Thank you so much for all the Follows, Favs and Reviews! It's really encouraging me to write :) I am also very sorry for the long wait. Like I mentioned in the last chapter, I am wrapping up my final semester at uni and things are hectic. In May, I will update 3 times a week! Thank you for your patience ^^


Chapter 9

"Breakfast is ready, you highness," Kai knocked on Anna's door.

The royal butler heard some shuffling sounds from behind the door and he shook his head. He understood that Anna wanted to spend time with her lover Kristoff, but he thought that she could at least make an effort to be more secretive about it. Half of Arendelle had already seen them kissing at the docks.

Before he could clear his throat and knock again, Anna ripped the door open. She wore her green summer dress and had hair tied up into two twin pig tails. There were dark rings under her eyes. She had stayed up all night thinking about the ways she could help Elsa solve the threat, but alas, economic warfare was not her domain.

"Good morning," she gave Kai a tired smile.

"Good morning, your highness," he replied, clearly surprised. In the all the years he had worked for the royal family, this was the first time the princess got out of bed so quickly.

"Is my sister, I mean Queen Elsa, eating breakfast?"

"Yes. The Queen is downstairs. I believe she is waiting for you."

Thanking him, Anna headed downstairs with some unsteady sleepy steps. No matter how she went about it, a good punch in Rainer's face was the only solution she could think of. In the middle of the night, she was about to jump out of bed and act on impulse, but in the end decided not to.

"Good morning, Elsa," Anna said as she sat down.

Elsa gave her a tired smiled and yawned. "Did you sleep last night?"

"No," Anna shook her head. "There is something I don't understand."

"What is it?"

"Wouldn't the problem be solved if you didn't agree to sell Rainer your ice?"

"Anna…" Elsa sigh. "You should learn more about your own kingdom. Arendelle is the largest exporter of ice. We export thirty-five percent of all ice the ice sold to any kingdom. But if Prince Hans and Rainer secure the other sixty-five percent and sell that at a low price, the price of ice will still collapse."

"So you mean simply denying Rainer our ice isn't enough?"

"Yes. And since Weselton is financing a large part of the plan, we have to persuade Rainer to join our side."

Anna nodded, letting the percentages sink in. She wasn't stupid, but cold hard numbers had never been friends with her.

"And how do we do that?"

"I have an idea…" Elsa mumbled, averting her eyes.

Almost immediately, Anna's eyes were locked onto her sister. She knew this expression. She had seen it so many times when Elsa wanted to avoid her, when she was told to hide her powers to protect those around her.

With a mischievous smile, Anna narrowed her eyes and leaned in closer across the table.

"What's your idea?"

"It's just an idea."

Biting her lower lip with curiosity, Anna leaned in so close that her face was just a few inches away from Elsa, with servants curiously watching as the princess' body was almost lying entirely on the breakfast table.

"C'mon, tell me," Anna grinned.

"Anna…" Elsa turned her face away, but that would not deter her determined sister. Ignoring the supposed grace of a princess, Anna leaned in until her vision of Elsa blurred. Elsa waited until Anna returned to her seat, but she wouldn't give in. She would stay in this position until she got what she wanted.

With a sigh, Elsa gave up. She whispered into Anna's ear of the intentions she had with Rainer, and how she had stayed up all night thinking about the methods she could use to seduce and break him.

"Elsa!" Anna gasped.

"Shhh!"

Still lying on the breakfast table, Anna's sleepy eyes were filled with surprised bewilderment. She blinked a few times, unsure of what to say. Eventually she let out a breath and rested her head on the hard wood of the table.

"Wow…Elsa, are you sure? I mean…"

"I don't know!"

Slowly, Anna slid back into her seat, and the servants took that opportunity to quickly deck the table with bread, jams, tea, cheese, ham and every other imaginable food. They hoped that this would keep their princess in her seat, although they had their doubts. Nothing and no one would stand between Anna and what she wanted, least of all breakfast.

In silence, the sisters began to eat. Munching away, neither had a large appetite, but they knew they needed some food in their stomachs for the battle inside the negotiation room.

"Should I tell the others? Kristoff, Olaf, and the Count with the weird Italian accent?" Anna asked.

Elsa smiled and chuckled at Anna's description of the Count.

"His name is Count Fidenza. And no. I don't think we should tell anyone."

"But then, what am I supposed to tell Kristoff about what to do in the negations?"

Elsa thought for a moment. "Just tell him that for now, we need more time. Tell him that we need to keep Rainer in Arendelle for as long as possible."

"You mean so that you have more time to…"

Elsa took a sharp breath as her face flushed red.

Before she could come up with a reply, Kai the royal butler rushed into the dining hall.

"Your majesty, the Ice Master and Deliverer has arrived."

"Thank you," Elsa said in a calm and even tone, the red blush in her cheeks gone without a trace. Immediately she had resumed the personality of a Queen.

Resting her chin on her hand, Anna watched her sister's sudden personality shift. As soon as the topic of Rainer came up, Elsa suddenly lost the mature solemness the role of a queen demanded. Anna simply smiled, her gut feeling telling her that maybe, just maybe, this Rainer wasn't so bad after all.

She balled her other hand into a fist and flexed it.

Elsa returned to her chambers to change into the dark green dress which demanded respect. Anna rushed into the lobby to meet Kristoff. Ignoring the servants who had received Kristoff, she jumped into his arms and kissed him on the mouth.

"Anna!" Kristoff managed to push her away after some struggle.

"What?" she said curtly.

"Not here," he whispered. "That's how the rumors spread."

"Really?" she smiled and jumped back into his arms despite his protests. Giggling, the servants covered their mouths and turned a blind eye toward their princess.

After finally haven gotten the kisses that she wanted, Anna explained to Kristoff about Elsa's desire to keep Rainer in Arendelle for as long as possible. When Kristoff asked why Elsa wanted that, Anna was about to open her mouth and tell him, but stopped herself at the last moment. She loved Kristoff, but her loyalty to her sister demanded for her to keep it a secret…for now.

They made their way to the library, where Elsa and the royal butler Kai were already waiting for them. Kai carried a message from Count Fidenza, stating that he won't be attending the negotiations, as that could potentially affect his trade relations with the Kingdom of Weselton. Elsa showed no reaction to the message while Anna was noticeably upset. Kristoff folded his arms and smiled. He had expected the Count to make this move. Politics were but an extension of economic benefits.

After a quick discussion on how to make the meeting end inconclusively, the four of them made their way to the negotiation room. Right before the doors, Elsa stopped short. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. This would be her first real task as the Queen of Arendelle.

"Your majesty?" Kai looked at Elsa.

"Yes, open the doors."

Clearing his throat, Kai opened the door to the negotiation room. His loud voice introduced Elsa, Anna and Kristoff with their official titles.

"Are you ready?" Anna asked in a whisper.

"Don't worry," Elsa smiled.

Taking one more breath, Elsa entered.

That breath caught in her throat as Rainer came into view. Like a wolf eyeing his prey, his sharp grey eyes were immediately locked on her. His raven black hair was handsomely pulled back, matching the dark green uniform and dark red cravat he was wearing for the morning. The corners of his lips hinted with a smile as Elsa averted her eyes to avoid eye contact.

Rainer sat on one end of the far side of the table, and Elsa on the other. Anna and Kristoff sat next to each other at the side of the table.

Behind her, Kai closed the heavy doors.