As soon as the meeting with the ministers are over, Elsa walked towards the library to take a little break. As she walked by the window, she noticed Anna walking out to meet Kristoff at the gate. She smiled as Anna jumped into his arms knowing full well how much they missed each other.
"Quite a delightful view."
Elsa perked up and was surprised to see Prince Erik standing before her watching the same scene unfold. Still in his growing stage, he was already a few inches taller than her making her feel a bit intimidated. His hazel eyes gaze gently upon hers as if trying to read her soul.
Elsa cleared her throat as if to distract that awkward moment their eyes locked. "Are you finished settling in?"
Erik smiled softly without muttering a single word. Elsa looked down for a quick break at his antagonizing stare while she reshuffle the books in her arms. "I do hope our guest rooms are to your liking."
Erik looked out the window for a brief moment, relieving Elsa. "They're beautiful and very comfortable. Thank you for such a wonderful hospitality." He looked down at her books in her arms. "Are you going somewhere?"
"Yes, to the library. I need to put these back."
"May I accompany you?"
Elsa was a bit hesitant but smiled. "Of course."
They walked side by side all the way to the library. Upon entering, Erik noticed how well the books were kept. Not an inch of dust in sight. He watched Elsa put the books down on a table as she rolled the ladder to the designated spot. She picked up a few books and climbed the ladder to put them at the highest shelf.
"Why don't you just have one of your servants put them back?"
Elsa looked over to Erik from the ladder. "I find it nice to do things I can do myself. It's quite calming and distracts me from…other things."
Erik's eyes averted to the books on the table. "You're quite like my father in that sense."
Elsa climbed down the ladder and looked at Erik. "Is that so?"
"Yes, quite so."
"And what about you? What do you do to distract yourself from your duties?" Elsa asked awaiting his response.
Without a word, he smiled a devilish, boyish charm answering her question. Elsa looked away feeling flustered that she would feel bashful in front of a boy. She cleared her throat silently and picked up the rest of her books.
"Well, feel free to use this library if you shall ever have the need to distract yourself."
Elsa reached up and put one of the books on the shelf, tiptoeing as she does so. She took another one from her pile and put it up. As she grab the next one, she felt a hand grab the rest of the books from her and put it on the shelf in perfect order. The back of her head gently bumped into his chest as he reached over making her feel tense and uncomfortable.
Without backing away, he spoke as his breath brushed her hair. "I will, if I ever do need to distract myself."
He backed up a little allowing Elsa to turn and look at him. Remaining composed, she grab a few new books.
"You're quite perceptive yourself. Knowing that all of those goes to the same shelf."
"I have my ways." He winked.
Elsa bit her lips. "Well, then. Out we go now."
She headed out followed by Erik. When they went their separate ways, Elsa quickly went to her room to vent.
"How impudent of him! Showing up like he…he…..ARGH!" Elsa shouted while releasing a strong wind of snow from her hands. She clasped her hands together and calmed herself down. "Easy now, Elsa. Don't want you to be making a snow storm again."
She heard a knock at the door. "Who is it?"
"It's me. Lunch is served." Gerda called from the other side of the door.
"Thank you. I'll be right there." Elsa called back. She listened for a moment to hear Gerda walking away. Elsa sighed and ran her hand through her hair, only to realize it was in an updo. "Ugh, how long exactly does Kai intend for me to look this way?"
Lunch ran much faster than before with only Anna and Filip talking. Both Elsa and Erik were both quiet, with Elsa giving out an irritated vibe. Suddenly, she felt a gentle nudge to her left foot. She looked down to see nothing and looked at Erik knowing that the only person who can kick her on that side is him.
His eyes narrowed to the spoon she's holding and back at her. He played a gentle smile on his face as he put one finger on his coral lips. Then he went back to eating. Elsa was a bit confused as to what he was trying to say. She looked at her hand and realized the part of the spoon she was holding was covered in ice. Feeling embarrassed, she quickly hid the spoon down by her side causing Erik to choke as he held in his laughter. Anna and Filip turned to look at the two confused as they had missed out on their interaction.
"So…seems to me like you two are getting along." Anna whispered to Elsa as the four of them took a stroll in the garden.
Elsa shot her a glare and answered through her teeth. "We are not getting along. I just can't wait until the day they go back home."
The next day consisted of the same routine. Every now and then, Erik always seem to find her when she isn't busy with work. They would make small talk, and Erik would always leave making Elsa feel flustered with his cunning remarks. Anna enjoyed talking with Filip about his adventures when he was younger. Anna even introduced Kristoff to them. Filip immediately took a liking to Kristoff, saying that he's a keeper.
On the last day, Elsa felt so relieved that it is finally the day. She called them to the throne room where she would make her decision. Filip was making small talk with Anna as Elsa walked in. As soon as Erik's eyes fell on her, his smiled sweetly making Elsa tense. But she had her answer and that was that.
"I want to thank you for agreeing to meet me here. I have my answer now to your proposal."
Erik smiled disappointedly as he looked down. "Queen Elsa, I already know your answer." Everyone turned to look at him as he raised his head up to face Elsa. His smile never left his face. He turned to Filip and Anna. "If I may have a word alone with Queen Elsa."
Anna and Filip looked at each other and walked out of the room leaving only Elsa and Erik. Elsa was a bit puzzled as to why he asked them to leave. He stared at her for a moment before gloomily walking towards the window.
"I understand that I have no chance of gaining your hand in marriage, Queen Elsa. Given that my age probably disagrees with you."
"Yes, yes it does." Elsa spoke as she watched his slender back. "Dropping the courtesy of mannerism," Elsa said as he turned to look at her, "just how old are you? It wasn't mentioned in your profile."
"I didn't mention it because I knew you wouldn't agree to meet with me." He sighed. "I'm 15 years old."
Elsa sighed. "And you thought that I would change my mind if I met you first?"
"No, of course not. I don't expect you to change your mind at all."
"So, this is a game to you? Finding prospective bachelorettes in order to make fun of them?"
Erik's face turned stern. "No, Elsa. This isn't a game. And if you would like my honesty, you are the first ever that I have ever met as a prospective suitor."
"You intend to make me your bride? I'm so much older than you are. I'm sorry but I have no intentions of a marriage with a much younger man."
Erik's smile returned. "I understand that. That is why I want to make a deal with you. Or a game, if you want to call it."
Elsa stared hesitantly at him, especially at how confident he was the entire conversation. "What deal?"
"A matchmaking deal. If you would allow me one month, and in that entire month, I will try to woo you. If you still reject me in the end of the month, I will simply leave in good will. No harm done."
Elsa stared at him like he was crazy. "Okay…"
Erik walked up to Elsa standing only a feet away from her knowing full well she would not back away. "And if at the end of the month, you were to accept me…well, I think you know the rest." He spoke those last words in a whisper making Elsa's heart beat faster knowing full well he's provoking her.
"And what makes you think I will accept this…deal?"
Erik grinned. "There is no harm done, really. I promise not to do anything disorderly. And as given, I have all the disadvantages." He said and he took a step back. "Or are you saying you have no confidence in this little….game?" He said as he grinned devilishly intimidating her. Elsa eyed him suspiciously trying to read what was going on in his crazy mind. Erik grinned and held his hand out. "Let's make a deal."
