Chapter 2
1432words
"It means I'll no longer provide motivational reminders like phantom dismemberment," the witch replied flatly. "Your survival now depends entirely on your own competence."
"Hmph, as if I needed your reminders." Anastasia scoffed aloud, though her chest tightened with anxiety.
She glanced at the dark-haired girl still blubbering beside her and felt her irritation spike to new heights.
"Hey, you," she jabbed Snow White's arm with her finger. "Finished with the sob fest? We need shelter for the night."
"I... I don't know where to go..." Snow White whispered timidly.
"How the hell would I know?!" Anastasia's temper exploded. "Aren't you supposed to be a princess? Do all royals check their brains at the palace gate? What are you good for? Can you make fire? Hunt? Do you at least know where daddy keeps the treasury keys?"
Snow White, stunned by this verbal assault, could only shake her head repeatedly as fresh tears welled up.
"Useless!" Anastasia declared, turning to leave. "Fine, stay here and become wolf chow. I don't have time to babysit a professional weeper."
Let someone else handle this miserable assignment!
"Just a reminder," the witch's voice cut in with glacial precision. "If Snow White dies before reaching the dwarfs' cottage, you'll lose 50 Correction Points."
Anastasia froze mid-step.
"Fifty points? I've only earned five total!" she shrieked. "That's highway robbery!"
"Rules are rules."
Anastasia stood rooted, her face cycling between ghostly white and furious red. Finally, she whirled around, marched back to Snow White, and plastered on a smile that looked more painful than her tears.
"Let's go, my dear... uh, what was your name again?"
"Snow."
"Right, Snow. My dear Snow, big sister will find us somewhere safe."
Since she couldn't ditch the girl, she'd have to figure out how to make this useless creature somewhat less of a liability—or at least keep her from causing more problems.
As they traveled, Anastasia subjected Snow White to a brutal crash course in wilderness survival.
"See those red berries? Don't even think about it! They'll have your guts turning inside out. If you're hungry, eat these plain black ones instead. They taste like crap, but they won't kill you."
"And drop that pathetic look! You think wild beasts care about your tears? Or that bandits will feel sorry for you? Listen up—to survive, either look tougher than your enemy or so pitiful they think you're not worth the trouble. That half-dead expression just screams 'easy victim'!"
"If we meet strangers, keep your mouth shut and follow my lead. If I'm not around, tell them you've got a highly contagious disease—make them back off fast. Got it?"
Snow White looked shell-shocked by these instructions. Though clearly bewildered, she nodded automatically.
Just then, an elderly woman appeared from deeper in the forest, leaning on a walking stick and carrying a merchant's box, her face arranged in a kindly, grandmotherly smile.
"Two lost dears, wandering the woods? Would you like to see my lovely ribbons? I'm offering a special discount today."
The eyes of the dim-witted princess, predictably, lit up with interest.
"Oh, what beautiful ribbons..."
"Shut up!" Anastasia screamed internally, while her face instantly transformed into an eager smile. She yanked Snow White behind her and stepped forward.
"My goodness, these are exquisite!" She picked up a sky-blue ribbon with exaggerated admiration.
"Aren't they just? The very latest fashion in the capital," the old woman—actually the disguised Queen—preened.
"Oh yes, absolutely," Anastasia nodded vigorously, then abruptly shifted her tone with theatrical regret. "Such a shame, though—these fine pieces would be utterly wasted on this little dark-haired girl behind me."
The Queen's expression froze. "I beg your pardon?"
"Just look at her," Anastasia gestured dismissively at Snow White. "Sure, her skin's fair enough, but she's obviously some backwoods bumpkin who's never seen civilization. Putting such an elegant ribbon on her would be like decorating a pig with diamonds—a complete waste of your craftsmanship!"
These words clearly resonated with the Queen, as her forced smile warmed by several degrees.
Anastasia pressed her advantage, gazing at the Queen with near-worship: "Truthfully, madam, such ribbons belong only on true nobility—a duchess perhaps, or even... Her Majesty the Queen herself. Don't you think?"
The Queen, intoxicated by this stream of flattery, became slightly dizzy with pleasure, momentarily forgetting her murderous mission. She unconsciously straightened her posture and replied with regal dignity: "Hmm... you make a valid point."
