by Eustacia Tan
Laura rolled her eyes. “I won’t be there. It’ll be her, and that’s going to take a lot of time. I need to find out how to do that. I suppose I could let you and your family stay until then. It would make the transition easier.”
“Of course it would,” Lizzie said immediately. She put her hand on Laura’s shoulder. “It’d be like it was before. We’re best friends, aren’t we?”
To her surprise, Laura pushed her hand away. “I meant, you could stay as my personal maid. But you’re right, it would be like old times, only with our roles reversed.”
*******
The next challenge was getting her mom and Grandmother Marie to agree to help. Well, getting to them was a challenge but she managed to get to her mother’s room, where they were hiding, as she expected.
“Absolutely not,” Snow White said immediately. “Nothing from the Goblin Market can be used for good.”
Grandmother Marie nodded in agreement. “You don’t know this, but Marah is the cause of a lot of trouble. Her daughter is the reason why Beauty’s Kingdom is the way it is.”
“Her daughter?” She couldn’t imagine Marah having a daughter. She didn’t seem like the motherly type.
“She was the Evil Queen.”
“Oh. But I won’t let Laura become evil.”
Snow White raised an eyebrow. “Why would Laura turn evil?”
Oops. Lizzie had forgotten that she left it out. And the whole Laura wanting to be some vessel and queen thing. It would have definitely killed any chance of “Well, I mean she did go with me to get the apple. Wouldn’t it be a waste if we didn’t use it?”
“The risk is still too great.”
“But it’s our only chance,” Lizzie begged her mother. “We can’t let dad die.”
“We could still persuade the Nutcracker.”
“Actually,” Marie said, “Lizzie might be right. I hate to admit it, but the Nutcracker won’t be changing his mind about this. He thinks that killing your husband will intimidate the two of you into listening to him.”
Snow White chewed on her lower lip, staining it black. “I still don’t like the idea of using the apple.”
“Mom, we have no choice.”
It seemed like an eternity before her mom finally spoke again.
“I guess there’s no choice.”
“Thank you.” Lizzie gave her a quick hug. She would tell her mother and Grandmother Marie about her deal with Laura later. There was no use worrying them, or worse, changing their minds.
*******
A dinner. Of all the time and places, why did her mother and Grandmother Marie choose a dinner? And it wasn’t even a dinner that Cook made, which meant that they didn’t manage to slip the apple into anything. At least she had Laura in the kitchen right now, trying to see if they could persuade that foreign cook to let them ‘help.’
“I’m glad to see that you’re feeling better, Elizabeth.”
Lizzie gave the Nutcracker a smile, trying to hide the hate in her eyes. “I’m sorry to have worried you,” she said. “It was probably too much sugar.”
“In that case, this dinner should be just the thing. I thought you and your mother might appreciate some of these dishes. They are dear Marie’s favourites.”
Grandmother Marie gave him such a loving look that Lizzie almost bought it. “You are too generous,” she murmured. “It’s so nice to have a family dinner.”
Snow White’s smile was a little more strained but she managed to nod. Lizzie turned her attention back to the dishes. There was some weird form of candy corn, all gathered together on a stick and roasted. There was a large piece of ham, larger than any her parents had served. There was a bird too. And there were even some green leafy dishes — were those vegetables? The only thing Lizzie couldn’t eat was fruits, but the kingdom exported all their agricultural products to the Nutcracker’s kingdom in order to buy enough candy fruits for everyone.
“Try this,” the Nutcracker said, putting a piece of the candy corn on her plate. Lizzie tried not to grimace. She hated candy corn. “It’s called roasted corn on the cob. Don’t worry, it’s a vegetable.”
Lizzie tried picking it up with her fork but it didn’t work. Eventually, she gave up and picked up the corn with her hands and immediately dropped it as the heat attacked her fingers.
“Be careful,” the Nutcracker said with that creepy wooden smile, “it’s still hot.”
