Toxic Tales

Blood Red Part 3

News spread quickly through the palace. I explained to the castle guards how I had found her. The Queen's blood was still on my hands and dress. The other chambermaids and servants were weeping, the guards bowing their heads in sorrow. They told me there was absolutely no way a murderer could have snuck into the castle; every entryway was guarded all day and night, and no one had seen anything.

When the body had been moved and the blood cleaned up, I found the King in his throne room. He was holding his daughter, who was sobbing inconsolably into his chest, occasionally crying out for her mother. He patted her on the back and kissed her, but said nothing. There were tears running down his face. My heart broke all over again for the loss of his wife.

When Snow looked up and saw me, she ran to me, throwing her arms around my neck. I picked her up and carried her back to her father. The King looked at me and said softly, "She loved you, you know. More than anyone else."

I swallowed, fighting back tears. I had cried so much today. "I know, My Lord. And I loved her, so much."

The King looked at his daughter, who was resting in my arms, sniffling. "I don't know how to thank you...for everything you've done for me and my family."

I managed a small smile. "I'd do it all over again, Your Majesty."

He smiled back, then reached out to take Snow from my arms. "Come, darling," he said sweetly, "let's get you to bed."

The moment before she left my arms, the little princess whispered something in my ear—two little words that made my heart stop and my blood run cold.

"You're welcome."

***

Those words haunted me for years. I tried to forget them and move on, but I was too rattled. What had she meant, "You're welcome"? It couldn't possibly mean...she couldn't have...no...

Despite my best efforts, I couldn't stop considering the horrid possibility. I knew Snow was a sharp girl, but may be I'd taken her for granted. Perhaps she'd picked up on some of the feelings I had for the King. I thought back to that conversation we'd had about respecting the servants, and her questions about whether or not I loved her parents.

I know I hesitated before responding about her father...but how could she have guessed...?

The question ate away at me. That dark part of my soul had begun whispering again, reminding me that Snow White had essentially done me a favor. She'd sensed that I cared for her father, and knew that with the Queen out of the way, I'd have a chance at happiness. This is what I'd always wanted, what I'd secretly hoped for—

But no! I never truly wished for the death of my closest friend...had I? Did I really have such a dark, hateful heart that I could actually want such terrible things to happen?

I poured my anxiety into my work, trying as hard as I could to forget these imaginings. I tried reassuring myself by noting how sad Snow was after her mother had died; no cold-blooded murderer could feel such sadness. Also, even if it was true, I would never dream of approaching the King in that way. He would find another Princess and marry her; hopefully she and I would get along nicely, we would watch Snow White grow up into an accomplished Queen just like her mother, and life would be good again.

These thoughts helped, but not a great deal.

One day, the King came to find me in the banquet hall. I was alone, scouring the floor when I looked up and saw him standing before me. I rose quickly and curtsied before saying, "Good day, Your Majesty. How may I help you?"

He smiled at me; I silently berated myself for allowing my heart to skip a beat at his affection. He was still the most handsome man I'd ever seen.

"I have something to discuss with you," he said. "Something rather personal. I hope you don't mind."

"Of course not." I smiled back at him, but I felt suddenly nauseous. He suspected something. He was smart, he could figure out that I'd been behaving strangely, that I knew something about his wife's murder...

"Snow White came to me," The King said, "with an interesting request."

"Oh?" I said, trying to sound pleasantly curious.

"She told me how dearly she loves you, and I know you care for her very much. She asked me, and please forgive how silly this might sound, but...she asked me if I would consider marrying you and making you her new mother."

A strange mixture of shock and relief flooded through me. "Oh, how-how sweet of her! I-I do love that little girl, very much. But, of course, I'm sure you explained it to her, we could never marry..."

"Well," he said, blushing slightly, "I'm afraid I would be lying if I said I haven't considered her suggestion."

My face flushed red; I felt dizzy. I kept expecting to wake up from a vainly hopeful dream..

"I...I would be lying if I said I had never thought about it," he went on, stepping closer to me. My head was pounding. Was this real? I felt my heart swell with hope...

"You are a very lovely woman...smart, and beautiful...My wife used to sing your praises, lamenting that no one would ever be good enough to marry you..."

"S-she was always too kind to me..." I began to sweat. What was happening?

The King noticed my bright red face and took a few steps back. "I am so sorry, I-I don't mean to make you upset, I just—"

"No, no, please forgive me—I—I just....I never thought you would say such things to me...I had hoped you would—oh, wait, what I mean is—"

I started babbling foolishly before I finally fell silent and dropped my gaze to the floor. I couldn't believe I had just said that; I swore I would never admit my feelings to him.

I dared to look up at him. He was smiling; there was a gleam in his eyes that I had only ever seen when he had been looking at his late wife.

"I always felt terrible for it," he said softly, looking into my eyes. "How could I have feelings for two women at once—two women who are all but sisters in their friendship? I knew it would break my wife's heart if I ever confessed these feelings to her, not to mention how upset I would be if you turned me down...which I knew you might do for my wife's sake. But once, actually, not long before she passed...she told me that if anything were to happen to her, she wouldn't want anyone to take her place other than you."

I fainted on the spot; moments later, I was looking up into his face. His arms were around me, holding me upright. Our eyes locked... sparks passed between us. Awoken within me was a passion I never knew I had. Acting impulsively, I kissed him.

My heart nearly stopped for joy when he kissed me back.

When the kiss stopped, he pulled away from me for a moment, his face shining with love and affection. Every inch of my body filled with love and light as I pulled him into a close embrace.

Over his shoulder, I caught a glimpse of a small figure slipping away from the door of the banquet hall, a figure wearing a yellow dress. A dress very similar to Snow's favorite...