Note:
Thank you, Kelly Goodwin, for gifting a castle to this book today! Your support means the world to me.
.
.
A cold laugh echoed within the grand throne room of the ice castle, the white witch's gaze narrowed at Harlow and she said. "Answer the question and do not redirect it to me, my dear. Do not test my patience and simply tell the truth or be turned into ice."
Princess Harlow took a deep breath and said. "The Ice Prince is my mysterious gift sender and he sent me a letter that I have been promised as his bride because of the agreement between him and my mother."
Marguerite's eyes widened and an expression of understanding finally dawned on her face. Suddenly, the white witch stood up from the throne and started descending from her dais of ice, and approached Harlow.
The princess was prepared to be turned into an ice statue or become encased in ice, but suddenly, the witch took Harlow's hands and said, "Why didn't you tell me the first time at the door, my dear?"
"What?" Harlow blinked at the sudden change in personality.
This woman was too eccentric and her heart and emotions fluctuated so fast that the princess couldn't even believe she was speaking with the same person.
"I'm so sorry about what happened to your leg, let me do something for you." The White Witch motioned with a hand and the ice shard embedded on Harlow's leg disappeared and the wound also closed over.
Harlow felt the pain evaporate completely and when she looked back, there was no sign of injury whatsoever. Not even a single thin line to indicate that she had been hit by an ice shard that pierced her flesh earlier.
"No scarring, we can't have any of that as a lady." The White Witch smiled at Harlow and looked closely at her. She was inspecting the princess and judging her every feature in such a discriminating way.
Harlow could feel that this woman was comparing her appearance to that of herself. Marguerite finally nodded slowly and gestured at the princess. "You are a lovely woman. Perhaps not as lovely as me, but you'll do just fine."
The Princess of Draec didn't like the witch's tone because it held an approving but almost condescending tone, and yet suddenly right behind them was an ice table and chairs prepared for the two of them.
"Would you like to have something to drink or a snack?" the witch asked Harlow.
"Pardon me for being rude, but I'm simply here to meet with the Ice Prince," Harlow said firmly.
The eyes of the White Witch suddenly glinted and flashed at the princess' answer and the table behind her suddenly vanished at once. Harlow felt the air around her become dark, but then Marguerite clapped her hands.
"Of course, you would be interested in meeting him right away and can't even stay for a nice chat with this old lady," the white witch grouchily said.
Harlow's eyes widened and she shook her head. "It's not that I'm interested and I would like to sit here and chat but I…"
"You've come a long way, princess," the witch crooned. "I can smell the scent of another continent and the sea on you. You've traveled so long by yourself to come here. With an ice dragon perhaps, but you are so far away from home."
Harlow clenched her hand across the bow and decided not to say anything else but only nodded in confirmation. This woman seemed to think that Harlow was excited to meet her future husband Marguerite didn't know how wrong she was.
However, to disagree with the white witch might lead to Harlow's sudden demise. So, she chose to remain tactful. "Yes, I have indeed come from afar. I appreciate the hospitality, but I am sure that my parents are worried about me."
"Worried to death no doubt."
Guilt made its way to Harlow's heart and she nodded slowly. "Yes…"
"I can send them a message if you'd like." The white witch shrugged. "I suppose there is a council of wizards there to receive my message. They're no Renwyck, but Draec's own wizards and mages are also skilled enough."
Harlow's expression lightened up and she bowed her head. "I would be forever grateful if you could let my parents know that I am safe and simply headed out to find the Ice Prince."
"I can do that."
"Thank you so much."
The princess was pleased because, while she saw messenger hawks and other places that might have sent long-distance messages from across the sea, Harlow was trying to keep a low profile.
If this princess sent a message and an enemy found out about her location, then someone might take advantage of it. People would figure out she was a princess and she wouldn't be able to hide.
"You're welcome." The White Witch smiled. "Now as for the Ice Prince's whereabouts."
Harlow held her breath. "He's here right?"
The White Witch shook her head and replied flatly, "No."
"Huh?" Harlow furrowed brows. It was hard to think that the man she was looking for was not here on Mount Tempest. Didn't her mother say that she met Raphael here?
"You have ears, don't you?" Marguerite raised a brow in annoyance. "He is not here."
"What?!" Harlow's eyes bulged and she looked at the witch in confusion. "He's not here? But Icecube suddenly took off and came here to Mount Tempest. This is where he used to live in right? Wouldn't my dragon take me to where he is?"
The White Witch glanced at an ice wall and saw Harlow's ice dragon reflection. She pursed her lips and shrugged. "There is the possibility that your dragon knows where the Ice Prince is. However, I actually suspected that this is most likely a migration."
"Pardon?" Harlow couldn't help but ask again.
"Your dragon is now fully grown and also needs to mate," The White Witch chuckled. "Of course, it would suddenly want to head here in Mount Tempest to find a partner.. But as for the whereabouts of the man you seek, go elsewhere."