Lizzie didn’t even look up at him. She puffed up her cheeks and blew at the corn a few times, until she was sure that it was somewhat cooled down. Only then did she pick it up again and take a bite.
It was easily the most delicious thing she had ever tasted. The corn itself had a gentle sweetness, and it was salty on the outside. It was definitely better than candy corn. A thousand times better. Lizzie took another mouthful, and another, and didn’t stop until she had finished.
“How is it?” Grandmother Marie asked.
“It’s really good,” Lizzie said, trying to find some place to wipe her fingers. One of the servants stepped forward and handed her a towel. “May I have another?”
The rest of the dinner was delicious. Nothing was overly sweet, and a few things actually had this unpleasant taste to it. Mom told her that this taste was called “bitter,” and that medicines used to be like that. Lizzie didn’t like it either, but she decided that it was better than rot-your-teeth sweet. If her dad was here, he would definitely love the meal. He hated the way everything was sickly sweet as well.
Lizzie reminded herself why they were there. To kill the Nutcracker, not enjoy the food. Where was the apple? They had finished every single dish, but there hadn’t been any apples.
Suddenly, a servant stepped forward.
“Dessert,” he announced and placed a dish in front of them. He lifted the golden cover with a flourish, revealing a round dish with golden brown dough criss-crossed above it. There was something else, something slightly brown beneath it.
“Apple pie?” the Nutcracker asked. “Who is the fool that made it? You all know that my god-daughter and granddaughter can’t have fruit.”
“It’s made with candy apples, your Majesty,” Laura said, stepping forward. “We heard that you and Queen Marie enjoyed this dish, and we tried to create a version that everyone could enjoy. Please, take a bite.”
“I have a better idea. Elizabeth, why don’t you try it?”
He motioned towards the pie and another servant stepped forward and cut her a slice. From the corner of her eyes, she saw her mother stand up.
“Sit down,” the Nutcracker ordered. “There should be nothing to worry about if these are candy apples, right?”
“Of course,” Snow White said, sitting down again. Lizzie saw her take a napkin and she knew her mother would be shredding it to pieces under the table. She picked up a fork. This apple pie smelled delicious, but she couldn’t eat it. She had to find a way to get the Nutcracker to take the first bite. She put down her fork.
“Grandfather, I don’t feel comfortable eating before you. Please, take the first bite.”
The Nutcracker just laughed. “Go ahead, I don’t mind.”
She took up the fork again. The entire room was silent.
He knows, Lizzie realised. He knows and he wants me to die as a punishment. She looked at the Nutcracker, but his wooden smile hadn’t changed. It never changed.
She brought the fork to the crust and someone’s stomach rumbled. Everyone turned towards the source of the sound.
“I’m sorry,” Laura said sheepishly, her cheeks pink. “I haven’t had anything to eat.”
“Fabulous,” the Nutcracker said. “You can try it instead.” He held a fork to her.
Laura shook her head. “I shouldn’t eat before the Princess or any of you.”
“Don’t worry about it,” the Nutcracker said. “I would be a tyrant of the highest order if I made my people work on empty stomachs.” Laura walked forward and took the fork.
“She can’t,” Lizzie said, pul
ling the plate towards her. “I mean, it’s meant for you. And Grandmother Marie. You can’t just let a servant try it.”
Laura’s eyes flashed. “I’m not just a servant,” she said. Before Lizzie realised what was happening, she darted forward and grabbed the pie from her, and took a bite.
That was when they heard the shouting.
Chapter 13
Heinrich tried to make his way through the mob. They were definitely riled up, all thanks to Lady Bella.
“Doc,” he shouted. The old dwarf had said that he would stay at the entrance to the tunnel, so that they could leave immediately, but he thought he had seen someone like him. There couldn’t be another dwarf here. “Where are you?”
Someone elbowed him in the face, making Fin stumble backwards.
How had things gone so wrong?
