Disclaimer! I do not own Frozen/Disney even if I wish I was XD

I think this is the first time in this fic I'll answer some of the reviews haha.

AZalmega: Yes I kinda went to a bit darker theme and how tricky court life is. Also thank you for your advise on how I should write about the POVs. I've been doing separate POV for the characters but I always find myself switching every time! (T_T) I'll do my best for the next chapters.

Okisawa Hinari: No worries, I am like you as well haha I am typing this story until the crack of dawn. It's completely normal. XD haha. Also Thank you.

RockLovert: I like reading your reviews! Gracias!

to the others: Thank you for your continuous support!

I hope you'll like this chapter.

Let me know your thoughts on the review section!

ENJOY!

Rapunzel did her best to catch a glimpse of her beloved since they were brought into the castle. She was waiting for an opportunity to approach him because they shouldn't be seen together, not yet at least. She sighed as she watched them at the training grounds from her window. Now that her beloved was here and everything was settled between the rebels and the Queen, she still found herself hesitating to make a move. She was rather disappointed in not receiving any reply from him, not to mention their last encounter didn't end on a good note.

A soft knock made her turn away from the windows and pretended to brush her hair in front of the vanity mirror.

"Who is it?" Rapunzel asked.

"It's me."

"Come in!" Rapunzel didn't stop brushing her hair.

The door revealed the Queen, she sported a small smile. "Hey."

"Hey." Rapunzel put her brush down and turned.

Elsa sat on Rapunzel's bed and sighed.

"You seem tired." Rapunzel commented.

"It's nothing." Elsa lied on the bed with a huff. "How are things here while we're gone?"

"Nothing unusual other than the Duke lost his wits when he found out you brought her in the north with you." Rapunzel went to the window seat and watched the soldiers below. "Which compels me to ask why in the world you brought her there? In secret no less."

Elsa was staring at the pink velvet canopy above her. "For this reason, I don't want anyone to interfere. You said so yourself the Duke lost his wits when we were gone, what more if he learned what I was about to do prior to bringing her there. And leaving her here would be taken as an opportunity for those bastards to cling on Anna for power."

"Tell me everything from the beginning." Rapunzel demanded.

"Our lost boys kept me informed of the bastard's movements and the number of his army as you know. I received a note about their intention to attack my castle in the north and of course I couldn't just sit still while my home was threatened. And of course how can I not do something since these entitled men, these so-called Lords of Arendelle, who were doing nothing for the betterment of this kingdom, much less support me on this kind of thing." Elsa sat up. "Imagine my surprise when I discovered the traitor here in the castle who corresponded with those rebels." her anger rose as she glared at the wall.

"Name." Rapunzel demanded, not asked. Her tone was dangerously low.

Elsa met Rapunzel's eyes, which were filled with animosity. "I already took care of it. I bloody made sure that mole is forever silenced."

"Good, I thought I had to cut him myself." Rapunzel said. "Also did the General enjoy his stay in the castle?"

"He was thrilled that he screamed all the way up." Elsa smirked "I never felt so much satisfaction in my lifetime. I wish you could've seen it. I wish you had witnessed how I killed him the way he killed them, and do you know what's the best part?" Elsa asked.

Rapunzel furrowed her brows and asked. "What is it?"

"He confessed all his horrid crimes!" Elsa stated. "He confessed while Anna was hiding behind my ancestor's throne!"

Rapunzel's eyes widened. "Did you know that she's there?"

Elsa shook her head. "I have absolutely no idea that she was there. She admitted to me that she heard everything after."

"She's an idiot if she keeps on denying her family's crimes."

"Absolutely." Elsa stood up and paced around the room.

"Oh. Speaking of Anna. Her acting skills were superb the other night." Rapunzel smirked. "Is that what you've planned all along? How did you even convince her? Wait, more importantly how did you reveal it to her?"

"Nothing worth noting on the way how I revealed it to her, I just casually told her and she went all dramatic about it. Then I convinced her to lie for me. And yes it was part of the plan to end the lie."

Rapunzel was skeptical about the things Elsa just said. "How, Elsa? How did you convince her?"

Elsa smiled at her. "Let's just say I had the leverage for her to agree. I'll entertain no more questions about it."

