The palace walls shimmered, jewels embedded into the stone like secrets waiting to be uncovered, their radiance softened by the glow of crystal chandeliers. A soft, soothing melody from the orchestra hung in the air, its notes cold and elegant, a perfect reflection of our kingdom’s grandeur.

All eyes were on me as I stepped from the dressing room. My gown, a cascade of ice blue crystal, stood out in the sea of cold-themed opulence. Lady Collfumes approached, her silver evening gown hugging her waist with precision.

"Arie!" Her smile reached up to her cheeks. "You look glamorous tonight."

"Thank you, but you outshine me, Lady Collfumes," I responded with a playful smile.

"You know, you resemble your mother’s beauty," she continued, her tone wistful, "but she always accepted compliments with such grace—teasing me for admiring her." She chuckled softly.

A sudden ache settled in my chest at the mention of her. The thought of my mother, gone too soon, made the air feel heavier. "I wish she were here," I muttered, barely above a whisper.

Lady Collfumes’s smile faltered, a shadow passing over her purple eyes, hidden briefly behind a side-swept bang. "I would love to have her here as well," she said softly, a quiet sadness coloring her words.

I shifted uncomfortably. "By the way, where is my brother? I need to speak with him."

"He’s with Aice," she said, her voice lighter now. "They’ve gone to the dining hall. Let’s take a seat for a moment."

We found a quiet corner, away from the bustling voices of the nobility. The murmurs of their conversation were muffled here, offering a brief escape from the weight of the evening.

"Are you still thinking about Dorsey?" Lady Collfumes asked, her voice soft but perceptive. "I know it’s recent, and it’s hard to shake off the unease."

My heart twisted painfully at her words. I had been trying so hard to keep my worries hidden, but the trial, the circumstances—everything about it felt wrong. "Yeah," I said quietly, "I just can’t believe it. It’s... unbelievable."

"Do you suspect anyone other than Dorsey?" Her voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper, leaning in closer.

The question caught me off guard, a slight tension rising in my chest. "Is there anyone else?" I shook my head, trying to steady my breath. "I can’t think of anyone. Though… I did sense something odd at the Ice Judge."

She leaned back, a playful glint in her visible eye. "Right! I'm glad that I'm not the only one that thinks the same."

"Your words now convince me that you saw a vision that we'll talk about this so you already know what I would say." I said with a sly look on my face.

She let out a mischievous laugh, "Was it that obvious? Honestly I thought you'd guess it from the moment I approached you."

"But have you guessed something else?" she continued, leaning in with that same playful glint. "My son might be making moves at you."

I feigned innocence, raising an eyebrow. "Claudius? Really?"

Lady Collfumes leaned closer, a playful smile formed on her face. “Oh, don’t play coy with me, Arie. The way he looks at you—like you’re the only ice sculpture in the world! It’s rather sweet, really.”

I felt warmth stir in my chest despite myself, laughter escaping me. "That’s sweet of him, but I have enough on my plate already."

"Well, it’s nice to know you’re appreciated," Lady Collfumes said, her expression softening. "But unlike the others, Claudius is a good boy. Charming, handsome, and those dimples—good heavens! They could melt a glacier."

"Is that why you want me to dance with him at the ball?" I asked, biting back a smile.

"Bingo!" she exclaimed. "Though sadly, it seems you’ll be dancing with someone else. I wonder who that might be."

"Don’t worry," I reassured her, "we’re just going to dance."

"That means Claudius still has a chance," she winked. "But for now, let’s get you to Aerol before the nobles start pulling him into their endless talk about trade routes and winter fashion."

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

I nodded, a mix of warmth and anxiety swelling inside me. "Thanks for the pep talk, Lady Collfumes. You always know how to lighten the mood."

"Always," she replied with a wink. "Now go—before someone else steals him away. And remember, if you ever need help with matchmaking, you know where to find me."

I smiled at her once more, grateful, before heading toward the dining hall, my heart racing with what awaited.

The scent of the banquet hall was intoxicating, rich with the promise of a feast. The chef offered a smile as he served the guests, and I returned his gesture with my award winning smile. The long table was piled high with extravagant dishes, the nobles and aristocrats eating, their voices blending together in a symphony of chatter.

My gaze found my brother and my long-haired cousin at the far end of the room, far from the crowds. I made my way toward them, and as I neared, Aice glanced up.

"How’s the chill evening going?" he asked with a grin.

"Can you call this chill when the neighboring kingdom might attack us today?" I leaned in, caught between my brother and Aice.

Aice shot me a playful glance, his grin widening. "Calm down, Arie. Your brother and I are having our first date."

"Don’t joke about that," my brother replied, his brow furrowed as Aice struggled to suppress his laughter.

