It had been two years since Elsa left for elementary school. As a seven-year-old, she was used to the tiresome school rules. Though there were a couple of times she was on the verge of breaking rules, she was able to hold back her impulse in doing so.

It was the school establishment day, and the older children got to sit in the hall and listen to the headmistress' speech, watching the wonderful performance of the schoolmates. The younger children were to stay in their classroom and watched the whole ceremony through the projector.

Since Elsa's class teacher was in the hall, managing the ceremony, another teacher came to take care of the class. Elsa did not know the teacher's name, since no one in the class ever asked about the teacher's surname, she did not bother know.

The teacher sat at the back, right beside Elsa. She could smell the heavy perfume of the teacher, and she surely did not like the pungent smell, it was almost like the smell of new leathered furniture, mixed with the weird freshness. She remembered passing the famous perfume shop last Saturday when she was on her way to the Parliament to find her father, and the smell was exactly the same as this one.

"Elsa, can you lend me your handbook, please?" asked the teacher.

"Yes, Madame," answered Elsa and she handed in the handbook to her. She could not say no even when she wanted to.

The teacher flipped the handbook to the calendar page and started examining. Elsa did not have the patience to observe her, so she just stared at the screen, watching the dance performance of the school dance team.

The ceremony lasted for two and a half hours and finally ended at noon, and everyone quickly packed their schoolbags and hurried out of the classroom.

"Elsa, hurry up!" said one of Elsa's classmates. "Or else the boys will occupy the hopscotch!"

"I'm coming!" said Elsa and she hurried lifted up her schoolbag, sprinting out of the classroom.


Just as she reached home, she placed her schoolbag on the table and left to her mother's study. Anna was in the kindergarten and had not yet returned, and there were a couple of hours before school ended.

"Hey, Elsa, want to dine outside?" asked the Queen.

"Can we, Mama?" gasped Elsa.

"Of course, let me Phone your Papa first?"

The Queen dialled the numbers and waited for a while.

"Agðar?...Yes, are you free to go?...That would be wonderful…oh, is it…okay…see you later…bye."

Elsa looked into her mother's eyes.

"Come now, Elsa, we'd better hurry," said the Queen. "Otherwise we will have to queue up at the restaurant."

"Yeah," said Elsa and she ran downstairs, with the Queen following her behind.

"Are we going to walk?"

"We'll take the car, or else the journalists will stop us."

Elsa nodded and the Queen assisted her getting into the limousine. The chauffeur drove pass the gates and the car ran smoothly along the road.

"What do you want to eat?" asked the Queen.

"Anything," replied Elsa dreamily. "Can we go to the Palmen?"

"Palmen?" said the Queen. "Okay, since it's not far, but are you sure you want to have lunch there? There's no children set lunch."

"I'm fine with that," said Elsa. "I don't have children set lunch at home either."

The Queen smiled and ordered the chauffeur go to the Palmen. The travelling was less than ten minutes, and Elsa jumped off the limousine, searching for her father.

"Your Papa is not here yet, the chauffeur has to pick him up."

"Why?" asked Elsa as she watched the limousine drove away.

"Not everyone in the country like your Papa, some want him to get hurt."

"Why don't they like Papa?" asked Elsa. "Papa is a good King, and all my friends like him. Why would someone hate Papa?"

"You'll understand when you grow up," said the Queen, there were tears welling up in her eyes.

Elsa knew she had to have spoken something wrong, so she avoided looking at her mother and entered the hotel restaurant. Since it was the Queen who came in for lunch, the restaurant managers were friendly and did not request any reservations. The distinctive glass dome letting light flood in, creating a harmonious environment for customers.

The restaurant was rather quiet, and the chandelier sparkled and the lights were warm and tranquil. The waitress led them to a table and Elsa sat down immediately, examining the menu like an adult.

"Elsa, do you know what dishes they provide?" chuckled the Queen.

"I know," said Elsa proudly. "It's pork, and there's chicken, langoustine tartar, and salad, and…halibut."

"So do you know the whole dish name?"

"I…still reading," said Elsa honestly and she smiled at the Queen embarrassingly.

"Let's wait for your Papa," said the Queen. "He may want some sourdough bread."

"What's sourdough bread?"

"It's a kind of bread with a sour taste," said the Queen. "If you want some, I can ask Kai to buy you some."

"No thanks, I don't like sour bread."

"Hey, my little girl," said the King and he patted his daughter's head before taking his seat. "What do you want to eat?"

