Disclaimer! I do not own Frozen/Disney.

Thank you for reading my story :D

I read interesting theories and words of appreciation on my story, thank you all. I feel so touched by your words. I will continue to keep on making this story better and to those who were asking for the age of the characters. Please see below.

Elsa- 28 Anna-24 Rapunzel- 29 Flynn- 31

Eric- 30 Marshall- 27 Olaf- 28 Ariel- 25

This is the update you've all been waiting for. Let me know your thoughts on the review section.

ENJOY!

"You intend to dissolve our marriage to what end?" Anna's tone was filled with curiosity.

"That was before." Elsa sat on the bed and looked up to the canopy above. "But then I realized you are not that bad at all. You have influence, though you don't know how to use it. The council favored you and fighting them against it was a lost cause. I am not consummating it because I wouldn't want my own flesh and blood to be used against me. You've done it once and I am sure you'll do it again." her eyes shifted and coldly gazed at Anna. "You are Runeard's granddaughter after all. The bad Eldr blood in your veins always shines through." she saw how flushed the latter had become.

Anna's heart dropped at the words uttered by the person sitting on the bed.

"How dare you!" she growled.

"Did I hurt your feelings?" Elsa uttered mockingly, making her blood boil even further.

Anna marched towards the bed and gripped Elsa's coat lapels. "You know nothing of my feelings!" her eyes brimmed with tears. "Is it not enough that you deceived me? Make me believe that a life was growing inside me then take it away from me just like that?! You have no idea how much it hurts. . ." her angry tears rolled down from her eyes to Elsa's cheek.

"Indeed it hurts, doesn't it? Losing someone precious. Imagine losing all four of them at the same time." Elsa said calmly.

"Do not compare my pain to yours!" her grip on Elsa's lapels tightened

"Yes, because mine cannot be compared to anything." the platinum blonde stated as she pried Anna's hands off from her lapels.

Anna's knuckles were white while tears streamed down her face. "Why do you keep on hurting me?" she weakly pounded her fists on Elsa's chest. "Since we've met all you did was deceive me, hurt me, and threaten me. I know I did something unforgivable but before that the only crime I was guilty of was being born as Runeard's kin." she sobbed.

"Anna." she felt Elsa grabbed her wrists. "I loathe when women cry over something that wasn't worth crying for."

"That only means I have feelings, unlike you." Anna ire continued to rise.

"I did have feelings until they were diminished by too much pain, the pain caused by your grandfather, making me numb. You'll get used to it over time." Elsa shrugged and released her hands. "Crying only means weakness."

"No! Crying means you have a heart!" Anna refuted.

"For a princess who grew up with fairy tales maybe."

"Stop it!" Anna shouted. "You know nothing of me."

"I know enough to assume you are weak and emotional. You let your emotions drive you to make foolish choices! Just like what you did when you committed treason! You had let your emotions get the better of you to do that against me. You don't know how it hur-" Elsa snapped her mouth shut and curled her knuckles until they turned white. "You don't know what would be the consequences of your actions."

Anna realized Elsa had a point. They both do. "I told you I was desperate."

"You had let your emotions cloud your judgment. I thought you were better than that."

"I was desperate Elsa. I thought I was carrying your child and you didn't even care. I thought I was carrying the child of my enemy by going through the most horrifying process. Just think about how it felt like, of course it's only natural for me to act like that. I just lost my only family, who I assumed was kind and honorable but it turns out he was a monster. I was alone and afraid. Anger and hate made me stand up to you and show I will not be intimidated by you but I failed in a spectacular fashion." Anna didn't even bother to wipe her tears.

Elsa scowled as she remembered how disgusted she was of herself, also it takes a lot of courage to tell your enemy how vulnerable you were. However this woman in front of her just admitted it as if it was nothing.

There was silence between them.

Elsa knew Anna's words bore the truth, and she acted cruelly towards her. Anna's tear stricken face was making her heart constrict in pain.

