I would like to thank roxygoth, BurningFox6, krystal lazuli, and LukeJames for beta reading and helping me improve!

Feedback is always appreciated!

Disclaimer: I do not own Frozen. Frozen is owned by Disney. I only lay claim to Prince Edmund, Prince Lucas, Master Stephen, Prince Cade, and anyone else you do not recognize from Frozen.

Chapter 31

After Edmund and Cade talked for a while, the English prince decided to introduce the Scottish prince to Lucas and Stephen. The two princes left Cade's suite, with the dark brown-haired prince bringing Rachel along.

As they walked, the toddler in Cade's arms was smiling and watching everything they passed by. At one point, Rachel looked at Edmund and said, "His name is Edmund."

Cade smiled at his daughter remembering Edmund's name. "That is right, my daughter."

"She is quite smart for a two-year-old," Edmund praised.

"Rachel is indeed quite clever. She always remembers the names of all our close friends and family members," the Scottish prince replied.

The black-haired prince smiled. "What else does she like to do?"

Cade shrugged. "She just does what a typical toddler likes to do. Run around to expend her energy, play with her toys, and count how many objects she can find in a particular room."

"Sounds just like me when I was her age. When I was a toddler, my father and mentor would always play counting games with me to see how many windows or something were in the London palace," Edmund explained.

"Ah yes. The London palace. It is the largest castle I have ever stayed in. Your father King Matthew has always invited every kingdom to a festival around the time of his birthday. My family and I really enjoy being at the festivals as they are a lot of fun. I am surprised we never met during one of the festivals," Cade said.

"I am surprised as well. Since a lot of royals come to the annual festival, I guess I only have so long to try to meet all of them as the festival only lasts for a week," Edmund responded.

This made Cade think of something. "I am curious to know if you met Prince Lucas at any of the festivals."

"Yes. When Lucas and I were young boys. I was eight and he was seven. He and I had one heck of a time during the festival. Back then, my father celebrated his thirtieth birthday, which to him was a huge milestone. Lucas and I did whatever we could think of together. We swam in the pond located in the castle gardens, climbed the apple trees in the orchard, and much more. Unfortunately, because you had to be at least eight years old to participate in the contests for young boys, he could not join myself or our former friend Richard in the contests. Nevertheless, he still did have a great time and cheered us on during the contests," Edmund elaborated.

"It thrills me to hear you and Lucas get along so well. Seems Lucas is your best friend," Cade said with a smile. It then faltered after a moment when he remembered Edmund mentioning Richard. "What do you mean "former" friend Richard? Did something happen between you two that resulted in your friendship with him becoming strained?"

"It is a long story, and I am not sure your daughter would like to hear about it," Edmund said.

Cade nodded in understanding. "Based on how you said it, I am sure Rachel would not like to listen as she does not like scary stories."

"That does make sense as she is only a toddler, after all," Edmund replied.

"After you introduce me to Lucas and Stephen, it will be time for her to take a nap anyway. Perhaps you could tell me the story between you and Richard while Rachel takes her nap?" the Scottish prince suggested.

"Only if you would like me to do so. I should warn you it is a rather dark story," the English prince cautioned.

"I would like to hear about what transpired between you and Richard," Cade insisted.

"Okay. If you insist," Edmund replied.

OoOoOoOoOoO

Edmund, Cade, and Rachel entered Edmund and Stephen's guestroom. As they approached the suite, they could hear sparring. Entering, they saw Lucas and Stephen sparring with each other, throwing punches each other's way, and blocking them. Upon walking inside the suite, they watched Lucas and Stephen spar with each other.

Lucas and Stephen soon noticed them and ceased their sparring.

"Ah, Edmund. I hope you enjoyed your walk around the castle," Stephen said before he turned his attention to the young man he had never seen before. "I see you have made a new friend. What is your name, my good sir?"

Taking care not to hurt his daughter, Cade bowed respectfully. "I am Prince Cade of Scotland."

"Pleasure to be at your acquaintance, Prince Cade. I am Sir Stephen, Edmund's personal mentor, and this is Prince Lucas of Ostenda," Stephen said before he and Lucas bowed. "You may call me Stephen, or just Steph."

"Please, call me Cade. It is very nice to meet you, gentlemen," Cade greeted with a grin.

"Is that your daughter?" Lucas asked curiously, getting a closer look at the toddler girl in Cade's arms.

"Yes. Her name is Rachel," the Scottish prince replied.

The Belgian prince smiled. "Hello there."

Rachel giggled and smiled before she said, "Lucas."

She then faced Stephen and Edmund, saying their names.

"That is right, Rachel," Cade said with a beam, happy his young daughter remembered each man's name.

"What do you think of Arendelle, Cade?" Edmund asked.

