The Red Witch

“Would you like something sweet before we put on the veil?”

Madam Raelin’s voice was thick with worry — most of it, as ever, directed at whether or not Kiara had eaten.

‘Just half a sandwich before the corset, or a quarter — even a bite. Once you’re laced in, you won’t be able to eat a thing.’

Or—

‘One more sliver of sugared peach before the lip color. After your makeup’s done, chewing becomes a small tragedy.’

Or—

‘One last trip to the privy and a sip of cherry tonic before the dress. No more liquids once you’re layered up.’

Raelin’s constant fretting had its uses, Kiara supposed. At least she was warned of every inconvenience before it struck. And now—

‘The veil is terribly heavy, terribly stifling. Once it’s on, you won’t be able to see or hear a thing. You’ll burn through your energy faster than you’d believe. Best have something sweet first…’

They hadn’t let her speak, and now apparently they wouldn’t let her see or hear either.

Kiara frowned, dubious. Raelin held up the veil with ceremonial gravity, and Kiara examined it with narrowed eyes.

It looked perfectly ordinary. Translucent, fine, delicate as mist, with a satin border just a little too thick for its own good.

‘This is supposed to be heavy?’

And she wasn’t supposed to see through it, either?

‘I suppose the embroidery around the edge is a bit dense, but still…’

The embroidery, stitched tightly with silver thread, was so beautiful that her hand instinctively reached for the veil. As soon as Kiara lifted it, her wrist buckled under its unexpected weight.

Ow, what in the world is this thing?

Startled, she let out a gasp, and Lady Raylin quickly took the veil from her hands, equally alarmed.

“It’s magic. The very first thing a new bride sees and hears must be her partner.”

Kiara frowned again, clearly displeased.

This was starting to feel less like becoming a bride and more like turning into a chick — one of those little birds that imprint on the first thing they see after hatching.

To soothe her pouting expression, Raelin offered her a candy dish.

“Have one more lemon drop. You like them, don’t you? Actually, I’ll pack a few for you. If you keep one in your mouth, we won’t have to worry about you talking.”

Lemon drops. Since she did like them, Kiara didn’t refuse. Seeing her pop one in her mouth, Raelin smiled warmly and spread out the veil.

“Now then, let’s put the veil on. You won’t be able to see well, but the royal ladies will escort you to the chapel… Oh. What’s wrong?”

Kiara suddenly grabbed her sleeve, and Raelin turned to her.

With wide, frightened eyes, Kiara silently mouthed the question:

Raelin, aren’t you coming with me?

“You’re about to become the most valuable member of the royal family. So you must be greeted properly. I’ll wait for you here, Lady Kiara.”

Her gentle coaxing finally got Kiara to nod, albeit reluctantly. Sensing her unease, Raelin leaned in and whispered one last time as she placed the veil over her.

“Don’t worry. From now on, you won’t be the Red Witch of the Black Forest. You’ll be Her Majesty the Queen. Queen Tiona. I’ll see you tomorrow, Lady Tiona.”

And with that, Kiara’s vision was completely shrouded in white as the veil came down over her eyes.

How long had she waited after that? Sitting stiffly with only her nerves for company, she felt someone take her hand.

‘…Oh.’

It wasn’t Raelin’s familiar firm grasp, but a delicate, slender touch like the hand of a noblewoman. In that moment, the countless royal etiquette lessons Raelin had drilled into her came flooding back.

‘The first person to guide the bride from her room must be the lowest-ranking among the noble ladies of the Altnebra royal family.’

From then on, each woman who led her would be of increasingly higher status, until finally only royal women were allowed into the chapel. Which meant, the one holding her hand now must be…

‘Ayla…? No, Aella. Lady Aella…’

At last, Kiara was gently led from her room. One hand after another guided her through the long corridor, out of the building, into a carriage, and toward the chapel.

Lana, Reika, Tisra…

‘I’m… scared…’

Kiara, who had been walking with her vision completely obscured, swallowed nervously. She wasn’t usually a fearful person, but being unable to see or hear anything made everything feel unusually terrifying. Eventually, the thought of wanting to remove the veil as quickly as possible overwhelmed her, and at last, her hands were free.

‘I must have arrived at the chapel!’

Kiara let out a sigh of relief, but for some reason, she still had to wait anxiously for what felt like a long time. She waited, and waited some more. Just when she thought she might turn into a statue, she finally felt the slight movement of the veil.

‘The veil…’

Her heart began to race.

Once this veil was removed, she would finally meet her husband, the one with deep emerald eyes like an evergreen tree.

But—

‘…R-red?’

To her surprise, what she saw when the veil was lifted was not what she had expected. Instead of her husband, she saw eyes as red as her own.

“So this is it. A witch.”