"You failed because you trust too much. You feel like this because you give away too much." Elsa stated. "In my whole life I've learnt that when a person did a favor for you means they wanted something in return. When a person who smiles to your face with so much radiance only means they cannot be trusted. You must learn not to trust others, other than yourself, because they don't trust you. They only do it because they know you have a use for them." she paused. "You are about to be molded in the same way they did to me, I hope you realize that."

Elsa noticed how Anna paled at her words, she narrowed her eyes. It has to mean something, she could feel it.

"Are you telling me I shouldn't trust the people who supported and helped me in this entire ordeal?"

"I am aware you have allies. The question is, will they survive once you make another mistake?" Elsa's brow rose.

"What is wrong with you? It seems like everything will be solved by violence?!" Anna accused.

"Oh no. I use diplomacy first and foremost, but if they keep on getting in my way then they will leave me no choice but to dispose of them. Just like what I am doing now with you. I chose to talk to you first before taking action." Elsa said as she walked towards the door but Anna held her arm. She stared at Anna before taking her arm rather forcefully.

"Remember what I said, not everyone can be trusted. If you're going to continue to make yourself vulnerable, let's see how long you'll survive Arendelle's true nature, your own grandfather's creation." she

was left alone.

Hours later.

The key figures of the progress were all there, well almost. The Duke and the Count of Isles would bring their own personal guards, while Elsa had Olaf and Marshall, also Lord Harold would be there. While Eric, General Mattias, Vice Admiral Hofferson and his son, Captain Robert would be Anna's guards. There were other nobles who would join them like Lord Solskinn and Lord Jorgen.

They were currently discussing the details of the progress, now that the security detail was settled, and the supplies needed which were already prepared since the announcement of the progress. There would be servants who would join them to provide the necessities of the Queen and the Lady. Of course Wendy would be there for Anna and couple more servants but Elsa refused to have her own since Wendy would be enough to serve both her and Anna.

As for the lodgings, they would bring tents in case they wouldn't be able to find a manor house nearby or any large house that could provide them a place to stay for the night. The members of the council were split into using tents and manor lodgings, both had their concern for safety.

"Using tents in the middle of nowhere is ridiculous. Her Majesty should avoid any attacks from enemies." Lord Jorgen voiced his concern. "Manor houses from Arendelle's nobles are much suited for Her Majesty and Lady Anna."

"I agree." Count of Isles said.

"Aye." answered Lord Oaken.

"Aye." Lord Harold agreed.

Elsa silently turned her attention to those who favored the use of the tents. She did her best not to sigh because of not voicing out these concerns much earlier.

"Manor houses are for comfort for those who disagree on using the tents. However there must be precaution for using them, it was for the safety of Her Majesty and Lady Anna, let's just say we are in a manor house, there are so many potential assassins and not to mention we don't know the true nature of the people who occupy the said manor house. While if we used tents the surrounding area would be constantly patrolled by our soldiers, sure there would be a risk but the list of the potential assassins would be minimized. It can only come from the outside or worse inside." the Duke explained why he favored the use of the tents.

"His Grace has a point." Olaf stated, agreed by Lord Solskinn, General Mattias and Vice Admiral Hofferson.

"What do you think of your Majesty?" Marshall asked.

Elsa could only stare at them. "I have one question."

"Go on." the Duke said.

"Lady Anna and I would share quarters or a tent?"

The men then simultaneously spoke and discussed the pros and cons of sharing sleeping quarters. Elsa regretted asking it since they started to argue with one another.

Murmurs and voice raising reached her ears.

"Enough!" she slammed her fist down on the council table. "Please choose your representatives."

She propped her chin at the back of her hand and muted out the murmurs, as she did so her mind wandered back to Anna's tear stricken face. Elsa knew she was utterly awful when it came to Anna, it felt like it became her second nature to inflict pain to the latter.

Since we've met all you did was deceive me, hurt me, and threaten me. I know I did something unforgivable but before that the only crime I was guilty of was being born as Runeard's kin.

