An orphaned monarch ascends to throne prematurely, lacking parental oversight. This vacuum fosters unchecked authority and a deeply self-centered nature. As queen, she rules with capricious demands, expecting instant obedience from her subjects.

During a winter festival, she spies an illustration of galanthus flowers and impulsively commands a bouquet, defying their seasonal unavailability. She offers a substantial gold reward, disregarding natural laws and the immense practical hardship her decree creates. This demand directly triggers the main plot, forcing Anya to search for the flowers in a raging snowstorm.

Presented with the flowers Anya procured, the queen reacts with dissatisfaction, not gratitude. She demands the location where they grew and personally journeys to the forest with her entourage. There, she witnesses the magical intervention of the Twelve Months and observes Anya's compassionate actions firsthand.

This forest encounter profoundly challenges the queen's worldview. She sees the Twelve Months protect Anya while transforming the cruel stepmother and stepsister into dogs as punishment. The experience sparks a shift within her. Following these events, the queen departs the forest with Anya, marking the start of a friendship. This new bond signals the queen's movement away from her former self-absorption, indicating personal growth.