deep breath again. King White nodded, releasing her hands as Snow White embraced him tightly, then she ran upstairs to pack. Snow White thought of where she'd go first and what kinds of bakeries there'd be, or the people she'd meet. Then there was a light rapping at her door.

"Yes, come in." Snow White turned to see a maid handing her a letter.

"Oh, what's this?" Snow White asked, opening the letter to find swirling letters and smelled the aroma of gardenias. She read the letter to herself.

I would like to cordially invite you to my quaint cottage for a cup of tea and perhaps some cake and other tasty treats.

~Princess Carmela

"Oh, an invitation to tea." Snow White felt her chest tighten as she took a deep breath.

"Princess, this also came for you." The maid handed Snow White a post card from Cinderella.

"Well, maybe I'll see her when I'm off on my travels. I plan to leave tomorrow first thing. But I suppose I'll be heading over to Princess Carmela's for some tea this afternoon. Would you mind helping me pack? I think if we work on it together, I'll save some time rather than either of us working independently." Snow White smiled as the maid eagerly agreed.

**

"This is an adorable cottage." Snow White smiled, she was wearing a baby blue chiffon dress and white heels. Her hair was curled and pinned up; a chic feathered hat sat atop her head. Snow White walked up to the door and knocked, only to find the door was ajar, and just beyond it was an unsightly scene. Princess Carmela and Prince Merlin were tangled up on top of each other, in their under things on the couch.

"Oh I'm so sorry!" Snow White turned away. She was read from head to toe. She quickly shut the door and turned to get back in her carriage, but it had long gone, and was told not to come back until an hour before sunset. That would be in another two hours.

"Wait, Snow White! I'm so sorry! I didn't realize the door was ajar. Forgive me, us, for that unseemly display. But when an engaged man and woman live with one another, well, one can imagine what goes on behind closed doors." Princess Carmela adjusted her purple dress.

"Engaged. Well congratulations. I should apologize for coming at an improper time, I didn't mean to be so early." Snow White tried to breath steadily, though her head was spinning and her chest was crushing as her heart nearly splintered in two.