She unconsciously gripped her quill, thankfully it didn't snap in half. The entire time she was conflicted whether she would be nice to Anna or not. There were some factors to consider if she wanted to at least remove the animosity between them, first of them was giving Anna a glimpse of her possible weaknesses that could be exploited against her, she couldn't afford that because if she let her in she had a tendency to have soft spot to those who managed to get close to her, a trait only few knew she had. The other was being vulnerable, she hated that feeling and being with Anna made her feel like that, almost all the time. It felt like Anna was washing away something that doesn't need to be washed away from inside her. Elsa didn't like how Anna acted, she wanted Anna to loathe her more so she herself, could have reasons to do so too.

Why? It was because that loathe towards Anna was keeping her together but she could feel it weakening and she couldn't have that. It would most likely cripple her, figuratively speaking, since that's what she had known for a long time, it was what she was used to.

Elsa also felt the shift between them since the attempted siege in the north.

The shift made her more and more lenient towards Anna's disrespectful behaviors and could not explain why she started to voice out her feelings. She wasn't like that, she was never like that. Good gods she even turned a blind eye on Anna's treason for the reason of Anna's political importance and some others. She wasn't like that, before she would kill whoever betrayed her without second thoughts.

"-Majesty?" the Duke of Weselton said.

Elsa merely stated. "I'm listening." well half of her attention was on him.

The Duke narrowed his eyes on her. "What would be your decision then?"

"I don't see why we should share sleeping quarters. She can have her own quarters, and in this case a tent. Yes, I prefer them than a manor house."

"As I've said, it's for your safety and hers. It would also help the people in charge focus their attention into one place instead of two, so that those who were actually listening would understand that." the Duke gave her a pointed look.

Elsa ignored the jab. "Did it occur to you that having the Queen and her betrothed in one place would endanger them even further?"

"The Harolds will be there." the Count of Isles interjected. "There's nothing to fear."

"Aye." all of the men agreed.

If looks could kill, all of them were already dead.

Elsa didn't agree nor opposed the notion. "As for the people who will be in-charge here, my Uncle and Her Royal Highness Princess Rapunzel of Corona." She saw her cousin glared at her because of how formally she addressed her, who was sitting in the middle of two empty chairs. Elsa made sure there would be no close contact with any men, no one questioned her request, if some did they didn't dare to say it out loud.

She smirked at Rapunzel.

"I already gave Kai the instructions, also Gerda would be here for further assistance."

"We will do our best." King Frederic said.

"Marvelous. Any more concerns?"

"I think we covered everything." the Count stated.

"Alright. I'll see some of you tomorrow morning. Good day."

"Good day, Your Majesty."

One by one filed out of the room, the last one to go was the Duke as always. She internally groaned at his presence.

"You are off today. Is there something amiss?"

Elsa knew he was being nosy again. "Nothing, just- tired. I was riding this morning."

"Really? Who?" the Duke smirked.

"I beg your pardon?!" Elsa was scandalized at the innuendo as she slowly rose from her seat.

"Perhaps we should mark the calendars for the future heir, yes?"

Elsa became incredibly angry but she refrained from shouting. "How dare you. . ." she drew her sword and pointed it to him.

The Duke didn't even flinch. "I am merely teasing you. Good gods, Frederic's hard way of doing things made you temperamental or was it hereditary?"

"Your Grace." Marshall warned him.

"Get out." Elsa growled.

"I guess rudeness is one of them too." the Duke was having so much fun provoking her. "Good day to you, Your Majesty." he left and closed the door shut

"Argh!" she stuck another decorative vase at the corner, shattering it into pieces.

"Elsa-"

"Marshall please. I don't want to talk about it." Elsa sat back on her chair, fuming, then discarded her sword on top of the council table. "They infuriate me. All of them."

Marshall gave her a sympathetic look.