"Stinker!"

"Of course I am, when did I not?" Elsa rolled her eyes. "By the way, why do you have those longing eyes whenever you look out of the window? Have you spoken to him?"

Rapunzel shook her head.

"Why not? You wanted this to happen." Elsa halted her pacing. "Did that bastard do anything to hurt your feelings?" her tone changed drastically, in a dangerous way.

"No!" Rapunzel denied. "Well. . . the last time we had a chance to talk didn't end well. It's my fault really. I tried to convince him on leaving the rebels and join us but his loyalty to that lowly Eldr won over." she pitifully chuckled. "My feelings for him always come after his loyalty to the Eldr woman. I couldn't bring myself to accept it."

Elsa's eyes softened. "There are other people out there, you've wasted time long enough for this man who does not even see your true value. He loves you, yes but is it enough? He needs to make it clear whom he'll choose between you and Anna. Love or loyalty." she paused. "He has to decide whether to focus his attention on you and be with you like you deserve." She walked near the window and lifted her cousin's face by placing her finger under the latter's chin. "Or set you free and give other people a chance to love you much more than you deserve. I am sure there's someone out there who is willing to leave everything and face anything for you. They are just waiting for you to look their way and see how much love they can give."

"Who is it Elsa?" Rapunzel's eyes were filled with curiosity.

Elsa smiled. "It's not my place to say. You have to figure it out yourself."

Rapunzel shook her head. "I love Flynn. I do love him . . . so much. I don't think I can love anyone other than him." Elsa nodded in understanding.

Elsa placed her hands behind her. "I guess that's how love works. Not that I am sage about it, but it looks really painful and I already had enough pain to last me a lifetime and love like this is the last thing I need." the thought of feeling vulnerable just because a person had placed a dread in her chest. She couldn't afford to feel scared, to feel weak, there were a lot of people counting on her. She couldn't even fathom having someone she cared for just like how her father cared for her mother.

"No Elsa. Love is what binds us all. There's pain, yes but it only makes you appreciate love even more. Without pain, there's no love." Rapunzel replied. "And sometimes love cures."

Elsa smiled at that. "Maybe." she paused. "Are you willing to give up everything for him? Even your status as crowned princess."

Rapunzel opened her mouth to answer but faltered for a moment. There was a brief hesitation and Elsa noticed this. "Yes. I love him." She turned to Elsa. "I know you loathe him, your opinions of him are tarnished by his association to Anna and her family."

Elsa's face turned sour. "Regardless of his association. I do not see him as someone who is suitable for you. At first I tolerated him and supported your relationship only for you, because you are happy with him but the way he acted recently made a terrible impression on me. But it will always be your choice that matters, my opinion doesn't."

"I'm glad you know that." there was a certain bite on Rapunzel's tone. "You don't even know how I feel right now. You don't even know what love is! You only know how to hurt someone's feelings!"

Elsa's jaw clenched. "Yes. I know nothing of this feeling of. . . love. And yes I only know how to hurt someone's feelings." she turned away.

Rapunzel scrambled to her feet and caught Elsa's wrist. "I'm sorry. Elsa please."

"It's fine, you just stated the facts about me." Elsa patted Rapunzel's head and smiled. "There's nothing to be sorry about. This is who I am. This is how I came to be. None of these is your fault, so don't say sorry. I came here to check up on you, I'll be in my study if you need anything." she gave another smile before taking her hand back and left the room.

Elsa found herself walking through the hallway by mumbling to herself. "You're right, that's all I do." she clenched her hand into fist.

Her real intention of visiting her cousin was to ask her to join in the study to look for a certain document that would solidify her rule. Olaf's letter mentioned the Last Will And Testament of King Olav before his death and was hidden by him before the Usurper King had a chance to get his hands on it. The scribe mentioned Queen's study was the possible hiding place but doesn't guarantee it was there.

She opened the door of her study. She locked the door for good measure and started her search.

Outside Eldr Castle.

"The castle now is heavily guarded, also when I went to Lord Ector's manor it was locked up and there were guards of the Queen guarding it." said one man who was currently hiding at the top of a tree as he scouted the surroundings.

