The sun filtered timidly through the curtains of the presidential suite, casting a soft glow on the disheveled sheet.
Victoria woke up wrapped in Kael's warm arms, her leg still entwined with his.
She smiled, until...
Bzzz. Bzzz. Bzzz.
The iPhone shook on the nightstand as if it had a life of its own. And then it started screaming with notifications.
More than 100 unread messages.
Groups. News. Mentions.
Trending topics alerts.
With a frown, Victoria reached out and grabbed her cell phone.
She started by opening the girls' group.
@CheiroDeTerraPósChuva: "Has anyone seen the naughty fanfic about the prince of Cryon with a servant?"
@Nikoly: "Friend, did you see this??"
@Lumine: "...what they did with the image of Kael riding a polar bear was criminal. But I laughed."
Victoria frowned even more.
She swiped her fingers to the X (formerly Twitter), and was met with a barrage of digital chaos worthy of civilizational collapse.
Hashtags como:
#KaelMeCongela
#ThePrinceBreaksMeInHalf
#CryonIsMyHotIce
#KaelMonAmour
#KaelCorrupto (this one had fewer likes, but was persistent)
She clicked on a video:
"...and this is the picture of him with a glass of champagne, staring into space as if he were hiding glacial secrets… whisper I want to be his glacial secret."
Victoria put a hand to her mouth, unsure whether to laugh or cry. "What the hell is going on…?"
She kept scrolling until she saw a carousel of bizarre images, which were clearly edited with fan passion and zero sense of responsibility:
Shirtless Kael holding a polar wolf.
Kael giving an ecology class with glasses and a blazer.
Kael holding... her? In an anime-style drawing?
"But is that me?!" he whispered, his eyes widening.
And then he stopped. He pursed his lips. His brain put the pieces together.
Political scandal + Digital lynching + Spontaneous and coordinated rumors + everything revolving around Kael.
One name came to mind: Liam.
She didn't even have to think much. She felt disgust rise in her throat.
As she mentally cursed that spoiled brat, the strong arms around her waist moved, and Kael's husky, still sleepy voice broke the silence:
"You're tense... Did you dream about last night?"
Victoria slapped his chest lightly, blushing.
"I woke up to an avalanche of notifications," he huffed, lifting his phone. "It seems someone has launched a crusade against His Imperial Highness."
Kael, still with his eyes half closed, picked up his phone with one hand and began scrolling with his thumb.
His gaze was fixed on a meme where he appeared in armor with the caption: "Take me, Ice Prince."
He laughed. He laughed loudly. The sound filled the room.
"At least they have good taste," he commented with a mischievous smile. "Although that montage with the polar bear has me worried..."
"Worried?"
"With people's sanity. And maybe with Photoshop."
Victoria raises an eyebrow, trying not to laugh. But she fails. "Aren't you even a little bit angry?"
"Oh, love, if my reputation is to be ruined because of beauty…"
"...that she walks with a parade of poetic hashtags." he added theatrically.
Victoria rolled her eyes, but was visibly relieved.
The man who was by his side… even under the veiled attack of a smear campaign laughs at the situation as if he were just watching the world go by.
And that was why he left her so unbalanced.
"Do you really think it was Liam?" he asked, looking more serious now.
Victoria crossed her arms, sitting with her knees drawn up under the blanket. "I'm sure. He took videos of us at the gala. I bet he started spreading the word this morning."
"Hm." Kael rested his chin on his hand. "If it's him… don't worry. I have diplomatic ways of dealing with scum."
"Diplomatic?"
"Diplomatic Cryons."
Victoria smiled, but her eyes glinted with danger. "Does this involve ice breaking under his feet?"
Kael tilted his head, smiling. "Maybe. Or just contracts freezing."
The morning continued with the laughter of the two.
Kael and Victória were lying on the bed, still wrapped in the duvet, exchanging cell phones between them while looking at the memes that were exploding on social media.
