Low whispers were being exchanged amongst the elves. Each of their faces held a hint of confusion combined with fear and excitement while they waited for the king to arrive.

"Did you hear? Someone tried to drown the king!" A father claimed, squeezing his son's hand. "Maybe his wife came back to haunt him?" A woman stood next to him, clinging to his arm as she wimpered in his chest. He caressed her head comfortingly.

"Really? I was told that they tried to eat the castle," a woman commented in disbelief. She then leaned closer to the man, glancing back and forth before adding, "But honestly, who wouldn't? It was crafted from the richest of pastries. That would explain why His Majesty's so... large."

They shared a knowing glance at the castle in all its glory and snickered before going deeper into the crowd to get a better look. Not far behind them stood Krampus, scowling when his ears picked up their conversation. His back leaned onto an empty tailor shop, resting on its wooden frame. He looked to the center of the plaza in annoyance. "How foolish. This better be important."

Someone coughed from beside him. "If it wasn't, then we wouldn't be here, Your Highness."

He turned to see Simon after what felt like forever. "Simon! How've you been, bud?" His hands ruffled the deer's tan fur, scratching the center in affection.

He leaned into his friend's palm and smiled. "Great. My wounds from His―I mean, the trees, are healed-"

The goat demon merely shook his head. "No need for the farce. I was already informed of the reindeer's treatment by the pig himself." Speaking of which, why would the bastard make an announcement? He should be dead. Maybe he wasn't hungry last night.

"I see. My apologies." Simon sighed, glancing at the cloudy sky.

Krampus didn't say anything. The silence between them was enough. Nothing could express his regrets more than the raw fury building from within. Santa placed the earth children on a pedestal while treating his subjects like dirt, killing them without hesitation. Such corrupt autocracy was unforgivable. His sins were piling up on a silver plater, waiting to be devoured. Unable to conceal his enthusiasm at the thought, the goat demon licked his lips and smirked. No matter. He would have his fill soon enough.

Just then, a silence fell over the crowd. The elves split apart to form a path leading straight to the royal, golden pedestal. A pair of snowmen slid forward, holding spears across their snowballed-stomachs. Behind him strided the king, seemingly alive and well. He wore a velvet robe held together by a single golden string. What peeked from underneath it was his usual attire: a white fur trimmed red jacket and pants with a broad buckled belt. Krampus clicked his tongue at the sneer on his face. Damn. He then turned his head when he caught the scent of the cook he'd met yesterday.

Lilith was behind him, dragged by the larger elves within the king's domain. Her hands and bare feet were in shackles, linked by chains only long enough for her to be able to walk forward. She kept sniffing the air, since that was her only way of guessing what was going on other than the freezing winds and snow brushing against her skin.

"Hello, dear citizens," King Santa started as he marched to the podium, "As you may have heard, something very troublesome happened last night." He shot a glance at the disabled cook and frowned.

The elves' voices grew louder with unease. Santa took a deep breath and yelled, "Be silent and respect the sacred time you have with your king!" Once they ceased their chattering, he cleared his throat. "Very good. Now, it has come to my attention that our only remaining cook was in a misfortunate accident. Her poor eyes and ears are gone, deeming her worthless as a royal servant."

He placed his hand on top of the frail cook's head and scratched her scalp. "Utterly worthless," he muttered while digging his nails further into her skin. "However, me, being the generous wizard I am, decided that her cooking was too valuable to lose. Therefore," he started before snapping his fingers to a nearby snowman, "I have granted her new eyes and better ears―"

He paused to let the elves watch as the snowman unwrapped her bandages to reveal a miracle. The eyes and ears that Krampus had stolen from her were back on her face. What? He didn't believe it was possible. In fact, it was too insane of a thought to consider. Yet there Lilith stood, staring in every which direction with wide eyes.

Wait a moment... those eyes didn't look like hers. Neither did those ears. He turned to Simon and mumbled, "I'll be right back," before inching closer to the center of the plaza. This didn't look good.

"―so that she can witness her own execution." After he stated her demise, Santa smirked and rose his hands into the air, bringing forth a guillotine from underneath the snow. Lilith looked back and flinched. The tears she had been holding back were now streaming down her face.

Krampus pushed through the thick mass to halt the gruesome event, yelling protests that were overshadowed by the savage cheers of the workers and children. The elf was already pulling her towards the device in haste.

Santa smiled at the sight of her fear-strucken face before turning to the audience. "Do you want to know why?" he asked, not waiting for a response to add, "Because she tried to poison me with my sweets. I must say, it was a brilliant plan. Would've killed me if I hadn't smelt the nectar mixed in. However, it wasn't her plan. Lilith dear," he called, turning back to her, "you're far too dim-witted to think of such a complex scheme. Tell me who worked with you and maybe I'll reconsider your punishment."

Lilith shook her head when the elf pushed her arms and head into the wooden stocks and closed it. "I refuse!"

"Oh, are you sure? You must know what I'll do to your family if you don't comply?" Santa's smug smile filled Krampus with bitter anger.

She was silent, staring into the crowd with thick globs of tears rolling down her cheeks. "It was all me! Elves aren't as stupid as you think; we won't stay chained down by your rules, and we won't―"

Santa lifted his hand to cease her words. "That's enough. Elf, pull the lever."

Lilith froze. She closed her eyes and lowered her head, then began the chuckle. It rose and rose until her laughter grew so loud that Krampus knew it would echo in his hollow heart for all of eternity.

She laughed as the blade fell down, and then there was silence. The crowd wasn't applauding. No one dared to utter a word. Not even when the cook's head rolled around the stage.

The king bent down to pick up her severed head and presented it to the audience. He scrunched his nose before shaking it in front of them. Its blood splattered onto their faces and into the snow, dyeing anything it touched a deep scarlet. "It is my honour to inform you that Lilith Galwoods is dead."