Eurovision Fairytales (Requests Open)

Prince des neiges - Part II

Summary: The huntsman is tasked to kill the Prince, but ends up making a different call.

......

Later that night

"You summoned me, your Majesty?"

"I understand you are a huntsman," The Queen spoke from her throne, watching the person in question as he bowed in front of her, eyes lowered to the carpeted floor in respect.

"That is true." Vincent replied, standing up. "I come from a family who hunt for a living."

"Good." The Queen seemed pleased. "Then I have something I need you to do."

"Anything for you, Your Highness."

"Tomorrow morning, take the Prince and depart for the forests in the early hours, before the Kingdom is awake."

"The forests...?" Vincent looked perplexed.

"Once you are deep amongst the trees, make sure that no one is around. Then, you are to kill the Prince and bring his heart back to me as a sign of the deed."

"Wha-what?"

Forgetting himself for a moment, Vincent protested openly.

"But Your Highness, he's your son! You can't be telling me to-"

"He is only a burden!" The Queen snapped. "Additional baggage the day I married his father! I want him gone! Dead! Understood?"

Taken aback by the outburst, Vincent could not find the words to say.

"......"

He saw the woman narrow her eyes at him suspiciously, tapping her fingers on an armrest.

"May I remind you that you will face punishment for disobeying me?" She said, her voice taking on a rather threatening edge.

"I..." The huntsman's shoulders sagged.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will carry out your orders."

"Well done." The Queen said, slowly rising from her chair.

Approaching him, she held out a beautifully carved box.

"Place his heart inside before returning to me, yes?"

"Yes, my Queen."

Vincent tried to suppress the chill that went up his spine at the woman's words, and left the room while grasping the wooden box. It was a beautiful piece of handiwork - he guessed a skilled carpenter had probably made it. Pity the malicious intentions of the Queen dampened its beauty.

Throughout his life, Vincent had successfully made a living for himself while staying away from the matters of the royal family.

While he had been fond of the former King and Queen, he came to dislike his current ruler. It was common knowledge in the Kingdom that while the present Queen was competent and clever, she craved too much power and envied the Prince greatly. But never once had it occurred to Vincent that she would be willing to spill her stepson's blood to get what she wanted, regardless of how much she hated him.

Arriving back at his humble cottage at the edge of the village, Vincent lay in bed, his eyes constantly drifting to the wooden box on the table beside him. That box was to contain the heart of Prince Gjon the next day. But how could he end the life of an innocent man, especially under the orders of such a wicked Queen?

Vincent weighed the two possible outcomes.

The first-he doesn't question his orders, kills the Prince and brings his heart back to the Queen. But Vincent knew that it would leave a burden of guilt for him to carry throughout the rest of his life. He wasn't close friends with Prince Gjon, but in the short interactions they'd shared, he had always been kind. The huntsman didn't wish to repay that kindness with a literal knife in the back.