"I really appreciate Queen Elsa inviting me and Rachel over for the holidays. Arendelle may be significantly smaller than Edinburgh, but I like it thus far," Cade responded.

"Have you gotten a chance to see the town yet?" Lucas wondered.

Cade shook his head. "I have not really left the castle since arriving here as I would like to make sure I take care of Rachel."

"Perhaps you would like to join us to see the town sometime?" the Belgian prince suggested.

"Of course. I am sure there is someone here in the castle who can look after Rachel. The last thing I would like to happen is her being unsupervised and hurting herself," the Scottish prince replied.

"It sounds like you are a really good father," Lucas praised.

Cade shrugged. "I am just trying to help raise her to be the best person she can be when she grows up."

Edmund, Stephen, and Lucas grinned. It sounded like Cade knew what he was doing with parenthood.

"How do you like living in Scotland, Cade?" Stephen asked curiously.

"I like it. Edinburgh has a lot to do, and I enjoy the cuisine in Scotland as well," Cade said.

"What kind of food do they serve there?" Stephen wondered.

"I will eat anything that is given to me, but to name some traditional Scottish meals, one of my favorites is Scottish pie. Scottish pie is not very large in size, but it is a delicious meal. They are pies that are double-crusted meat pies and originated in Scotland. Scottish pies are filled with minced mutton or other types of meat and can be served hot or cold. I personally like them served hot. Another dish I enjoy having for breakfast is Scottish porridge. It has been around since the earliest days of Scotland. Using salt instead of sugar makes it a savory breakfast rather than a sweet one. I do enjoy my fair share of sweets, but I would prefer not consuming sweets to the point where it affects my health. Staying healthy means a lot to me, as I would like to live a long, productive life," Cade elaborated.

"The feeling is mutual. We care about living as long as possible as well," Stephen said as Edmund and Lucas nodded in agreement.

Cade grinned. "Seems like we have some things in common."

"I guess so," Edmund said with a beam.

"What do you like to do for fun?" Lucas wondered.

"I enjoy reading, running, archery, and spending time with Rachel. Another thing I do is train as an assassin," Cade explained.

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

"Do you have any weapons of choice?" the Belgian prince asked.

"I am into dual weapons and bows. While I can assure you that I can defend myself just fine, I am more of an offensive fighter than defensive," the Scottish prince responded.

Lucas nodded in understanding. "Everyone has their own unique ways of how they like to fight." The Belgian prince then thought of something. "Since you train as an assassin, have you had to resort to killing anyone?"

Cade shook his head. "Fortunately, no. I would only kill someone if they were a big enough threat to the people I care about most. Hopefully, I will never have to do such a thing."

"We feel the same way. Edmund, Stephen, and I would never kill anyone, no matter how evil they are," Lucas said.

"You gentlemen are so honorable. While I may be an assassin, I only use my skills for good reasons. I was not trained to harm the innocent," Cade replied.

"You appear to have the honorable trait as well considering you choose not to harm innocent people," Lucas stated.

Just then, Rachel yawned and closed her eyes.

"Looks like it is time for Rachel to take her nap. I will be right back," Cade said as he excused himself from Edmund and Stephen's guestroom to take Rachel back to his guestroom.

OoOoOoOoOoO

After the Scottish prince had put his daughter to bed, he returned to Edmund and Stephen's guestroom.

"What do you think of Queen Elsa, Princess Anna, and Sir Kristoff?" Edmund asked.

"I really liked the way they greeted me and my daughter when we arrived. Arendelle is one of the smaller kingdoms I have been to, but it is also one of the most beautiful," Cade responded.

"I am sure Elsa, Anna, and Kristoff will be thrilled to hear that," the English prince said with a grin.

This made Cade smile as well. As charming as the smiles of Edmund, Stephen, and Lucas were, Cade had a good-looking beam himself.

"Perhaps you would like to see the town?" Stephen suggested.

"I would like that," Cade replied with a nod. "Before we leave the castle, I would like to get one of the castle staff members to watch Rachel."

"Of course. Please take your time," Stephen replied as the Scottish prince left the suite to find someone to look after his daughter while he was away.

OoOoOoOoOoO

The four men explored the town. Edmund, Stephen, and Lucas showed Cade around the entire area, from the café Stephen had discovered to Theodor's Weaponry. Cade really liked what he saw from the town. It had to have been the most tastefully decorated kingdom he had ever seen during Christmas time.

"What do you think of the town?" Edmund asked.

"Definitely one of the nicest towns I have ever seen. It is not only beautiful, but the Christmas decorations only make it more appealing to look at," Cade praised.

"We thought so as well," the English prince replied with a beam.

"Have you heard Elsa's birthday is in December?" Lucas asked.