"I’ve heard you age faster with a grumpy face," Aice continued, raising his glass of lemonade.

I grabbed an empty chair from a nearby table and moved it beside them. "Really?" I asked, arching an eyebrow. "Am I that grumpy?"

"Alright, I’ll keep my face cool," my brother said, leaning back in mock resignation.

"Now I’m glad both of you look like angels," Aice sighed dramatically. "Honestly, I only said that to see the Ice King’s vulnerable face—"

"How dare you!" My brother shot Aice a mock-glare, though the laughter was impossible to suppress.

"Seriously?" I asked, still surprised. "Did I look like a jerk earlier?" I paused. "Sorry to ruin your conversation, but I’m just worried about the possibility of an attack."

Aice grinned. "Don’t apologize, Ice Princess. You look cuter when you’re frustrated."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "I’m not sure if I should be happy about that."

"Oh, you mean about Aerol’s amazing party?" Aice said, his cheeks lighting up with amusement.

"It’s supposed to unite the kingdom’s important figures," my brother replied, his sky-blue eyes meeting mine. "We talked about this, Arie."

Worry tugged at me. "This doesn’t feel right," I admitted, glancing around the room at the laughter and joy. "How can they all be so carefree when there's a threat looming over us?"

"I think the solution is eating more delicious food," Aice winked, his playful grin teasing my brother. "Maybe you should’ve invited the Sunstar Kingdom too. Now that would be a true unification."

My brother’s expression hardened, his tone serious. "That’s a dangerous mindset, Aice. We’re not distracting ourselves with a party. We’re preparing for the unexpected. But remember, we have responsibilities. We can’t just ignore the reality of the situation."

The weight of his words hung between us. I still couldn’t shake the unease in my chest, the constant fear that something terrible was on the horizon. Dorsey’s final, despairing glance haunted me, a reminder of all that had been lost. I wanted so badly for my parents to come back, to tell me it was all going to be fine.

"Arie," my brother whispered, his hand resting gently on my shoulder. "It’ll be alright. I feel the same way."

A small, bittersweet smile tugged at my lips. We were the same, bound by blood, by the same loss. We had both lost our parents.

"Let the Ice Princess eat!" Aice exclaimed, breaking the tension with his usual mischief. "The dishes will be sad if you don’t."

He waved a waiter over, calling for food as he continued to munch his cold, ocean-blue ice cream.

"Remember when you ate an ice cream in cold weather without an ice resistance?" Aerol brought up, his eyes glittering.

"I can still imagine your reaction when your face paled up because of its coldness." He teased.

"You don't have to remind me of that!" Aice shouted, while my brother quietly chuckled.

Laughter filled the space around us, and for a brief moment, the weight of everything else lifted. With my brother and Aice beside me, I felt the warmth of familiarity, a reminder of simpler moments. The food tasted sweeter, and my worries seemed just a little bit lighter.

***

My heart thumped in my chest as I stepped into the ballroom, the soft melody of the orchestra sweeping over me like a tranquil tide, momentarily silencing my unease. The grand chandeliers cast a crystalline glow, painting the room in shimmering light. I scanned the crowd, searching for him.

A noble approached instead. Not Skadar.

“Good evening, Ice Princess.” Claudius greeted me with a tentative smile, his crisp white shirt layered under a dark gray vest—a subtle but striking contrast against the ballroom’s unspoken ice-blue theme. His purple eyes flickered between me and the polished marble floor, as if the act of meeting my gaze might set the room ablaze.

“You look stunning tonight,” he offered, his voice carefully measured, though I caught the falter at the edges.

“Thank you,” I replied, mirroring his formality with a grin. “And you look sharp tonight. That outfit suits you.”

His cheeks turned a faint pink, the color faint but unmistakable against his composed demeanor. “Oh—thank you. Have a memorable evening!” The words tumbled out hastily, as if staying a moment longer would test his resolve.

I softened my expression, attempting to put him at ease. “You’re welcome, Claudius.”

Before I could say more, a light tap brushed my shoulder. I turned, and there he was.

Skadar.

Silver hair framed his face, catching the light and gleaming like frost beneath the chandeliers. His glittering light-blue suit complemented his sharp features, but it was his smile—so effortless, so self-assured—that left me momentarily speechless.

“Are you ready to dance, Ice Princess?” he asked, one brow arched in playful challenge.

I glanced briefly back toward Claudius, but he had already vanished into the crowd, leaving no trace of his shy demeanor. My gaze returned to Skadar, who now stood tall before me, his golden-yellow eyes locking with mine, daring me to look away.

“Yes, gentleman,” I replied, a spark of mischief lighting my tone. With a wink, I placed my hand in his, and as the music shifted into a waltz, we glided onto the floor, the world around us dissolving into motion and melody.