"My lady, the royal progress will start tomorrow." a man said as he knelt in front of a woman who was sitting on her chair.

"Excellent, did you make the necessary preparations?" she asked.

"Everything is set. We hired the best men for the job."

"Perfect, I want her gone so my sons could have what's theirs. With her gone the Queen's claim will weaken. Everyone knows it was her who gave power to the throne. The late Duke's retainers rallied behind her but if she's gone then they will rally behind my sons since the first born was captured."

"What about the other claimants?"

"We'll deal with them after we accomplish our current objective. Surely my sons would need wives and they would be suitable brides for them, regardless of their shared bloodline."

The man remained silent at that.

The woman smirked at her devious plan.

Evening came.

For the entire time after the council meeting Elsa and Olaf rummaged through the Queen's study for the document they were looking for.

"I told you it's not here." Elsa once again had discarded her double breasted coat and cravat, on the backrest of the chaise this time.

"Maybe that man was lying to me." Olaf grumbled and had placed the last remaining stacks of old documents aside. "There we go. All done."

"Just imagine me doing all this stuff on my own. I had Kai help me with it." Elsa rolled a parchment and inserted it to one of the diamond shaped shelves.

"I can't, it's too tiring." Olaf sat on the carpeted floor before resting his back on the Queen's desk. "Oh by the way I had an interesting conversation with Anna today."

Elsa merely looked at him and lied down on the chaise so she could rest. "About?"

"The tea, and my she was like a spitfire because her words are rather . . . intense, but mostly we talked about you though."

Elsa sighed. "What now?"

"Of what happened before about how you saved my brother and how I am helping you."

"I'm sure you didn't say something weird."

"I may have or may have not told her that she could escape your marriage." Olaf had the audacity to smile sheepishly when Elsa sat up and glared at him.

"No wonder she was saying weird things to me earlier. Thank the gods for my quick thinking and I managed to hide my surprise when she brought up the subject about the consummation. What else did you tell her?"

"Oh well, I basically told her that she could escape you if you two didn't consummate, and of course she remembered the pregnancy ruse and how the others knew about it, so I'm assuming you gave her the vial?"

Elsa sat properly and shook her head. "I didn't. She lied to the others without complaint."

Olaf gave her a knowing look. "How did you do it?"

Elsa only stared at him. "What made you say that to her?" She ignored Olaf's question.

"I know I overstepped my boundaries but you are important to me , Elsa. I want you to be happy after a long time and if escaping her will bring that happiness that you've been denied to then I will do what I can."

"Thank you, I appreciate the thought but I will handle Anna myself."

"Of course, do you mind telling what you told her when she broached the subject?"

"She asked why I didn't consummate it. I was at a loss for a moment because why in the world would she ask that? Then told her it would require consent of both parties, which was utterly ridiculous because when did consummation required consent? Especially in a forced royal marriage? I only told her what would serve me a good purpose. Rapunzel would slit my throat if I forced myself on her."

"I'm sure she will. " Olaf's seriousness dissipated and chuckled. "Is that all?"

"Yes." Elsa said with finality.

Olaf just stared at her before stating. "You've changed somehow. I couldn't explain it." Olaf pointed out.

"What? That's ridiculous. Come, you're just hungry." She took her coat and didn't bother wearing it. She opened the door and just in time Wendy was about to knock.

"Your Majesty, Sir Olaf, good evening" Wendy curtsied.

Elsa merely raised her eyebrow and stayed at the threshold.

"Good evening, what brought you here?" Olaf asked as he got past Elsa.

Both her and Olaf waited but she could see hesitation. "Come tell us."

"I-It's uh a rather delicate subject." Wendy stated.

Olaf sensed that whatever Wendy wanted to say, it was him preventing her from doing so, he laughed out loud. "Alright, I'll just be at the kitchen to bother Gerda for food." without waiting for the other two to respond, he went away.

Once Olaf was out of sight Elsa asked. "What is it?"

"M'lady refused to eat her dinner."

