Snow White Devoured by the Villain (1)
"Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?"
I muttered to myself with a wicked expression, staring at the mirror in the corner of the room. Of course, the mirror wasn't going to answer, but for some reason, I felt just like the jealous queen from Snow White gazing at her reflection.
"Hehe~"
The long, black dress I'd spent a whole week slaving over billowed around my ankles.
"Miss Baby, you really look just like the queen who's jealous of Snow White!"
The nanny clapped her hands in delight beside me.
"Do I really?"
When I asked, she nodded vigorously.
"Of course! Your expression was so fierce, it made my heart skip a beat just watching."
I couldn't tell if that was a compliment or a subtle jab, but trying acting for the first time in my life felt refreshingly novel.
Grandpa and Mom and Dad are all coming to the play...
Even Woo Shijang and Dr. Lee were supposedly coming to watch. It seemed the real power players of Hansung Group were gathering at Saetbyeol Kindergarten just to see my performance.
Rumor had it that Jeong Haewon's parents and her grandfather, Chairman Jeong Munju of Hyundai Group, were attending too.
Suddenly, an inexplicable chill raced down my spine.
For a mere kindergarten play, the audience's lineup was anything but ordinary.
"Eek!"
"M-Miss Baby! What's wrong all of a sudden?"
"Nanny..."
"Yes? What is it?"
"With our family and the Hyundai folks crossing paths at this kindergarten play, nothing bad's going to happen, right?"
"..."
The nanny's gaze flicked away briefly. After a moment of silence, she cleared her throat and replied.
"Miss Baby, it's just a kindergarten play... No way."
"No, you haven't seen it. You didn't witness the tense standoff between the two grandpas at the Korea Economic Association."
That day, the air between Grandpa and Chairman Jeong Munju had felt like walking a tightrope over blades. Korea's top tycoons, face-to-face, boasting about their granddaughters without a care for the whispering onlookers.
They didn't mind at all. If anything, they seemed to be competing over who had more to brag about, slipping in granddaughter stories at every turn in a subtle war of nerves.
"Sigh..."
I slowly slipped out of the dress, letting the nanny help me. Soon, I sank into a bathtub filled with warm water. As it rose to my shoulders, the tension began to melt away.
Just a kids' play? No way. This was a battlefield.
On stage, Snow White and the Queen would clash. But in the audience, our grandpas might fight even harder.
"Hiiing..."
I puffed out my cheeks and dunked my face in the water.
Glub glub!
At last, the big day dawned.
From early morning, the servants—including the nanny—bustled about. I sat in a chair, still rubbing sleep from my eyes, while she carefully brushed my hair from behind.
Snick, snick.
The comb glided smoothly through my locks.
"Miss Baby, since it's a special day, I'll make you extra pretty."
"Yes, please."
In the story, I was the villain—but a queen, no less. With half-lidded eyes, I dazedly watched my reflection transform in the mirror.
"Oh my, Miss Baby..."
The nanny gasped in admiration.
That's right. For the first time in my life, I'd tried makeup!
"You're so, so beautiful. You look like the real star of the fairy tale."
She wasn't exaggerating. The starry black dress, disheveled just so, paired with the red accents at the chest, blended black and crimson into an alluring aura. A thin cape draped my shoulders, and a small crown symbolizing the queen perched atop my head.
Together, it made me look like I'd stepped straight out of a storybook.
"At this rate, you'll outshine that Hyundai girl by miles. When you grow up, you'll have guys dropping like flies."
"Really?"
"Absolutely! I've never seen a prettier child than you."
"Hehe~"
With my perfect primping done, we hurried out of the mansion. We'd heard we were leaving earlier than usual.
But outside? Security guards thick enough to rival a presidential motorcade, scanning every direction.
Grandpa and Woo Shijang. Dad and Mom. And some middle-aged men I'd never seen, all huddled at the gate in serious discussion.
I scampered to Mom.
"Mom? What's going on? There are so many people!"
"Y-Yeah? That's a lot, even for a kindergarten play."
"Huh? All these people are heading to the play?"
"Our girl hasn't heard yet? They say even group execs are mobilizing. It's blown up bigger than expected. So, fight on, sweetie!"
"..."
To think all these people were mobilizing for my play. They settled me in the back seat with steely resolve—two of them flanking me.
"Seoyeon."
"Yes, Grandpa."
"Avenge this old man's honor, you hear? Sure, you're not the lead—you're the wicked queen with the poisoned apple—but the protagonist doesn't always stay the pro!ta!gon! in the tale, right? Kkehahaha!"
