Eugene smiled as Rapunzel hooked her arm through his. Her eyes shone as she took in the magnificence of the ballroom. With large white pillars, a domed ceiling, and a large patterned floor to dance on, it was the perfect place for a ball.
Putting on the smile he reserved only for his wife, he pulled away from her and offered her his hand. She took it with a huge grin on her face and interlaced their fingers in the air. Eugene slipped an arm around her waist as she drew her arm around his neck. And then, they were dancing.
It wasn't hard for Eugene to waltz; not anymore, anyway. Three years of being a prince had taught him well. He led Rapunzel with ease, both of them very practiced at this sort of thing.
"Who was that man?" Rapunzel asked out of nowhere, her eyes beaming with
curiosity.
Eugene wished she wouldn't have brought it up; the thought of that man only soured his evening. Traitor, murderer, selfish, arrogant, two-faced...he couldn't stand the thought of him. Though he knew people could change, he doubted that Prince Hans of the Southern Isles had repented of his twisted ways.
"Eugene?" Rapunzel prompted.
Better to get this over with. "I knew him a few years ago," he began, recalling it all too well. "Actually, we were as thick as thieves." He wagged his eyebrows at her. "Get it?"
She shook her head and chuckled, expecting more.
"Anyway, that's what we did. He ran away from home, fed up with his twelve brothers, apparently. We went around thieving and having a good time. But eventually we ended up in another kingdom, and Hans had a special interest in staying." He swallowed hard. This story wasn't appropriate for a joyful evening such as this one. "He charmed the princess and then murdered the King and Queen. He wanted to be King, but after I discovered he was the murderer, I warned the princess and she cast him out. After he found out what I did, he blamed the murders on me...and they believed him. He had tricked me to be at the right place at the right time. They put me in prison, and Hans left. I escaped, of course, but I've never forgotten, and I've never seen him since. Long story short."
Rapunzel's brow furrowed in concern. She freed her hand from his and stroked his cheek. "I'm so sorry, Eugene. Why haven't you told me about it before?"
He shrugged. "It's all right; I never wanted to remember it. I just hope he hasn't..." The unfinished part of his phrase resounded in his head. Set his sights on Arendelle. It was perfect. Two sisters with no parents, and a coronation where he could have a reason for being here. It was much too perfect.
"Eugene?"
It was only then that he realized he had stopped dancing. He gazed at Rapunzel in horror. If Hans was planning to take over Arendelle, he couldn't let him.
"Arendelle," he forced out finally. "Arendelle's in danger."
"But how?"
He thought through it all. Though he and Rapunzel had been in and out of the ballroom, he hadn't seen Hans anywhere. He remembered how Rapunzel had remarked earlier that she hadn't caught a glimpse of Anna...
Of course. They were together. She had waved to Hans earlier with the grin of a girl that fancied herself in love.
Eugene edged Rapunzel off of the dance floor to the edge of the room, where people were idly chatting. "If Hans is going after Anna..." he said quietly. His breath caught as he gazed at the Queen, standing and watching the celebration with a frown and a dejected expression. He looked back at Rapunzel and put his hands on her shoulders, shaking her gently. "He would have to kill Elsa to be King."
Rapunzel's eyes grew wide. "No!" Her outburst was a little too loud, and after she looked around her, she resorted to a softer voice. "What do we do?"
"We need to tell the Queen. She could get rid of him better than we could."
"I'll tell her. I-"
"No, I'll tell her. I've seen Hans work before. Besides, it would probably be best for you to meet your cousin under better circumstances." Placing a hand on the back of her neck, he kissed the top of her head. "I'll be right back."