Queen of Ice

Julia and Cecilia get out of their carriage. “So... This is the garden people often spend?” Julia holding her.

“I never... signed for this.” she mumbled.

Cecilia wrapped her hand on Julia’s head. “What happened?” She’s put her arm on her waist. The journalist keeps capturing their moment, as this will not last forever.

Julia’s heart was beating fast. She picked the basket, then they walked to the nearby lake. “Do you know this is... ridiculous.”

Julia took out a bottle of wine. “You enjoyed this, right?” Her gaze was still cold under her hat. Her voice monotoned and detached.

She pours the wine into the empty glasses. “I’m not hypocritical. Yes,” she takes a sip of their wine.

Flashback on

“What!? A date?” Cecilia nods her head slightly. Julia furrowed her brow. “Why is it so sudden?”

Cecilia was still in her outfit last night. Her gaze was still cold and calculated. “Maybe... it will boost our positive image among our citizens.”

Julia sighed. “Is that because of the attack? Seem bothered with TFX’s problem.” Cecilia doesn’t reply or bothered. Their carriage stopped.

“We arrived?” Julia got out of the carriage and waved my hand to the crowd, then got inside.

Julia shook her head, then she sat next to her. “We should practice how to hold hands", Julia holds her hand.

Cecilia just stared coldly, unmoved, and stiff. “You warm.” She whispered and cold.

Julia chuckled. “I’m surprised... people said I’m a warm person, but an Ice Queen like you... it’s an exception.” Julia eats her sugar cane. Cecilia looked at her cold and detached.

Julia showed me a pack of sugar cane. “You want to try?” Cecilia looked away. “So... where and when?”

She looked outside the window. “Technology is so useful... and destroyed humanity at the same time. I want you to regulate...”

“It’s already done. Technology companies should pay high taxes and only produce 100 units per year. I guess... we should search why those rebels exist.” Cecilia remains silent, and her expression stiff and detached.

Julia smiled, but she tried her best to let her wife reply to her. “Do you think...” the carriage stopped at the Duncan-Laroux's Estate. They get out of the carriage and are greeted by their maids and butlers.

“Can you pack a picnic basket for us tomorrow? Julia will take me to a date.” She asked the maid. Cold, but polite. The maid left them.

Julia furrowed her brow, then followed her.

Flashback off

Julia sighed and leaned her back on the tree branch, feeling tipsy. “I can’t drink as much as you...” Cecilia sits elegantly.

“I really enjoyed this...” She murmured.

Julia pulled her closer, then leaned her head on her chest. “Don’t,” she let her go. “I don’t get used to being touched by anyone... “

Cecilia’s voice cold and detached. Julia closed her eyes and enjoyed the warmth of the sun, and a gentle breeze blew on her face. “Do you like it here?” Cecilia stared at the lake. Her stare was cold and detached.

She hugs her knees, and she lets the gentle breeze and warmth of the sun light her skin. She doesn’t even move or answer Julia’s question. Julia’s stomach rumbled. She made a sandwich for her and Cecilia, then put it on the plate.

They eat the sandwich in cold silence. None of them want to speak or start a conversation. Julia opened a cap of mineral water, then sighed. She is laying on the ground and uses the blanket as the pillow.

“Let’s go home. I want to...”

“Alright! You have a meeting at Lord Duncan’s house...” Julia packed the food and cleaned their garbage. “I was thinking, why did you marry me instead of Lord Duncan? He’s your type and handsomely rich.”

Cecilia unbothered and standing there. Her presence filled the lake. “Why are you not married him instead!?” Julia walks in front of her, as their hands tangled to each other.

A journalist tries to interview them, but the guards prevent them from coming closer. Chaos between the guards and journalists ensued. Julia climbed the carriage, then screamed.

The situation came back to calm. She climbed down, got inside the carriage. “That’s efficient.”

Julia did not respond to her words. She looked outside from the carriage, ignoring her. Cecilia keeps staring to her wife. “Something bothered you?” She asked.

Julia sighed and straightened her posture. Ignoring her again. Julia punched the carriage ceiling. The carriage stopped; Cecilia raised her eyebrow.

“I will spend my evening in my commoner's apartment. You can go to our estate alone.” Julia got out, then walked to the bus stop after she’d made sure of her wife’s safety.

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Julia opened her eyes and stretched her muscles, then got up. She took a deep breath and moved her legs to the door. Cecilia was standing there. Her expression was flat and calculated.

“Sorry to show unannounced.” Julia sighed, scratching her eyebrow. “I’m leaving.” She said with a monotone tone and cold.

“'The meeting,' right?” Julia sighed and let her wife stop by, then closed the door behind her. She notices her wife was wearing a cloak, then Julia took off her cloak.

“I told you not...” she scoffed. “Fine! You can go!” She’s leaving without a single word to her wife. Julia rubbed her face roughly, frustrated.

She stared at the door and decided to come back, but she heard a scream from downstairs. She vaulted downstairs, then looked at her wife getting harassed by the drunk thugs.

“Hey!” She approached them, then banging their heads to the floor and unconscious. Julia found her wife trembled.

“Julia...” Tears escape from her eyes. She approached her, then carried like a bride to her room.

“How many times should I tell you. Don’t wear fancy clothes, especially not in this neighborhood?” She lays Cecilia’s body on the bed, then wrapped her body with a blanket.

Julia rushed out to grab the first-aid kit from the drawer. She looks at her wife, not whining. She’s in her calmed demeanor. Julia slid her gown and hanged it with the hangar, then tended her wound.

“I should...”

“As your wife and the leader of ‘our family,’ I command you to stay here!” Their eyes met. “You’re wounded, and I will tell Lord Duncan you can’t attend ‘the meeting.’” She cleaned up the first aid.

Cecilia holds her hand. “Where are you going?” Julia looked at her. She can feel her gaze cold and calculated, but her body relaxed. Julia lay her body next to her and closed her eyes.

“If you need anything... just wake me.” Cecilia nodded her head slightly, then she followed Julia to the dream world.