The Tale of the Ice Princess

Part 2 - Chapter 6

Over the next few days, the dormitory started to fill up, the loud chatter of students catching up with their friends could be heard all throughout the dormitory. Amidst all that, I was just exploring The Academy grounds and adding details to my plans.

After the fourth day of students streaming in, the onslaught finally stopped. Mainly because the first week of The Academy was for students to travel, along with the annual Opening Gala on the last day of the week.

And most, unfortunately, tonight was the Opening Gala.

A pain. Was the Gala in two simple words.

It was troublesome to dress up for and troublesome to attend. And I couldn't even not attend, because it was mandatory for all students.

I did not need to make contact with all the noble children attending , only a select to look and observe , which I could do during school .

But oh well....that which comes cannot be ignored .

Heaving a sigh for the umpteenth time , I started to dress for the Gala.

_-*-_

A Gala , the place where dreams are made and fulfilled , the most magical event in a girl's life .

A Gala , where one could forge connections , gather information , carry out assassinations, ohh the wonders of a gala .

Wearing a simple light blue dress with a conservative cut with a helm that swished with each step I took, I entered the Ballroom. It was paired with wrist-high gloves , a hair stick and various other simple accessories . Upon entering, I saw many nobles conversing at length, with masks of indifference or joy plastered onto each other's faces, oh what a truly wonderful sight it was .

I did a sweep of the ballroom with my eyes , fixing onto the positions of the students of interest . As social norms dictated , I had to greet the student of the highest rank first , moving down till I reached my rank , and it just so happened that the one who held the highest rank was none other than the Prince .

As rumoured, he possessed the rare and signature trait of the Royal family - platinum grey hair. Though there were many different coloured hair , platinum grey stood out as no other family possessed it; while there were those with grey hair , their grey hair lacked the luster of the Royal family's and looked dull and dark in comparison . Dressed in a fancy ash grey suit that complimented his hair, he was amicably accepting greetings from the various noble children.

Prince Alexander el sol de Altradore, son of the late Queen, the previous holder of the Right of rule. He now held the Right of rule, something passed down, in a sense , through the Royal Family, from those of Royal blood to the next generation. By tradition , only those with the Right of rule were allowed to rule the Kingdom .

However, this era was an exception; the one who sat on the throne was but a proxy only. The current King , the husband of the Late Queen , married into the Royal family and thus, was not the one who held the right . When the late Queen passed , the right was passed down to the last remaining member of the Royal family with their blood - the current Prince Alexander .

This was , in part , the reason why rot was multiplying like rabbits , as there was no one to put a stop to it . No one , not even the current King , could order the execution of any noble , except for those who held the right of rule.

The Right itself was an imaginary concept, intangible yet so powerful. When the Prince came of age , he would finally attain his right , which was at the moment temporarily 'with' the King and the Chancellor. This was why he was such an important political figure, he had a lot of influence and power ; he was going to be a key figure of Operation Crocus , whether he knew it or not .