Snow
“QUEEN SNOW, QUEEN SNOW!” The crowd chants, and I keep on smiling as I wave my hand. Standing at the back of an open-top car, I keep one hand on Richard’s shoulder as I wave, the thousands of people lining the road screaming my name in such a way that I can’t even hear the car’s engine work.
“They still haven’t grown tired of me,” I say, looking back at the seven men sitting in the long seats behind mine.
“And they never will,” Derek laughs, throwing one arm over his seat and casually waving at the crowd. Some of the women closer to the barriers and chanting their names, but I’m already used to it — after all, that’s par for the course when you’re in a relationship with the seven most handsome men in the realm.
We drive for fifteen minutes more, parading around town for the millions of people that have gathered in the capital. I actually don’t think I’ve ever seen this many people in the same place at once. The streets are so packed with people and flags that I feel like a Roman Empress, coming home after a victorious campaign.
Finally, as our car arrives at the Main Square, I can’t help but gasp. Despite the thousands of people gathered there, they’ve built a majestic stage at the end of the square, a red carpet stretching all the way from where our car stopped to the steps leading up to the stage.
“Queen,” the seven men nod at me as they leave the car. Going down on one knee by the side of the carpet, they wait for me to get out of the car, and only then do they go up to their feet. I’ve never cared that much about protocol and royal etiquette, but I had to make a few concessions to appease a few of the oldest nobles — I mean, I’m sleeping in a bed with seven men every night...I have to make a few concessions.
“Come,” I tell them, and I actually stop for a second just to look at them. When I met for the first time they looked rugged and ready to topple down the government but now, clean shaven and wearing their military uniforms...well, let’s just say I got to stop looking at them, or else I won’t be able to focus during the whole ceremony.
As I climb up the stairs, the whole crowd becomes silent, waiting as I position myself behind the podium. Feeling that nervousness taking over me, I run my tongue between my lips and take a deep breath.
“I can’t start to tell you how happy I am to see you all gathered here today,” I start, and everyone starts cheering. I have to wait a few seconds, but then I continue. “One year ago, we all witnessed what happened here, in this exact place. You raised your voices, you made yourselves heard, and we carried out your will. St. Carlta is back on its rightful place, among the greatest democracies the world has ever known, and that’s because of you – the people.”
Now the crowd really goes wild. They start clapping for so long that I have no idea how they manage to do it. They only become quieter when Richard walks forward, standing by my side; giving him some room, I step to the side and he takes over the mic.
“Thank you, your Highness,” he says, nodding at me. “I guess I speak for all of St. Carlta when I say we’re the one who should be grateful. You never faltered, you never gave up.” The crowd’s about to embark on another round of applause, but Richard raises his hand and stops it before it happens. “You’ve broken the chains of tyranny, forged an alliance with the United States, and now our country has blossomed. As a token of our appreciation, we have a gift for you.”
“A gift?” I whisper, looking at Richard and then back, staring at the other six men. They simply show me their smiles, and then Derek points into the distance. Turning my gaze there, I hold my breath as I see something in a corner of the square, right opposite King Alphonse’s statue. There’s something massive there, but there’s an enormous blue sheet covering it.
“On one side of this square, stands King Alphonse, our founder,” Richard continues, his voiced filled with excitement. “And now I’m proud to say that, on the other side, stands our liberator – Queen Snow!”
At that, someone tugs on the blue sheet, and it falls down in a hurry to reveal the largest statue I’ve ever seen. At the top of a giant rock are statues of the Council, all the seven men I’ve come to love; they’re on their knees, a defiant expression on their faces, and they’re carrying a massive broad shield. On top of that shield there’s a statue of me, one hand raised up in the air and pointing toward the Heavens.
“Oh my God,” I gasp, placing one hand in front of my mouth. I resist the urge to simply ran toward them, jump into their laps and kiss them all over, and so I simply stand there, looking at the statue and having no idea what to think. This goes beyond anything I could’ve expected.
“Like it?” Richard whispers, looking toward me and winking. Then, turning his focus back to the crowd, he continues to speak. “Let all future generations remember the woman who lead us. Let them remember that, in our darkest hours, there’s always someone that refuses to let the light of hope falter and die. And now...Let us celebrate, for that person is right here with us!” He finishes, pointing toward me, and the crowd roars so loud that I feel my own body trembling.
“This is your day, Snow,” Derek says, leaning toward me and whispering these words into my ear.
“No, this is our day. Liberation Day,” I whisper back at him and, for a second, I just close my eyes and take a deep breath.
Everything I fought for, it all led to his moment.
A moment of happiness.
A moment of love.