Queen of Ice

Julia wakes up to the sound of an alarm beeping loudly, echoing. She dismissed the alarm, then got up. She’s looking at her wife, still sleeping.

She walked to the kitchen and started to cook breakfast for them. “You can cook?” Julia scoffed. She puts the pancake for her wife on the plate, then garnish it with blueberry, cranberry, and maple syrup.

“As the royal, who lived among the commoners... I can cook.” She said as she placed the plate in front of her. Cecilia looked at the meal coldly. “It’s not as fancy as it looks, but that's all I’ve got...”

Julia opens the fridge, then pours the milk. “It’s good. I like it.” Julia smirked as Cecilia complimented her dish. She pulled a chair to sit in front of her with a glass of iced milk tea in her hand.

“Are you free tonight?” Julia tried to break the ice between them. Her wife did not reply or even glance at her. She focused on her meal.

Julia tried her best to regain her composure. “Do you want...”

“No,” Julia nodding her head. “I don’t need you to be bothered waiting or cooked for me. I’ll be...”

“Yes... you will be at Lord Duncan’s house. God! Are you in love with him!?” Julia sighed and stared into her cold brown eyes. “What kind of meeting do you have with him!?” She mumbled.

Cecilia remains calm, and unbothered. Julia decides to read the newspaper.

“You read it upside-down.” Cecilia's sarcasm made her chuckle and unamused. “So... What are you going to do? Wasting your time again?”

Julia put back the newspaper. “It’s not wasting my time... as the heir... I should hear what they want, right?”

Cecilia chugged the milk until the glass was empty. “At least... I’m not going back and forth to the Lord Duncan’s house...”

“Are you accused me of cheating?” Cecilia raised her voice. Julia took a deep breath and shrugged her shoulders.

Their conversation was interrupted by Julia’s phone ringing. She accepts the calls and puts it on loudspeaker mode. “Hey... my friend. How are you?” Cecilia did not interrupt her conversation

“The meeting was tonight... we’re got an information, there's a mole among us.” Julia glanced at her.

She took a deep breath and sighed. “Too bad, man. Do you know who the mole is?” Julia glancing at her. The man did not reply. He hung up the call, then looked at her. “What do you think? Am I caught?”

Cecilia stared at her without any emotion and cautiously. “That means you’re out of the business.” Julia furrowed her brow. “It’s not your business, Julia. You should...”

They heard the door knock outside. “Are you waiting for your affair partner, auntie?” She rolled her eyes, and still looked at her with a cold stare. “Fine!” Julia moved her legs to the door.

She found a man from TFX, gave her a bundle of cash, stolen jewelry, and a recruitment form. “We’re also searching for new soldiers. If you are interested, you can fill in the form, then send it to this address...” Julia smiles, nodding her head.

“Well... I already joined TFX, so... am I counted as your sister?” The man chuckles and nodding his head.

Julia closed, then locked the door. She puts the stolen jewelry and bundle of cash in front of her wife. “How dare you say it’s not my business!?” Cecilia touched the jewelry and the bundle of cash.

Julia sits waiting for her wife to speak or comment about that. “I want to go home first, then...”

“.... Going to Lord Duncan’s house...” Julia sighed, frustrated. “You should take a bus...”

“No. I already told the guard to pick me up with my carriage.” Julia scoffed. She rubbed her face frustrated, sighed. “I know you’re...”

“We’re got married for goddamn 4 years, Cecilia Duncan-Laroux." Julia’s voice is monotone, but firm.

Cecila looked at her. Her expression is cold and calculating. She raised her eyebrow. “Then?”

“Obviously I care for your safety! You can blow your cover...” Julia sighed and covered her face frustrated. “Why do you want to get married to me in the first place!? Is that a punishment or something?”

Cecilia did not show her emotion to Julia, who was still complaining about how cold her wife was. She took a deep breath and looked at her. “Take red lines twice, then blue lines twice. You can call the guard to bring your carriage to our estate without notice by...”

“Thanks for your concern, my dear wife. I think I can protect myself...” Julia sighed in defeat.

“Whatever!” She sipped her iced tea, then looked at her. “If I’m not coming back... tonight, that means they caught me. I need you to tell my dad what happened and run from this country.”

Cecilia nodding her head. Julia stood up, grabbed her wallet, phone, and jacket. “If you’re leaving... don’t forget to put the key under the vase.”

Julia left Cecilia alone inside her apartment.

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Julia waiting for all the members of TFX, gathered, then a young nobleman walked, followed by the TFX’s leader behind him to the stage. “Ladies and gentlemen...” Julia, who already knows who he was, remains calm. She pretends to be surprised and not knowing him.

Fortunately, the TFX members wearing a mask, so he can’t recognize her by her face. She silently recorded everything, then when the meeting finished, Julia left immediately.

She walked to the alleyway and found her wife’s carriage parked there. Julia took off her mask, then rushed inside. “Someone worried with me?” She rolled her eyes.

“What do you get?” She asked.

Julia took out her voice recorder, then gave it to her. “It turns out to be George III. Son of the Baron Rick Amber... you must have known him...” She played the recording.

Her calculated gaze made even Julia feel that her sharp eyes stared. “Fascinating... I don’t know if you can be more useful on the field...” Julia scoffed. “I want... to propose something, Julia.”

She looks at her seriously.