"I have not. Now that you mention it, I would like to get something for Elsa. That is, if her birthday has not passed already," Cade responded.

"Her birthday is in a few days. It is on the Winter Solstice, to be precise," the Belgian prince explained.

Cade sighed with relief. He felt it would be a nice gesture to get something for the Snow Queen. "What would you gentlemen suggest I get for her?"

Edmund was the first to speak. "Elsa does not seem to be a demanding person. She seems like she is very easygoing and does not ask for much. Thus, I think whatever you get her, Elsa will be happy."

"What did you guys get for her?" Cade wondered.

"I got her a diamond necklace," Edmund said.

"A diamond bracelet is what I selected for Elsa," Lucas stated.

"As for me, I really could not think of anything Edmund and Lucas had not already gotten for her, so I got her a bouquet of flowers," Stephen replied.

The Scottish prince contemplated for some time. He wanted to get a present for Elsa, but something Edmund, Stephen, and Lucas had not gotten her already. Cade remembered during his respective birthdays his family liked to give him a variety of gifts rather than the same thing more than once. He always enjoyed new things.

Once he came up with an idea, Cade asked the three men before him, "Would perfume make a good gift for Elsa?"

The three men nodded. "I am sure Elsa wears perfume every day. Maybe a winter scented perfume," Edmund responded.

"Then that is what I will get her then," Cade finalized.

"Good idea. I am sure Elsa would like a winter scented perfume," Edmund replied with a grin.

The Scottish prince nodded with a smile.

OoOoOoOoOoO

After Cade had purchased a winter scented perfume for Elsa, the four men went back to the castle. The Scottish prince found a place to put his present for the Ice Queen in his suite to ensure it was hidden, but where he could find it.

By then it was dinnertime, and Rachel had woken up from her nap. Cade carried her in his arms as he, Edmund, Stephen, and Lucas made their way through the palace hallways.

The four men entered the Great Hall to see Elsa, Anna, and Kristoff already seated. Upon seeing Edmund, Stephen, and Lucas, the Arendelle royal family of Arendelle greeted them before noticing Cade and Rachel with them. A lot of the guests attending the Ball liked to head out into the town to eat dinner. However, Edmund, Stephen, and Lucas decided to stay in the castle as they felt they knew Elsa, Anna, and Kristoff well enough at that point.

"Well, it seems we have another guest in here with us," Anna said with a smile, as she had greeted him upon his arrival. Now she was trying to figure out who he was. "Are you Prince Cade of Scotland?"

Cade nodded. "Good evening, Anna. How are you, Elsa, and Kristoff doing tonight?"

"We are doing well. Thank you for asking," the princess replied. "How is your daughter?"

The Scottish prince smiled. "She is doing fine. Rachel just woke up from her nap."

"Rachel is so adorable," Anna said with a fond smile.

"That she is," Cade responded with a chuckle.

Everyone then sat down, with Cade sitting next to Stephen and Rachel adjacent to her father in a seat designed for babies and toddlers.

"What do you think of Arendelle, Cade?" Elsa wondered.

"Arendelle is one of the most beautiful kingdoms I have ever seen. I greatly appreciate the invitation you sent to me and my daughter," Cade said with a smile. "Edmund, Stephen, and Lucas showed me the town earlier today, and we had a great time."

"I am glad to hear that," the Snow Queen replied.

Elsa noticed Cade was taller than the other three guests. However, he did not appear to be nearly as muscular as Edmund, Stephen, or Lucas.

Then the Snow Queen turned her attention to the toddler sitting next to Cade and smiled. "Why hello there."

Cade smiled down at his young daughter. "Say hello to Elsa, Rachel."

Rachel smiled shyly and tentatively waved to the Snow Queen. "Hi."

This made Elsa giggle. She could not remember the last time she was around an infant or a toddler outside of her own kingdom. "Rachel is her name?"

"Yes. She is the sunshine of my life. Rachel means everything to me," Cade said with a nod. "The name means one with purity."

"What a great father you must be," Elsa praised.

"I am just doing what is best to help raise my daughter to become the best person she can be," Cade said modestly with a shrug.

The Ice Queen was liking her conversation with Cade. He seemed to have some similarities to Edmund, Stephen, and Lucas. Not only was he humble, but never liked to brag about himself.

"What is Scotland like?" the Ice Queen asked.

"It is a beautiful country. There are certain parts of the country, such as Glasgow, where it rains a lot. Glasgow is the largest city in the country. It is the only city in Scotland larger than the capital, Edinburgh," Cade said.

"Who are your parents?" Elsa wondered.

"My parents are King Kenneth and Queen Catherine. They love each other very much. I am blessed to call them my parents," Cade responded with a smile.

