Sunil Weaver couldn't stand the cold. It was freezing down in the frozen land, and the trip had taken long enough. Sunil was the youngest member of the queen council being thirty years of age and this was her first foreign trip with the group. She officially had joined as a member five years ago, after the death of a former member.

It was now near sundown and it had taken longer than a week for the Queen Council to finally arrive at the official home ground of Empress Marjo Vanhala, also known as the forgotten Empress. It was three weeks ago when every member of the Queen Council agreed, they had enough of Empress Marjo not participating with the rest of Pangaea. Yes, what happened to her mother, her family, by the Kasperek's was unforgivable. But it was time now for her to act like an empress and shunning herself away from the rest of Pangaea was not going to be the way to do it. Empress Marjo was the only empress that didn't the necessary fees and taxes to the queen council, never came to any official call down or meeting, never responded to their letters or message, and never visited any other empresses as well.

Now here was the six-queen council members shivering and bundled up in jackets in one large carriage. The carriage door's opened from both sides and allowed all the women to exit.

Sunil was near the closest exit and got out first and stretched the minute she touched the ground, she nearly fell. She looked down at the ground to see why her feet were gilding. It was an icy slippery ground, and her boots gilded on the surface when she walked. The weather was light snowfall but chill all around.

"Whoa careful ladies, the ground is frozen," Sunil said walking carefully. A guard nearby grabbed her hand before she could fall. Sunil thanked him and held onto his arm for support.

"What do you think we're going to expect?" Sunil asked as she looked around her cold and frozen surroundings.

"A brat that's for sure," Lottie grimaced.

"Relax, Lottie. We're not here for trouble," Talana piped in.

"That brat has had us scrambling for years. Enough is enough. We gave her too many free passes."

"We're here to talk, not to engage in uncivil discourse. Talk civilly so we can meet in the middle," said the highest court member of the Queen Council, Vernan Flint. The oldest member of the queen council was originally from the African lands. The highest court member title was always given to the member of the queen council who was the oldest or had been in the council the longest than anyone else.

"The poor woman had been through too much from the hands of others, so we must not act controlling and dominate, or she will retreat from the Pangaea alliance even more."

Lottie rolled her eyes but didn't dare argue back. Once all six women were out of the massive carriage, they started walking in a horizontal line towards the front gate of the home castle of Marjo Vanhala, Blair Castle.

Blair Castle stood on a hillside where the ground was covered in light snow. The Castle took up a large amount of land and had many towers all the windows had seemed to be frozen over by ice. The castle was made of bluestone and was covered in light snow as well.

Sunil shivered just by looking at it.

"What a place to live," Lottie remarked.

Their guards stood behind them as the women marched toward a long silver wrong gate. They could see from afar only one guard was guarding the area, dressed in a heavy white coat, black Russian winter hat, and boats. When he saw the group approaching, he disappeared from where he was standing, running away. By the time the ladies had gotten to the gate he reappeared.

His cheeks were bright pink and his forehead a deep red. He was shaking and was holding a vintage set ring of keys. His hands were shaking as he started to open the gates. Once he got the gate unlocked, a long SWISH sound came as the gate left side moved towards him and gave room for the women and the guards to enter.

He greeted them with a weak bow and greeted them, "Welcome to the Frozen Lands and welcome to our empress home, Queen Council. We are pleased to have you here."

"Not much of a greeting?" Talana murmured. Lottie nudged her to kept quiet.

Vernan stood in the middle of the group of women smiling nicely at the middle-aged guard.

"Thank you can we please see the Empress first. I want her to know we officially arrived and ask about where will be sleeping for the night. We are quite tired from our travels to get here."

The man moved to the side, motioning his hand for them to come inside. They all did so entering and walking ahead the short but wide stairway to enter the castle. When they got to the large castle front door. The man knocked for them twice at the grand door. The door opened a few moments later slightly with an eye peering in looking at them.

"They are here," was all the anxious man said to the person whose eye was only visible. The door then opened fully, once they heard a latch unlock and the man moved to the side, directing his hand for the women to enter as he bowed from his waist.

