She groaned as she slid out of bed. Her head felt like it had been slammed into a wall. The events of the previous night came rushing back to her like a tornado. In the past, she had disliked people but Ice? She hated him. She actually started thinking of ways to kill him.

After freshening up, she walked down her house. She was the only child of the Ivanovs and lived with her parents. Her mother and father, Teresa and Clarence Ivanov, sat at the dining table without even looking at each other. Her parents' relationship wasn't the most ideal. They hated each other but wanted to maintain their image in front of the townsfolk.

There was an extra plate.

"Good morning!" A cheerful voice called out from the kitchen. She clenched her jaw when she saw the royal jackass grinning at her, carrying a stack of pancakes in his plate. He had that evil smile that made her want to fling a plate at him and run. Boy, was she jealous.

I hate people who look good in the morning!

He wore an ochre pant with a perfectly ironed white shirt that was not too loose but not to tight either. Then, she looked at herself and blushed. Arian smirked, looking at her My Little Pony night clothes. "I'm more of a Dora the Explorer guy," he winked, making her blush even more while glaring at him.

"How are you feeling now, darling?" Her father asked.

Oh, I don't know, Father! It's not like the man that drowned me is having breakfast with us!

"King Arian told us about how he bravely saved your life. What a noble soul!" Her mother gushed while smiling at Arian.

He wouldn't have to save me if he didn't drown me!

"Yes, he is indeed a noble soul. Aren't you, your highness?" she mocked. As she reached out to take a pancake, Arian snatched it first and grinned excitedly. "Call me Arian," he smiled back, too politely. She wanted to reach out and pull his hair until he started crying like a toddler.

Her father and her rescuer spoke about some business in relation to the kingdom the entire duration of their breakfast. Alaska always caught the king looking at her but she never dared make contact with him. She hated him but her hormones were being troublesome.

Teresa Ivanov looked between the two youngsters and planned to teach her daughter how to woo the king. She didn't have a loving husband but her daughter deserves one! To her, Arian was a kind man that was capable of becoming the Pope.

"So London, will you be coming to the fest next week?"

Teresa nudged her daughter.

Alaska looked up at him with anger. "London, the king asked you something!" Her father's warning tone rang in her ears. Of course, they wouldn't dare correct the king. Alaska smiled apologetically but shook her head. "It's a waste of time," she taunted. Ice was the one who organised the annual town fest to bring the people together. Clarence coughed nervously.

"My daughter's a funny girl. Excuse her, your highness. She will surely be there," the Mayor apologised.

* * * * * *

"Walk in a straight line. Yes, just like that. Now look up and smile," Teresa whispered into her daughter's ear as they walked in the forest clearing, the place where the fest was being held. Alaska tried the entire week to persuade her parents into letting her stay at home but it was of no use. The Ivanov couple felt like it was time for their daughter to start her life with a man.

"Ezra McKay. It's a pleasure to see you Mrs. Ivanov," the man smiled warmly at Teresa. He was dressed casually yet had a charming look to him. He turned his eyes towards the young and exquisite beauty eyeing him with distaste. Her long brown hair was up in a bun and unlike the other girls who were wearing dresses and mini skirts, Alaska opted for a white shirt and pale pink dress pants.

.

"This is my beautiful daughter Alaska. I'll leave you two birdies alone," Teresa winked at her daughter playfully and mouthed 'he's hot' when the young man looked away. Alaska rolled her eyes and then forcefully smiled at Ezra. She had heard a lot about him. A young charmer like him was no doubt a womaniser. "As you must have heard, I'm a renowned lawyer," he boasted.

A pretty little liar.

"I know. Good for you."

By the time her next suitor arrived, she felt the need for a drink. The boys of Blackwater were of two types. A- The guys that are too dumb to speak to and B- Well, see for yourself.

"I have late night conversations with the moon. He tells me about the sun and I tell him about you," he kissed her hand. Carlos Pierce. Poet, no doubt. He had an infatuation with Miss Ivanov since the day he saw her laughing at something someone had said to her. He wanted to marry her and unfortunately, for her, the day had come.

"Ally, it would give me great joy to have you as the mother of my kids, the woman that massages my feet at the end of the day and looks after my children," he grinned, running a hand through his greasy hair. She looked at him with wide eyes and bit her lip in an attempt to stop herself from rudely rejecting him.

Marry you? Never in a million years!

"Monsieur Pierce, I feel honoured to hear you say those kind words but I'm afraid I can't accept that," she replied coyly. Alaska looked around, trying to find someone to rescue her. There was Noah sitting exactly in front of the buffet table with his plate filled with all the possible appetisers. He understood her pleading look and went to her rescue.

"Ally! Come here!"