"That would mean Lord Ector was captured by the Queen and this castle is the nearest fortress to detain the Lord." said his fellow spy who was also at the top of the tree.

"This would give our Mistress an opportunity to seize power."

"Indeed. Now that Lord Ector is out of the way, the second eldest could stake his claim to the throne."

"Mistress would be pleased by the news."

"Well she has to eliminate her first before anything else."

Both of them shared a smirk.

"Mother, I had enough of this!" Ariel forcefully pushed the door open and saw her mother gambling away their remaining fortune. Her mother was playing cards with three other people. Baroness Cruella of House De Ville, Lady Vanessa of House Ursul and lastly Lord Gaston of House Hunter. The man Ariel despises the most.

"Your daughter looks delectable when she's angry." Lord Gaston lewdly stated. He didn't even bother to hide thirst for the young woman. He chuckled using that ridiculous deep voice of his.

"Ariel darling, let your mother have her fun. She's actually winning." she cackled.

Ariel glared at her mother. "Mother enough!"

"Ariel sweetie, let mommy have fun alright? I still owe a debt to Lord Hunter here." Marina stated, through her teeth as her money depleted drastically.

"Oh no complaints here." Gaston folded his cards. "Believe me before the day is over you'll be my wife if your mother won't be able to pay her debts to me."

Ariel's vision turned red and her body moved on its own as she flipped the card table, spilling its contents all over. "All of you! Get out of my house!"

"Hey!" Lady Vanessa exclaimed

"Ariel! How dare you!" Marina stated as she turned to her daughter.

"Ooh feisty." Lord Gaston was clearly loving each second of it.

"I agree, the Eldr blood is evident on her." Baroness Cruella states with an amused laugh.

"My dear friends, why don't we stop for today and continue some other time?" Marina smiled at her friends.

"Of course."

The three of their guests took their belongings with them.

"Remember what you owe me." Lord Gaston reminded Marina before his lecherous gaze fell on Ariel. "Wish for your mother to lose. Mrs. Hunter." he winked.

The closing of the door was the indication they left since Ariel didn't see them off. Her blue eyes were glaring at the cards on the carpeted floor.

"Look at me." Marina demanded.

Ariel did what was asked then. . .

Slap.

Ariel staggered for a bit and looked at her mother with surprise evident in her eyes.

"How dare you embarrass me like that!" Marina growled at her.

Ariel was too shocked to respond.

"I can do whatever I want with your money, I raised you and I suffered the humiliation for you, is this how you would repay me?!"

Ariel glared at her mother as she composed herself. "You were complaining to me about our finances and yet here you are gambling them away! And what does Lord Gaston mean by his words?!"

"Couldn't you tell?! I promised you to him in order for me to pay back my debts!"

"What?" Ariel couldn't believe what she just heard.

Marina visibly calmed down and went to touch her daughter's red locks. "I owed him a lot, selling this house wouldn't even suffice to cover it. But when he marries you all of it will be gone and we get to keep this house. Isn't that great?" Marina smiled.

Ariel let out scoff. "You're such a piece of work Mother. Father would be proud of you, since both of you are alike."

Marina's expression darkened and swung her hand once more but it was intercepted mid air as Ariel caught her wrist.

"No more. I won't let you lay a hand on me again. You know sometimes I wonder if I am really your child the way you are treating me after father died, his death was only recent and you are treating horribly since then, as if I have no use for you anymore" she let go of her Mother's wrist and walked away.

She went straight to her room only to slide against her closed door and sobbed. The pain of the slap she received was nothing compared to the prickling pain in her heart of how her Mother practically sold her that lecherous Lord Gaston.

"What am I going to do now?"

In Corona.

"Your Majesty."

The Queen of Corona, Ariana, looked up from the state papers she was reading and saw one of the three Generals knelt in front of her.

"Rise," said the Queen softly.

The General rose and handed a letter to her Queen.

"I believe delivering a letter isn't your job." the Queen pointed out and chuckled as she checked who the sender was. She recognized their family seal.

"It's much better and safer if I will be the one giving them to Her Majesty." said the General with a smile. "It is after all my duty to protect the royal family."

