Thank you so much for all the Reviews, Favorites and Follows! Today will be the launch of a special weekend. Friday, Saturday and Sunday will see a new chapter every day. In regards to "Kai the butler" he is the guy in Frozen who wakes Anna up and introduced Elsa to the guests in the ballroom. I went through the original Frozen screenplay to find out his real name. If you would like to read more of my work, please read The Wolf's Maiden on Fictionpress. If you have the chance, please do comment on the story by giving it a review, I'd love to hear from everyone :)

Chapter 3

Standing at the balcony, Elsa watched the harbor. The sun had just risen and people were already busying themselves at the docks. Today, Rainer, Duke of Weselton was due to arrive.

Taking a breath, Elsa raised her hand slightly and put it on her stomach. She transformed her shiny ice dress into the dark green dress she wore on her coronation day. With a darker color, she hoped to appear more solemn, discouraging the Duke from thinking light of her because she was only a young queen. The shiny ice dress she could wear any day, but today she wanted to inspire solemn respect.

"Conceal nothing," she said to herself.

Today would be her first real test as a politician.

—

"Your highness, please wake up."

"Who is it?" Anna mumbled.

"Your butler, Kai."

"Yeah…?" Anna pulled a strand of hair from her mouth, eyes still closed.

"Uhm…it's time to get ready, ma'am."

Ignoring him, Anna turned around and continued to snore. For her sister's coronation day she was able to get out of bed early, but these days she had been spending the nights with Kristoff, never getting any sleep. They had done so many things together, but every time when he was about to slide inside her, something would always come in the way.

Two nights ago, Elsa couldn't sleep and wandered around the halls. She then discovered that Anna wasn't in her room and panicked. She sent out the entire Royal Guard to find her. Half of Arendelle didn't get a wink of sleep that night.

"Ma'am, the Duke of Weselton is due to arrive in a few hours."

"Mhmm…."

"As Princess Anna of Arendelle, it is your duty to stand beside the Queen."

"The Duke…" Anna let out a long yawn. "of Weselton…passed away last week."

Kai the Butler cleared his throat. "Rainer. Rainer, Duke of Weselton."

"Rainer!" Anna jumped out of her bed.

This was a day she had been looking forward to. Last week, when she told Kristoff about the new Duke of Weselton, he wouldn't quite believe that as the Arendelle Ice Master and Deliverer, he'd actually have to play a role in the kingdom's trade relations. He thought the title was honorary, but Elsa had every intention to let him make the final decision on this matter.

In a flash, she had her lion bed hair sorted out, put on her light green casual summer dress and ran to her sister's room.

"Elsa!" she ripped the door open.

"Anna…as a princess you should learn to knock."

They locked eye contact, and before anything could become serious, both sister's broke out laughing.

Then, Anna noticed the dark green Elsa was wearing.

"Elsa, why are you wearing that?"

Elsa looked down at the dress, smiling slightly. "Do you think it doesn't suit me?"

"No, no, no!" Anna shook her head. "I just thought you were going to wear your ice dress."

A servant entered and helped Elsa put on the dark purple cape. Then she picked up her small tiara from a table and carefully stuck it in her hair.

"I thought for a formal event, something like this was more appropriate."

Anna smiled. "Either way, you look beautiful."

—

Hours later, excited crowds gathered at the docks of Arendelle harbor. The great white sails of Weselton's trade galleon dominated the sky as the large hull dropped its's anchor. The sailors lowered the sails, and the galleon was tightly bound to the docks with thick robes.

From her balcony, Anna and Elsa could see how Rainer, the Duke of Weselton stepped off the ship. At this point, Anna wished she had the single binocular Olaf made out of an icicle so that she could take a closer look at the duke.

The arrangements for the day would be simple. First she and Elsa would meet Rainer together at the front gates of the castle. The Duke would be served lunch in a separate room, and they wouldn't meet for the second time until the welcoming ball that evening. During that time, Elsa wanted Kristoff and Anna to closely observe Rainer and make an assessment of him. Then tomorrow morning, the trade negotiations would begin.

"Are you nervous?" Anna nudged her sister slightly with her elbow.

Closing her eyes, Elsa let out a deep breath.

"As the Queen, I cannot afford to feel nervous."

Anna, impressed by how serious and mature her sister behaved, simply smiled.

Twenty minutes later, the two sisters were standing behind the closed gates., hidden in the shadows. Timing was everything in politics. If they were standing out in the open, waiting when Rainer arrived at the castle, it would seem as if Arendelle was giving the Duke a warm welcome. If they let Rainer wait for too long, then it would seem disrespectful. No. It had to appear neutral. Anna and Elsa would reveal themselves the moment the Duke appeared in the courtyard.

"The Duke of Weselton!" Kai, the butler, announced loud and clear.

Elsa took a deep breath. Anna put a hand on her arm.

"I'm here with you," she whispered.

Elsa nodded with a smile.

The guards opened the gates and the Duke of Weselton stepped through with a line of servants behind him. Immediately Elsa could tell that he was cut out from a different cloth than his father. He stood tall in a well-tailored dark red uniform, with raven black hair and sharp grey eyes. While not as muscular as Kristoff, he still radiated an air of confidence and dignity befit of a Duke.

"Queen Elsa of Arendelle!" Kai announced.

Elsa took a step forward, into the sunlight.

"Princess Anna of Arendelle!" Kai's voice bellowed across the courtyard.

With few awkward steps, Anna stepped forward and stood slightly behind her sister. With her elbow stuck to her sides, she waved slightly. Some of the servants waved back.

"Your majesty," Rainer stepped forward and went down on his knees. "I thank you for this warm welcome."

Then he raised his head and for the first time Elsa got a good look at him. His grey eyes pierced hers, causing her heart to jump. His strong jaw radiated a sense of masculinity along with his handsomely chiseled lips. Elsa swallowed. She stood several steps above him, yet the air around him made her stomach fill up with butterflies.

"I apologize for my father's behavior on the day of your coronation and the days afterwards."

Clearing her throat, she tried her best to compose herself.

"Thank you," Elsa said, her voice even, and devoid of any emotion. "Arendelle appreciates your apologies. We shall hold a welcome ball this evening. Tomorrow we will discuss the possibilities of reestablishing trade routes. Until then, my best servants Kai and Gerda will be at your service."

It was important that she did not say 'Arendelle welcomes you', as that would make Arendelle appear too forgiving and henceforth weak. It was only in the past few days that she had learned the fine mechanics of these political games.

Rainer lowered his head. Just as rehearsed, Elsa turned around and returned to the castle. For a moment Anna stood there, motionless, gazing across the lines of servants Rainer had brought with him.

"Your highness," Kai cleared his throat, signaling that Anna should follow her sister back in to the castle so that his welcoming ceremony could conclude.

"Oh…sorry," Anna whispered and quickly turned around. With both of her hands lifting her dress slightly, she ran back.

Just before the doors were about to close, Elsa glanced back through the vanishing gap and made a split second of eye contact with the Duke. His sharp grey eyes stared intensely at her, a small smile playing at the corner of his lips.

Letting out a breath of relief, Elsa took off her purple cape. Finally the initial welcome ceremony was over. But she just couldn't feel the relief she thought she'd feel. Those eyes made her heart beat faster than ever before, and that playful smile of his…she could tell that Arendelle's ice wasn't the only thing which he desired.