"I want to eat this one!" said Elsa.

"Wild halibut, cabbage, root vegetables, anise and organic butter from Røros," read the Queen. "That sounds good. Maybe I will have to soup with seasonal fish, crustacean and shellfish."

"Are you sure?" asked the King.

"Well, we need to fly to Sweden next month," said the Queen. "I want to look good in the ceremony."

"But you're already slim enough," exclaimed the King.

"Not quite," said the Queen. "Anyway, just take your orders, the soup can hold the hunger for three hours at least."

"Okay," said the King and the waiter took the orders.

"Papa," said Elsa as the waiter walked away. "Why do you have to fly to Sweden?"

"Because your godmother is getting married next month," said the Queen and she took a sip of coffee.

"Who's my godmother?"

"Princess Sophia, Duchess of Östergötland."

"Who?" asked Elsa, who did not recognize the name.

"You were just barely born that time, she became your godmother when you got baptized in the church," said the Queen. "You always pulled her hair when she held you."

"Really?" asked Elsa, who could not believe how silly she was.

"You and Anna will be there too," said the King and the dishes were placed on the table. "I believe there are also many other princes and princesses there being bridesmaids, flower girls and page boys."

"But what if my…" said Elsa and her voice faded as she stares at her hands. "I can control it, but I am not sure I can handle it during the wedding ceremony."

"Don't be afraid, Elsa," said the King. "The more you afraid, the more it will be out of control. Just relax."

"Okay."

"So, how's school today?" asked the King as he cut up the halibut.

"Boring," replied Elsa. "The ceremony was so long and dull that I can almost fall asleep for the first ten minutes."

"But it was just two and a half hours!" exclaimed the Queen.

"But it's like a whole day already!"

"There're more ceremonies in the future, and they may last for a whole day," said the Queen as she took a sip of the soup. "You can't fall asleep."

"I just say 'almost'," said Elsa. "I didn't fall asleep, the teacher is right behind me and…"

Elsa's face was pale and her voice faded completely. Frost grew on the floor and she could not react at all. The Queen felt her cheeks and she gasped.

"She's cold like ice," whispered the Queen to the King.

"What happened?" asked the King.

"The teacher borrowed my handbook and I…"

The Queen and King looked at each other, knowing what the happened.

"Do you know who the teacher is?" asked the Queen.

"I don't know," answered Elsa fretfully. "I've never been taught by her, and…I only see her teaching other classes…I don't know her name…what should I do?"

Tears welled up in her eyes and she could not eat anymore.

"Do you remember what the teacher looks like?" asked the King.

Elsa nodded and tear streaks ran across her cheeks. She did not know what she should do, tomorrow she needed to show her mother's signature to her class teacher, she did not want to let her teacher down.

"Did the teacher secretly put back the handbook into your schoolbag?" asked the Queen.

"I don't know…"

"You go home with Elsa, I will go pick up Anna," said the King and he immediately paid the bill.

Just as Elsa reached home, she raced to her room and checked her schoolbag, there was no handbook in sight.

"What should I do, Mama?" wailed Elsa. "The teacher says we need the parent's signature for the school activity day."

She could only hug her mother tightly and let her tears flow, soaking the Queen's clothes. For that night, she went to bed with an empty stomach.


Elsa did not want to sit in the classroom, thinking that the teacher would scold her made her frightened.

"Has everyone had their parent's signature?" asked the teacher.

"Yes, Miss Nilson," chanted the class.

"Good, let me check it, put your handbooks on the desk now."

The teacher walked around the classroom and saw Elsa having nothing beside her stationary on the table.

"Elsa, where's your handbook?" asked the teacher.

Don't be frightened, don't cry, thought Elsa.

"Elsa, where's your handbook?" asked the teacher again.

"Sorry, Miss Nilson, my handbook is in another teacher's hand."

"Which teacher?"

Elsa looked around the classroom, everyone looked at her, wondering who had gotten her handbook.

"I…I don't know."

"Elsa, did you forget to let your parents sign the notice?"

"I don't have the handbook, I just got the paper from my mother," said Elsa and she took a bit of paper out from her schoolbag. "She allows me to go."

Miss Nilson got the paper and examined it for quite a while.

"Elsa, if you forget to bring your handbook or you forget to let your parents sign, you can tell me straight away."

"But Miss Nilson, I didn't. The teacher really takes my handbook away, and I forget to ask her to give it back to me."