"Of course." the Queen chuckled. "Goodness, you sounded like Elsa." she opened the letter and read it before saying. "It seems our Elsa is going to marry the- " she paused and her face turned sour. " . . . granddaughter of her enemy." there was an evident distaste on the way it was said by the Queen.

The General was quite taken aback at the tone of the Queen, since it was so rare of her to show her displeasure on any subject. "That's unfortunate." she responded

"That's politics." the Queen stated in distaste. A sigh escaped from her lips. "Of all people." she mumbled. She was aware that her niece would have to enter a political marriage in order to cement her rule but she didn't expect this. "We have to prepare to set sail to Arendelle post haste, so I could see for myself who this woman she'll marry. I'll summon the council and you are coming with me and your father will take charge here while we're gone, and I know you are looking forward to seeing your former General, aren't you Cassandra?"

Cassandra smiled. "Yes I am, Queen or not she still owes me a pint of ale."

In the castle Arendelle.

Lord Solskinn was walking with Lord Jorgen. They discussed something between them in hush voices.

"The progress' date has already been decided, we have to prepare for the security of the Queen and her betrothed." Lord Solskinn stated.

"Of course. Everything is set." Lord Jorgen confirmed. "General Mattias is not around for a few days now, one of the key figures of security detail."

"I heard they went ahead to the Eastern lands to prepare the place. It seemed the Queen decided something again without the council." Lord Solskinn sighed.

"The Queen is stubborn and her stubbornness is becoming unbearable. We must push the marriage as early as possible to enthrone Anna." Lord Jorgen insisted. "And her recent absence is suspicious. We can never fully trust her, she will be like Runeard if we don't stop her. Our powers will dwindle like before." he further added.

"Queen Elsa has the welfare of the people in the forefront of her mind. She's establishing a better economy for the people. She provided solutions on the recent influx of homeless peasants from the hell hole where Runeard tossed them, she provided homes and jobs for their stability. She's much better than Runeard." Lord Solskinn pointed out. "Each and everyone of them were from all over Arendelle and were put into the workforce to keep our kingdom going."

Lord Jorgen scowled at what Lord Solskinn pointed out. "That's true but we cannot excuse her dismissal on the council's wishes."

"The council is there to provide advice, it doesn't necessarily mean she should follow it and she's aware of that. She knows how much power she could use at her disposal."

There was a scoff from Lord Jorgen. "We need Anna to keep her from taking all the power from us. First we have to convince her to ally herself with us."

"I have an inkling that she's aware of our support. She'll come to us when the time is right." Lord Solskinn stated. "She's after all descended from the house Solskinn and Jorgen."

Both Lords took a turn and went outside of the castle. They didn't even notice the shadow that followed them.

At dinner.

The Lords in council were in attendance, starting from Duke Weselton, Count of Isles, Lord Hofferson, Lord Solskinn, Lord Rein, Lord Leigh, Lord Oaken, Lord Harold and Lord Jorgen. The Coronan royals were of course in attendance as well. They were waiting for two important people to show themselves.

One of the said people was in the halls walking towards the shared room while the other was still preparing herself for the dinner.

Anna was being dressed for the unexpected dinner initiated by the Queen for some reason. She doesn't even know what made Elsa invite them, so here she was looking at herself in a full length mirror while Wendy lacing up her dress from behind. She wore an Arendelle green off shoulder short-sleeved dress, dark green -almost black- sweetheart bodice with rosemaling patterns and a pair of black heeled shoes.

"How do M'lady want to style her hair?" Wendy asked as she knotted the lace.

Anna pondered. "Hmm, surprise me." she smiled at the latter through the mirror. The latter nodded and guided Anna on the seat in front of the vanity mirror.

"M'lady, if I may, what jewels do you wish to wear tonight?" Wendy asked.

"I don't know, can I just skip wearing one?" Anna asked in indifference, she wasn't fond of them.

A horrified expression made into Wendy's face at the notion of her not wearing any jewels. "M'lady, you must wear one! Her Majesty would have my head if I neglect my sole task of dressing you appropriately on occasions like this."