"Did she say why?"

"I tried to ask but she wasn't responding."

Elsa could only sigh. "I got it." She dismissed Wendy and went to their shared bedroom, only to find a lump under the thick covers.

"Anna, Wendy told me you refused to eat your dinner."

There was no response from the lump on the bed.

"Anna, will you eat?"

Again there was no response.

Elsa sat near the figure on the bed. "Anna, please eat your dinner."

Annoyance surged inside Elsa. She refused to be like this, she didn't want to beg for something trivial such as this, but if she didn't prevent this the councilmen wouldn't be pleased if they learned about food returning to the kitchen intended for the Anna untouched.

She observed if Anna was indeed sleeping, and the latter's steady breathing confirmed it.

She hovered her hand on the covers and gently pulled it away, revealing the sleeping face of Anna. Elsa could see tears on Anna's cheeks, her eyes softened then a rush of weird feelings filled her chest. She gingerly wiped Anna's tears away.

Elsa knew she was an awful person to Anna but she couldn't help but to be like that whenever she was around, the latter was triggering a myriad of feelings Elsa would never understand. Elsa was brash and she mostly acted as if she was like a beast towards her. She gritted her teeth.

She stared at Anna's sleeping face and gently brushed the back of her index finger against the latter's cheek. Elsa had to act as if she didn't feel anything so they would fear her . . . so Anna would fear her, but clearly Anna doesn't fear her anymore.

Make her fall in love with you.

The two of you will be a formidable pair .

Elsa scoffed as she remembered those words. Many wanted her to do impossible things, one of them was loving Anna. The very thing that she could never feel with her nor anyone else. Her glacial eyes never left Anna's beautiful sleeping face. She subconsciously tucked the stray locks away from Anna's face before curling her fingers into fist. "What am I doing?" She stood up and went to her desk to pour herself a glass of bourbon and let a few drops of green liquid mixed into her drink from a small vial.

She lied to Olaf, she didn't run out of these vials, Elsa was just using stronger ones.

Next Morning

Wendy came in to help her get dressed. She was informed that she was going to ride a horse side by side with the Queen, that particular piece of information surprised her. Anna wore the black high collared traveling dress with red accents and breeches. The collar of her dress was clasped close by circular golden crocus clasps and her dress was embroidered with golden threads in wheat like design, as a symbol of abundance of life, fertility and resurrection. It felt like the embroidery was meant for her, since she felt like resurrecting her family name. A black sash was wrapped around her waist and a pair of calf-high black boots to complete her ensemble.

Her hair was styled in a double-braid like before and let the half of her hair cascade down her shoulders. This time Wendy added a hair pin studded with small rubies to secured her hair at the back of her head. She then watched Wendy placed a necklace with a small teardrop ruby pendant around her neck through the mirror then a pair of stud ruby earrings on her earlobes.

"Ruby symbolizes power and passion." Wendy smiled at her. "Her Majesty had chosen these for you."

"Power? Me? Why would she?" Anna raised her brow.

"She didn't tell."

"Her Majesty must be waiting for you at breakfast. She wanted everyone to be fed before starting her first royal progress."

One of the servants knocked on the door, prompting Wendy to open it and took the one particular military coat from the servant, it was a military uniform Anna thought she would never see again.

"Her Majesty wishes for M'lady to wear this."

It was the red Eldr military uniform with gold accents, her family's colors. It was a double breasted military coat with wide lapels and eight golden buttons with the crest of House Eldr embossed on them. The uniform was complete with golden thread of aiguillette and epaulets.

Anna touched the uniform with a shaky hand.

"Her Majesty had tasked me to have it fitted to your size."

Anna just stood there and had let Wendy put on the coat then secured it with another black sash. She touched the uniform again and let out a shuddering breath as she saw herself in the full-length mirror, dressed in her family's colors.

"Shall we, M'lady?" Wendy smiled at her.

