—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Entering the Grand Magus' lab, a place full of flying objects, measuring tools and alchemical supplies, Ellaine walks straight past the lesser mages greeting her and up to the Grand Magus, who is currently using a multilayered telescope made from multiple crystal eyeballs.

"Grand Magus, I have more information."

Looking up from the telescope, he answers, "That would be much appreciated. At least currently, I am still at the stage where I can barely confirm the existence of an artifact but I'm nowhere near identifying it."

Giving him a serious look, Ellaine answers, "The ring was most likely made by the Demon King."

"Tsk That explains its quality, I'm glad for this information, I know to use different methods now," tapping on his telescope for a bit, he continues, "The fact that I was even able to confirm its existence in this short time, means it is most likely not one of his masterworks. Though anything his Majesty works on is undoubtedly going to be at least a Tier 1 artifact. Depending on the complexity, I assume I will have an answer on its abilities within a month to a year."

"Understood. Just make sure to be thorough. I do not wish to take any risks on missing anything."

"I will be thorough. Does your Majesty wish me to inform you whenever I find out a new property of the ring or do you only wish me to tell you once I have found out everything."

She thinks for a bit, "I wish to get an update whenever you have new information."

"Understood."

—---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Outside, in the palace garden, Almenor is carrying an angry Elleanor around, who is constantly pushing her hands against his face while Maggie is highly paranoid, holding out her tail in shield form and looking out for danger.

"Come on daddy! I wanna know! What's wrong with the ring?"

"I already told you that we don't know, my little snowflake."

"But you think it's bad! And you totally were talking like you knew who Dave was!"

He sighs, "Yes, your mother and I have an inkling. But we want to confirm it before potentially saying something wrong."

Starting to feel really frustrated I hit his face with all the might a baby's body can muster and yell, "Just tell me!"

He gives me a gentle smile, "Elleanor, there is no need to worry. No matter what or who the threat is, your mother and I will protect you."

"B-But-"

He smiles again and gives me a hug, "We will protect you. You don't need to be scared."

…

This is weird… Somehow…I actually feel like I believe him.

"Will you really?"

He gently pets my back, "Of course we will. You're safe, Elleanor."

Resting my head on his chest, I let out a sigh, "Okay. I trust you daddy."

Snow now gently begins to fall as I take a small nap.

Waking up, I find myself in the throneroom being carried by daddy. Mama and Maggie are here too and Maggie now has her own throne as well, though hers is seated a bit lower than mom and dads.

"Are we waiting for someone?"

Daddy looks down at me and smiles, "Yes, you have guests today~"

"I have?"

"Yes, your aunty and uncle are coming to visit~"

"Eh!? I have aunts and uncles!?"

"Of course my little snowflake~ Today it will be my siblings and another time you get to meet your mother's."

"Mama has siblings too?"

"Yes~ A lot more than me too."

"Huh…"

If daddy has siblings, they're probably just as goofy as him. Maybe even more. Like…If daddy is the one they made king, he must be the most competent one, which in turn must mean that his siblings are a bunch of idiots.

Pfft

They're probably going to be full on Disney characters. The only way to out goofy daddy is to literally be Goofy, haha.

Mama then asks, "Would you like to invite them in?"

"Yeah!"

She looks over to daddy and he loudly proclaims, "The crown princess is accepting guests now!"

The doors then open and a cold snowy wind blows through the throne room as three people enter inside. There are a man, a woman and what looks like a sixteen year old boy. The man has his hair in a blue snowy pompadour with a fadecut on his sides. He is wearing an extravagant looking blue and white suit with winter imagery embroidered in it and has the fur of a polar bear draped over his back and shoulders. His facial features look a lot like dad but he doesn't have a beard and his expression is cold and arrogant. The woman is wearing a revealing black cocktail dress with a snowfox fur draped over her shoulders with the head still attached to it. She has her wavy hair done up in a celebrity looking way and is wearing expensive looking jewelry that looks similar to the one in the diadem I'm wearing. Directly behind her, is a sixteen year old boy that looks quite similar to the man. He's almost an exact copy of him with the only difference being that his suit is black and instead of a polar bear cape he also wears a snowfox fur.

