The Second Princess of the Cold Kingdom is finally at the age to be out in society, to be shown off and known to the other kingdoms. As per custom, a spectacular ball is thrown in her honor. Royals and their nobles are invited from all over, from every kingdom, just to see her. And how she hates it.

Natalia raises an eyebrow to it all, unimpressed to the decorations. Her older siblings, though it's unsure if they are actually related, are talking the room, dressed in their blues and crystals. Her own dress is sparkling in an icy blue that makes her seems sharper around her edges. The room is decorated in much of the same color.

She watched from behind closed doors as the First Princess and the First Prince had their own ceremonies years ago. The halls lined in delicate patterns and maybe back then she wanted that kind of attention. Now however with everyone coming up to her and talking at her instead of to her is infuriating. She turns her head from someone else and holds back the urge to roll her eyes.

The King laughs as she does, snubbing yet another noble. He's not the cruelest of men, but he sure isn't the most pleasant. She goes to him when he waves her over. She bows and there's a smirk on his face.

"Be careful my daughter," He says stroking the stubble on his chin. She's not his real daughter, but the image of family is portrayed anyway. He says nothing else and Natalia knows for certain he doesn't actually care if she's careful or not. She tugs at the ends of her sleeves to maybe cover her hands just a little more and bows politely. There's a spark in his eye and she returns to her position to be greeted.

There are people from all over, from kingdoms she's studied about but not cared about. It would be rude not to attend such an event, so man of them are bundled and wrapped up in thick clothing. She huffs. Her kingdom is adequately named. Rarely is there a day where snow isn't covering the ground, and even if there isn't any snow, the temperature tempts it.

She glances to her sister, soft and kind, talking to someone from another kingdom with a smile on her face. Her outfit is a much softer kind of bright blue with delicate curves that match her personality. Natalia knows they aren't related, but calling Katyusha sister doesn't leave a bitter taste in her mouth. Compared to sweet falling snow, Katyusha is heir to the throne, and Natalia wouldn't want her position if offered.

She finds her brother next. Again, not something she minds saying regardless of the lack of truth behind it. Ivan is dressed in dark blues with specks of white. If Katyusha is the snow and Natalia is the ice, Ivan is the blizzard. Wild and unruly and frightens most of those who come to talk to him. He's smiling dangerously to someone and Natalia would be lying if she said she's isn't the least bit curious who is standing up to her brother so well.

She weaves her way through the crowd, ignoring everyone who tries to get her attention and making a beeline for the other member of her royal family. Another person passes and she gets a good look at the person challenging her brother. They are dressed gold, bright and obnoxious much like their laughter. She pauses next to her brother listening in on their conversation and makes a snarky remark on the logistics of it when she deems fit surprising both of them.

"Sister!" Ivan cheers when he sees her next to him. Natalia blinks at him. Part of her is peeved that their conversation ended as it had been the thing holding her curiosity but it can't be helped now. She turns her attention from her brother to the one in gold.

"Fredka this is my sister, and the guest of honor, Natalia, the Second Princess." Her face twists up. Ivan's description of her isn't wrong or bad, she just wishes all the attention could be elsewhere. She eyes 'Fredka' up and down without manners or bowing to him.

"Natalia, this is Fredka, the First Prince of the Glow Kingdom." A pause, a wicked smile form Ivan. "He is also an idiot." Natalia blinks at them both and then Fredka bursts up into a laughter that's too loud, too bright.

"Ivan you are far too blunt." There's a rough edge to the Glow Prince's words, a fiery glint in their eyes. Natalia tilts her head to the side at the look. A servant calls for Ivan's attention and he's walking away leaving her with this person she only just met. She stares at them as the look in their eyes fades to something more soft as they look at her.

"My name is actually Alfred," He holds out his hand and she places hers in it like she's been told to. He kisses the back of her hand with a cheeky dazzling smile.

"Ugh," The noise escapes her before she can stop it. However instead of being insulted the Glow Prince just laughs. Dimples appear on his cheeks and Natalia can very much see why he's a Prince in the Glow kingdom. He seems to radiate energy.

"You're gorgeous by the way," He says. Natalia twists up her nose.