"Who's that teacher?"

"I don't know, she just came to take care of us during the school ceremony, I don't know her."

"Can you describe her appearance?"

"She has long curly black hair, and brown eyes."

"There are no teachers in the school having the combination of black hair and brown eyes."

Elsa did not know what to say. Miss Nilson eyed on her and sighed.

"Elsa, please meet me at the staffroom after school, okay?"

Tears dripped from her cheeks and onto the ground, and Miss Nilson continued the lesson as usual.


"Elsa, do you know that lying is wrong?" asked Miss Nilson.

Elsa dazed with panic, and a couple of teachers eyed on the two curiously.

"I didn't lie! The teacher really took away my handbook!"

"Elsa, just be honest and tell the truth, okay? I won't scold you for that."

"But she really took away my handbook yesterday!"

"Elsa, be honest."

"But I didn't lie!"

"Elsa, lying is a crime," said Miss Nilson sternly, and the teachers nearby nodded—

"This child is hopeless!"

"A lie is a lie, it will be unmasked one day."

"My child never lies."

"And she's the princess!"

Although the teachers did not say that loud, but their words all went into Elsa's ears and echoed for quite a while. Her face was red from anger and frost crept beneath her shoes, glowing with warning.

But then Elsa's maths teacher came by, he likes Elsa due to her intellect and wits in completing maths questions, he said,

"I think there must be some misunderstanding, I don't think Elsa is lying."

"What misunderstanding," snapped a teacher. "This child is a liar, she's a shame to our school."

"Shameful!" exclaimed the teachers.

Elsa wanted to burst into tears, but then she told herself to hold her emotions. The frost spread to the teachers' desk and her eyes were full of fury. Miss Nilson was a bit frightened by her appearance, she did not know why she was scared.

"Elsa, calm down," said Miss Nilson and she took out a paper from her drawer.

She gave the paper to Elsa, and Elsa read with tears in her eyes.

Student: Elsa Bernadotte, has breached school rule: False accusations towards students or teachers. Student needs parent's signature and guidance in order not to make any mistakes in the future. A letter of repentance is required when coming back to school.

Elsa looked at her teacher with disbelief and she stormed out of the staffroom, not ever turning back until she had reached home. For the whole night, she rested her head on her mother's lap and she cried bitterly.

"Mama, why didn't my teacher trust me?"

"It's okay, when the teacher comes back, she will give your teacher back the handbook," said the Queen.

"What if she doesn't?" wailed Elsa. "I have always been a good girl and a role model, why didn't my teacher trust me…"

"Shame that Mama and Papa can't come to school tomorrow, but I assure you, that warning letter, we are not going to sign."

"Really?" asked Elsa. "But I am the princess."

"Sometimes we need to learn not to compromise when it is unfair to you."


"Elsa, did you let your parent sign the paper and bring along your repentance letter?" asked Miss Nilson. "If I can see your sincerity in correcting your mistakes, I will forgive you."

"Miss Nilson, I did not have my signature and the letter," said Elsa stiffly.

"What?"

"I did not lie and I did not falsely accuse the teacher," said Elsa and she gritted out the words.

"Elsa, if that is the case, I need to tell your parents, do your parents know this?"

"Yes, and I am not going to compromise when it is unfair to me."

Miss Nilson was furious and she could not hold back her temper.

"Elsa! You're doomed for nothing but lies, you're shame to our school and I will certainly inform your parents."

The teachers nearby nodded—

"She's a princess…"

"A shame to the country…"

"Why do we have such kind of student?"

"Elsa," said Miss Nilson. "If you apologize, you can go home now and write your repentance letter, otherwise, you will have to stay until your parents arrive and make things clear."

"But my Mama and Papa are having meetings!" exclaimed Elsa. "They will not come until seven."

"Well, if that's the case, you will have to stay until seven!" said Miss Nilson. "The school closes at eight, and you are surely having a black mark on your report card. I mean it!"

"But…"

"No buts! Or you'll have to stay at school even on your school activity day!"

"But my Mama has given the letter of permission!"

"Letter or not, this is your punishment for being disrespectful and a shameful liar!" yelled Miss Nilson. "You cannot go anywhere until the matter is clarified."

Elsa bit her lips and she sat there in the conference room until seven with Miss Nilson. She kept telling herself not to compromise. Frost had occupied the whole floor and began to stretch onto the walls then to the ceiling. The conference room had suddenly become a haunting dungeon. Miss Nilson could not help shuddering in the sheer coldness, she knew from the parent's letter that Elsa had special powers, but she had never expected Elsa would use it in such situation.

