Witch Queen

The Witch Queen is a character in the Black Bard manga.

Appearance
She wears a partial masquerade like mask over her face and has long curved horns on either side of her head. The Witch Queen has light colored, medium length hair and a rhombus tipped, trident marking below her neck. This is above her rhombus patterned gown that she wears, along with high heeled shoes.

Personality
Having a reputation for punishing those who bore her, she lives up to her repute by furiously incinerating a group of magicians who came to perform for her. The Witch Queen also expresses discontent at a night's banquet and considers dances, magic to songs to be worthless diversions not worthy of her time. She voices a sadistic streak in that she enjoys watching people gather hoping for a reward only to squash them like insects.

History
Her father sang to her as a baby. When a young princess, she was to be handed over to a larger country in return for military aid. For her country she was prepared to go through with this, yet appeared fond at her father's wish for her to find someone she loves and live happily with them. With her father assassinated she vowed to become wicked as well if that was what it took to protect her father's land.

Story
The Witch Queen has a fearsome reputation in her city. She is bored at a banquet and uses her fire power on Marth and his fellow magicians being unimpressed by their magical display.

At first producing snakes and setting them on Black Bard, she is persuaded to hear his musical performance at which she contently falls asleep. The Witch Queen remembers the song and her history and waking up sets out to find Black Bard.

Around the townspeople who quake in fear before her, the Witch Queen is reminded of love, happiness and smiles. Having thought she lost all these things, she thanks Black Bard.

Marth
A magic user who comes to display his powers to. Having failing, the Witch Queen unleashes a fire based magic on him and his entourage.

Black Bard
Demanding to know who the bard is, the Witch Queen decides he has lofty words but will hear his music playing. After the music unlocks some past memories of hers, the reminder that she has not lost what was once important to her causes her to thank Black Bard for this other gift.

Etymology

 * Witch Queen as a title refers to her status as a magic user and monarch of her kingdom.