"I am happy to hear that," Elsa said with a grin. "How did you meet Edmund, Stephen, and Lucas?"

"Edmund knocked on my door and decided to introduce himself. Then after we talked for a while, he decided to introduce me to Lucas and Stephen. They are some of the greatest guys I have ever met," Cade said with a smile.

This made Edmund, Stephen, and Lucas beam gratefully. "I am glad you think that way of us, Cade. We are always trying to treat others the way we would like to be treated; with respect," Edmund stated.

"You guys certainly do a wonderful job of that," Cade said.

"We try," the English prince replied with a shrug.

The Scottish prince was enjoying his conversations with Elsa and the other three guests in the room with him. He realized he still did not talk to Anna that much and had yet to speak with Kristoff.

It would not be long before dinner was served.

After dinner, everyone talked some more.

Cade decided to talk to Anna and Kristoff to get to know them better.

"Anna? It seems you and Kristoff are a couple. Is that true?" Cade wondered.

The princess nodded. "Yes. Kristoff and I have been together for five months now."

The Scottish prince looked between them before he smiled. "It seems that you two are very happy together. Loyalty is one of the most important things in a relationship."

"I agree. Kristoff is the most loyal man I have ever met," Anna said with a happy sigh.

"How did you two meet?" Cade asked.

"It's a long story," Anna replied before she told the Scottish prince about the eternal winter Elsa accidentally caused, which earned a surprised reaction from Cade. The princess then elaborated over how she met the ice harvester while trying to put an end to the eternal winter, and her failed engagement to Hans. After the princess told the Scottish prince about Hans, he clenched his fists, trying to control the anger boiling inside of him. Thankfully, he was able to keep his emotions in check. What made Cade happy was the Snow Queen was able to put an end to the eternal winter and Anna and Kristoff subsequently became a couple.

Once Anna finished her story, Cade asked the Ice Queen, "Elsa? Is it true you have the power over ice and snow?"

Elsa nodded and summoned some snowflakes in her hand to prove it.

The Scottish prince gazed in amazement. "Wow."

Rachel giggled.

Cade smiled down at his young daughter. "You like that, Rachel?"

The toddler girl nodded.

"How long have you had your powers? Your entire life?" Cade asked.

Elsa nodded. "I was born with them."

"They are amazing, to say the least. I bet you could do a lot of good things with your powers," Cade said with a smile.

Elsa smiled. "Thank you. I try my best to keep them under control."

"You seem to do a great job of that," the Scottish prince said with a nod of approval.

The Ice Queen liked that Cade was a good man like Edmund, Stephen, and Lucas. He seemed mature and wise beyond his years.

"If I may ask, how old are you, Cade?" Elsa asked.

"Nineteen," Cade responded. "I became a father two years ago, when I was seventeen. Seventeen may seem a little young to become a father, but that is how everything turned out for me."

"It's okay. We won't judge," Anna said with a wink.

Cade could not help but smile at that.

"Who is your wife?" Elsa asked.

Cade cringed at that. However, he was thinking the royal family of Arendelle should know his life story. It may not have been the most pleasant story for anyone, but everyone's story was destined to be different.

"Gladys was her name. She was born to a middle-class family of shoemakers. We met when I was twelve years old, and we married when I was sixteen. After we married, I thought our marriage was going to be a success. Unfortunately, the marriage was a disaster. As it turned out, she married me because she cared more about my social status and wealth than who I truly was as a person. Not long after our wedding, Gladys and I found out we were going to become parents. At that time, I felt I was not ready for fatherhood. However, once Rachel was born, I was more than happy to put in the time and effort in raising any children we had. Sadly, Gladys was not willing to play her part in helping with raising Rachel. Before Rachel's first birthday, Gladys abandoned us. We subsequently divorced soon after, and I have not seen her since," Cade elaborated with some anguish in his voice.

"I am sorry about asking that," Elsa said, feeling bad for the Scottish prince.

"No, it is okay. It is not your fault, Elsa," Cade responded. "The only one to blame is Gladys for leaving me to raise her on my own. Regardless, I try to be the best father I can be, for Rachel's sake."

"I am glad to hear you try to do what is best for Rachel. Based on what I have heard, parenting can be quite challenging," Elsa said.

"I agree. Nonetheless, I can guarantee you the challenge is worth it. Raising children will bring out a new side of you that you never thought was there before. When Rachel was born, I felt like I did not have enough responsibility to raise any children, as even now I am still not fully-grown yet. Upon becoming a father, I realized I had to mature significantly to raise Rachel the correct way," Cade explained.

"You seem very mature for a nineteen-year-old, Cade," Elsa praised.

"Well, I try," Cade said with a shrug.

Dessert arrived soon after, and the royals enjoyed their delicious, sweet treats and continued having pleasant conversations.