"Your majesty, if I may-"
"Your highness, it is so nice to officially-"
"My Queen-"
Elsa couldn't help but raise a slight eyebrow at that particular opening phrase from the young bachelor prince in front of her. He definitely had her impression – and not in the good way. The young queen kept her smile however and made a short talk with the man before another competitor came impatiently by to have the chance to woo the queen.
Her father – god bless his soul – had warned her about the swarming bachelors who would arrive at her 18th birthday for a potential 'alliance' between their countries. But, since the last 3 years had been occupied with her getting ready as the new queen, she had ordered to keep the bachelors out until she was officially coronated.
Perhaps she shouldn't have done that, thought Elsa as she suppressed a grimace when she saw a young snobbish duke come forward. Her self-inflicted seclusion had only fuelled the curiosity for the young bachelors. How many had she greeted? 40?
"Can I have the honour to have this dance from you, your highness?"
"That's very kind of you, but I am afraid I don't dance" declined the young queen. She knew from the moment she accepted someone's hand, every single bachelor would swarm around her like children around the Christmas tree. She wouldn't have time to meet with the visiting dignitaries who solidly came to talk about the trade and economics; which was now the most important issue she had to solve. Her father's declining role in Arendelle's politics hadn't aided the relationships with their partners.
Elsa couldn't help but smile slightly when the 50-year old King of the Northern Isles came forward. She knew he was already married, and according to the guest records, his son wasn't eligible either anymore.
"Your majesty.. the rumors of your beauty haven't lied" said the older man as he bowed before her.
From any other, this would seem overly blasé, but the King actually managed to sound truly sincere. "Thank you for your words, your majesty." Nodded Elsa. "I hope our trade negociations are just as kind." The elderly king smiled and went back into the huge crowd of dignitaries.
God, her feet were killing her! Elsa moved her feet under her dress to keep the blood circulating into her toes, all while keeping her posture. But after so many hours, even with all the tutoring it had become tiresome for her. Not only that, but the overcrowded room and lack of oxygen had made her throat dry.
Well, here goes nothing… Slowly, Elsa descended from the small stairs and the people made way immediately like the sea before Moses. As she had expected many of the bachelors saw the sudden appearance of the queen in the crowd as an invitation and tried once more their luck.
"Your majesty, my name is prince Franz of-"
"Excuse me please" declined Elsa with a wave of her hand to the – quite rude – introduction of one of the princes. "I need a moment of my own."
After finally getting a small glass of champagne, the queen planned to go to the inviting open balcony doors, when she nearly let her glass drop. "Oh, I'm sorry my lord!" gasped Elsa surprised as she saw the Duke of Weaselton.
"Oh, think nothing of it my dear" smiled the Duke. "It is I who should apologize for startling you."
Elsa relaxed once more when she saw the young bachelors take their distance once more. The young queen couldn't help but giggle slightly. The elderly men were the perfect shield against these bachelors.
"I'm afraid I don't get the joke, your highness." Replied the Duke politely as he offered Elsa his arm.
"Its nothing, lord duke." Said Elsa shortly. As for not to be seen as rude, (and to keep the bachelors from trying to get a dance from her), she accepted his arm and the two began to walk around the ballroom.
The elderly Duke's eyes twinkled. "I have seen those young men scraping for your attention your highness. If I were a few years younger, I would have been among them." Elsa let out a soft laugh while the Duke went on. "But I've also seen, you've tried – and succeeded - to avoid them quite masterly." Grinned the Duke.
The young queen turned her head away from his gaze. "Lord Duke, I really don't wish to offend those men. I am not yet ready for such commitment. My duty is to my country."
"I wasn't judging your intentions, your highness." Spoke the man softly. "Although, if I may speak my mind-"
"you may" gave Elsa her full permission. She couldn't help but like the man already despite their short talk.
"It is admiring how committed you are to the welfare of your people… but you are still a woman besides the crown you wear." When Elsa opened her mouth, the Duke quickly went on before she could think the wrong intentions. "What you do is your own decision, your majesty.. I'm just saying that you shouldn't keep your heart from everyone."
Loud laughter came from the dancing couples nearby, and both The Queen and Duke glanced to the direction of the sound: They saw Princess Anna dancing with one of the many eligible men.
The Duke glanced to the worried expression of the queen upon seeing the openness of her sibling. "Then again, you shouldn't wear your heart on your sleeve" commented the duke, expressing the same thoughts as Elsa had.
"I'll keep your counsel in mind, my lord" nodded Elsa politely. Although she loved the talk, she really was in need of some fresh air right now. The Duke took the invisible hint, and bowed politely before turning to one of the dignitaries.
And not a minute had the Duke left her side or she saw already the hopefull glances of the bachelors. Great. Elsa looked to her left to see the outgoing doors to one of the many balconies. No one would disturb her there. As quick as the protocol permitted, Elsa went outside and closed the door, turning the key around so no one could get in. The queen let out a long sigh of relief. "Finally… alone."
