The Queen looked down her nose at the man who stood before her. He showed no respect for her crown. He had his hands resting on his belt and looked up at her with a slouch and no fear. His blue eyes were piercing as hers but with a spark of mischief to them.

“So who's the guy?" The hunter said defiantly. The Queen's frown deepened.

"I beg your pardon?" She asked.

"You called me here cause you had a problem, right?" He shrugged and crossed his arms. "So who's the problem? Or have I misread your intent?" The Queen looked around the small private study.

"I do have a problem and I'm willing to pay handsomely for it's erasure," the Queen said. She didn't care for his attitude and wasn't hiding her distaste. A curl on her lip and her teeth showing more than normal when she spoke.

"Who?" The hunter asked. Unphased by her obvious annoyance. The Queen moved to the window and peeked out the curtains.

“Them,” She said simply. The hunter moved around the table that separated them and looked out of the window to the simple dressed servant at the gate.

“Dark-haired one? In the pants?” He asked.

“Yes.” The Queen felt her face wrinkling with anger at the hunter’s flagrant disrespect of being so close to her without invitation. “I assume this can be done quietly. As quietly as possible.”

“Oh easily,” The hunter said with a flippant wave of his hand. “How do you want to do this?”

“I’ll have them taken to the forest, away from the castle.” The Queen left the side of the window and back to the center of the study where a table was left empty. The Queen reached beneath the table and pulled up a box. “When it is done, you will leave this box under the oak tree outside the Eastern gate. With their heart inside of it, as proof. Once delivered You will get the other half of your payment.” The hunter gave an odd look at the box but took it and tucked it under his arm.

“Can I ask why their heart?” He shifted the box and tucked a hand into his belt again.

“You may not,” The Queen said. The hunter shrugged. He pulled up his hood and headed for the door.

“Expect to hear from me soon,” He said as he opened the door. He vanished down the hall and the Queen took a long and irritated sigh. A strong knock came at the door and it turned her head. Standing in the door was James, prince of Sjodyr. The Queen’s mood somehow soured further.

“Yes?” She asked, her tone cut through the air and made James’ eye twitch.

“Your Majesty,” he said respectfully. “I’ve come to make you aware I intend to court Seren.”

“I deny your request,” The Queen turned without thinking.

“It’s not a request,” James said levelly. The Queen turned, her eyes were sharp as daggers but they couldn’t pierce James’ resolve.

“You will be exiled, the minute you come into my kingdom you will be arrested.” The Queen sneered, taking a few threatening steps closer. James still didn’t move.

“And Seren will leave with me.” He said; it wasn’t a threat. The Queen looked him up and down, feeling more anger rushing to her cheeks. The prince was young, attractive, and from a very wealthy kingdom. Worst of all, he seemed to have a real attraction as well. Everything that anyone could want in a noble marriage.

And that really made the Queen’s blood boil.

“Guards!” The Queen’s voice bounced off the large walls and high arches. A small posse of plate-armored men in sashes of royal purple stumbled into view behind James.

“Take him from my sight and see to it he is removed from my lands, immediately!” The guards gently took James shoulder to direct him away. “No detours! Straight out!” The guards directed James away from the Queen and she stormed out after the proceeding; shouting red-faced for her ladies in waiting. Only one, the youngest one came out of hiding. She came carefully toward the Queen. She opened her mouth but no sound had a chance to come out. As soon as she was within reach the Queen wound up and slapped her with all her might.

The girl fell to the ground, holding her face. Gasping in shocked sobs. The Queen turned again and flew through the halls in the opposite direction the guards had taken. She charged through the halls and down the stairs. Throwing doors out of her way echoing sounds like mountains falling. She burst through the door of the kitchen and all the servants paused.

Seren was frozen among the group, holding a small bundle of fresh cut roses. Paused in de-thorning them for a vase. The Queen’s eyes locked on them and Seren felt the blood drain from their face and their throat close. The other staff in the kitchen vanished from around them.

“Seren,” The Queen’s voice was so low it made a shiver trace up the back of Seren’s neck. “Come with me,” Seren felt their mouth go dry, they didn’t like the look in their mother’s eyes.

“I haven’t finished in the courtyard yet,” They said. The Queen didn’t blink.

“And yet here you are, not in the courtyard.” The Queen said sternly.

“Yes, I saw these roses and thought they were too beautiful to let decay.” Seren chose their words very carefully. “I thought I would bring them in for you.” The Queen’s small smile was cold as ice and just as unfeeling.

“Drop what you’re doing and come with me. Now.” The Queen’s lip curled angrily. Seren tried to come up with another excuse but they didn’t have one.

“Yes, your majesty.” Seren said. They put the rose down and walked around the counter and toward their mother. Keeping their eyes to the ground. The Queen reached out and grabbed them loosely by the back of their neck. Directing them in different directions and making them look down even further.

“You’ve been getting some attention lately, haven’t you?” The Queen asked, her grip on Seren’s neck tightened for a second. Seren felt a small ringing in their ears.

