A/N: The blue hue of Lake Baikal capturing my attention as my mind thinking of nothing right now. The love that were far away from me, as were the work that I left behind with all the heavy busy day, how I wish I can stay in this bliss that called peace. But, that were just my wishful thinking. What am I running away from?. This view reminds me of the vision of how The Snow Queen's Castle that I once dreamth before. This feeling of peaceful, yet at the same time its empty.

Chapter 9

'There's a castle in the Lapland.

A white castle made of ice.

A castle surrounded by a vast land of whiteness.

A land of freezing cold, where only snow falls as rain and the reflection of ice is its light.

Some people might find this land so depressing.

Some might think it's empty.

Such a waste.

Even sad.

The castle stood tall and mighty in the center of those vast lands.

The Lapland castle.

The Snow Queen's castle.

A place where most sane people avoid for the safety of their life.

Just like this vast empty land with no other living things on it, so is this castle.

Carved beautifully with ice from floor to wall, but it's also empty.

Just like the land and the castle, the owner stood in the middle of the room with her empty blue pupils looking at nothing at all.

A beautiful smile carve on her lips when she turned around and found another girl just like her stood there in front of her with an awe clearly showed in her eyes.

"Wow, this place is so beautiful!" the girl exclaimed in a cheerful manner.

"It is? I made it myself." the girl with hair as white as the snow announced happily.

"You did? Wow! ...hmmm" the little girl was looking at the white haired girl expectantly "Sorry for my rudeness." she wiped her hand at her jacket and extend it forward to the lonely looking girl. "My name is Greta, let's be friend..ummm..."

The lonely girl stared at the extended hand unsure if she should return the favour. Slowly she held the hand and found that Greta flinch at the sudden coldness as they contact each other "I'm Frieyla. Do you really want to be my friend?"

"Yes, I do." Greta answered with a happy wide smile that revealed her white teeth.

"So..." Greta exhaled "What should we play first?"

"Do you want to build a snowman?" Frieyla asked, a gleam in her blue eyes sparkled.

-xxxxxx-

"What's that, Natsuki? fufu...What version of the Snow Queen story did you read? I've never heard about it be like that? The Snow Queen plays with Greta? And building a snowman?" Shizuru chuckled at the sudden funny end to the story of today. Lately, Natsuki has her own style of humour sometimes. It always comes unexpectedly. She likes to tell Shizuru her own version of Snow Queen fairy tale, claiming it was the original version.

"It's the Lapland Version. Lapu-lando Va-sion. I think it's the version from Scandinavian. I like this version." Natsuki tugged at her shirt collar to straighten it up but it's a failed attempt again. This time, Shizuru swear she had imagined the puppy ears slump down in defeat. Realizing the struggle of her wife, Shizuru turned Natsuki to face her and help her straighten the collar easily then slowly smoothing the jacket's shoulder. Natsuki didn't wear a tie anymore when she had a necklace given by Shizuru. The beautiful glittering necklace with a butterfly pendant; Half of a butterfly, while the other half she wore around her neck herself. It's a pair set of necklace she specially ordered.

"There you go. As I recall, did the story end somewhat like Greta's friend save her from the snow queen?"

Natsuki glanced briefly toward Shizuru's reflection on the mirror. "Yep. I don't like the ending."

"Why?" Shizuru's brow rose at Natsuki words. After a moment, there was no answer from Natsuki, just her face showing sadness.

"Urmmm... So, how about you create another ending that you like, just like what you did to the story a few second ago?" Stepping back a little, Shizuru took a nice look at her wife's image and dress. It's neat and sweet yet still had their own professional vibe to it. Today, Natsuki decided to wear the choice of clothes Shizuru picks for her, but still put the short skirt away from her body. Biege jacket with matching pants, purple shirt with two buttons open showing her lustrious neck and the glittering titanium necklace hanging unto them. Her hair freely loose reaching her waist. A thin layer of make ups and pink lips balm. Natsuki looks amazing. This is her first appearance on public after their marriage a week ago. She always favoured a more masculine look and choice of attire but now, she looks totally different. A gorgeous woman, a woman she married a week ago.

Giving a brief kiss on that soft, pink cheek, Shizuru could smell the sakura flower perfume on Natsuki. A faint scent, just sufficient for the person who's close enough to smell. "I love you, Nat-chan" She managed to whisper before retreating. As expected, a faint hue of blush coloured Natsuki's cheek, now it reached her ears too. What could it be? A new level of blush? Shizuru wondered.

"I..I love you too, honey" realizing Shizuru staring at her left ear, a hand comes to cover it and the owner eyes cast downward while she reply.

A knock on the door disturbed their short private moment and in came her manager-in-training.

"What is it, Kanzaki-san"

"Shizuru-san. There's someone that would like to meet you. I believe someone too stubborn to leave unless they meet you." Reito's voice was so low as if something was very disturbing him.