"I want to leave the conference room," said Elsa in forced calmness.

"You may leave when your parents arrive," said Miss Nilson, not willing to make a concession.

Elsa was trying to control her flaring emotions, her hands were shaking and the arm muscles were twitching on their own. The frost had accumulated to an unacceptable degree that it started growing spikes out and pointing at the two at the table. The lights were switched off completely and the streetlamp lights penetrated into the room through the windows. But then the frost crept onto the windows, trying to obstruct light from coming in.

There was a knock at the door and it swung open. The King stood in front of his wife and he settled down at the table. The Queen sat beside Elsa and she did not look comfortable as she examined the room. Outside the corridor was quiet and there was only a few scribbling sounds made by a couple of teachers in the staffroom.

Miss Nilson was wondering if she had greeted the parents in a formal way. Normally when she asked for a meeting with parents, she had never thought of bowing or curtsying. But they were the King and Queen, she was supposed to show absolute respect and obey whatever they said. And now, she was coping with a princess who was breaking school rules.

"Your…Mr and Mrs. Bernadotte," began Miss Nilson with a shaking voice. "Your daughter Elsa has claimed that her student handbook is taken by some teacher, but we cannot match her description to any of our staff. Also, she could not show her repentance letter and the parent's signature of the notice that I gave her yesterday."

"I believe my child did not lie," said the King seriously.

Miss Nilson did not know what to say, she had been thinking that Elsa was hiding the whole thing behind her parents and Elsa was just being naughty. But now her parents were proved to know everything, what could she say?

"But we could not find any staff with black hair and brown eyes," said Miss Nilson, trying to keep her calmness.

"Was that counted as a lie?" asked the King, making Miss Nilson shuddered with no reason.

"It's just she still cannot provide any clues on finding her handbook."

"Elsa," said the Queen gently. "Do you have any more details?"

Elsa looked at the three, should she tell? The description was more like an insult, she did not want to be rude.

"Elsa, don't be afraid," whispered the Queen.

"She…she has used some kind of bad smell perfume that I almost want to throw up!" blurted out Elsa. "The smell is almost like fresh leathered furniture, it's disgusting!"

Miss Nilson had not expected she would say something like that.

"I'll try to find the teacher tomorrow," said Miss Nilson slowly. "You may go."

Elsa stormed out of the conference room and got into the limousine, not making a sound until she fell on her bed. Frost was everywhere, on the floor, on the wall, on the ceiling and on the windows.


Carrying her unwilling soul, Elsa arrived at the staffroom as Miss Nilson told her to stay behind school again. Miss Nilson's face was calm and stiff, obviously treating yesterday's meeting as a common boring event.

"Yes, Miss Nilson?" asked Elsa in indifference.

"Here's your handbook," said Miss Nilson and she put the handbook on the desk. "The teacher who was in charge of your class that day was absent yesterday," explained Miss Nilson. "And she had dyed her hair into black for a couple of days, so it is not surprising that there's no one here matching your description."

Miss Nilson flipped over the page and scribbled down something on the columns.

Elsa is a good girl, she did not lie, the teacher has returned the handbook.

"Here," said Miss Nilson and smiled. "You may go."

"Why didn't you trust me?" asked Elsa, with tears in her eyes. "Why did you call I am shameful liar?"

The teachers nearby clearly known the truth, so they remained in silence and witnessed the scenery.

"Elsa, it was just a misunderstanding," said Miss Nilson. "And you can ask your parents to sign the notice, you can go to the school activity day now."

"Am I always a liar in your eyes?"

Miss Nilson bit her lips and did not answer.

"Am I a bad girl in your eyes? Am I really that bad?"

Miss Nilson did not answer. Elsa looked at her with tears running down on her cheeks, then she rushed out of the school building, crying bitterly while looking at her teacher's writing, while a trail of frost formed behind her.


That is a long chapter, right? I was just seven when I face the same experience, of course, I don't have ice power, and my parents beat me up that night when my teacher gave me that letter. Later the teacher did return the handbook, but I was disappointed that my teacher never trusted me. So, what would you do if you were Elsa?

Reviews, favourites, follows are warmly welcomed and I assure you the following chapters will be more than this. (Will add many of my experiences of being a poor child in the class XD) See you later! (School day AGAIN TOMORROW!)