When Faust first learned from Seraphina about the reincarnating curse of kin-slaying, he assumed it was some Oedipus story. Ah, a classic trope, he thought, one he simply had to savor, had to savor.
If it were merely that every change of monarch brought on some drama of loving mothers and filial daughters, he could at most sigh and remark that royal power struggles truly were cruel.
But "self" killing "self"... honestly, even by the Prince of Aurum's limits of tolerance, that felt deeply twisted.
Faust couldn't help but ask the Fae:
"That's not right. Wasn't the Witch supposed to be fortune's favored child? Then how did the very first Snow White end up so miserable, mocked and cursed by a wicked dragon who taunted her to her face?"
Wheel of Fortune, oh Wheel of Fortune, come save her, Wheel of Fortune!
How dare a fate-defying wicked dragon bully a witch blessed by heaven itself? What an outrage against the heavens!
"It's always said the Witch is destined to find happiness. As for whether hardship comes along the way, or how much, that's hard to say. But bitterness that ends in sweetness is still sweetness, after all."
Mephisto's voice sounded as though he were holding back laughter:
"In fact, as far as fate's script goes, it seems the more suffering along the way, the more complete the final happiness appears."
What, good things must be hard won?
Faust thought it over calmly for a moment and realized that really was how it worked: the protagonist just had to suffer brutally, that whole beautiful-strong-tragic formula.
Ugh, no point talking to you about this. Typical female-oriented angst-fic logic.
"Twisted? Yes, that is indeed twisted. Sick enough, too."
Seeing Faust's complicated expression, as though he were still reeling from the shock of the curse's truth, Selena withdrew her gaze and said flatly:
"It's truly hard to believe that before me, so many tragedies of kin turning against kin took place. Something so ugly, the mere thought of it sends a chill down my spine!"
As Snow White spoke, she wrapped her arms around herself, as though she had truly been stained by something filthy, and said with a slight tremble:
"I refuse to follow in their footsteps and commit an act of matricide lower than any beast. I imagine none of the Snow Whites before me ever wanted to do such a thing either, but under the dragon's curse, they all met the same end."
The lovely, dark-haired girl took a deep breath, propped one hand on her hip, and tilted her head:
"So before all this, the court argued endlessly. The ministers all wanted me dead, to preserve my mother, and I agreed with that plan and accepted it gladly."
Faust spoke bluntly: "That's nothing more than buying time."
Snow White raised her voice: "Of course it's buying time! But so what? As long as it keeps me from staining myself with that kind of filth, it's fine!"
Whoa, no, don't!
Hearing the Princess of Wintertide entertain thoughts of self-destruction, His Highness the Prince truly panicked.
If this Snow White before him were to die, how was he supposed to complete the script? Was he supposed to go find the Queen of Wintertide instead? Had the previous Snow White also been a princess?
Faust hastily said, sternly: "Don't say such irresponsible things! I think you're just trying to run away!"
Seeing the Prince of Aurum's tense expression, Selena arched her elegant brows, her smile not quite a smile:
"Are you worried about me, Prince Faust?"
Faust admitted frankly: "That's right, I am worried about you. If I were blind, just hearing your voice would make me imagine a beauty like something out of a poem or painting. Let alone that my eyesight is perfectly fine. There's no way I'd want to watch something so beautiful wither away. That's only human nature, after all."
"Heh heh heh, you certainly know how to talk sweet. How many girls have you left pining and dreaming of you?"
Selena pressed a hand to her forehead and sighed, in the tone of someone who'd just found a kindred spirit:
"Though on this point, I suppose I'm hardly one to lecture. If things kept going the way they were, my own charm would have split the kingdom apart in turmoil too. Being too irresistibly charming, that's the burden people like us carry, isn't it?"
Faust: "....."
No, actually, I'm not quite that narcissistic.
"But don't worry, I no longer have those thoughts."
Snow White gazed at Faust with a light, brimming smile:
"As for why I changed my mind, why don't you guess the reason yourself?"
Seeing Selena acting all mysterious, Faust couldn't help grumbling inwardly.
Did he even need to guess? Wasn't it obvious she'd been blinded by desire, her head probably full of nothing but thoughts of how to get him into bed.
No, that probably wasn't all of it.
Faust lowered his eyelids slightly, trying to catch Snow White's gaze from the corner of his eye.
Sure enough, that was the look of someone sizing up her prey. Not only did she plan to devour him whole, she wanted to make him her devoted servant as well?
Heh. Now this was getting interesting.
Faust pretended not to have guessed the reason and changed the subject:
"That's not important. Since you don't intend to end your own life, what do you plan to do next?"
Selena tapped lightly at her flawless, delicate cheek and said:
"Next, I need to figure out how to survive. That Frostwalker sent to execute me won't be fooled for long. The moment my mother activates the Magic Mirror again, she'll know exactly where I am. Hmm... I'll have an entire kingdom hunting me down. One last question: are you really planning to stay by my side? You could die, you know."
"Death isn't frightening. Death is a cool summer night, offering untroubled sleep."
Faust said calmly: "I'm willing to fight by your side, through life and death."
The Princess of Wintertide swept back a lock of dark hair and said, meaningfully:
"Setting life and death aside, since you're willing to wager your own life, what is it you're seeking in return? The position of consort? I have no wish to use my own feelings as a bargaining chip, unless... I receive a formal, sincere courtship from a prince. Only then would I properly consider it."
Selena's meaning was unmistakable: she wanted Faust to declare his love first, before she would give him any kind of answer.
So she was still holding a grudge over that embarrassing incident earlier.
Faust caught the implication behind her words and immediately drew the sword from his waist, dropping to one knee before Snow White:
"Let's set the matter of marriage aside for now. Come to think of it, my intervening in Wintertide's civil war as a prince is far too dangerous a thing for the Kingdom of Aurum."
"So instead, I'd like to ask you, Selena, to grant me a temporary knighthood as the Wintertide Princess's knight. Only then would this all be properly justified."
How's that for a strategic retreat that's really an advance?
"A knight to guard the princess... you really do know how this works!"
Seeing this, Selena smiled, clasping her hands together and clapping in excitement:
"Of course you may. If my status as princess is still recognized, knighting someone is a trivial matter. And even if it isn't recognized... you'll still be my knight, and mine alone."
The dark-haired girl took up the longsword and tapped it lightly on Faust's shoulder, her beautiful eyes fixed unwaveringly on the young man's face, handsome as a god's, an inexplicable urge to win burning in her chest.
I must make this man fall for me completely, utterly, hopelessly in love with me!
When the brief knighting ceremony ended, Faust rose to his feet and met the Princess of Wintertide's clear, pure, silver eyes.
Heh. A worthy opponent indeed.
This Witch was nothing at all like Viviana. She was truly no easy match. But it didn't matter.
I must make this woman fall for me completely, utterly, hopelessly in love with me!
Amid an atmosphere thick with an odd, gunpowder-like tension, the prince and princess kept their smiles fixed in place, each regarding the other, someone they were drawn to, as a rival, each determined to seize the upper hand in this relationship.