"Freeze me, prince of the glacier," Kael read aloud, struggling not to laugh, his face already flushed with amusement.
"I would take that iceberg and sink the Titanic again…" Victoria added, panting with laughter, with tears in her eyes.
Kael fell to the side, laughing so hard.
"The people of the internet need psychologists," he said, holding his stomach in laughter.
"And maybe a season in Cryon to learn what real ice is," Victoria retorted.
The vibration of the cell phone interrupted the moment.
Victoria lifted her iPhone from the pillow and saw that it was the group of girls.
@CheiroDeTerraPósChuva: "Viiiiiiic, can we end this jerk now? Say the word and the internet will turn to black ice"
@Lumine: "I have a media lawyer just waiting for a legal loophole."
@Nikoly: "I have an AI ready to track all of Liam's bots if you want."
Victoria typed a few letters, smiled...But before she could respond, her father's name flashed on the screen.
FATHER - Calling…
The atmosphere has changed.
She took a deep breath, sat up in bed, and answered. "Dad."
The voice on the other end was harsh, razor-sharp. "You have brought shame to House Lancaster. Your actions at the gala are being talked about throughout the world. You will return to the ancestral mansion today and answer to the Elders."
Victoria swallowed hard. "Dad… do you even care what I have to say?"
Silence.
"…Or am I just a pawn on your board?"
The answer came like a slap.
"You are a Lancaster. Your life has been shaped by luxury, prestige, and an elite education. All paid for by your family. In return, your loyalty is expected. Your duty is to strengthen our connections. You are a precious asset. Not a daughter. An investment."
Victoria froze. Her fingers trembled.
From across the bed, Kael watched her with a frown, feeling the tense vibe of the moment.
She wanted to scream. She wanted to smash her phone. But instead, she mumbled, her voice breaking.
"I understand... From now on, I consider myself out of House Lancaster."
Her father's silence was so heavy that it made her heart heavy.
"Do you dare?"
"I dare to live, Father. And for the first time, live for myself. Not for your rings. Not for your contracts. Not for that rotten engagement ring. I… am free." And he hung up.
Simple as that.
The weight of the world fell on Victoria's shoulders.
She dropped her phone, her back still to Kael, and her shoulders began to shake.
The tears came silently, spilling a pain she had hidden since childhood.
It wasn't just because of their father's words. It was because of everything. The lack of love. The pressure. The gilded prison they called "family."
Kael approached silently.
I didn't say anything.
He just pulled her against his chest, wrapping her in his wide, warm arms like the first fireplace in a dark winter.
His hand stroked her hair, while his lips murmured soft words. "You don't need to bow to anyone anymore, Victoria."
She tried to smile through her tears, burying her face against his neck.
"I... I'm fine. Just... let me stay like this for a while."
"You can stay as long as you want," he whispered, like a promise.
At that moment, she was not a Lancaster.
It was not a noble chess piece.
It was just... Victoria.
And Kael was there, demanding nothing.
Without wanting to shape it.
Just loving what I saw, even when it was in pieces.
-The afternoon-
The restaurant where Kael and Victoria were having lunch was one of those with floor-to-ceiling glass windows, offering panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline. Luxurious, quiet, almost sacred.
Kael was cutting a piece of meat, his eyes occasionally straying to Victoria, who was trying to keep a smile on her face while stirring her plate of salad as if it were the most interesting thing in the world.
"Are you still processing what happened?" Kael asked gently.
"I'm digesting... everything," she replied, putting her fork aside with a sigh heavier than it seemed.
The cell phone vibrated.
Assistant: "Urgent call. Please answer."
She frowned, unlocked her iPhone, and answered. "Yes?"
The assistant's nervous voice came from the other end. "Miss Lancaster... I mean, I'm sorry... Miss Victoria. I need to inform you that your personal bank accounts, credit cards linked to Lancaster, and properties linked to the House name were just frozen. Furthermore, the family has issued an official statement stating that you are no longer part of the Lancaster line."
