The Ice Princess

The Family

12 Years Later
Many things changed in the past 12 years, to begin; the king was older, wiser and a little bit more distant from Clarissa. After his marriage to Lady Gennevive, he grew older faster, he was tired and restless. He was still fun to be around, but if you saw deep into his eyes, you could see the sadness in them. He missed Queen Sarah every day of his life. But of course he couldnt say that. He was a married man and had kids to take care of. The only ones aware of this feelings were Alem and Clarissa, because they missed their mother too. Every single day.

Then there was Lady Gennevive, who never became a queen, because the king didnt have the heart to completely forget Sarah. She was well aware of this, and she hated that. But she understood that she was not fit enough to be a queen. She wasn't raised to be one. Nor was she the most motherly person unless it was around her childbirth kids. She only married the king for the safety of her daughter. And of this releationship came her son Malvoro. Who would never be fully a prince, but would enjoy the perks of living in a castle. Then she had her daughter Elle, for whom she married the king. Elle was more like a lady of company to Clarissa, if Clarissa were to ask for something she would have to deliver. And Gennevive hated that, but appreciated the fact that Issa was not like that to her.

Alem was a different kind of person than you would normally find. He was 19 and tried to be perfect under his father eyes, in order to learn how to be a good king and rule without any problems, and being capable of doing so. He had his own share of secrets and feelings. He had nothing against Clarissa, but he had to look strong and ruthless and careless around her, so she wouldn't really approach to him. Not that he didn't love her, he loved her more than any other person in the world, but he had his share of mistakes that he didn't want anyone to find. Because he knew that if she found out, then maybe she could tell on him and he would lose the throne. He was so wrong tho.

Then came Elle who was 15. She was nothing royal, just a noble. A lady. And as mentioned before, she was more like a companion for lady for Clarissa. She never really complained because she too, enjoyed all the perks that meant living in the castle. She was sweet, like no other girl. But that could also was rather hard to be around with. She had no lessons, nothing to learn. She was not allowed to listen to the kingdoms problems like Gennevive and Malvoro. They were not royals. She didnt mind. She loved Clarissa as a sister, and Clarissa loved her too. Elle grew to be a little anoying but sweet. She indeed was very pretty and sweet looking. The king treated her like a daughter and they enjoyed each others company. She couldnt hate anyone.

Malvoro was a 10 year old half-prince. He had sword lessons, horse backriding lessons, ball lessons and some other things he could choose. But he would never learn how to rule a kingdom. Never how to behave around other kings and queens. He was smart for his age, and always happy. He was the closest to Clarissa. Both of them shared a true brotherly bond. He was probably one of the few people that could make her smile. And a total prankster.

Finally there is Clarissa herself. She was still guarded and distant to everyone. The whole kingdom knew her as "The Ice Princess". She was perfect to everyones eyes. Even her parents and sibblings. Never a hair out of place. .She had unbelievable beauty that she inherited from her mothers side. Big blue-green eyes. Full pink lips, rosy cheeks, skin kissed by the sun and black midnight hair that had soft curls. Her beauty gave her more marriage proposals than all of the princessess together. She had seen her father broken, and until this day, she could see the sadness in his eyes still missing his wife. She didn't want to cause that to anyone. She didn't ever wanted to feel that way. She believed in love. She wanted love. But she was afraid of loving. She was afraid she would fall so hard for someone that she would end up breaking herself in the process.

They, were all really a happy family. Clarissa was fun to be around, she could charm a person in seconds. Everyone loved her but they were all trying to "solve" her. That made her stay guarded, but she was still sassy. She never knew who to trust. Elle and Malvoro were the closest persons she had appart from her dad, because Alem was always weird to her, and Gennevive was never really a mother, she was more like a friend. Her fathers wife. But they were all a happy family anyways. As everyone they had their ups and downs, but they all loved each other. They had family all around the world. The king had a sister that had two marvellous sons, older than Clarissa and Alem. This cousins of them were called Roger and Phillip, Clarissa loved them both to death, but she was closest to Roger, the oldest one. It was weird when they visited, because they lived far away, but they kept in close contact. This made the King really happy, knowing that Clarissa had people she could trust.

But the king wanted Clarissa to get married before the age of 20, she would have three years to pick a husband for herself, or he would have to pick one for her. He knew of the many mistakes Alem had, and he thought that he could probably never make it to be a perfect king. And he knew that Clarissa had it all, she could be the most perfect ruler of this kingdom. But for that, she would have to open up. The king had to find someone that would make her open up, if not, Alem would have to be the king. Not that he was against his oldest son in any way. But Clarissa was the fittest to rule. Everyone in the kimgdom was well aware of this.
Even Alem was aware. But the right was his. He loved Clarissa, and had nothing against her, and if she ended up being the Queen of Ashmandy, he would be happy for her, he would be proud. But she would have to step up, not bring him down.
Everything was almost perfect for the royal family, adored by everyone, loved by everyone and wise rulers. It was a nice life they lived.
Or so it seems.