"Looks like I don't have a choice, do I?" Shizuru smoothed her bang in front of mirror.

"I'm afraid if you didn't meet them, they will cause trouble in future."

Shizuru sighed for she knew what the trouble will be and who she will meet by the tone of Reito's pressing on the words.

"Natsuki, I'll be back in a moment." Shizuru whispered after patting Natsuki on her shoulder reassuring Natsuki that she will handle the matter in just a few seconds.

Reito guide her towards another room where her guest was waiting. Opening the door with a heavy heart for she knew who exactly was behind the door and it was confirmed when a loud desperate voice rang after seeing her face.

"Onee-sama..."

"Tomoe Marguerite-san..."

Tomoe reach for her hand and gripped it firmly. "Onee-sama, I heard today your father will announce your engagement to the Zhang's Manager. I know you don't like this, I know you don't like her, let us stop it together, Onee-sama"

"Tomoe-san..." Shizuru pull her hand away from the tight grip. "I want this engagement. I already belong to Natsuki. I love Natsuki. So, please, leave me alone and don't disturb me anymore." Shizuru quickly turned around and left the broken hearted Tomoe in the room.

...

Upon reaching Natsuki, Shizuru smiled nervously.

"Okay, let's do this." as Shizuru smoothed her own grey jacket, the lift's doors open and they were greeted by the flashes of cameras and dozens of reporters hovering around the door.

Two guards push the reporters away to makes way for the two corporate women to the small podium. The press conference was waiting for them.

It was Natsuki's turn to speak first. "As we had told you about our company's plan, here we'd like to announce formally that our companies, The Zhang Group and Fujino Corporation will collaborate in our new and upcoming project, the Sphere"

"Zhang-san! Zhang-san!"

"Yes" Natsuki motioned for a reporter who stood at the back, raising his hand for questioning.

"What is the Sphere?"

"For now...it's our company's secret. We will announce it once the baby is born into this world and show you. We will share the joy together" Natsuki chuckled. Lately she has become more playful and approachable with the media.

Reporters laughed at the choice of Natsuki's answer. It was different from her months ago where this young manager chose to shut reporter away with short, simple and straight forward answers.

"Yah! I want to ask this to Zhang-san or Fujino-san if any of you can answer this"

"Yes?" Natsuki turned toward the reporter to find its Harada Chie from Otome Magazine.

"I just got some news that you two are already married. Is it true?" the reporter smile wickedly.

"Ara!" Shizuru exclaimed before she could stop herself and her hand comes up to cover her slip. Both Natsuki and Shizuru raised their brow staring at each other communicate silently on how should they answer the question. Should they tell the lie or tell them the truth.

Chie on the other hand, snickered for she knew the question hit the jackpot.

"We..." Natsuki slowly turn toward the audience once again. "No. We are not married..." Natsuki cleared her throat "...yet"

Shizuru felt relief at the answer. She didn't know how the crowd will react if Natsuki decided to tell them the truth. It was too sudden, just over a month of their controversial open relationship. But there a small corner of the heart, she felt a tinge of disappointment.

"And that matching ring on your finger?" again, there's a sly glint in the Otome Magazine's reporter eyes.

Ack, she's sharp. Natsuki felt a little bit of sweat running down her neck. Now what should I reply.

"This is only an engagement ring. Don't worry Harada-han, we will tell you first when the times come" it was Shizuru who came forth to answer.

"I bet for it." Harada Chie snickered. She knew it was just a bluff. She had her paparazzi track every step these two women make. The recent news she got from her paparazzi, Senoh Aoi is that they both were seen taken a jet together to China with Shirai Fujino also present. Not long after that, she heard news from China press that The Zhang Group's heir was announced and it was not Natsuki, but her sister, Nao, while Natsuki was being stripped from her family name to adopt the Fujino. It's just a rumour she heard, but the possibilities its true is undoubted. It was weird when all the formalities involving the young manager's name in these few days only using her first and middle name, without the Zhang name in front of it. But there was no indication the Fujino appear as her family name either. Some speculate it's because she had change to a more friendly and approachable new image, some said maybe because she had changed because she's in love with the Fujino heir. Is it just her imagination? Is she only trying to convince herself that the rumour she received from China is true? A placebo effect? Chie mused. But, it's worth the spy work.

"Therefore, as Natsuki said to Otome Magazine. I, myself would like to announced this officially, that my daughter, Fujino Shizuru is already engaged to Natsuki Kruger"

After a clear declaration from Fujino Shirai, the crowd started to become hectic and was surrounding Shirai for questioning the sudden engagement news of his daughter. The eligible bachelorette now already officially owned.

Unknown to the public, at the far corner of the hall, a lone figure hid at the secluded area, witnessing the whole event with furious eyes and gritted teeth.

As the figure retreat, they glanced again toward two women at the rostrum, spitting against the wall in disgust.

"You'll pay for this, bitch!"