ROTTEN to the Core [EN]

Chapter 8 - The Last Dance

"Then Snow White was good to him and went with him,

and their wedding was arranged with great pomp and glory."- Brothers Grimm -

The nobles of Valtara chattered in confusion. The music resounded loudly and in joyful sounds in the enormous hall and invited to sway in the melody of the dance. The clink and clank of cutlery mingled with goblets clashed against each other. The air was heavy and filled with enticing aromas, whether roasted meat or freshly baked bread, dates, and other exotic delicacies.

Like cackling geese, many of the nobles stood together as they kept peering toward the throne where the highest rulers of that evening were seated. On the expansive and softly upholstered armchairs on gold, framed by flowing brocade curtains, King Leander sat next to his queen, newly married on this day. The fairest in all the land, Mairwen, returned Snow White. They had freed Valtara from the clutches of the usurper, and now a new age would dawn... at least, that's what they believed. Leander almost felt sorry for them. As soon as his position here was consolidated, he would abuse Valtara for his revenge - and go to war against the country of his brothers and, afterward, all surrounding ones, to take what was due to a man like HIM!

Leander leaned back in satisfaction as Boss leaned closer to him."All is prepared," the man, now clad in noble armor, murmured to his king, who nodded in satisfaction and then rose.

"And now my wedding gift for my enchanting bride."

With that, he raised his hand, and at a sign, Grim and Kibbe led the former queen into the hall. Amid murmurs and whispers from the gawking nobles, they dragged her into the hall's center. They there thrust her to the polished floor.

"Rhiannon. For your betrayal of country and crown and the attempted murder of Princess Mairwen, we sentence you to death." he announced as he let his gaze roam over the guests present, "Be it a warning to all those who plot - or even contemplate plotting - against my beloved and the royal house."

The ranks of the nobly dressed parted again as Boss stepped into the center this time. Metal clanged as he brought the red-hot iron near, and the eyes of the queen and nobles widened in sheer horror.