Without saying anything, Anna followed Wendy, only to find the people who were going with them were dressed in their military uniforms, other than the King of Corona and the Princess. She suddenly felt intimidated by them but she didn't show it and puff her chest out proudly. The intimidation she felt disappeared as the Count of Isles looked pleased, so did the others at her clothes. She greeted everyone good morning and they did as well, Olaf was rather loud. She took her seat at the right side of Elsa's seat.

The seating arrangement changed. The Harold cousins were on her right, beside her was Olaf, next to him was his brother, then Eric. General Mattias and Vice-Admiral Hofferson were seated next to Eric. While the seat across her was occupied by Rapunzel, next to her was King Frederic, Duke of Weselton, Count of Isles, Lord Solskinn, Lord Jorgen, Lord Harold and Lord Oaken.

They waited for about a minute before one of the double doors in the room opened, revealing the Queen in intimidating clothing Anna had seen her. The Queen was wearing a long double breasted military coat like hers, the differences were the colors, it was the Vinter dark blue color with black accents. The wide lapels were lined with gold threads, the aiguillette was pinned on the left side of her chest while military ribbons with medals were on the right side of her chest. They were quite a lot for a woman to have. Last but not least was the golden Vinter pendant secured by a dark blue ribbon around her neck.

The Queen's hair was styled in an elaborate bun, for the sole purpose of wearing the crown of Arendelle upon her head, exuding power and authority to anyone who would see. She couldn't take her eyes off Elsa, even after the latter had taken her seat.

The entire meal ended in a swift, soon she found herself at the foyer with a retinue of servants and guards waiting for them. Both of her and Elsa haven't said anything to each other since what happened a day before.

The Lords and the military officers mounted on their horses. While the servants got on the series of carriage where their supplies were located. Anna saw stallions, a chestnut colored one and a black one. Anna went to look for the Queen and saw her bidding goodbye to her relatives, Anna then proceeded to mount on the chestnut colored horse when a pair of hands held her by the waist.

Anna gasped and almost lost her grip on the saddle as she balanced herself on the stir up.

"Careful." she heard Elsa say then tightened the hold on her waist. "Go on." She encouraged her.

Anna nodded and successfully mounted the horse, she watched Elsa do the same on the black stallion and also noticed the black scabbard of Elsa's sword on her right hip. Anna mentally cursed herself for not bringing her own sword with her.

The royal progress had officially started. The people who were at the front was Captain Hofferson with a handful of royal guards which was odd since a General should be the one leading the retinue but the said General, Mattias, was in front of Anna and Elsa. On Elsa's right was Marshall and behind him was his brother, Olaf. While on Anna's left was Eric and behind her was Vice-Admiral Hofferson and surprisingly Wendy. Behind the Queen were the nobles led by Duke Weselton and Count of Isles then their private guards, behind them were the minor Lords with the rest of the servants and more royal guards.

Once the gates were opened they had crossed the bridge leading to the heart of the city. The people had gathered on the roadside to witness the very first procession of their new ruler.

"LONG LIVE QUEEN ELSA! LONG LIVE HOUSE VINTER!" the people chanted as they applauded their Queen.

The Queen acknowledged them with a subdued yet regal smile on her face and small nods to the people.

"LONG LIVE QUEEN ELSA! LONG LIVE OUR SAVIOR FROM THE TYRANT RUNEARD!"

That particular chant made one of the women stiffened. Anna looked around and saw how the people looked at her, some were with disgust, some with pity, and some had this supportive look in their faces, mostly coming from the merchants Anna had interacted with in the past. She hated those pitying and hateful looks, she wanted to go back to the castle. She couldn't take it so she downcast her eyes.

"Look ahead, never let them know you are affected by it. Hold your head high, you once told me you are not your family. Prove it." Anna heard Elsa say even though she was looking in the other direction and giving the people graceful smiles.

Anna looked at Elsa and blinked her tears away then did what the latter said. She looked ahead and acted as if nothing affected her.

