To Thaw a Hero's Heart

Chapter Thirty-one: Blackmail

Chapter Thirty-One: Blackmail

It's been a week and everyone quickly became worried about Elsa since the day Mathias left as she became depressed and stayed mostly in her room unless she had to do her duties as queen. The only person who made her smile was her nephew Christian when Anna suggested her to spend some time with him thinking it would be good for her and to her surprise it worked but that was the only time Elsa truly smiled. Jonathan began to notice whenever Mathias was mentioned in a conversation by the guards or the staff, she would reach for the pendant on her neck and hold it for a few moments and the old guard had a reason to believe that she still loved him.

The ball was only a few days away and guests were already arriving by road and sea

were already coming to the their kingdom before the ball even began. Elsa stood on the balcony of her room overlooking the guests as they crowded in the courtyard. To her guests she looked stunning and more elegant for a queen. Her dress was royal blue with her hair up in a neat bun with a stoic look upon her features. She still wore the necklace Mathias gave her during Christmas, it gave her comfort knowing in a way he was with her, reassuring her that everything will be fine. But that wasn't the case, with Mathias gone, the council will again try to get her with one of the royals even Joseph which sent shivers down her spine remembering the things he tried to do to her. The head council Mr.Grodford gave her his condolences but reassured her that Mathias will come back to her. It did bring her hopes but the odds were stacked against her and right now she was just avoiding the inevitable.

"Maybe i'm truly destined to spend the rest of my life alone." She thought as her grip tightened on the railing. She immediately calmed down when she noticed some frost forming around it, trying hide the fact she was distressed. She waited patiently till Kai announced her and contemplated on whether or not she could follow through with it. She heard her name announced and slowly but surely she stepped out to the applauding crowd and gave them a false smile and waited for them to quiet down.

"Ladies and gentlemen, i thank you all for coming today and i'm sure some of you are aware of why you're here but i hope you enjoy your stay and the party. Thank you." She said dismissing the dignitaries as the filed out of the courtyard. A heavy sigh escaped her as the last person left the area and slowly sat on a nearby bench to calm herself as the nervousness enveloped her as the wind blew past her. One of her hands moved to the pendant on her neck to help calm her and the memories if not much of the times she had spent with Mathias filled her mind like a warm blanket and it soothed her to her core. Oh, how she missed that man with his ways of reassurance and at the same time his sarcastic remarks even though he was cocky about himself at times but she loved that about him, even that little moment with her nephew Christian. There was pride in his eyes and a bit of jealousy in them but it seemed it was in a good way as he held him though he is stubborn and won't admit it plainly to anyone. His warmth compared to her own temperature actually relaxed her and knew she had the same effect on him as well. She missed his touch and the thought made her body ach in longing for such an interaction along those kisses he would leave along her neck and back.... She quickly shook those thoughts away knowing where they were going and with her face flushed, got back up in went back into the castle to finish the preparations.

Joseph was waiting patiently in his room he was staying in at the ship and was grinning madly now he had the chance to get the throne now since Mathias was out of the way. He was pissed somewhat when he found out that Adam killed the wrong person and the plan was ruined somewhat till Mathias killed the girl's parents. When he got the message from Hans saying the plan is back in action and he wasted no time and took the first ship to Arendelle. He was eager to make Elsa suffer along with Mathias and would make sure he hears the news he was planning to share with the kingdom and Elsa has to do what he says this time and he had the perfect tool to do so. Now all he had to do was wait for the opportunity to come his way. He wondered why Hans wanted the man alive so bad but the look in his eyes actually scared him as they craved for power just like their owner. He was confused that day Hans told him to say those exact things to Mathias If he ever met him and he thought he was crazy till he saw the way the mysterious man reacted and wondered what he truly was and why Hans wanted him so badly and not the queen. Shrugging at the thought he continued to think of the ways to get under the snow queen's skin and chuckle as cruel things came to mind on what he'll do to her once he got the crown. So he waited till the the ball began to make his move.