The Fairest of Them All

EPILOGUE

I sit here now, in my workroom, writing this down as quickly as I can, while outside my chambers the palace rejoices.

I am the true queen, the rightful heir to the throne—though no one will ever know it, and soon enough not even I will remember it. And as the true queen, I have made one decision. It will be my sole decision, but it is the best thing I can do for my kingdom, and it is enough.

It was at the inn at the edge of the forest that Snow White and I learned that King Josef had died in the fighting that had broken out just beyond the castle walls. With no male heir, I was named queen regent, a title I would carry until Snow White turned twenty-one and took the throne. Lord Aubert was acting as regent in my stead. With both me and Snow White gone, the whole kingdom was in disarray

I sent a message to the royal council that Snow White and I were safe, and that in the interest of peace for the West, I would step aside to name her, Snow White, daughter of the West and East, sole ruler of our kingdom.

When I told her what I’d done, she looked at me with that same serious look she’d had as a child, and nodded, and I did not need magic to see the combination of grief and strength and beauty that she will become known for in years to come. There was nothing I could do to console her, except use all my power and everything in my heart to wish her well, so that she might heal herself, and our kingdom.

The next day, we rode to the palace as the people ran from their houses and cheered us along, and in a simple ceremony Snow White took the throne. A new peace treaty was signed, and the fighting ended as quickly as it had begun.

I do not regret my decision.

She will be a good queen. One day, she will be a great one.

The apple sits next to me, gleaming with rapunzel. Behind it, the mirror, reflecting the apple and the room beyond it.

I ask the mirror one last time: Who is the fairest of them all?

But I know the answer. Of course I know. It is her time now, and it will be someone else’s time after. Her daughter’s, her daughter’s daughter’s. She will have many daughters and sons—I have had portent of it.

In a moment I will put down my quill, and I’ll lock these pages away for someone else, someday, to find. Because all of this happened once, and things that happened should not be erased from the earth completely, even when they’ve been forgotten.

Gilles waits for me outside. He’s forgiven me, after everything. I am grateful that he disobeyed me. We will leave this kingdom tonight, and venture out into the world beyond it. He assures me that such a world exists, that he will love me no matter what happens next, and I hope that he is right.

My bags are packed, I have a pouch full of gold, and there is only one thing left for me to do.

The apple could almost be a heart.

I place my hands over it and feel it beating.