Victoria blinked, her fork stopping in midair. "Is this serious?"
"Yes, ma'am. In fact, I was just informed that your honorary position at the University of Valyria has also been revoked, and the car that was in your name has been collected by a family escort. They acted very quickly."
Victoria closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to contain her frustration. "Thank you, Camille. Cancel all meetings today. And if you need to leave, leave. You can take the day off."
"Yes, ma'am. And... if I may... I'm sorry."
The call dropped.
Silence returned to the table.
Kael said nothing.
He just pushed the plate aside and took her hand across the table. "They didn't know the treasure they had."
She smiled sadly and murmured, "They did know. But they thought they could keep it on a shelf. Now that I've lost the family seal, I'm just a girl in a ball gown and a blocked account."
Kael looked at her firmly. "You are much more than that. And if you want it... there is room in the Polar Empire for a woman like you. A throne, even. All you have to do is ask."
Before she could respond, her phone vibrated again—video call: LUNA.
Victoria accepted the call, and Luna's flawless face appeared on the screen, reclining on a luxurious sofa, dressed in white silk pajamas with gold details.
"Viiiiiiiiiiiiiictory," he said, dragging the name out like a song. "I just heard about the Lancaster family's warning to the nobles. People are freaking out."
"The warning?" Victoria frowned, already afraid of what was to come.
Luna turned the camera and showed the screen of a digital communiqué sealed with the House Lancaster crest, circulating in noble circles:
"House Lancaster informs you that Miss Victoria Lancaster no longer has any ties to the lineage.
Therefore, we recommend that the House's allies avoid collaborations, contracts and associations that involve the former member's name."
Victoria pressed her lips together.
Kael, at the side, just narrowed his eyes, already memorizing every word for future revenge.
"They needed to try to sabotage everything I'm trying to build," she muttered.
"And they succeeded," Luna said bluntly, but not cruelly. "Diamond's assistants are getting a lot of calls from nobles canceling deals, renouncing partnerships, and... one of them even called us a 'company of spoiled rebels.'"
Victoria lowered her eyes. Part of her wanted to cry. Another part wanted to scream.
But she just mumbled, "I'm sorry, Luna. I didn't want you to miss anything because of me."
Luna arched an eyebrow and leaned back on the couch, huffing with class.
"Listen to me, Chaotic Lancaster," she said, crossing her arms. "We didn't start Diamond Tycoon to play dress-up. If a noblewoman who stands up for herself, throws away a forced engagement, and even sleeps with a hot polar prince can't be in our company, then I don't want this company."
Kael coughed discreetly at the mention of the last part.
Victoria's eyes widened. "How did you…?"
"Nikoly saw the paparazzi video in the elevator, you naughty girl," Luna laughed. "It's going viral on the 'no minors' social media."
Victoria almost put her head in the plate.
Luna laughed, then softened her tone. "You only need one thing now, Victoria. It's not status. It's not titles. It's not inheritance.
It's being happy.
We'll rebuild the rest. Together."
Victoria bit her lip, her eyes welling up again. But this time… out of gratitude. "Thank you, Luna. I… don't know what I would do without you."
Luna blinked. "I'd probably be married to Liam, having to listen to him talk about stocks and hairspray."
They both laughed.
Kael gave a light laugh too, even though he didn't understand the reference.
Before hanging up, Luna finished, "Oh, and I spoke to the girls. We'll transfer part of the company's reserve fund to you."
"Luna... no need."
"It's not aid. It's investment." She winked. "After all… anyone who holds a polar empire in their arms has my vote of confidence."
The call has ended.
Victória put her phone aside, took a deep breath, and looked at Kael. "I'm… broke, disinherited, and I've become a national meme."
Kael stepped closer, gently touching her chin.
"And yet, you are the most powerful woman in this room."
She pulled him into a light, gentle kiss, as if sealing a new era.
The era of Victoria for Victoria.