Vernan thanked him and led the way. Inside, they were blasted by a creepy chill. Not as cold as outside but cold enough to tell them they were not wanted.

They stood in a dark, blue hue foyer, "Where is—" Vernan was interpreted, by a butler who was standing by the door they entered.

"She will be coming down in a moment to see you," The butler said in a dull, unimpressed voice. He walked away from them down a dark hallway, holding a candle.

The only thing the ground could hear were his footsteps. Looking at their surrounding's you would think it's an abandoned castle.

"Hospitality sure is different here," Talana huffed.

It was just the six of the ladies with eight male guards in an open area foyer waiting near a staircase for Marjo to arrive. If this wasn't Marjo Vanhala they were dealing with, they would expect this type of greeting from an empress to be rude and just plain blatant disrespectful.

The ladies and guards stood in silence. Whenever Sunil exhaled breath vapor would come of her mouth, and so did the other ladies. The male guard's face was covered in thick black masks that only showed their eyes. But even in their eyes, Sunil could tell they were cold.

Vernan was the only person who didn't look pissed off, unsteady, and unhappy. She kept her eyes at the staircase that seem to lead to darkness upstairs.

A moment later in the unsteady and anxious silence. A figure appeared from the dark staircase. Footsteps came, and at first, Sunil could only make out feet, a woman wearing clear high heels. Then the rest of the body came.

Marjo Vanhala dressed in a blue gown, with long winter white cloak that covered her shoulders and back. The first thing you noticed when you look at her was her striking long white hair.

"I've seen you ladies made it, and you brought entourage?" Marjo said standing at the staircase, with her hand on the railing. She didn't even bother to do a proper greeting. Sunil could tell by the other ladies' faces they didn't find it amusing.

Vernan remained calmed, and spoke for the group, "It's been so long, empress Marjo since I have last seen you. You were just a child."

Marjo took a step down the stairs, "Yes, it has. I remember you quite well, Queen Vernan."

Vernan walked closer to the staircase. The ladies and the guards remained in their places, most of them glaring at Marjo with balefulness in their eyes.

"I'm confused isn't our meeting and discussion suppose to be tomorrow morning. You twelve hours early," Marjo went on.

"Yes, your majesty but we arrived a little earlier than that of course to prep and rest before we meet you. We just need to rest for the night now."

"Did you find one?" Marjo asked rather too quickly.

"Find what?" Vernan asked.

"A place to rest?"

Vernan shifted, and she cocked her head to the side, her smile was slowly disappearing, "We were hoping you have a spare room in your castle for us to stay for the night."

Marjo narrowed her eyes at Vernan, her grip on the railing tightened, "I don't. I'm sure you can find someplace else to sleep tonight. The Frozen Lands has many inns, motels, and hotels for rest."

There was a sudden pause.

"How dare—" Lottie began, but Vernan lifted her left hand in the air to silence her.

"Marjo, I understand you don't have the best relationship in the past with the Queen Council and Pangaea but with all due respect you have been quite discourteous with us."

Majo shrugged, "I don't see what that has to do with you finding a place to rest tonight."

"Your majesty, I advise you—"

"You're not staying in my palace," Marjo muttered with an ice tone, strained with impatience. "That is my final warning, or I will use force. You are only welcomed here during the times you scheduled on your letters for meetings. Any other time you have no right to be here." That was when three guards, one male, and two females appeared from below them, emerging from the side of the staircase, holding painted blue spears and dressed in heavy winter fur, with sharp expressions drawn on their faces.

It was silence in the cold hallway.

Sunil looked next to her and saw Vernan with a blank face.

"I understand your majesty, your home your rules. We will take our life and met with you back at your castle tomorrow morning sharp."

The rest of the woman looked at Vernan in shock. Vernan didn't argue back she simply turned on her heel and walked back to the door they came back from.

Marjo crossed her arms over her chest watching the six women leave and their guards as well.

"Have a nice night, ladies. Be back tomorrow morning sharp!" Vernan heard Marjo yelled at them once they were out of the door, which slammed behind them.

"WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO NOW?" Sunil yelled.

"HOW DARE SHE DISRESPECT US LIKE US!" Lottie yelled.

