Mistress

Gertrude's reputation tanked as after only 4 months of marriage, Horatio took a mistress. Drisella. A daughter of a mere duke had won his affection over her. She spent more time during her days to attend to her appearance in hopes of working on creating an heir to protect Snow White. Some found her to be "obsessed" or "trying to hard" it was only added onto by the fact she dressed Snow White in almost servant girl like clothing in order to draw attention away from her. This depicted her as hard hearted. Vain, because clearly she felt the need to be prettier than her step daughter.

It wounded Gertrude, but she could not show it. She spent time teaching Snow White the same skills her mother had taught her. Her obsessive fear of the future had not lessened her love for her daughter. They were often seen playing together. Learning the importance of hardwork and appreciating what everyone in the castle did for the good of the kingdom, from the lowest maid to the king. Even this invoked ridicule from the nobles. One night Horatio decided to address it with Gertrude. He entered her chambers.

"You are the laughing stock of my kingdom, do you know how that makes a king look when everyone views his queen so poorly?" Horatio said.

"Perhaps you should have not taken a mistress, that is when this started. I wouldn't be surprised if that snake Drisella began such horrid rumors about me" Gertrude answered calmly.

"You keep Drisella out of this" Horatio bit back.

"but you see that is impossible as she is so highly imbedded in it. First the rumors were I couldn't satisfy you--in response to your quick need for a mistress. Second is about my vainity--which is simply me trying to look my best in order to compete for your attention wtih Drisella." Gertrude explained.

"You don't even truly want my attention, you've made that clear. We are nothing more than tied by law." Horatio argued.

"And thus by law only my child with you shall be hier, not some mistress' child. If Drisella could pop out an heir for you then fine, have her, throw me in the trash. But her child will be nothing more than a bastard. A bastard can do nothing to save Snow White!" Gertrude began to raise her voice ever so slightly.

"Save her from what?!" Horatio exasperated.

"From you, from suffering our fate. I had to marry for the kingdom. To a man who doesn't care about me. You'll just marry her off like my Dad did to me into a loveless marriage. Into suffering. Into hell." Gertrude's voice began to get higher pitch.

Horatio slapped her "don't you ever accuse me of being a danger to my own daughter. You're nothing but an awful step mother to her. And that is all you will ever be. If this marriage is so horrible, leave. Be the exiled queen."

"Snow White is more important than my happiness" Gertrude stood up, for the slap had knocked her to the floor. "now get out of my room".

Horatio stormed out of the room