"..."
And Dad, who should be cheering me on? He was cowed by Grandpa's intimidating aura, just peeking nervously.
"...Daughter, fighting."
"..."
Ugh...
I shook my head. My choice to attend kindergarten was shaping up to be my life's biggest black mark.
Han Seongcheol couldn't calm his pounding heart these days.
For a week, he'd been rushing everywhere. All for one reason: his granddaughter's kindergarten play was fast approaching.
He'd summoned every director-level exec and above from every Hansung affiliate for a fiery meeting.
"You all know why we're here, right?"
"?"
The execs exchanged glances. Some big event?
Then one tactless fool raised his hand.
"Didn't Vice Chairman Han Umin just announce the H5 Project? Is this about that?"
The room froze. That idiot. No way Chairman Han Seongcheol would call this many for a mere VP's project.
Woo Shijang, watching from the side, scowled. Didn't these execs know how the world turned? Future group leaders should at least grasp Hansung family dynamics.
Hansung vs. Hyundai. The catch? The battlefield was a kindergarten stage.
"Ahem!"
Woo cleared his throat.
"Everyone knows we have Han Seoyeon, Chairman's granddaughter, at our company, right?"
"...?"
"She's starring in a Snow White play soon. And the girl playing the lead? None other than Hyundai's Jeong Haewon."
"!"
Now the execs' faces hardened. They knew the "friendship" between the families all too well.
Just a few years back, an exec who'd sided with Hyundai got his throat slit right there by Han Seongcheol.
After that, no one dared mention the feud lightly.
Heavy silence blanketed the room. This wasn't just a granddaughter's cute show—it was a pre-war strategy session.
Damn Hyundai—we won't lose!
Every exec screamed it inwardly. Two years ago, a full European ship order had gone to Hyundai, turning Hansung's mood toxic. No need to explain.
The chairman had silently closed the report. Then VPs and execs vanished like rats.
"Ahem."
Han Seongcheol adjusted the mic.
"Outrageously, that Hyundai brat snatched the Snow White role from our Seoyeon. It should've been hers. They're overreaching without knowing their place."
"Exactly, Chairman!"
Then the real shocker.
"Our Seoyeon's the Queen."
"...?"
"The witch who feeds Snow White the poisoned apple. It's Hyundai throwing down the gauntlet at us."
"..."
Outsiders might scoff at a meeting over kids' roles. But they didn't know Han Seongcheol and Jeong Munju's rivalry.
Old enemies, always one-upping over calls. When Hansung lost the ship deal, Jeong called to mock relentlessly.
At the Korea Economic Association, he'd publicly slammed Seoyeon as poorly raised. She'd pulled off a miracle beyond her years to defuse it, or the scandal would've branded Hansung's heiress as rude.
Han Seongcheol never forgot.
"So..."
He continued slowly.
"This play isn't kids' fun. Keep that in mind and give it your all in your roles. Understood?"
"Yes, Chairman!"
Saetbyeol Kindergarten was in full battle mode.
Seoul's most elite preschool for the elite kids. Hyundai's heiress and Hansung's granddaughter attended, plus offspring of top brass everywhere.
Usually just kids playing. But today? The director and teachers lined up at the gate, bowing nonstop.
"Ah, good day? I'm the director of Saetbyeol Kinder—"
"Skip it. How's the play prep?"
Hansung Group's Chairman Han Seongcheol—my grandpa—cut in. The director bowed deeper.
"Perfectly ready. Safety checks, stage, lights, sound—all supported by Hansung and Hyundai..."
"Good. Let's inspect."
The director paled. Both families had funded upgrades, dispatching experts for safety. No mishaps allowed.
"Aigoo, who's this? That doddering fool Han Seongcheol?"
"Hmph! Senile old coot still clinging to life."
"Heh heh, gotta live to see my granddaughter wed. You look more wrinkled—your sons stressing you out?"
Chairman Jeong Munju appeared with Jeong Haewon. Sparks flew from our grandpas' eyes.
"Hmph! Hyundai's senile geezer."
"A ramen peddler like you wouldn't get a patriot like me."
I glanced at Jeong Haewon beside him. Dressed dazzlingly as Snow White, she smirked at my queen getup, puffing with pride.
"I'll win this time. 'Cause I'm Snow White."
"Sure. Do your best. The lead doesn't always stay the lead."
"Wh-what?!"
Did she know? In my past life, I'd worn mascot costumes for kids' events plenty of times.