"I know." It's very much true. She's been told many times that her beauty is unparalleled to most, cold and calculating and potentially dangerous. Alfred stands a little taller with a smile on his face that doesn't look too forced. The other nobles after spending only a minute in her company began to have this strained look on their faces. Perhaps that's why the King didn't tell her to stop being rude.

Suddenly Alfred bows low and holds out his hand in a flashy show, smirking up at her. She recoils at the action, blinking dumbly trying to figure out what exactly he's doing. He nods his head to where other couples are dancing and it clicks what he's asking of her.

"Why?" It's a rude response. Alfred doesn't let his smirk fall, but he stands back up to a proper position. His hand is still out to her and she eyes it cautiously.

"I think I might be in love with you already." It's said so simply. Natalia curls even farther away from him at that. Impossible. Untrue. She can feel her cheeks heating up even at the idea of someone loving her already on the day she's just been introduced to society.

She swallows down a lump in her throat, vaguely aware of people watching them. Alfred hasn't made any move to force her to accept his hand and waits patiently. Slowly she extends her hand to rest in his. His fingers wrap around her gently and guides her to the edge of the others dancing, pulling her to him when given the chance in the rhythm of the music.

He's warm pressed to her, guiding her easily, holding her firmly. His outfit has intricate details of swirling white and she refuses to look at him. She definitely didn't plan to dance with any one at this ball. If she had her way this ball wouldn't have happened at all.

Thankfully the music stops and Natalia is walking away before Alfred can say anything else. Katyusha comes over to her to ask her questions and Ivan makes not so subtle threats if she would like. Natalia brushes them off. Dancing and talking with Alfred, what little of it she did, hadn't been unpleasant, and he surely hadn't been put off by her.

She schools her face into indifference as Alfred catches her eye from the other side of the room. He's talking to someone else in gold and smiles wide knowing he has her attention. She turns her head away. She's knows she's going to have to interact with the Prince a lot more since she's been introduced to society, but she can put it off for as long as she can.

Putting it off doesn't last long as there's a letter in looping script with her name on it, words of love inside, and Alfred's name attached just a week after the ball. Embarrassment fills her quickly and though she deems it against her better judgement, she's writing back with chaste answers. She sends the letter off refusing to tell anyone of the why or what, with a small hope burning inside that feels like the gold he wears that the Prince will write back to her soon.

And he does. Alfred writes lengthy paragraphs for her eyes only, laments his words of love, talks of his younger sibling, how he wishes she could see the summer in his Kingdom. She stores them all in a chest adorned with yellow jewels. Her sister smiles sweetly and her brother gives fair warnings, and the King just eyes her knowingly.

When the King calls for her, asking if she would accept the Glow Kingdom's request for marriage alliance between her and the First Prince, Natalia shocks herself with how quickly she is willing to agree. She always disliked the idea of being married for the sake of country to someone who she didn't care for. To have to play nice and dislike it all in the end. This however, is Alfred, someone who cries when the birds leave when it gets too cold and gets violent at injustice. Someone who loves her already. So she agrees.

Then Alfred is there with his brilliant smile all for her, eyes sparkling and holding her so gently, she thinks it might be best for her to be involved with such an outlandish person. She could be far worse settled, and with Alfred kissing the back of her hand like she's precious and loved, she might dare to consider herself lucky he decided to annoy her.

The look on the Glow King's face when he finds out that his heir to the throne wrote to the Cold King without his knowing and asked to marry the Second Princess even makes Natalia hide a smile in her hand. Alfred is far too ridiculous and with his hand around her waist keeping her close, she thinks she can live with that.


AN: This takes place before Matthew is out in society, maybe by a few months or even a year, but this is how Alfred and Natalia met and got engaged.

In case it's confusing, an 'Introduction to Society' is when someone comes of age to either hold power, such as nobility, be an heir, or be involved in political standings, or is old enough to be of a marrying or working age.

Since Natalia is royalty, has been deemed 'pretty' enough for royalty, her 'Introduction' takes the form of a ball.

Also yeah, Alfred 100% asked to marry Natalia without asking for permission from his own father to do so.