"Your Majesty!"
The screech alarmed the whole castle before sunrise. Elsa, who was in Erik's arms, woken and sat straight, staring at the abrupt intrusion of the servant.
"Your Majesty!" wailed the servant and she knelt down, crying bitterly. "Princess Erika...Princess Erika…is missing!"
"What?" said Elsa and Erik together, and Erik jumped out from bed.
Everyone gathered in the King's study. Elsa wept and leaned beside Erik, with her heart torn apart and nothing could be compared to this suffering.
"I want everyone of you to conceal this scandal," said Erik. "No one is to speak a word about this to anyone, not even Jonas or Willem, Estelle. Not to anyone."
Estelle immediately bit her lips.
"Everyone will continue their daily schedule. No one shall ever speak of it until we find Erika," ordered Erik. "Is that clear?"
"Yes, Uncle Erik," said the children.
"Anna, Kristoff, you two hold on as much as you can, we'll go find Erika," said Erik.
"But Erik, you don't have any clues," said Anna worriedly, while holding Albert in her arms. "I fear that bad things will happen once you leave the castle."
"I wish we can do something, Anna," said Elsa bitterly. "But we don't have any choice. Don't you see?"
Anna remained in silence. Frost crept onto the wall, uncontrolled.
"Mama, the frost," said Estelle.
Elsa looked around and lifted her arm helplessly.
"Let's go," said Erik and he swung open the door.
Prince Boris was standing in front of Erik.
"Boris," said Erik, frowning at his unwanted presence.
"Your Majesty, I do not intend to eavesdrop your internal family conversation," said Boris. "I promise I will conceal it."
Erik stared at him and went downstairs. Elsa quickly followed behind, leaving others at the corridor.
"Mama, I want to cry," whimpered Andrea. "What are we going to do?"
Anna covered her mouth, knowing that whimpering would not be allowed.
"Quiet down, Andrea," said Anna.
Andrea hid her face in her mother's abdomen and Kristoff picked her up and headed to the stairs with Fredrick.
"I'm sorry to hear this," said Boris.
"No, it's okay," said Anna.
"I wish I can do something to help the Queen," said Boris and he bowed deeply again. "It is partially my fault."
"No, no, don't blame yourself, nobody want that."
Upon hearing Anna's words, Boris bowed deeply and went away.
"Alois!" hissed Boris.
"Yes, Your Highness."
"This could be my only chance," said Boris. "Make sure everything goes perfect."
"But Your Highness, are you sure the King will approve this? You must that—"
"Just do what I say."
"Oh, someone's having a bad day?" asked a voice.
Boris looked up and saw King Claus and Prince Willem standing in front of them.
"Good morning," said Boris coldly.
"Is there anything happen around?"
"No," said Boris, knowing that he had to keep the secret.
King Claus peered into the prince's eye and chuckled.
"Don't worry, everything's going on perfect."
Claus showed him a grin and left with his son, Boris pondered over his words, and he frowned at them, sensing that something was not right.
There was a knock at the door.
"Estelle!"
She did not answer.
"Estelle, it's me, Jonas!"
"Go away, Jonas."
"Estelle?"
"Just leave me alone!"
There was a long pause and Estelle heard another knock at the door.
"Estelle? It's me."
Estelle got up and went to open the door. Anna came in and sat down with Estelle.
"You've made frost again."
Estelle looked around, startled. Then slowly, she lifted her arm.
"Are you still alright?"
"I don't know, I'm scared…"
She leaned her head against Anna's shoulder. Anna smiled weakly and patted her head.
"It's okay, I know what you feel."
"Why does anyone want to do that?"
"Nobody wants it."
"But what can we do? We could have stopped that, we could have let Gerda look after her yesterday."
"Your Papa has locked the servant in the dungeon."
"But it doesn't help finding her! We—"
Estelle could hardly control her sobs, she took deep and quick breaths to soothe her pain. Anna knew there was nothing she could do to help.
"Come out for lunch at twelve."
"I don't want to have lunch."
"Then dinner at six, is that okay?"
Estelle looked at Anna with her swollen red eyes, then she nodded hesitantly.
"Meet you down at the dining hall at six," said Anna and she help Estelle got onto the bed. "Sleep for a while, you need some rest. Don't worry, your parents can find her, and she will be safe."
After Anna left the room, she collapsed and leaned at the wall. Then she struggled to get up again and headed to the stairs dully, staggering while holding the balustrade tightly, knowing that she had to stay strong in order to take care of her family.
Once she reached her room, her wobbly legs could no longer support herself, so she fell onto her bed and lay there lifelessly. Tears swelled up in her eyes and dripped down, soaking the bed sheets.
I could not give up, I had to be strong.
Estelle and my children's lives now depended on me.
I could not fall.
No matter what, I had to be strong like Elsa.