*******
A few hours ago...
“Tsura said what?” Doc asked. Heinrich had immediately made his way back to the tunnel to inform Doc about who he had met.
“We need to get the Nutcracker out of the castle. It’s the only way I can save Marie.” An idea started to form, but it seemed like Doc had the same thought as well.
“How are you going to do that? If you announce yourself, he’ll just send his soldiers to kill you. He won’t even bother coming out.”
“He hates me, I’m sure he will.”
“Well, how will you escape without drawing attention to yourselves?”
He had a point. Heinrich tried to think of something else.
“What about Lady Bella?”
“It’s not a good idea. You heard Princess Lizzie, she wants to be on the Nutcracker’s good side.”
“That was before she heard about what happened to Marcelle. Besides, what if we make her think that this would make her queen?”
“Explain.”
“I’ll tell her that we’ll bring everyone with us when we leave, leaving the throne open.”
Doc furrowed his brow. “But the Princess didn’t say anything about that. She probably won’t want to leave.”
“They can handle that later.” As long as Marie and he managed to get away. Once they were gone, they could try to find a way back home, or at the very least, make a new home for themselves.
“I suppose it could work.”
Heinrich immediately went to the entrance of the tunnel and lifted the cover. “I’ll be back soon,” he said.
“Stay safe.”
*******
Everything went much better than he had expected. Marcelle had regained consciousness, and Lady Bella was clearly angry, though she seemed torn between seeking revenge and currying favour. But as soon as he had explained how a mob could be used to make her queen, she had not only agreed to help, but had given him enough supplies for six. Well, it had been for five but Marcelle had insisted on making sure Laura left too. He didn’t know about that, but Doc could always use Laura’s supplies.
“My people will create a distraction and you better get them out of my castle by sundown. Marcelle says that they have a magic apple? Will that Lauren-girl use it to kill the Nutcracker?”
Marcelle and her big mouth. Well, it couldn’t hurt.
“I’m sure she will. She seems to hate the Nutcracker and all she needs is a chance. A distraction.” A distraction that hopefully drew him out of the castle.
With his bag full, Heinrich made his way to the city. He didn’t have to wait for more than a few hours before Lady Bella’s servants started shouting and throwing things. It didn’t seem to matter that they all had different complaints, because their anger was catching and soon the entire city was up in arms.
“To the Princess,” he shouted, hoping that a few would heed his cry. He pushed his way through the mob, towards the castle, and by the time he reached its doors, a sizable crowd was following him.
The doors were guarded by both human and toy soldiers. The toys looked thoroughly unimpressed but the humans held their swords in greeting.
“He has the royal family imprisoned,” one of them yelled and at his words, the crowds surged forward.
That was when it all went wrong.
The toys stepped in front of the people and let the charging crowd ram themselves into their swords. Their faces unchanging, they formed an impenetrable wall. A few tried to cut them down, but homemade weapons were no match for swords and no matter how hard or how many blows came at once, the toys never flinched.
Truly these were some impressive Hussars, a part of Heinrich, the part that knew what Hussars were, noted.
“Set these abominations on fire,” someone shouted and hands fumbled in pockets for matches. The toy soldiers simply took a step forward.
The once-united crowd fractured in their search for fire and torches and Heinrich did his best to head towards the castle. He had to reach Marie, no matter what.
“What is happening?” the Nutcracker roared as he finally came out. “Can’t you take care of the rabble?”
The rabble responded by reuniting. They pressed forward and managed to make the line of toy soldiers step back. The Nutcracker took a step back as well and the crowd cheered when they saw that.
“There he is,” an imperious voice rang out. Heinrich turned to see Lady Bella, Marcelle barely managing to sit upright on the horse next to her. “The abomination that would call himself our king!”
The Nutcracker narrowed his eyes and unsheathed his sword, pointing it at Lady Bella.
“Is this your doing?”