Anna chuckled at Wendy's exaggerations. "I don't exactly have any jewelry other than gold necklaces, bracelets, earrings and a few jeweled ones. Runeard was not really creative when it came to giving gifts." she offhandedly stated. She saw Wendy's quite surprised face when she addressed her grandfather using his name, it did not go unnoticed by her. "I really have no idea what I should wear." and I don't care. She mentally added, she had no reason to dress up appropriately since it was Elsa who arranged such dinner.

"Then fret not, that's why I am here for M'lady." Wendy smiled. "I asked because Her Majesty had given me an array of jewels for M'lady to wear. Done, how was it?"

Anna looked at herself through the vanity mirror, her hair was styled in a double-braid and let the rest of her hair cascade on her shoulders, while her fringe was delicately combed to the side to refrain it from obscuring her vision.

"I love it. You are marvelous." Anna praised Wendy's handiwork.

"Thank you M'lady." her maid blushed at the compliment. Wendy then went to retrieve a box about a foot in height and two feet and half in width, and about three inches in thickness. She opened it, revealing an array of jewels cushioned on the maroon velvet fabric.

Inside the box was a pear cut light pink diamond pendant with two smaller pear cut stones on each side, paired with earrings. The other jewel was a princess necklace with five asscher cut aquamarine stones surrounded by milgrain-set of white diamonds and paired with earrings. The last but not least was a white cushioned cut diamond with smaller diamond milgrain-set on that surrounded it and a pair of earrings.

"They all look beautiful." Anna was torn between the white diamond and the aquamarine one.

"Personally, the princess necklace of aquamarine would be appropriate and it would certainly compliment your eyes, not to mention they matched M'lady's dress." Wendy suggested.

"Is that so? Then I trust your judgment." Anna smiled, the latter proceeded to clasp the necklace around her neck, it rested just below her collarbone and had placed the earrings on her earlobes.

"There, perfect! Now you're ready, oh wait." Wendy added a aquamarine jeweled hair clip at the back of Anna's head, securing the braid at its center. "There." she smiled.

"Thank you Wendy, you are wonderful."

"I'm glad you like it M'lady-" Wendy was interrupted by a knock on the door. Both her and Anna looked at the double door.

"Who is it?" Anna asked but instead of a response the door was opened, revealing the Queen dressed in dark blue double breasted swallow tail coat with wide lapels and six silver buttons. An off white waistcoat and white shirt underneath and silk black cravat tied in a ballroom knot with a small asscher cut sapphire pin to keep it in place. She also wore cream colored trousers and a pair of knee-high black boots. The Queen styled her hair in a twist updo with her fringe framing her face.

"Good evening." greeted Elsa, while her glacial eyes were staring straight to her own teal ones.

"Good evening, Your Majesty." her maid curtsied, however Anna didn't bother.

"You can have your rest after a long day, I'll take it from here." Elsa said.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. Lady Anna was kind enough to let me have a short break to explore the castle earlier." her maid beamed at Elsa. "Good night Your Majesty and M'lady." she dismissed herself, leaving the two women in an uncomfortable silence.

Anna slowly rose from her seat and unconsciously tucked a stray hair behind her ear. She was nervous for some reason and wasn't sure why.

"The councilmen will be present at this dinner, I expect you not to tell them anything for your sake. I don't want you to add more unnecessary problems on top of the kingdom's problems."

Anna's ire rose at the accusation. "What do you think of me? Stupid?"

"I said no such thing. It was you who said that." Elsa shrugged.

"What are you trying to do now? Are you here to insult me?"

Elsa shook her head. "No. I am here to pretend nothing happened in the north and try to get along with you. I will present you to the council for the first time, now we have to pretend that we are enamored with each other, just like how we did the day we came back. Even if it's not ideal for me."

"You don't have to do that if you don't want to, no one is forcing you. And it was your idea so don't talk as if it was my fault." Anna couldn't help but to feel irritated at how Elsa was acting towards her. "For the record, I don't want to do it as well. Being enamored with you is unthinkable."

She watched Elsa sit on the bed and sighed. "All of them were forcing me to do this, expecting me to do this. If it were my choice I would never do it, you know that. I rather stay away from you and focus on how to keep this kingdom afloat after your precious grandfather squandered everything and dried up the royal treasury for his pleasures."

