Frozen 3

Chapter 99

Kristoff

I woke up for the first time king of Arendelle. Anna, whom I could now call my wife, was still sleeping against me. I looked at the time. After noon. We were so exhausted from our day before that we had not been able to get out of bed earlier. I tenderly stroked Anna's hair and laid a light kiss on her forehead. She growled a little and buried her face a little more against me.

"Five more minutes..." she whispered in a sleepy voice.

I smiled and hugged her. For the first time in a long time, I felt fulfilled, nothing was missing from my happiness, or almost. I looked down at the jacket of my suit that had remained on the ground. From my place, I could see the corner of a big snowflake sticking out of the fabric. I couldn't accept what Honeymaren told me. Aksel couldn't have been dead, it wasn't possible— And yet it must have been the reality. I sighed. I felt like I had lost a father again.

"What time is it?" asked Anna without opening her eyes.

"Late, we should get up. Everyone has to wait for us. "

"Well, let them wait. I want to enjoy my first revival with my husband."

I put my hand in visor on his forehead, allowing her to open her eyes quietly without being blinded by the light of day. She smiled as she saw me and kissed my lips. It was a quick kiss – too fast for my taste – to say hello. Disappointed, I grabbed her neck and kissed her again, longer and more intensely this time.

"I prefer that..." I whispered to her.

She smiled, leaned on an elbow to stand up and sat on my stomach. I put my hands on her thighs and looked down at her. She was so pretty.

"What I like now is that you can do whatever you want without being blamed for anything," she says.

"That should always have been the case. "

"You know very well that it was not possible."

"Here no, but elsewhere it would not have been a problem. "

"Do you regret your life at the castle?"

"Not at all. If I hadn't come here, we would never have gotten married and I would have blamed myself all my life. I made the best choice possible."

Anna wanted to lean towards me, but the door was knocked and, by reflex, she stretched out on the bed. I gave her an inquisitive look, not understanding why she said nothing.

"It's up to you," she whispered.

"Why? "

"Do as I say, quickly."

I sighed and stood up.

"Yes?" I said.

"You'd have to get ready, sir", said Kai's voice behind the door. "Your subjects will soon arrive at the castle, you must welcome them properly."

I turned to Anna.

"My subjects? "

"Yes. Tradition has it that when a king or queen is crowned, the inhabitants of Arendelle come to meet him in the palace, in the throne room, to offer him gifts", she explained.

"But I need nothing, I—"

"It's been that way forever. Don't worry, it won't last very long. And... I'll be by your side if you find the time long."

She winked at me and got out of bed to wash and dress. She chose a long dress from her closet and went into the bathroom with it.

"Above all, don't forget to put a jacket over your shirt, put on well-ironed pants and do your hair," she says from the next room. Oh and put on your crown. You have to wear it. "

"Really? "

"Yes. Every time you present yourself publicly, you must have it."

"All right..."

I got out of bed, picked up the clothes I had carelessly left on the floor and went to get dressed in turn.

***

Almost all the servants had gathered in the throne room, perfectly aligned on one side of the room. Anna and I were seated on large golden seats covered in red velvet.

"Is that gold?" I whispered to the young woman.

She smiled and nodded. We were slightly elevated from the rest of the room, separated from the rest by a tiny staircase of three steps.

"What am I supposed to do? "

"Listen to what you are told, answer them if they ask you questions, and be as natural as possible. Don't worry, everything will be fine."

Kai looked for our agreement and opened the doors. I tightened in my seat as I heard the hubbub immediately filling the lobby. Kristoff, you can do it. A crowd of people entered the throne room and lined up in a long column. Just be quiet, act like you've been doing this your whole life. The first man in the long line that stretched before my eyes leaned respectfully forward and laid down on the few steps that separated us a long object wrapped in a thick cloth.

"I forged it for you, Your Majesty," he said, unfolding it.

I saw then a magnificent sword, whose blade shone in the light of day and whose handle was adorned with magnificent gilding. Impressed, I got up and took the weapon in my hands. It was surprisingly light and seemed easily maneuverable.

"She is ... beautiful," I said, amazed. "I had never seen one so beautiful.... I will have to take some lessons to know how to use it correctly but I assure you that when it is done, I will always wear it on my belt. "

"I'm glad you like her, Your Highness... It's been three generations since my family gave itself the mission of creating an original sword for the new king. If it suits you, I feel I have done my duty."

I smiled at him and he left, fully satisfied, letting the next person take his place. It was another man, much younger this time holding a pile of books in his hands. He also laid them down on the steps of the small staircase and said without leaving their eyes:

"They belonged to my father... He died four months ago and he cared a lot about his books. I think they will be more useful to you than to me, they transcribe all the history of Arendelle through the centuries as well as all the kings and queens who crossed them. There are empty pages at the end. You can write your own story there if you wish."

I looked at the red and gold bindings of the books. They were beautiful. I smiled at the young man and thanked him. He made a slight bow and left immediately. People then marched in front of us, dropping a mountain of gifts of all kinds on the steps: candles, decorations, wedding vows, porcelain dishes, jewelry, food... Some just congratulated us, others asked a few questions. A woman put a tiny pair of children's shoes at our feet. I looked at Anna. She blushed immediately.

"You're planning on having a baby, aren't you?" we were asked several times.

We always said the same thing:

"It's not planned right now, but... it will definitely be part of our future plans."

The afternoon seemed long, contrary to what Anna had told me. When everyone had finally left, I glanced at all the presents we had been left. Suddenly, something caught my attention. It was a piece of cloth protruding between two small wrought iron objects. I pulled him out of hiding. My heart missed a beat. It was a little grey wool hat. No, it cannot be that, I reassured myself internally. My fingers touched a seam that stretched a few centimeters on the front. I turned it over, trembling, and discovered what I feared. The name Kristian was sewn there. I then looked up at the big door in front of me, wondering who had put it there. The faces I had seen in the afternoon seemed suddenly blurred in my memory...