Page 8 of Snow White

Another odd response.

“Nothing,” I say, shaking my head.

Azura crosses her arms. “You can’t possibly give something for nothing.”

“I can’t?” I ask, frowning.

“No. Everything has a price.”

Her words have me giggling. It is such an odd concept.Everything has a price. I giggle again, shaking my head at the idea. Has no one ever done anything for her from the kindness of their heart? I have a hard time believing that.

“That is so silly.”

“It is how the world works, Snow,” Azura says, narrowing her eyes at me.

“No, it isn’t.”

“You’re naïve,” she scoffs, picking at her nails.

“I’m not,” I say, flinching as something inside me cracks.

Naïve,the voice in the back of my head taunts.

This isn’t the first time someone has called me that. In fact, Eric calls me naïve and soft all the time. The last time Eric was here, I overheard him lecturing our father that this plan to find a new wife was stupid. He was worried that any woman interested in our father only wanted his crown.

“Eric. I am not going over this again with you,” my father says, his voice rough. He sounds more exhausted than he usually does.

“I think this is still foolish. How can you trust any of these women?” Eric hisses.

“Snow.”

“Snow? Father, she is naïve and gullible. Any of those women can figure out that the key to you is through her.”

My brother’s words scratch my heart. He never used to be like this. He used to be happy, kind, and playful. After my mother died, everything changed. He took it the hardest of us all.

I clench my fist, stepping out from behind the wall. “I am not!”

My father’s eyes soften when he sees me. “My little Snow.”

I’d known since the beginning that his plan to marry was for me. He was attempting to find me a friend, someone to talk to other than the servants and him. After our mother’s death, Eric left the castle and moved to our country estate. He rules over that section of the kingdom and ensures the pirates are kept under control. He rarely returns here unless it is for business.

While Eric ran off, I stayed and helped my father during his good and bad days. We have begun to heal, but sadness and loneliness linger in both of us. My mother’s laughter no longer fills the halls, and our home feels so empty.

Father thought this event would be a great way to have someone else in the castle for me to talk to, and if we are lucky, we can form an alliance that will make our kingdom more prosperous.

“Father.” I smile at him.

Eric sighs. “Fine. If you want to go through with this crazy plan, I shall return during it. I want to see if any of these women are worthy of you and ensure their intentions are pure.”

My father nods. “I accept your terms, Son.”

Eric nods, looking at both of us. A rare smile tugs at his lips as he walks over to me and pulls me into a hug. The gesture surprises me, and I lose myself. I bury my face against his chest and cry.

“Have you ever even left the boundaries of this kingdom?” Azura asks, snapping me back to the present. She is now in the shallows, the water lapping at her calves.

“No,” I whisper, shrinking deeper into the water.

Azura raises a brow before walking back to shore and drying her feet off. She had proven her point.I am naïve. It frustrates me that she can see it so easily. If she can see it, who else will notice? Will anyone want to be friends with a naïve princess like me? Or will they make fun of me like Eric? I am betting more on the latter. Even now, I feel like Azura is changing her mind about wanting to spend time with me. It stings, and my stomach sinks low.

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