Alaska pretended to look surprised to see her best friend and awkwardly excused herself. She huffed as she dragged a chair and sat exactly in front of the food table. She looked at him questioningly. "Perks of being the future mayor's best friend," he grinned. She shook her head and laughed at him. She reached out to eat something from his plate bit he slapped her hand away.

"Noah doesn't share food!"

She gulped and looked away in embarrassment. Everyone turned to look at the two of them. Noah, just like most other boys, was dressed in jeans and a simple t-shirt. "Why don't you look at the good looking boys? I'm kinda busy now," he shrugged. She rolled her eyes. It was true, looking at good looking people at parties was a good pass time. "No one's handsome enough," she murmured.

"King Arian is there."

"Where?" She asked.

She immediately blushed when she saw the look her best friend gave her. He's a murderer. You can't like him! She reminded herself. Noah pointed to a certain spot and Alaska turned to look at him and gulped. He was wearing a black pant with a white dress shirt and a long blue coat. All the girls in the room had theirs eyes on him. Their discussions on which lucky girl would go home with him had commenced. Alaska felt inferior all of a sudden. The girls surrounding Arian were skinnier, prettier and more charming.

She was just plain.

"I'm a chick magnet," Noah said. Ally laughed looking at him. He had hot sauce all over his face and his shirt was crumpled (like always). "Why so?" She teased.

"See all the chicken dishes comes to me for tasting first. So violà, I'm a chick magnet. Get it?" He grinned childishly.

"Umm...okay," she laughed.

The actual chick magnet of the fest was indubitably Arian Ice. Man, he was sexy. She sighed and took a sip of water. "I'm thirsty now." Noah got up and took his best friend's hand in his and led her to the bar. He felt warm catching her hand. Her skin was so smooth and soft. He looked at her and smiled.

She's so fucking beautiful... He thought to himself.

Alaska gulped when she saw him at the bar. He was with his stepmother, Alison. Her silky blonde hair and bambi-like brown eyes enticed the King in no time after the death of the Queen. Arian and Alison were in a deep conversation when they were joined by Noah and Alaska.

"Your Highness," the duo bowed before the queen who offered them a smile in return. Noah bowed in front of Arian but Alaska chose to roll her eyes instead. The disrespect didn't go unnoticed by Arian but he stayed quiet.

.

"I've known you since you were a baby!You've grown into such a lovely girl!" The queen giggled.

How many time have all of us been told this?

"Son, why don't you ask this young lady to a dance?" Alison suggested. Both Arian and Alaska looked at each other with distaste. Alaska didn't like dancing and she would certainly not dance with the Royal mutt. Arian chuckled humourlessly. He knew that his stepmother was playing matchmaker. So was Teresa, Alaska's mother. What they didn't know was the Ice and Ivanov hated each other. But that hate would soon melt away.

"She's not good enough for me."

.

Saying that, he walked away with his stepmom following him angrily.

"I think he has done a pHd in asshole-ism," Noah murmured. Ice's words were as sharp as ice, they hurt Alaska's ego badly. It hurt her pride. Arian had every right to have pride. He was rich, successful and good looking. One day, that would be his downfall.

Three bottles of beer were enough to get the two best friends drunk. Both of them ventured deep into the forest without anyone noticing them and lost each other soon enough. The entire evening Arian had to tolerate skanks rubbing themselves on him. His mind, however, was stuck on one person in particular. He followed her scent which led him deep into the forest.

He found Alaska hiding behind a bush and shivering. It was a cold night indeed. "What are you doing?" He asked, careful not to startle her and covered her with his coat. She looked at him with wide eyes and motioned him to come closer. He frowned and kneeled down next to her, not bothering about dirtying his clothes. "I'm hiding from Alaska. She's very angry!" She whispered softly into his ear.

He smiled.

Ice never smiles.

"Why is she angry?"

Then she narrated the entire story to him. He sat patiently and listened to her speak. He asked about Noah so that he could leave her with him. "I don't know," she mumbled while trying to see if anyone had spotted them yet. He rolled his eyes and tracked down Noah. Arian face palmed himself.

Noah had built a snowman of mud.

And he was singing 'Do you want to build a snowman.'

"Can't leave her with this idiot either. Great, now I'll have to take her home," he grumbled. He took her phone from her pocket and texted her father that she would be staying with Noah. "We can't leave Noah alone!" Alaska whispered into his ear. He looked at her and realised how close they were. Her innocent green eyes tempted him to taint her soul with his devilish ways. It scared him.

"Elsa will come and rescue them," he smiled at her and tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear.

It's going to be a long night indeed.

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

: The female character was initially named Harriette

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

😍

⭐️Vote and comment for more⭐️

👩🏻‍💻