Chapter 5: Prince Hans of the Southern Isles

3 Years Later

July 29th, 1844

Arendelle

Three years had passed since his unfortunate and traumatic encounter with the stranger who had the red eyes. He would never forget those eyes. Oh how he hated them with a raging passion. He swore that the next time he saw him he would destroy him and everything he cared about completely. But alas, once he had woken up from the torture, he had realised that all of it had been in his mind and he found no wounds on his body. The imagined pain would continue to haunt him even as he found himself in the woods of Arendelle after he woke up. He had hurriedly returned to his own country all the while grumbling about the stranger. Oh how he reveled the day he would kill that red eyed freak. He couldn't make anyting out since the room he had been kept in had only a single candle and the only thing he could see were those shining red orbs that continued to mock him in his sleep day after day. But alas, now he was returning to Arendelle as the envoy for the Southern Isles at the behest of his father. The Southern Isles had received an invitation informing them of the death of Arendelle's king and qeen in a shipwreck. Now three years later, they were going to crown the late king's eldest daughter Elsa as the new queen of Arendelle and they were invited to the coronation. As such, his father had seen fit to send him, the youngest of his siblings as the envoy. His father had worded it as a great honor but he had seen the underlying truth. His father just wanted to get rid of him for a bit and thus had sent him to Arendelle. However, this presented him with an opportunity to place himself as a potential candidate for the throne of Arendelle since he had heard that the two princesses had been kept in isolation for the majority of their lives. As he walked down from the docks into the bustling streets of Arendelle, his ears became attuned to the joyful singing that he could hear coming from direction of the palace. As he walked into the city proper in the direction of the palace for his role as an envoy, he failed to see the young woman running in his direction dancing as if the streets were a ballroom. A second later and he was jolted from his loathing thoughts of his brothers and father by the impact of a body against his that knocked him back. His reflexes were quick and he was able to catch the hand of the woman who had run into him. With his thoughts broken, he reentered reality and gazed upon the soft and blushing face of the young woman as he made to introduce himself to the fidgeting girl.

"My apologies my lady, are you alright?"

"Oh! Uh.. yeah! I'm fine. I'm totally fine. Sorry for running into you, I wasn't really looking where I was going. Haha!" The nervous speal of apologies came from the blushing woman who kept trying to keep her eyes off his face. He fought to withhold the roll of his eyes as he figured this was another of those noble girls who would fall for his looks and beg him to marry them. But anyways, best to introduce himself after the incident.

"No apologies are required my lady, it was I who should have been far more careful in these busy streets. Anyways, I am Prince Hans of the Southern Isles. And who might you be my lady?" He asked in practiced politeness as he flashed his smile at her which made the blush deepen before she came up with her own response.

"I'm Anna. Princess Anna of Arendelle." She finally introduced herself before holding out her hand and he could just barely conceal his glee at having such insane luck. The princess herself! What are the odds. As he looked at the princess and bent down to kiss her hand, a plan formed within his minds and he hid the dark smile that crossed his face as he found just the way to show his father and brother's his greatness. While his plan had been foiled by that blasted freak three years ago, he was sure this one would succeed. With that, he placed a gentle practiced kiss on her hand and as he raised his head once more, he made sure to stare into her eyes before activating his gift and he could instantly see that it had succeeded. With that, he was sure that he had placed the idea that he was her true love in her mind. This would ensure his rise to Arendelle's throne. If he couldn't be the king of his own country, then he would just be the king of this one.

With his plan set into motion, he bid her farewell and watched as she went off into the street to look at all the things on display. After her form disappeared in the crowd of people, he made his way to the palace with a renewed purpose in his stride. Yes, he may have failed three years ago but this time he was sure to succeed. He had a plan and he had the means. The first stage of his plan was already set in motion and he would just need to adapt it as he went if any other opportunities presented themselves. Yes. He would succeed and he could already taste his sweet success and could practically feel the crown that would rest on his head.

—O—

Everything had been underway and the queen's coronation had gone off without a hitch. Although he couldn't shake the feeling that he had seen the navy blue clad man with black spiky hair standing a few steps behind and to the side of the newly crowned queen. When dinner had been served, he moved out to the balcony area to escape the loud and crazy delegates that had similarly arrived for Elsa's coronation. He could not stand their obnoxious bickering for the queen's attention. They squabbled like children for trading agreements and other such nonsense that served to only make him want to use his gift on all of them and end them all. But alas, he had a plan and he needed to stay to it so that he could ensure his success in becoming the king of Arendelle. However, his quiet reprieve from the party was soon broken by the arrival of the princess herself. With a sigh that she no doubt wrote off as being tired of the party, he turned to her and plastered a charming smile to his face that made her own light up with a blush.

"Hey there! We met earlier today. I'm really sorry about that again by the way. Would you care for some company?" Her soft voice carried with it an edge of uncertainty that he quickly took advantage of and offered her a bow all the while keeping his eyes on hers. He took hold of her hand and once again placed a gentle kiss on it that served to darken her blush. Seeing that he had made her infatuated with him, he proceeded with the next stage of the plan and proceeded to accompany her as they went off in search of fun things to do. Throughout the time that he was with her, he continued to place the idea of them being in love into her weakened mind. When he was sure that she was entirely vulnerable, he posed the question that would advance his station in a single move and open up the possibility of becoming king that much quicker. So when he sang with her about love being an open door, he bent down on one knee to make his intent obvious and asked with just the right amount of breathless urge.

"Can I say something crazy? Will you marry me?"

"Can I say something crazier? Yes!" Her jubilant reply and subsequent hug served to hide his dark glee as he mentally counted.

'Princess secured.'