How To Charm An Ice Queen

#1. Prince Charming, At Your Service

Chapter 1

Prince Charming At Your Service

Solving conflict wasn't exactly my kind of thing. But if said conflict resolution involved swordfighting, then I was just the man for the job.

When some poor sucker had been caught cheating at the gaming tables in one of my personal favourite taverns, I had to make sure the place didn't end up in rubble due to the inevitable chaos about to ensue.

Can't have my plaque on the wall which depicted my countless gambling victories to be damaged. Not that it mattered but it was a welcoming sight everytime I stepped in here.

"Yer dead, ye lowlife cheat!" A burly man with a wooly beard sank his meaty fist into a smaller man's gut, making him double over and hit his head on the table.

I winced slightly but made my way over to them while everyone else gave them a wide berth while still watching in anticipation, some encouraging further violence from their safe perches.

"Okay, break it up," I shoved one man out of my way while I faced the wooly bearded guy. "What's all the fuss about big guy?"

He glared at me, hand automatically reaching for the sword on his chair. "Nun ya bizniz, Prince," he snarled. Though it was hard to make out much of his facial expression with all that hair.

Some people gasped. Others "oohed". The rest seemed dumbfounded that one of royal standing such as myself would be in such an establishment.

I raised my hands in mock surrender. "Relax," I said, grinning. "No need to get upset. I just wanna let you know you only need to ask this man nicely to reimburse you,"

Wooly-beard snarled again. "'E ain't got no money! So 'e's gonna get what's comin' to 'im." He proceeded to punch the poor fellow repeatedly.

I felt bad for the guy. I really did. Gambling usually lead to this sort of thing and usually the tavern owner was too weak to stop it.

Lucky for him, I'm in a generous mood.

"Whoa, let me make you a deal," I said hastily.

The big man eyed me and I think his beard seemed wary of me too.

"How 'bout I pay of his debt to you and you leave the poor man to his fate? Sound good?" Here, I gave him my boyish smile.

He looked interested and his gaze practically flew to my pouch that I had pulled from within my boot.

"How much are we talking here?" I asked.

"I gots a better idea," he grinned and displayed a set of yellowed and missing teeth, releasing the man from his hold and holding out his hand. "Gimme all yer coins instead. You don't need em,"

Here I scoffed. I didn't have an actual paying job and was still on a monthly allowance. Pitiful for a twenty-four year old prince, I know.

But ever since I turned fifteen I'd been put on a budget. Apparently I had "spending issues", and I had been banned from my inheritance ever since.

Honestly, I commission fifteen golden statues one time and suddenly I have a problem.

Or maybe it could've been the time I ordered drinks for an entire village after a successful bandit capture. Can't be sure.

And yet here you are willing to spend money on a foolish gambler,I thought.

Sometimes I hated my inner voice.

Looking at the expectant gambler I had another idea.

"If you can beat me in a sword fight, you can have both my money and my sword," I told him. "Lose and I pay you as I see fit,"