"I CAN BELIEVE HER ATTITUDE!" Talana bellowed.

"We have to remain calm; we will find an Inn to stay tomorrow. Save the rest of your resentments tomorrow," Vernan mentioned as they walked down the slight wide steps of the castle and headed back to the massive carriage they had come from.

Chike was running late to his meeting with Ekon, but he didn't care. Ekon was going to have to deal with it because no matter what Rehema oversaw who got to plan her coronation and sit on the Committee. Chike knew she was not going to taker him off the committee. It honestly felt nice to be the first concubine to get some official work in the harem. He thought Rehema would have started with the younger and fresh-faced ones that were newly added.

The guards that were carrying him on his sedan chair took their time and came to a halt when they reached the main palace building. They lowered the sedan down and Chike's main servant Noah came over and helped him get out of the sedan while holding his left arm. Noah guided him inside the golden, shade palace, with three more servants following behind them. The study of the Imperial Emperor Dowager was on the first floor and Noah walked down the hall made a left and they reached his study. Noah was going to knock but Chike barged on in.

Entering the medium-sized office, Chike did a quick scan around. There was a large desk in the front of the room and the middle of a meeting table. Ekon was sitting at the meeting table with a feathered quill in his hand, and parchment laid in front of him, as well as an ink bowl. Sitting next to him was an advisor and standing behind him was a servant. His eyes glared at Chike when he came in unannounced.

Chike and Noah did a quick bow, "Sorry for my intrusions. My Dowager, I hope I didn't miss much."

Ekon looked like he wanted to say a lot but instead said nothing. The advisor glanced between Ekon and Chike, feeling the tension in the room.

"Please your highness," The advisor spoke. "Take a seat. We were just getting started."

Chike did so, going to the nearest seat. He dismissed his three together servants to wait for him in the hallway while Noah stood by his side. Ekon made eye contact with everyone in the room except Chike.

It was an awkward silence at first, the middle-aged advisor in the green military-style suit spoke up trying to ease the tension, "Your highness we're, just thinking about the invitations first for the coronation and who will get the closet seats."

"Well obviously her majesty's family should have the closest seats," Chike said.

The advisor agreed and turned to Ekon. "What do you make of it your highness?"

Ekon shuffled through the papers in front of him, "I agree."

Chike noticed Ekon was shuffling cards as well and drawing on them within.

"What is that?" Chike asked, trying to understand what Emperor Dowager was doing.

The advisor glanced at what Chike was talking about, "Ah, your highness. Ekon is designing the invitations. He has a neat hand for the arts, so he is the perfect designer for them."

"She won't like it," Chike said abruptly.

The advisor blinked, and Ekon stopped drawing.

"She doesn't like that design. Black and white designs bore her. She likes to color. I think red, orange, and yellow flowers will do better since she always enjoyed the sunset."

Ekon put down his painting brush, and smirked, "Well wouldn't you know."

"I'm trying to help. That is why I'm part of this committee,

Ekon stared at him, and Chike started back, with satisfaction on his face.

"Klavin can you leave us for a moment," Ekon told the advisor who felt awkward and out of place.

"Of course, Sir," he said quickly getting up to take his leave and rushing out of the room.

Ekon put his elbows on the table, once Klavin was gone. "Now you listen here. Keep your ego in check, Chike. You're merely a husband whose status is slowly fading away."

"Are you angry at me because of your inability to know your adopted daughters' interests?" Chike remarked.

Ekon frowned, "You keep this up Chike I promise your seat of Emperor days will be numbered."

"And who will you replace me with?" Chike challenged. "Omari? Do you know the type of madness, he would cause in the harem. You know I'm best suited for this seat, and if you want a successful coronation. You ought to take advice for the man who knows how to please the empress inside and out."

"Are you forgetting I practically raised her? And you dare say you know her better than I do."

"Your invitations prove my point," Chike sneered.

Ekon got up from his seat abruptly and threw the papers of invitations at Chike, "You design these damn invitations yourself, and present them to me and Kalvin next week. Emperor," Ekon scowled. Storming out the room with his servant following behind him.