“A bit,” Seren agreed quietly. As they had reached adulthood the staff in the castle had changed the behavior when interacting with them. Seren had assumed it had more to do with the Queen than it did with them.

“It was bound to happen eventually, we do share quite a few features.” The Queen’s grip was still tight and it made Seren more than a little uncomfortable. They chanced a look up at their mother, she had a very clear look of resentment smeared over her face. Seren looked back at the ground and the irregular patterns in the stone.

“Come I’ll show you something,” The Queen finally released the back of Seren’s neck and turned down a hall abruptly. Seren had to jump and run to catch up with her mother’s fast pace. Seren stayed a step behind to watch the Queen carefully. Her face was stone but there were cracks. Inside them were the smoldering embers of rage and the active burn of bitterness. Seren felt the taste of unease land heavy over their tongue. They sucked all the moisture out and swallowed hard.

“When I was your age, a young princess within these very walls, I never saw the daylight.” The Queen said with unflinching correctness. “My mother, your grandmother, was very strict with me. I was to dress simply. Like a peasant. I was to remain in the colder dungeon rooms where the sun could not mark my skin. I could only eat raw foods. Never breads and very blandly blanched meats at dinner time. I could never exert myself, running was strictly prohibited.” Seren listened quietly. The Queen didn’t turn to see if Seren was following or listening.

The Queen led them into the hall of her chambers. Seren was hesitant to follow. They had never been allowed inside before.The Queen looked over her shoulder and motioned them to follow. Seren carefully but quickly followed into the purple lined halls with pillars carved and painted with exotic animals in various states.

“She was certain the only thing that mattered within this world was beauty and keeping young forever.” The Queen led Seren deeper to parts of the castle they’d never been. “Do you know how she died?” The Queen turned so abruptly to Seren they almost ran into her. They jumped back with their hands clasped behind their back and mutely shook their head no.

“Poison,” The Queen said simply. The same unflinching tone of fact completely devoid of any kind of emotion. “She poisoned herself with liquid mercury. She was sure it would reverse her aging. There is a lesson to be learned in this, Seren. Do you know what it is?”

“That…” Seren searched their mother’s face for a hint. “No one lives forever?”

“Yes,” The Queen turned and continued down the hall. Allowing Seren a moment to catch their breath as they followed. “She was completely mad, and I’ve done my best to not repeat what I felt her mistakes were. I’ve allowed you freedom to run around wherever you may like. In whatever clothes you may choose so long as they aren’t expensive ones. Tried to teach you responsibility in safety.” Seren nodded along slowly, their mind was filled with their own thoughts about what they would do differently as a parent. Following it up with wondering if they would still end up making mistakes.

“You’re not a child anymore,” The Queen said with a sigh. She didn’t pause for a second before opening up an elaborately carved door and leading Seren into a giant dressing room. She was silent as she moved fluidly through the room. Passing the privacy screens and reflected in the thousands of mirrors of every size that lined the walls and in some places were the walls.

The Queen vanished into a long hall with Seren slowly following behind. Still wondering if they were supposed to be following. Seren peeked into the hallway. It was a long tunneling closet. Hangers filled with dresses in protected bags and a wall of shoes at the far end of it. From between the dresses in unseen halls, the Queen appeared with a dress in it’s bag.

“This was the dress I wore when I first met your father,” The Queen said and held out the bag to Seren. They didn’t reach for it at first, staring dumbly at the beautifully embroidered bag. It was covered with delicately sewn red poinsettias. Seren held out their arms and the Queen tossed the bag into it thoughtlessly. The weight of the bag nearly dropped Seren to the ground. Seren readjusted their footing and held the bag up.

“I would very much appreciate to see you wearing it, tomorrow. During our walk,” The Queen turned toward the mirrors, frowning distastefully at Seren’s reflection.

“Our walk?” Seren asked. Looking into the reflection of their mother’s face.

“Yes, tomorrow morning. By the woods outside the village.”

Seren drew in a breath at the idea of going outside the castle for the first time. They nodded, first with just their head and then with their entire body.

“Yes! Yes I would love that!” Seren tripped as they stumbled back for the door. Their mother turned and gave them a sharp look through the side of her eyes. Seren stopped and cleared their throat. Holding the bag to their chest they curtised and kept their eyes down.

“Thank you for inviting me for a walk. I can think of nothing I would love more than to take a walk with you, your majesty.” Seren said in a single tone. The Queen nodded.

“That will be all then,” the Queen dismissed them and Seren was only too happy to leave the Queen’s presence and run down the halls at full speed to their room. Which was spacious, but below ground in the dungeons of the castle.

Seren hung the bag up on the door and bounced up and down with their hands folded together. Squealing a little in the back of their throat with excitement.

Seren fumbled with the bag to bring out the dress inside. They fumbled it as yards of purple fabric exploded out of the bag and sprang up over Seren into it’s full chandelier shape. Seren stood still under the mountain of fabric.

“Oh no,” they managed as the full weight settled over them.