"Look! It's Princess Anna!" a girl , about the age of fourteen, pointed at her. "She's so beautiful! LONG LIVE PRINCESS ANNA!" shouted the girl.

Then there was silence.

The people froze at the girl's cheers and the parents of the girl knelt and begged for forgiveness.

"Your Majesty, please forgive my daughter," said the father. "She's innocent and didn't mean to offend you."

Anna feared for the family's life as Elsa looked down on them.

"Princess . . . Anna?" Elsa mumbled, almost whispered but Anna still heard it.

"Your Majesty, I beg you. I'll do anything but please spare my daughter!" the father begged once again.

The people held their breath as Elsa's left hand hovered for a moment and Anna feared the latter would reach for her sword then . . . Elsa reached out and held her right hand.

Anna gasped at the contact and her eyes widened before snapping her attention to the Queen on her right.

"There's nothing to forgive, please rise." The family did what Elsa commanded. " You've done nothing to offend me, in fact I am delighted that there are people who still love the princess, like I do." Elsa smiled and threw Anna a loving gaze.

Murmurs erupted from the crowd.

"Some of you still hold a grudge on her house from what happened before, now I want you all to look past that and see her as she is. It will give me great pleasure if you treat the princess, the way you treat me with respect and adoration." Elsa then gave the back of her hand a kiss while looking into her eyes, resulting with cheers from the people who still supported Anna, then the others joined, though some were still uncomfortable for seeing the former princess as the Queen's lover.

"LONG LIVE THE UNITED HOUSE OF VINTER AND ELDR!" the merchants loudly cheered.

"LONG LIVE QUEEN ELSA AND PRINCESS ANNA!"

All Anna could do was shed a few tears because of the overwhelming feeling in her heart and the unusual warmth of the hand which holding. She was looking at Elsa, some saw this as an adoring gaze but in truth she's trying to figure out what's happening in Elsa's mind.

"Smile and look at them." Elsa said to her while looking towards the crowd before pulling away her hand.

Anna nodded and smiled at the people.

The Duke and the Count were pleased by Elsa's action.

"We made the right decision." the Count stated.

"Yes, if I say so myself." the Duke smiled tightly, he knew how Elsa's mind works, so did the Count but he knew much more. Elsa was cunning if she so desired, an art she mastered at a young age.

At Lille Manor

"M'Lady." One servant bowed to the lady of the house, who was playing cards once again with her friends.

"What is it?" Lady Marina asked without looking away from her cards.

"The royal progress will head this way sometime soon."

That particular information got the attention of the four players.

"Oh yes that reminds me, I was told there would be a royal progress but I wasn't sure when." Lady Cruella shrugged. "I'm not particularly enamored of having a female ruler."

"Well she might be beautiful," Lord Gaston licked his lips as he won the game. "Lady Marina, your debts are now doubled. I hope you didn't forget what I wanted."

"Lord Hunter, we know very well you wanted Lady Ariel the moment you laid your hands-oh I meant eyes on her." Lady Vanessa chuckled.

"A perfect bride for a perfect man." Lord Gaston laughed.

Lady Marina laughed with them as well.

Unknown to them there was a figure behind the door and heard everything. Her blue eyes glistened with tears but she blinked them away before she took a deep breath. If her mother intended to have her marry that lecherous lord and the news of the Queen passing by their place, it would give her an opportunity of escaping that horrible man.

"I'm sorry mother. I can't do it." Ariel went to go to fetch her cloak, due to having enormous debts the manor house's servants were reduced and she took it as an advantage. Having less servants meant she could slip away without being noticed.

Ariel would make a gamble of her life. She would seek the Queen and humble herself before her, it didn't matter if she would be thrown to prison as long as she could escape her mother, Lord Gaston and her cruel fate.

"It's much better in prison than here." Ariel mounted looked back to the manor house she grew up in. "I won't be any use to you now." She took one of their remaining horses and rode out into the forest.

How was it?

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