Before her second shock, Snow White had managed to maintain a semblance of composure, or at least avoid outright hysteria.
But here we go again…
The carriage screeched to a halt, yet this time, Snow White didn't even come close to tumbling forward.
Clearly, this was the second "fright"!
"..."
Snow White descended silently, her face shadowed, but her fury was palpable.
"Apples for sale! Crisp, delicious apples…"
The hawker's cry drifted closer.
Snow White gave a mirthless laugh. "Apples, eh?"
Lifting her head, her eyes glinted with malice as she spotted the approaching figure. "I'll see about cutting… cutting…seeing how good your apples really are."
The venom in her tone faltered.
Snow White snapped commands at her knights, ordering them back, then feigned fascination with the fruit basket as she edged closer to Tom Riddle.
"..."
Nagini and the others lurking in the crowd remained silent, though the temperature seemed to plummet.
Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy exchanged frowns.
"'Look at your apples~ How are they~'"
Malfoy mimicked sarcastically. Did the spoiled Young Master Malfoy think he could cozy up to Tom Riddle that easily? How naive!
"Don't worry, Malfoy," Harry said, his voice unusually steady. "The weak don't deserve to stand beside the Master. Only tough guys like us can hope to follow in his wake!"
Back at "Old Tom's Fruit Stand," Tom Riddle, smiling faintly, selected a slightly withered apple. "Your Highness, might I interest you in trying one? Fresh from the tree."
Snow White pretended to be delighted. "Oh, I adore apples like this, not too juicy, so crisp…they must taste divine!"
"..."
That bitch!
That's the very apple I just gave her!
Queen Snow White, hidden among the onlookers, fumed silently.
But she quickly regained her composure, a faint smile playing on her lips.
Snow White's blatant hypocrisy irked her, but the fact remained that she was about to eat an apple offered by Tom Riddle!
And that pleased her greatly!
Tom Riddle thought something similar.
But what she didn't anticipate was…
"Little brother, do you want me to eat an apple that you planted yourself?"
A slyness flickered in Snow White's eyes.
Tom Riddle chuckled softly. "It would be my honor if Your Highness were to partake of my apples."
Snow White beamed, clearly satisfied with his answer.
"Then I shall take all these apples! I refuse to allow anyone else to taste fruit that you have grown."
Snow White clutched the fruit basket possessively.
"..."
Good heavens! What an utter hypocrite!
While Queen Snow White found Snow White's clumsy attempts at flirting amusing, she couldn't deny that she was shamelessly flirting with the enemy! (In her mind)
And in a way, Queen Snow White was still Snow White's mother!
Snow White! Don't talk to your Uncle Tom like that!
But Snow White remained oblivious to her thoughts, or perhaps just indifferent.
"Your Highness displays admirable generosity," Tom Riddle said, his expression carefully neutral.
Snow White had indulged in enough empty chatter; surely she would eat the apple now?
Seeing Tom Riddle's cooperation, Snow White grew even more demanding, oblivious to the onlookers. "Hmph, then feed it to me."
"..."
Why all this senseless prattle?
Honestly…words fail me.
Tom Riddle, losing all patience, cast a silent, wandless spell.
Snow White's eyes glazed over, and she obediently bit into the apple in her hand.
Then she collapsed.
Queen Snow White's poisoned apple was undeniably effective.
However, Snow White collapsing in public view promised dire consequences.
"Protect her! Quickly, protect her!"
"Assassin!"
"Oh no! Her Highness has fainted!"
A throng of heavily armored knights surged around Tom Riddle and the unconscious Snow White.
To their surprise, Tom Riddle appeared utterly unconcerned, as if they were not there.
"So, is this the moment for Prince Charming to make his grand entrance?" Tom Riddle mused, studying the unconscious Snow White, then turned to the nearest knight. "Do you know Prince Charming?"
The knight blinked, baffled. "Prince Charming? Never heard of him… Wait! You assassin, surrender at once!"
"How troublesome."
Ignoring the surrounding knights, Tom Riddle extended his left hand, beckoning Snow White closer. With his right, he produced a small, cone-shaped vial from his pocket.
To the amazement of the knights, a fragment of apple flew from Snow White's mouth, followed by the half-eaten apple that had fallen to the ground.
Both vanished into the small vial in Tom Riddle's hand.
[Ding! Current Quest Progress: 2/5]
"How is this possible? Impossible… it can't all fit in there!"
The nearest knight stared at the vial in Tom Riddle's hand, dumbfounded.
"Still worrying about that? If it weren't for me, your princess would have been poisoned by now."
"Oh! Thank you… wait a moment!"
The knight brandished his sword once more. "You audacious madman! Quickly…"
"Cough cough…"
At that moment, Snow White stirred, showing signs of regaining consciousness.
Tom Riddle turned his gaze towards her, waving a dismissive hand at the knight. "Enough. Be gone."
"..."
Is that even your line?
Though unspoken, the knight's resentment was palpable, even through his helmet.
Damn it, now I'm really going to do it!
The knight raised his greatsword…
"Ahem…"
Snow White sat up, looking bewildered.
"Your Highness!"
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