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“..only an act of true love can save me.”
‘Oh shit’
He’s panicking, “A true love’s kiss” he says horrified, ‘this wasn’t part of the plan, oh god, I don’t even love her’. He reaches up to caress her face and he blanks, ‘Do I kiss her?? Will that even work? I was here for more of an arranged marriage, but this is not what I meant’. His hand is still hovering beside her face, he feels a flash of sympathy and a dawning horror. He has to say something now, there’s no time to plan, no time to stall, she’s a dead woman walking. A woman that has been locked away from everyone her whole life. There is no one to love her, no solution in sight and there is no one who can break this curse.’
“Oh Anna”, he says softly “If only there was someone out there who loved you…”
He internally winces, he could’ve phrased that better.
‘It’s true but that was a little harsh.’ He needs something to do with his hands, the window only reminds him of his difficult situation. He can no longer look at Anna or the outside.
As he strides over to close the drapes, she speaks, “You said you did”.
‘Ouch, I mean she’s not wrong, however I didn’t think a fellow royal would be this out of touch’. He feels the need to explain, “As thirteenth in line in my own kingdom, I didn’t stand a chance, I knew I would have to marry into the throne somewhere”.
“Wha-what are you talking about”.
‘Oh, she sounds even more confused’. He can’t help the growing thought that is lurking in the back of his mind. He extinguishes the candle. ‘Maybe he should explain more? “As heir Elsa was preferable of course, but no one was getting anywhere with her” he pauses, “but you-”
Anna interrupted “Hans”.
“You were so desperate for love, you were willing to marry me just like that”. He snaps his fingers. He still thought that she was at least aware of why many kingdoms were sending suitors. The foreboding feeling has grown and he can no longer ignore it.
He’s in way over his head.
This could be a political disaster, the sort that starts wars. He may be the thirteenth in line, a footnote at best, but what happens here will have echoing repercussions for his family. His family may not like him, may not even speak to him, but here he is still feeling the same strong sense of duty.
‘Even if they did use me as a decoy for the fourth in line from assassination attempts…. That was just once though.’
He can only mitigate the damage so much. There are only two arching paths in front of him. He is seen as a failure, a man who could not love a woman, even to save her life. He would be seen as a cruel, useless prince, who reflects his cruel, useless kingdom. Or.. he could be seen as a prince seeking justice for his lost love, even if it means his death. He knows that he won’t be able to win against Elsa, especially if she would murder her own sister. After all there’s no one to love him either.
‘It would be cruel to let her freeze to death so slowly’. He knows what it feels like to be left for dead, left with nothing but time ticking towards your death. He may not have died then but the memory is worse than if he had. He extinguishes the hearth.