The kingdom was struggling when it came to its finances. Opening trade to different Kingdoms and Duchies became an advantage, instead of enriching selected people. The royal coffers barely manage to keep the kingdom running, if it weren't for Vinter gold Arendelle won't be able sustain itself. She wasn't aware how Elsa shouldered a kingdom on the brink of ruin.

"Then why don't tell my grandfather how poorly he managed this kingdom?!" Anna sarcastically responded.

Elsa smirked at her response. "Feisty. You're gonna need that attitude if you want to survive. You must know how to play with words and corner your enemies to your advantage. Never ever let them gain the upper hand. Never forget you are the wife of the Queen, my wife, so they should fear you. They should respect you."

Anna was taken aback at Elsa's response to her sarcasm, she expected the latter to explode and shout until one of them would walk away, not encourage her like this. "You want me to be part of politics? I thought I would just be a person whom you'll parade at every opportunity you get." She watched the latter rise from the bed and walked towards her.

"I was told you are intelligent, but your recent actions were quite the opposite, we have to fix that." The latter placed her left index finger under her chin and lifted it slightly. "You've been doing things and blurting out things that gave you disadvantage because you let your emotions control you." Elsa leaned closer, invading her personal space. "It should be the other way around." the latter whispered, and leaned towards her lips.

Anna was alarmed so she turned her head away to prevent Elsa's lips from connecting to hers. "What do you think you're doing?" she glared at the Queen.

"Assess your reflexes since you are quite attractive and men would throw themselves at you. It wouldn't be in your favor if you got caught in a rather scandalous moment with random men that could cause rumors and misunderstandings, further tarnishing your reputation. Surely you weren't thinking of something else?" Elsa smirked.

A healthy blush graced Anna's. She wasn't sure if it was because of the compliments of being attractive or being pissed as Elsa pointed out her already ruined reputation.

She heard Elsa chuckled then her face turned serious. "Remember what I said, Never let your emotions control you. In the field of politics, emotions are the last thing you need." Elsa caressed her face. "I'm sure you are educated just like me for our future role in this kingdom, that would mean you are aware how it works."

"Of course I know how it works." Anna stated in full confidence but she wasn't that well versed in terms of politics since her grandfather didn't include her on that subject, saying she wasn't ready, all she knew about it came from her tutor. She slapped Elsa's hand away but the latter pulled her closer by wrapping her other hand around her waist.

"Let me go." Anna demanded. She struggled to escape.

"Of course you do know how it works, that's the reason why you had the guts to betray me and planned everything from start to finish." Elsa jabbed, ignoring her words.

Anna's anger increased at those words and pushed Elsa with all her might, freeing herself.

"Hmm not bad, though you still have to work on your physical strength if you wish to overpower an average man." Elsa placed a finger on her chin as she pondered about her strength.

"What are you doing?!" Anna shouted.

"Again emotions." Elsa reminded her.

"Stop it! Stop this- whatever you are doing now!"

"Be calm, if you are calm and do not let your enemies get into you, you'll be able to counter them. But of course you have to express your anger when it's necessary to put them in their places and to assert your authority. A mere show if you would."

The only thing Anna could do was gaped. "What are you trying to do with me?"

"Teach you something useful."

"Why? You know full well that I can use this against you."

"I know." Elsa answered. "But it felt like your grandfather didn't bother to teach you the know-how. And of course, as your wife, I took it upon myself to teach you how to protect yourself from the people who would use you to their advantage."

Anna was stunned by the things Elsa was saying. She was sure there's something behind this generosity the latter was giving, just like when she offered her to have an evening stroll outside the castle grounds only to be deceived in the end. Could this be another test for her in order to know if she would trust Elsa's words just like before? She wasn't sure how to deal with the latter at the moment so she decided to leave that subject for now by asking.

"You're here to tell me to pretend we're enamored with each other, how exactly are we gonna do that?"

"Ah, yes. I almost forgot about that. Well, I am not usually an affectionate person so holding hands is enough I guess? Unless you want to do something other than that?"