"You see," Anastasia adopted a deeply troubled expression, "selling such masterpieces to us would be an absolute travesty! No, I simply cannot allow you to make such a mistake! We must decline!"
With that, she grabbed the still-confused Snow White and marched away with an air of "this hurts me more than it hurts you."
The Queen stood frozen in confusion. She looked from the ribbon in her hand to the retreating figures, sensing something was wrong but unable to identify what. The murderous rage that had driven her disguise was unexpectedly derailed by this strange flattery, leaving her neither able to act on her plan nor abandon it—an unsettling limbo.
After they'd walked some distance, Snow White finally whispered: "Miss Anna, why didn't we buy anything? Those ribbons were so pretty..."
"Can you eat pretty ribbons?" Anastasia rapped her knuckles on Snow White's head. "Listen up—ninety-nine percent of unexpected kindness has a knife hidden behind it! Especially for someone with your looks—double that!"
Though her words were harsh, she mentally preened to the witch: "How's that for a bloodless victory? Mission accomplished. I'm brilliant, right?"
The witch's voice arrived right on cue:
"Correction Points +10. Successfully exploited target's core weakness: vanity. Analysis: Approach effective but threat not neutralized. Target will attempt alternative action."
"I know, I know. Why so impatient?"
"New location unlocked: House of the Seven Dwarfs. Follow this path to reach the safe zone."
As the words faded, a glowing trail of fireflies materialized on the shadowy path ahead, winding deep into the forest.
"Oh, how beautiful!" Snow White gasped with childlike wonder.
Anastasia eyed the path, her gaze calculating.
"Seven dwarfs?" She stroked her chin, a predatory smile spreading across her face. "I've heard about them—miners, right? Digging up precious gems every day..."
Finally, a chance to see some return on her investment.
After following the glimmering trail for about thirty minutes, they emerged into a clearing where a charming little wooden cottage stood.
"We're here!" Snow White squealed with delight, rushing forward. "Hello? Anyone home?"
Anastasia followed more slowly, eyeing the cottage with a calculating smirk. She pushed the already-cracked door wider. Inside was chaos—seven tiny plates and cups cluttered the table, suggesting the owners had recently departed.
Snow White's savior complex activated instantly. She rolled up her sleeves, grabbed a broom, and set to work. "It's so untidy! Let's clean up—they'll be so pleased when they return."
Anastasia couldn't have cared less about tidiness. She ransacked the place like a common thief, upending drawers and peering into every corner.
"Jackpot!"
In one corner, she discovered several mud-caked pickaxes and a carelessly discarded stone that emitted a subtle glow. She held it up to the light, squinting. Though no expert, she recognized value when she saw it.
"We've hit the motherlode..." she murmured, her eyes practically morphing into dollar signs.
That evening, seven dust-covered dwarfs returned, carrying picks and singing merrily. They froze in shock at the sight of their spotless cottage and two unexpected visitors.
"Who are you? How did you get in here?" demanded the bearded dwarf leader, eyes narrowed with suspicion.
Snow White opened her mouth to share her sad tale, but Anastasia silenced her with a sharp gesture. Stepping forward, she cleared her throat and adopted her most professional demeanor.
"Good evening, gentlemen. We represent Anna & Snow White Housekeeping Services LLC."
The seven dwarfs exchanged bewildered glances, their expressions a symphony of confusion.
"To put it simply," Anastasia gestured to the immaculate cottage, "we provide comprehensive domestic services—cleaning, cooking, laundry, security, and more. In exchange, you provide food and lodging, plus..."
She paused, flashing a shark-like smile. "Ten percent of your daily mining yield as our management fee."
"What? Ten percent?!" the dwarfs erupted in unison. "That's highway robbery!"
"Gentlemen, please," Anastasia replied with measured precision. "You receive a spotless home and hot meals, while we assume the considerable risk of being hunted by an evil queen. We're offering premium, high-risk specialized services—and frankly, our rates are quite competitive."
Bombarded by Anastasia's business jargon, the bewildered dwarfs eventually agreed to this "verbal contract" in a state of complete confusion.
