The Hunting of Snow White: A Grim Tale - Chapter 2

As soon as she removed her nun’s veil, a gentle breeze blew as if it had been waiting for this moment. Her long, jet-black hair, as dark as black jade, fluttered in the wind. Even the cold sweat that had gathered in beads on her forehead quickly cooled in the fresh early-summer air.

Sitting on a mat, Prina took a deep breath. Now, at last, she felt like she could breathe comfortably. The refreshing scent of grass filled her lungs to their depths, and her head felt clear. She felt good. It was well past lunchtime, in the afternoon when the sun hung over the mountain peaks. This was her favorite time of day during her daily routine.

The only breathing space in her grueling monastery life was this “secret forest.” It hadn’t always been called that—it was a name she made up herself, but that made her like it even more.

The monastery was located deep in the mountains, far from people. Outside of the busy work hours, it was as quiet as death, to the point that sometimes it was hard to breathe.

In that death-like space, Prina felt as if she were dead even while alive. No, she had to be dead. For the sake of others’ lives, in order not to be hated, she lived quietly, holding her breath.

The secret forest was located even deeper and further in than the monastery. But unlike the monastery, where time seemed to stand still, the forest was always flowing and pulsing. The sound of the wind, the sound of birds crying, the sound of the stream running, the sound of leaves rustling……

Although people were even rarer here, it was a living space, and so she could finally breathe. Only here could Prina straighten her back and let out a sigh of relief. To Prina, the secret forest was as good as her only hideout.

Again today, she endured the day by looking forward to the time she could come here, away from the people who thought her black hair was ominous. Coming here was both a reward for having made it through another day and a ritual for herself.

The hospice inside the monastery where Prina worked was always busy. Today, too, she was so busy she skipped lunch and worked straight through. Even now, she should eat something.

Prina rummaged through her bag and took out a chunk of bread, taking a big bite. The only thing to eat was a piece of hard bread. Even that was so tough it was hard to chew, but because she was grateful just to fill her hunger, Prina ate without complaint. If she chewed long enough, the hunger faded, and she could taste a sweet, savory flavor.

Prina’s earliest memory began at the monastery. She had grown up here since childhood. Under cold gazes, Prina was always grateful for whatever she was given. Since that was all she had, she tried desperately to cherish it, no matter how meager it was.

Soon, a white dove gently landed beside her. Noticing the white ribbon tied around its ankle, Prina smiled brightly.

“Lizzy. Have you been well?”

When she called its name, Lizzy cooed in response. When she broke off some bread to share, the dove pecked at it with its beak.

“Thomas, you came too. Were you hungry?”

Prina shared bread in the same way with Thomas, the gray dove that flew in to sit next to Lizzy. Thomas was bigger than Lizzy and had a bigger appetite, too. Hearing the contented cooing, Prina smiled and gave him even more bread crumbs.

They were clever, too. Now it seemed like both of them could recognize their own names.

“Hello, Jeremy.”

This time, it was the little squirrel Jeremy. Jeremy was originally very cautious, but maybe because she had shared bread with him for so long, he now came quite close.

“How cute.”

When she tossed him a piece of bread, his cheeks puffed up as he chewed, making her want to pinch him for being so adorable.

After the doves finished pecking up all the bread crumbs, they landed daintily on Prina’s fingertips as if showing affection.

“Are you happy to see me? I missed you, too.”

Prina liked animals. And the animals did not avoid her touch, willingly coming to sit by her side. Only the animals of the forest became friends with this lonely girl.