Moving up to the front, they do a small bow and look at daddy, "We greet the king of Winter."

Daddy answers, "Winter welcomes you."

They then loosen up and the guy says, "So that's your new brat, huh?"

I then hear the White Queen's voice in my head, "Ohohoho, they are quite brazen, aren't they?"

You think so? Also, why are you talking to me?

"To enjoy the show of course."

Right…

"As for your question, not only did he not greet you as the host of this event, which shows immense levels of disrespect, he also did not greet your mother, which is most likely a personal snide against her and her lineage."

Are you sure? That seems a little like an over exaggeration…They're daddy's siblings, right? Isn't it normal to be more casual around your siblings?

"Not in a formal setting like this. You forget your position, Elleanor. Though to be fair to you, it is better to phrase it as you just haven't realized it yet. You are the crown princess. You are second only to your father in this kingdom, followed by your mother, your sister and then your uncle and aunt. To disrespect you is to disrespect your entire kingdom, that is how serious this is."

Huh…

"But let's see how this plays out first. I will shut up and return your mind to the Feyrealm once more."

Time starts moving again and I see the man who is presumably my uncle come closer, "Tsk She's as black as her mother. How unfortunate. This is why I told you not to intermingle Allmy, she looks nothing like us now."

Mama gives daddy a glare and he speaks up meekly, "Uhm…Auri…Didn't you forget some things…"

He grins, "Right! I forgot to let in my entourage. Whistle You can come in now."

A group of about twenty people then enter the throneroom, holding multiple writing utensils and magical floating crystals.

Looking at them confused, daddy asks, "Who are these people?"

And the woman answers, "Have you gone blind, brother? Obviously they're reporters. We thought it would be only sensible to reassure the kingdom that the princess has surpassed her THIRTEEN YEAR LONG ILLNESS."

The reporters now ravenously write down things as time stops again.

"I told you they were up to no good, didn't I?"

I…Yeah, I guess. What are they doing?

"They're trying to put your parents into a situation where dismissing the reporters would be seen as hiding important information and being inhospitable. In the meantime, I assume they are trying to paint you and your mother as incompetent and play up that son of theirs as a better alternative for crown prince. They are abusing your father's love for his siblings in conjunction with your mother not wanting to intervene because that would undermine your father's position."

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

So…This is pretty bad then?

"Oh yeah, it's a PR disaster for you and your family. Or at least it would be."

What do you mean?

"They made a major miscalculation in their plan."

What is it?

"They did not account for you being not a normal baby nor for me helping you out~ How about we put them in their place a little, Elleanor?"

Uh…Sure?

"Great, let's start by impressing them a little, shall we? From my observations, your winter abilities are currently tied to positive emotions and survival, while your nightmare abilities are tied to negative emotions and survival. I don't expect you to have full control over them yet but I am sure we can bring forth something here~ What I want you to do is imagine your happiest memory."

My happiest memory? Hmm…What would it be…Maggie, mama, daddy and I hugging? Me cuddling up to mommy? I think…It would probably be me hugging with mama, daddy and Maggie right after we found her.

"Good, try to remember that feeling."

Okay…It feels nice and cool.

"Great. Now, let me teach you something, Elleanor. You are an Elemental, winter is as much you as you are winter. All you need to do is think beyond your body. Your body might be the center of your being but the winter around you is as much you as that body. Think of it as a camera. Like looking at yourself from the outside."

Alright.

"I will slowly decrease the time dilation now, so I won't be able to speak with you. Just make sure you imagine looking at yourself from outside your body while keeping happy thoughts in mind."

Okay.

Doing as instructed, time slowly begins moving faster again as I…I can see myself! I'm floating above daddy and myself!

Time stops again.

"Great job, Elleanor! Now imagine yourself getting bigger and bigger."

Okay!

I imagine myself getting bigger and grow taller and taller until I eventually breach the outside of the castle but I don't stop, I keep growing. I can now see all the castles surrounding us.

They really are in a snowflake pattern! The castle looks so small now…

"Very good, Elleanor. Now, without shrinking down, try to move inside the throneroom again."

How? I won't fit in there, right?

"You will, the idea of size is just an illusion. It is just how much of winter you currently control, as such you would be able to fit it even into a small pocket. Just move yourself back inside."

