There were no statues or portraits of him in public places. He hadn’t seen the need. Having narrowly escaped the flames in the land of her birth, the queen, more than most understood the power of public perception. She did not have their love or their natural fealty, but she knew how to get their fear and respect.

She wanted the people to feel she was watching them at all times. The busts and paintings in every hall and market took care of that, along with, for a brief time at least, a network of spies who ensured she knew enough to make the people believe that she could see all of their secrets. She dealt a very visible and unpleasant justice to a few merchants who had been less than honest with their taxes, and the rumours of the queen’s sharp eye and iron grip subsequently spread like fire through the kingdom. Her spies added a few stories of dark magic and soon all cheered loudly when she passed but none would meet her eyes.

People were so easy.

Life in the castle had changed as well, especially for Snow White. The stable boys had been ordered to only saddle the gentle mares should she wish to ride, and she’d been instructed – under pain of punishment falling on her maids – to dress according to her station at all times. The queen had ordered a selection of dresses to be sent from her own kingdom for her step-daughter. They came with stiffer corsets and stronger binding than they made here, and if she wore them for a month or two she’d realise what a blessing her normal dresses were. Perhaps then she wouldn’t fight wearing them so much. Maybe then she’d see there was no point in fighting any of it.

On top of this, Snow White was no longer allowed to find refuge in the servants’ quarters, and although she still roamed the forest – even the queen could not imprison her in the castle – and visited her beloved dwarves out by the mines, her visits were less frequent and always reported. A little magic here, a curse here and there, was all it took to gain the loyalty of the forest folk. Her great-grandmother had taught her well.

No one would dare defy the queen’s orders, however much they hated seeing their beloved princess so unhappy. And she was desperately unhappy but that, after all, the queen reminded herself, was the point. Why would Snow White agree to a marriage if she was happy at home? The queen wanted her gone. She needed her gone. And if there was one thing she’d learned in her lifetime it was that nothing was ever achieved without a little pain.