"One would think the newly crowned queen would love to be in the spotlight."
Startled Elsa turned around to see an auburn- haired man sip his champagne glass. "Oh, I'm terribly sorry." God, what had she said?! What wouldn't the man think of her?! "I'll leave you alone-"
"I'm merely a guest here, your highness. If anything I should offer to leave." Spoke the man without moving from his spot.
"So why aren't you?" asked Elsa out of simple curiosity. Any bachelor would immediately do her bidding to please her. Yet this man didn't even attempt to.
"So you would think me one of your love-sick puppy's?" He shook his head. "No. I don't stand a chance to woo you, your highness. And even if I could manage, no one would ever consider to marry a prince in 13th line of succession. I'm not beneficial for our countries to get married."
The way he spoke was casual… not angry, not bitter… Elsa glanced to the man, but his face was averting her, watching the fjord instead. 13th in line… there were two countries who had that amount of heirs…the queen's eyes went to the prince's outfit and immediately the woman recognized the clothing style of the South.
"Why didn't you introduce yourself, Prince Hans of the Southern Isles?" asked Elsa. "I have met all of your brothers, yet you stayed in the shadows without paying any attention to me. If I have to make my first impression of you, you are by far the most rude of them all." She couldn't help but feel a bit angry at the man; it was utterly without respect not to say your name to a King or Queen. Clearly the perspective in the southern country was quite conservative if they thought she couldn't manage the crown! But then, Elsa saw the man stiffen and turn his head towards her. She expected him to mock her but instead she saw genuine shock.
"Most of the royalty don't even bother to remember my name, let alone pay attention to me amidst my older brothers." spoke the man. "Why bother to even try to gain recognition, when you are hardly of any value?" Hans smiled bitterly as he drunk the rest of the champagne.
"What is of value is my own business to decide." Said Elsa sternly. "Off all the men I have met tonight you are the only one who treats me like a person instead of a price to be won."
"I'm afraid you'll have to get used to it to be seen as an object." Answered Hans, his own openness and honesty surprising him. "There will be more balls, more festivities where they will try to win your heart."
"If that's the case, then I'll hope I see you there, prince Hans" Replied Elsa. For the first time in the evening, the queen could feel herself bring a genuine smile on her lips.
"I despise parties myself…" Hans took the queen in. She was so different from all the other nobility women he had met. She KNEW his name. She took the time to talk with him. Not because they wanted information on how to woo his older brothers, but truly show interest in him as a person. "But, I guess I can make an exception for you, your highness."
"Your majesty, its such a lovely evening to be-"
Shit! She mustn't have turned the key completely locked! Elsa turned her head to see one of the princes.. what was the name again? Frank? Friedrich? Judging by the posture, the similar face and hair it had to be one of Hans' brothers.
"Oh…brother." Spoke the older sibling with slight distaste in his voice as he saw he wasn't alone. "Your majesty, I really think you shouldn't waste any time on him. He is hardly suitable for a possible marriage-"
"As are you, prince…." replied Elsa coldly as she avoided the man's touch on her hand. "I'm sorry, I don't seem to recall your name… Prince Hans, what is your brother's name?" asked Elsa innocently to the man besides her. "Friedrich? Frits?"
The older brother looked baffled to the young queen. He had never known that people didn't know his name and his mouth went up and down like a fish. "My… My name is Franz, your grace." Stammered the prince.
Hans' eyes flickered back and forth between the queen and his brother. He would lie if he said he didn't enjoy this. If he thought he had seen everything tonight, he was wrong. Hans' felt his heart nearly hammer out of his chest when the queen put her hand around his arm. Hans had no other choice but step forward towards the entrance with the queen at his arm.
"Well then prince Franz, enjoy the view" smiled the queen with a polite yet sharp voice before they re-entered. "Just don't get too overconfident though. You might fall quite deeply." When Franz couldn't hear them anymore, Elsa turned her face towards the 13th prince. "I hope you are not offended by my words to your brother." Spoke the queen worried. If someone would ever say such a thing to Anna, she would have thrown him out immediately.
"Not at all, your highness" Replied Hans as they passed by his older brothers. The prince couldn't stop grinning as they came close to the dancing couples. When he noticed the pained face of the queen, Hans stopped.
"No, please, walk on, prince Hans" pressed the queen on as she tried to keep her blood flowing towards her feet.
"Sore feet, your highness?"
"How do you-" asked Elsa surprised.
"I've had to stand for 5 hours long in the navy for uniform and chamber inspection." Grimaced Hans at the memory. "If you wish we can remedy your feet by dancing."
Elsa couldn't help but chuckle. "I gladly accept your offer, princ e Hans."Worst, yet most original opening sentence she had ever heard this evening.