Okay!

Moving my giant body through a window, it breaks open and I now find myself in the throne room again as time stops once more. This time time is stuck on people just starting to look at the window with a fearful expression.

Okay, what do I do now?

"Just repeat after me~"

—---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From an outside view, after Elleanor's uncle revealed the reporters, the window suddenly shatters and icecold wind blows though the throneroom as an apparition, vaguely in a Humanoid shape resembling the northern lights, props itself up and in Elleanor's baby voice speaks, "How dare you, you insolent ingrates! You come here as my guest, refuse to greet me or my mother and now invite reporters that refuse to even introduce themselves! Are you trying to disrespect the crownprincess of this country!?"

The reporters then look at each other confused before dropping to their knees as the one seemingly in charge answers, "We are saddened to have offended your Highness. We were told by the Archduke and Archduchess that we were expected and should not bow our heads or make much noise since your Highness is still frail."

The ghostly mass now looks over to her uncle and aunt, "So it is you that bear the responsibility of breaking the laws of hospitality not only for yourselves but for your guests as well! How dare a lowly Duke's family make a mockery of the Winter Court!"

Gritting their teeth, Elleanor's aunt and uncle together with her cousin bow down and her aunt answers, "We assumed her Highness to be frail and without thought. We thought it unnecessary to honor someone who can not understand us, as such we honored his Majesty only."

"Oho? Is this how the Duke and Duchess operate? Purely on assumption and instinct like a lowly animal? If you truly wish to live like animals, I invoke my right of-"

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Feeling daddy kiss my forehead, I'm suddenly back in my body looking right at him, he has a bit of a saddened expression on his face, "It's of course your choice to invoke your rights, my little snowflake but could you have daddy handle this for you?"

The White Queen interjects, "He is going to go soft on them. They are your rivals, you should finish them off while you can."

"If you're going to do it, you'll go soft on them, daddy. They wish to harm us."

He smiles, "That might be true but isn't it right to be a bit more lenient with the ones you love?"

"I…But-"

He smiles at me again, "Will you please let your daddy handle it?"

"Tell him no, it's your right not his."

"..."

"Okay…I trust you daddy."

"Big mistake," the White Queen scoffs, "Mercy is for the strong. You do not have the strength yet to show mercy and get away with it unscathed."

Maybe…But I trust daddy…

She sighs, "It will be a learning opportunity then…"

Daddy then kisses me on the forehead, "I'm glad you do, my little snowflake. Now then, you and your mama should go make yourself comfortable. I'm sure you used up a lot of your energy."

Mama picks me up and gives daddy a kiss on the cheek, "I trust you will make the right decision, darling."

He nods and mama and I leave the throneroom with Maggie following closely behind. Outside the doors, Mama looks to Maggie, "Please go to our bedroom first, I need to discuss something with Elleanor alone."

Seemingly very concerned, she bites her underlip, "Okay…See you soon."

Once Maggie is gone, I ask, "Will daddy be okay?"

"Of course he will," now looking down at me with a stern and serious look, she asks, "Who told you to say these things in the throne room?"

Uh oh…Maybe I was being a bit too obvious…

"I…Uhm…What do you mean?"

Staring me right in the eyes, I can hear some anger in her voice, "Elleanor, do not think you can deceive me. Answer me, who told you to say these things?"

"I…Uhmm…T-The White Queen."

Gritting her teeth and getting a little louder, mama continues, "What have I told you about interacting with her!?"

"Th-That I shouldn't…"

"Exactly. So why were you contacting her?"

"I-I wasn't!"

Narrowing her eyes, mama asks, "Then how was she contacting you?"

"I don't know…She just talks in my head."

"What!? How long has this been happening for, Elleanor!?"

"Since the day I learned to fly…The White Queen taught me how."

Taking a deep breath, mama tries to calm herself again, "Why were you not telling me?"

"Well I…She was helping me and I knew you didn't like me talking to her so-"

"Elleanor! You must tell me these things! Hiding things like this is extremely dangerous!"

"I'm sor-"

Putting the back of her hand over my mouth, she interrupts, "Don't. I don't expect you to be penitent, I want you to understand. The White Queen is not your friend, Elleanor."

