Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, Who's the Witch of Fate’s Great Call - Chapter 32
It was said that when Snow White bit into the poisoned apple, she instantly sensed it was poisoned. She felt a prickling sensation of danger but wasn’t actually harmed. Her collapse was just a performance—because she saw the old woman, who was really Grimdelwald in disguise, right in front of her.
She knew well that even though she was immune to poison, she couldn’t possibly win in a one-on-one fight against Grimdelwald, the Grand Witch. So Snow White decided to trick the witch.
“She pretended to be dead. Since she went through the motions of a proper funeral, Grimdelwald was completely fooled into believing Snow White was dead, and in the end, she was defeated.”
“Then what about the prince?! Are you saying your grandfather passing by in the forest was all part of the plan?”
Kalynia’s voice rose with excitement as she learned the truth for the first time. Vylon thought she was more excited than he had been as a child upon discovering this.
“No, that was pure coincidence. It would be more accurate to say that Snow White found him.”
The tale of Snow White waking from the prince’s kiss was just an act crafted to maintain the image of a delicate princess—a secret his grandmother had shared only with her family, excluding her husband.
Now that Kalynia was part of the family, he shared it with her as well, though her reaction wasn’t quite as expected.
“Cheater! Humans are such cheats!”
She was indignant, saying that Grimdelwald had suffered unjustly.
After all the hardship caused by that woman’s curse, she thinks she’s to be pitied? Vylon couldn’t agree. He didn’t want to see his wife defending Grimdelwald, even in jest.
“More importantly, wasn’t it your father’s trust in you, not because you were a witch, but because you’re his daughter?”
When he changed the subject, Kalynia hesitated, biting her lip. She seemed reluctant to admit it, though she knew it was true.
“I think that’s the case.”
“Well, I don’t know.”
She muttered the words tersely, her expression sullen. Vylon expected her to argue or avoid the topic, but she conceded. Holding back a smile, he spoke gently.
“I don’t know exactly what your father thought, but that’s how I see it.”
“See what?”
“I took your side because you’re my wife.”
Kalynia blinked a few times, then simply said, “Fine,” and lay down, turning her back to him, as if she didn’t want him to see her face.
“I’m going to sleep.”
“Kalynia, didn’t I tell you not to sleep on your side?”
“I don’t care. I’ll sleep however I want, Your Majesty.”
When she let out a loud, exaggerated groan, signaling that she wouldn’t listen to his nagging, Vylon narrowed his eyes, watching her back. Unable to resist, he slid his arm around her waist. He could no longer hold back from touching her.
Many people had turned away from him in disgust just from looking at his face. Even if they said otherwise, he could sense their doubts. It felt as if he’d never escape the curse and would be condemned to loneliness forever.
But she was different. The witch Kalynia wasn’t bothered by his face at all. The security he felt in that knowledge, the satisfaction that came from pulling her close and holding her in his arms, gave him a deep sense of contentment.
“Kalynia.”
Just saying her name spread warmth from his tongue. Vylon realized something—despite her distance, her presence brought him a sense of sweetness.
He had spent his life dreaming of meeting someone who would love him, believing that love could cure his loneliness.
But now he understood—he didn’t need a devoted person willing to fight against his curse for his sake.
‘One day, I’ll tell you too, my dear Vylon. Really, truly, I lo… love… oh… ugh…!’
Unlike his mother, who could never bring herself to say the word “love” without feeling nauseous, Vylon was able to say it to Kalynia freely. He could tell her he loved her as much as he wanted.
Every time he said it, his mother would smile happily, though cold sweat would bead on her forehead. From the moment she heard the words, she likely felt sick to her stomach.
Still, his mother had tried to tell Vylon she loved him in return, to let him know it wasn’t one-sided affection.
‘He tells me he loves me, but I can’t even say it back. It saddens me!’
Her efforts often failed, leaving her distressed.
Realizing that his love only burdened his mother, Vylon eventually stopped saying “I love you” to anyone.
Meeting someone he didn’t have to restrain his emotions with, his repressed feelings came flooding out. He wanted to shower Kalynia with all his love.
Even if things hadn’t started perfectly, she was his wife, and he could love her freely. In fact, she was precisely the kind of partner he needed.
“Kalynia, is there a gift you’d like?”
With his newfound clarity, he felt as if he could give her anything. If she asked for the world, he would do his best to make it happen.
“A gift?”
Kalynia’s response was in a dull tone, as though she didn’t expect much. She seemed to assume it would be something trivial.
Jewels. Dresses. Horses. If not, then a carriage. Vylon began listing items to convey his sincerity to her.
