Page 15 of Snow White

She takes the bait and slips into the room, unable to help herself. “I mean, we could talk for a bit? Right?”

I take a small step to the side, my nightgown slipping off my shoulder. “Of course.”

I can feel her gaze on my bare skin, and when she looks away, I miss the cool touch. “You have one of the best views in the castle,” she says, stepping closer to the window.

I glide to the balcony, fixing the drooping shoulder of my nightgown. “I do?”

Snow joins me, placing her hand on the railing and pointing toward the courtyard. “You can see my favorite rose bushes in the morning.” She pauses. “My room looks out over this as well.”

Does she need to justify knowing so much about her own home? Or did she just provide information to fill the silence? I stand next to her, my hip cocked and my bare shoulder brushing hers. “Oh?”

She shivers slightly, and not from the cold. “You see?”

Snow points to another dark window, and I follow her direction. She wants to say something, but she’s summoning the courage. It’s obvious in the way she searches for conversation. “Hm. Did you enjoy the rest of dinner?”

She frowns as she considers her answer. “I did, but it felt empty. Does that sound strange?”

I glance back at her. “Empty? There were hundreds of women paying you compliments when I left.”

Was that not what you wanted? To have people looking at you? Complimenting you? Doting on you? Make new friends?

She tilts her head to the side. “I...hm...they just... It didn’t seem genuine? Oh, I don’t know. I must be overanalyzing.”

Of course, it wasn’t genuine. They are here to play the game and saw how successful I was using you as a pawn. They wanted to do the same but did it poorly. It is hard to imitate excellence.

“You’re right.” I laugh, gazing up at the moon. “They realized you are the key to your father’s heart. You’ll have them all trying to befriend you in the next month.”

Her face drops. “Oh.”

What is this feeling? Guilt? Impossible.

“I thought you wanted more friends.” My brows furrow as the words tumble from my mouth unbidden. “You said you wanted to meet them all. They will try now.”

“You’re right. It’s just...hm,” she mumbles, looking away.

I tilt my head at her. “It’s just…?”

She frowns, looking down at her hands. “I’m being selfish.”

“Selfish?” There is not a selfish bone in Snow’s body.

She nods, staring at her hands. “I should be grateful that these ladies would try to be my friends.”

I touch her hand. “But?”

Her glacial eyes tear up. “They are just using me, aren’t they?”

I flinch, surprised by the pain of something that feels suspiciously like my heart shattering in my chest. “Oh, Snow.”

She wipes her tears with her other hand. “I’m being foolish, right? It’s just my thoughts scrambling around.”

I can’t stop myself from pulling her into a hug. “I’m sorry.”

She breaks in my arms, sobbing softly. “I feel like a fool.”

I frown, rubbing her back. “A fool?”

She sniffles into my neck. “To think they would want to be my friends, in truth.”

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