Lady Bella lifted her chin. “You should have listened to us. And because of you, my granddaughter is now in this state. You will pay for what you’ve done.”
“I’ve never even touched the girl!”
“You didn’t have too. Turning down our request was enough.” Lady Bella narrowed her eyes. “Enough talk. Move forward.”
The crowd moved forward but this time, the Nutcracker moved forward too. He only had to stab a few people before a path began to clear. He made his way to Lady Bella and without saying a word, stabbed Marcelle’s horse. Lady Bella screamed and the horse fell onto the ground with a terrible noise. Heinrich could no longer see Marcelle but he could hear screams. Finally, the only screams that remained were the ones by Lady Bella.
As the Nutcracker passed by on the way back to the castle, Heinrich saw bloodstains all over his uniform.
The crowd too, sensed the change in mood and started murmuring to each other.
“Murderer!” Lady Bella cried and the crowd decided on an emotion. They turned towards the palace and charged. The Nutcracker found that his path had disappeared, and for every person he cut down, another two appeared. The toy soldiers too, put down their swords, looking uncertain as to what they should do to a city so foolish.
“Stop!”
Heads turned, including Heinrich’s, and they saw Princess Lizzie standing at the castle doors. Her hair was flying about, her eyes were red, and there were scratches on her arms, but something in her voice and bearing made them listen.
“I will negotiate with the Nutcracker King,” she said. “Go home and save those you can. There is no need for anyone else to die today.”
“We will not give up until there is justice,” Lady Bella shouted at her. “Who are you to talk?”
Princess Lizzie’s eyes landed on Lady Bella and, presumably, Marcelle as well. Her eyes widened slightly but she she stood still and her voice held firm.
“I am the princess and I will make sure that everyone is safe. Go home, Lady Bella, and bring your men with you. If you want to honour Marcelle, you should do so by making sure her death doesn’t become a political tool for you.”
She continued talking but Heinrich was no longer listening. This was the chance that Tsura had to be talking about. Quietly, he made his way into the castle.
Chapter 14
Lizzie hoped that Heinrich made it into the castle. She hadn’t dared look at him openly, in case the Nutcracker noticed, so all she had seen was that he moved.
“Well, Elizabeth,” the Nutcracker said, drawing her attention. “What will you do? I have given you plenty of time to think.”
“I would like you to leave,” Lizzie said. She sounded firm. At least, she thought that she sounded firm. “My people and I no longer welcome you here.”
The Nutcracker shook his head. “I thought you were smarter than this.”
“What do you mean?” Lizzie wanted to smack herself as soon as she said it. Why did she answer him? She should have just continued demanding that he leave. She had seen him do this a thousand times.
“Don’t feel guilty,” the Nutcracker said. His eyes almost seemed like they were glowing. “How can you compare to me? Now, you’ve seen what my men can do. If I wasn’t there to stop everything, you wouldn’t have a city to rule over.”
“That’s wrong,” Lizzie said, “You were losing. They were going to burn you.”
“Burn me? Ridiculous. I was letting them think I had the upper hand.”
No, he was frightened. She had seen it on his face. It was the only reason why she had dared to say that she would negotiate with him. But looking at the Nutcracker, she found it harder and harder to believe it was so.
“Trust me,” the Nutcracker said, “I have far more experience putting down such rebellions. You kill one city, bring in people from the country and all problems are solved. My men would have made short work of your people.”
Lizzie took a step back.
“No,” she whispered.
“Take a look at your little enemy. Aren’t you glad that she’s dead. Your next move should be to make sure that her mother gets absolutely no influence. I could send one of my men over.”
Lizzie managed to stop herself from nodding.
“You need to stop,” she managed to make herself stay. The longer the Nutcracker talked, the more she believed him. She averted her eyes and clung to the small sense of relief that came. “You can’t rule a kingdom without any people.”
“True,” she heard her grandfather say. “But I could always bring my people over. Be reasonable, Elizabeth.”