"I know but…If she didn't say anything, you and daddy would be in trouble."

She seems confused, "What? What are you talking about?"

"Well, if I didn't do that, then daddy's siblings would have shown that they can easily disrespect you and me, undermining our authority and placing themselves in a position to dethrone us by taking advantage of daddy's kindness and you not being able to intervene without undermining daddy's authority!"

Mama lets out a sigh, "So this is the kind of nonsense that vile bi- that person has been telling you. Elleanor, don't you think we know that your aunt and uncle would prefer to have the throne?"

"I…I dunno."

"Well, we do. Our security is also extremely tight. Did you think we didn't know they were bringing in reporters?"

"I-I guess."

"Well, we did. In fact, we were orchestrating this entire thing to make you look weak on purpose to protect you."

"What? So…Uncle and aunty were just playing a role?"

"No. But they aren't that bright and easily influenced. There is a reason your father is King and not them."

"Oh…So I…I messed up?"

Letting out another sigh, mama hugs me closely, "Elleanor, you are still just a baby. Of course you're not going to understand big plots like this and of course you are easily influenced by bad people. It's our job to protect you, not the other way around. So, in the future, please tell us important information like this. Communication is very important."

I rest my face on mama's chest, "Okay…Are you mad at me?"

"A little but that's only because you have been hiding things from me and I am both worried and frustrated by that."

Oh no…Mama is never mad at me. I really fucked up this time…

What am I going to do now? I can't apologize and mama is mad at me. What if mama won't like me anymore…What if she already doesn't like me anymore…Should I check? No, mama doesn't like that either…Should I ask her? She did say I need to communicate more…I guess it's worth a shot.

"H-Hey mama?"

"Yes?"

"I…I'm scared…"

Hugging me tightly, she asks, "What are you scared of?"

"I sniff I'm scared you don't love me anymore sob."

"Oh Elleanor…Why would you ever think that? I love you very very much."

"B-but you're mad at me and Sob I'm scared that waaaaagh…"

Rocking me up and down, mama gives me a kiss, "Shhhh~ It's alright, my little snowflake. Your mama still loves you a lot and so does your daddy. No matter what you do and how furious you make us, we will always love you."

"Ughhhhhh R-R- Sob Really?"

"Of course. We're your parents Elleanor and we will always love you."

"I Sob I also love you, waaaaaagh."

She gently pets my back, "I'm glad~"

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Not long after Elleanor has fallen asleep again, Almemor leaves the throne room and walks up to his wife and daughter, "Who's pulling the strings?"

"The White Queen. Apparently she can force a telepathic connection to Elleanor and has been doing so for months now."

Biting his cheek, he asks, "How is that possible? She isn't under contract with any familiar and definitely not with her, right?"

"Yes, as far as I understand, she is not under contract. But…I believe what is happening is a lot more sinister than that. Darling…I believe she is actively being groomed by the White Queen for a greater purpose and I don't think it's as simple as her just wanting to walk our realm for entertainment."

Almenor lets out a sigh as he gently pets Elleanor's cheek with the back of his hand, "It is as we feared then. Do you think his Majesty is working with the White Queen or is it two different attempts to use her?"

"It's hard to say. The White Queen would never willingly reach out to him. His Majesty is at least on the same level as her intellectually and his actions aren't always rational. As much as the White Queen wishes for excitement, she ultimately wants to always be in control. That's not something that she can achieve by working with him. It's of course possible that his Majesty has forced his cooperation on her but that so far seems unlikely, though perhaps attempting to rationalize his thought process in the first place is already a mistake."

"So it's likely we have at least two powerful adversaries attempting to groom our daughter…" he sighs, "I guess for now all we can do is to stay vigilant and wait for more information from our medical team and the Grand Magus."

"Right…I guess that is all we can do for now. On a different note…Should we have Elleanor's first birthday celebration today? Or should we celebrate it next year and hope the day is less eventful?"

Biting his cheek again, he answers, "As much as I'd like to celebrate every day of her existence, let's wait another year. I want her first birthday party to be special. Also fifteen is a lucky number. Perhaps it will be a good sign for her."

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