CH. 32: SNOW WHITE VIII

"You lucky mates can have this privilege to accompany the Queen straight to her castle."

The guards round all of them up, They tied their hands behind their backs and placed a cover on their heads.

"I hope you know what you're doing, Hyun-cho." Vicent sighs, walking behind Hyun-cho.

"If I'm gonna be stuck as the Queen's pet and can't find my Noona, I'm coming for you first, Hyung." Jung-woo grumbles behind.

The three board the carriage with the oh-so-kind guards assisting them. The carriage dip before it settled down with everyone sitted inside.

"Behave." Was the familiar voice of Sir. Kalheim warning them. The carriage started to move.

"I hope my men weren't too... right with you all. You see, I'm the queen and well... they just want me to be safe. I hope you understand." Her soft and kind voice says. 

Sure, Jung-woo scoffs.

Snow White hears this and looks at the boy that was sitted between the two men.

"Oh dear, you poor thing. Here, let me get that for you." Snow White gets up and pulls the sack cover off his head.

Jung-woo quint and blinks a few times to adjust to his surroundings. There in front of him was an Old Lady, in a black and white color scheme dress. The only color she had on was her red, wrinkle lips.

"Isn't that much better?" She softly smiles.

"My wrists hurts. Mind if you takes these off too?" He gives a the cutest smile he could muster. The Old Queen just smiles at him.

"My name is Snow White, the Queen. What's your name?" Jung-woo stares at her and a little too long, "Oh my, if you keep staring at me like that I just might pluck your cute little black eyes and use them as earrings." She chuckles. There was this glint in her eyes that says she was not joking.

"Dal Jung-woo." Was all he said.

Just then, a knock comes at the door. Jung-woo watches Snow White open the small window.

"My Queen There is a lady by the name Marianne and a half-dwarf with her, his name is Mad." Sir. Kalheim informs.

Jung-woo perks up at the mention of his Noona. Vincent and Hyun-cho also stirred in their sits.

"Mmm... I believe the lady is who I've been looking for." She begins, taking out a small compact mirror on her palm, "Mirror, mirror on my hand, is this... Marianne, the most fairest of them all?"

A deep, all-knowing voice replies back, "Yes. Marianne is the most Fairest of them all -" The Queen immediately hides the mirror back into her dress pocket. Jung-woo can see her nerves moving and popping in her face. This is not good.

Jung-woo looks through the little window behind him and tries to look for Marianne. However, he could only get a hand on the window before he is roughly pulled away from it.

"Owww!" He rubs his face that had hit the wall. He turns to see the Queen standing up with her dress slightly raised and her foot off the ground. Did she just kick him?

"Sir. Kalheim." She turns to the knight before sitting back down, "I would be very delighted if you could invite this... Marianne and her... companion into the castle."

"Yes, Your Highness." Sir. Kalheim briefly looks at Jung-woo, "Also, they seem to be in search of a boy with black hair, slanted eyes, pale skin, and... super cute smile." He finishes.

Jung-woo beams at this. Noona is also looking for me, he thought.

Snow White sees the boy's smile and instantly wants to strangle this Marianne in front of this him. An idea pops up, but of course, she'll wait till they are all in her castle.

"Now then. You're such a cute... eyesore. Let's put this back on." She beams at the boy. She grabs the sack and covers his head with it with a slight struggle.

"Don't spoil the fun for me. I want to meet this lady who is said to be the 'most fairest of us all'."  She chuckles.

Jung-woo instantly regrets his current situation.

He had just become not only a hostage for the Queen to use against his Noona, but a liability as well. The rest of the ride was quiet until loud cheers could be heard outside.

"Looks like we're here." The Snow White cheers as she opens the window and waves at the citizens.

"It's the Queen!"

"Wave at the carriage! The Queen is in there."

"Our Queen is the fairest of them all!" One screamed.

" . . . "

Snow White continues to smile and wave at the crowd. She finally stops as soon as they stop at her castle. Her Butler George, knocks on the door before opening.

"My Queen. I'm glad you have made it back safely." He says as he looks under his glasses and takes a look inside the carriage. He also notices the guests coming in the gates.

"Is the one on the horse the one you've been looking for?" He cocks a grey eyebrow.

"Mmm... yes. See to that they have a... very welcoming stay. As for these three here." She waves her dainty hands at the boy and two men she had picked up, "Get them cleaned up and dressed. Along with our guest for dinner tonight. I would like soup and meat and wine." She steps out with the butler's help.

"And what would you like for dessert my Queen?" He asks.

She looks over to her left and sees this mysterious lady looking at her. Snow White waves and smiles.

"I'd like to have an... apple pie for dessert. One that's been ripen to perfection, sweet and crisp. I only want the reddess of the bunch that has been carefully grown with love."

"I see." The butler pushes his glasses back up, "I will carefully prepare it for dinner tonight. You have my word---"

The carriage suddenly moves.

Snow White waves her hands, and the guards pull out their swords and spears,  pointing them towards the carriage.

One guard goes in and grabs Jung-woo. He then tosses him out the carriage, landing hard on the dirt ground.

"Ugh..." He softly moans.

"Be nice." The Queen's voice was soft yet firm before walking up the stairs to enter the castle.

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Present.

Hyun-cho, Jung-woo and Vincent, are dragged inside of the castle. Guards on both sides, they walk to their next destination blindly. After taking multiple turns left and right, they enter a room. The door closes behind before their head covers were taken off.

"Oh my! This batch is all top quality!" The bug, robust women says. She had brown short hair, mole on her right cheek, and parading a double chin. Her dress did not do her justice either. The seams of her dress looked ready to burst.

She grabs Hyun-cho and Vincent's faces. Studying their facial features and muttering incoherent words to herself.

"Yes, yes. This will do." She bobs her head. She looks down at Jung-woo and grabs his face, "Aren't you a cute one. I'm sure many madame would be interested in buying you. Of course... For a special high price.

Jung-woo rips his face off her hold, "Ohh? Such a temper. Looks like I can get a lot with you."

The big lady claps her hands, and more servants pour into the room.

"Get them cleaned up! If they miss behave, they beat their body, not their faces or any visible area. I'll kill you myself! Oh, you go get their measurements and get them the best tailored clothes! These are high-quality products, people! More it!"