"No, holding hands is more than enough. I rather not to . . ." Anna couldn't say the word kiss in favor of not relieving her first kiss. Yes, the kiss after the banquet was her first kiss.

"To what?" Elsa smirked. "Kiss me?" her voice certainly irritated Anna in more ways than one. "Don't worry, the feeling is mutual. I rather not as well but what if the situation calls for it? What are you gonna do?"

"Let's just see okay?" Anna responded.

"Okay, fair enough. Shall we?" Elsa offered her arm to Anna.

The next thing Anna knew she was walking through the halls with her arm hooked on Elsa's own. The moment they reached the massive dining hall, eyes were on them, more specifically on her. The councilmen were pleased by her presence, especially five people, the Duke, the Count, Lord Leigh, Lord Solskinn and Lord Jorgen. She sat on Elsa's right next to the Count of Isles. The dinner was slow for her liking since they kept on talking and talking and ignoring the food served for them. She had observed how Lord Leigh was the loudest and the chatter box of them all followed by the Count of Isles. Some of the Lords contributed to their conversation and even the Coronan royals even joined.

Anna was sitting there listening to what they do during day time and how they spent their free time. For the entire dinner she also observed how the person on her left just listened and nodded on whatever they were saying. She stared at Elsa, who was idly poking her leftover food with her fork while her gaze on the platter of fruit in front of her, it seemed she was in deep thought.

"-isn't that right, Your Majesty?"

Anna turned her attention to Count of Isles, who was looking at the Queen with expectant gaze. She returned her attention to Elsa who looked in her direction since the Count was sitting next to her.

"I don't think that's necessary." Elsa dismissed whatever the Count asked but she has this unpleasant expression on her face for split second

Anna even didn't catch what was the question herself even if she was sitting next to him, though she was curious what made the latter have that kind of response.

"Why not? The bedding ceremony is part of the royal wedding tradition."

Anna blushed at the thought of being brought to bed by many people and some would stay to watch them do the deed. Well it was common for the southern kingdoms but she wasn't sure if the Arendellians did that as well since there was no such ceremony in the ruling family of Arendelle since King Leith's wedding, did they even do that on his time?

"I will say this now. I will forbid a bedding ceremony in the royal family henceforth. If I have to make a royal decree about it then so be it." Elsa's words were dead serious, and Anna could sense Elsa would strike down whoever opposed her with it.

She heard Lord Leigh chuckle. "The Count was jesting, Your Majesty. Bedding ceremony is no longer being practiced in Arendelle since King Rozen the Great, because he preferred to do his business without anyone watching him." laughter erupted in the dining hall, however the Princess of Corona, the Queen and herself were not pleased and didn't even find the jest funny.

"Lady Anna, I've been wanting to say how beautiful you have become since the last time I saw you." Lord Jorgen said with a smile.

Anna blushed and smiled back. "Thank you M'lord, you flatter me."

"It's true," the Duke responded. "Especially now you are wearing Her Majesty's jewels she commissioned just recently, they surely complement your eyes."

Her teal eyes found a pair of glacial eyes looking back at her.

"I gave them to her as gifts. She deserves the best after all." Elsa responded. What happened next was the least thing Anna expected. Elsa gave the back of her hand a kiss while looking into her eyes.

Anna gasped and did her best not to yank her hand away from Elsa's grasp. Then again she saw Elsa's calculating gaze, daring her to do or say something that could cause suspicions.

She smiled at her and said. "Her Majesty is so generous to give me such precious gifts." her thumb brushed the back of Elsa's hand.

The night went on until late since the Duke insisted for them to have a drink after dinner. For the entire night Elsa never left her side, making the Lords hesitant to approach her. When they reached their room, she barely managed to change into her nightgown because of tiredness.

"Ha." Anna sighed as she lied on her back. "That was the longest dinner I ever had." she mumbled. While staring at the canopy above her before turning her attention to the person, who discarded her coat and let down her hair in single plait, sitting by the desk to work on the state papers. "Aren't you tired?"

"I had planned on finishing these after dinner, however due to unforeseen circumstances the dinner dragged on thanks to our dear old Duke."

"Hmm." Anna hummed in response then slowly fell asleep while watching Elsa work.

Thank you! Let me know your thoughts!