The sun timidly filtered through the curtains of the presidential suite, casting a soft glow over the messy sheets.
Victoria woke up wrapped in Kael's warm arms, her leg still tangled with his.
She smiled, until...
Bzzz. Bzzz. Bzzz.
The iPhone trembled on the nightstand as if it had a life of its own. And then it started screaming with notifications.
Over 100 unread messages. Groups. News. Mentions. Trending topic alerts.
Frowning, Victoria reached out and grabbed the phone.
She started by opening the girls' group.
@SmellOfEarthAfterRain: "Did anyone see the steamy fanfic about the Prince of Cryon and a servant?"
@Nikoly: "Girl, 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 slid her fingers to X (formerly Twitter) and was greeted by a digital chaos worthy of civilizational collapse.
Hashtags like:
#KaelFreezesMe
#ThePrinceBreaksMeInHalf
#CryonIsMyHotIce
#KaelMonAmour
#KaelCorrupt (this one had fewer likes, but was persistent)
She clicked on a video: "...and this is the picture of him with a champagne glass, staring into the void as if hiding glacial secrets... whispering I want to be his glacial secret."
Victoria put a hand to her mouth, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. "What the hell is going on...?"
She kept scrolling until she saw a carousel of bizarre images, clearly edited with fan passion and zero sense of responsibility:
Kael shirtless holding a polar wolf.
Kael giving an ecology lecture wearing glasses and a blazer.
Kael holding... her? In anime-style art?
"Is that me?!" she whispered, eyes wide.
And then she stopped. Pressed her lips together. Her brain connected the dots.
Political scandal + Digital lynching + Spontaneous and coordinated rumors + everything revolving around Kael.
One name came to mind: Liam.
She didn't even need to think hard. She felt the disgust rising in her throat.
As she mentally cursed that spoiled brat, the strong arms around her waist shifted, and Kael's hoarse, still-sleepy voice broke the silence:
"You're tense... Dreamed about last night?"
Victoria gave him a light smack on the chest, blushing.
"I woke up to an avalanche of notifications," she huffed, holding up the phone. "Looks like someone launched a crusade against His Imperial Highness."
Kael, still half-eyed, took the phone with one hand and started scrolling with his thumb.
His gaze locked onto a meme where he appeared in armor with the caption: "Take me, Ice Prince."
He laughed. Laughed loudly. The sound filled the room.
"At least they have good taste," he commented with a mischievous smile. "Although that edit with the polar bear has me worried..."
"Worried?"
"About people's sanity. And maybe about Photoshop."
Victoria raised an eyebrow, trying not to laugh. But she failed. "You're not even a little mad?"
"Ah, love, if my reputation's going to fall because of beauty..."
"...let it fall with a parade of poetic hashtags," she finished theatrically.
Victoria rolled her eyes, but was visibly relieved.
The man beside her... even under the veiled attack of a smear campaign, laughed at the situation as if merely watching the world spin.
And that's why he left her so unbalanced.
"You really think it was Liam?" he asked, now looking more serious.
Victoria crossed her arms, sitting with her knees tucked under the sheet. "I'm sure. He filmed us at the gala. I bet he started spreading things early this morning."
"Hm." Kael rested his chin on his hand. "If it was him... don't worry. I have diplomatic ways of dealing with scum."
"Diplomatic?"
"Cryon diplomatic."
Victoria smiled, but her eyes gleamed with danger. "Does that involve ice cracking under his feet?"
Kael tilted his head, smiling. "Maybe. Or just contracts freezing."
The morning continued with their laughter.
Kael and Victoria were sprawled on the bed, still wrapped in the comforter, passing the phone back and forth as they looked at the memes exploding on social media.
"Freeze me, glacier prince," Kael read aloud, struggling not to laugh, his face already flushed from so much amusement.
"I'd take that iceberg and sink the Titanic again..." Victoria added, breathless from laughter, tears in her eyes.
Kael collapsed to the side, laughing too hard.
"Internet people need therapists," he said, holding his abdomen from laughing.
"And maybe a season in Cryon to learn what real ice is," Victoria retorted.
The phone's vibration interrupted the moment.
Victoria picked up the iPhone from the pillow and saw it was the girls' group.
@SmellOfEarthAfterRain: "Viiiiiiic, should we destroy that jerk now? Say the word and the internet turns into black ice."
@Lumine: "I have a media lawyer just waiting for a legal gap."
@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 reply, her father's name lit up on the screen.
DAD - Calling...
The atmosphere changed.
She took a deep breath, sat up in bed, and answered. "Dad."
The voice on the other side was harsh, sharp as a blade. "You have shamed House Lancaster. Your actions at the gala are being discussed in every circle. You will return to the ancestral mansion today and give explanations 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 reply came like a slap.
"You are a Lancaster. Your life was shaped with luxury, prestige, and elite education. All paid by the family. In return, your loyalty is expected. Your duty is to strengthen our connections. You are a valuable asset. Not a daughter. An investment."
Victoria froze. Her fingers trembled.
From the other side of the bed, Kael watched her with a frown, sensing the tension in the air.
She wanted to scream. Wanted to break the phone. But instead, she murmured with a choked voice:
"I understand... From now on, I consider myself out of House Lancaster."
Her father's silence was so heavy it made her heart ache.
"You dare?"
"I dare to live, Dad. And for the first time, live for myself. Not for your alliances. Not for your contracts. Not for that rotten engagement ring. I... am free." And she hung up.
Just like that.
The weight of the world fell on Victoria's shoulders.
She dropped the phone, still with her back to Kael, and her shoulders began to shake.
The tears came silently, pouring out a pain she'd hidden since childhood.
It wasn't just her father's words. It was everything. The lack of love. The pressure. The golden prison they called "family."
Kael approached silently. He said nothing.
He just pulled her against his chest, wrapping her in broad, warm arms like the first fireplace on a dark winter.
His hand stroked her hair as his lips murmured soft words. "You don't have to bow to anyone anymore, Victoria."
She tried to smile through the crying, burying her face in his neck.
"I'm... okay. Just... let me stay like this a bit."
"You can stay as long as you want," he whispered, like a promise.
In that moment, she was not a Lancaster. Not a noble chess piece. Just... Victoria.
And Kael was there, asking for nothing. Not trying to mold her. Just loving what he saw, even when she was in pieces.
—Afternoon—
The restaurant where Kael and Victoria were having lunch was one of those with floor-to-ceiling glass windows, offering a panoramic view of Manhattan's skyline. Luxurious, quiet, almost sacred.
Kael was cutting a piece of meat, his eyes occasionally drifting to Victoria, who tried to keep a smile on her face while stirring her salad plate as if it were the most interesting thing in the world.
"Are you still processing what happened?" Kael asked gently.
"I'm processing... everything," she replied, setting the fork down with a sigh heavier than it seemed.
The phone vibrated.
Assistant: "Urgent call. Please answer."
She frowned, unlocked the iPhone, and answered. "Yes?"
The assistant's nervous voice came from the other side. "Miss Lancaster... I mean, sorry... Ms. Victoria. I need to inform you that your personal bank accounts, black cards linked to Lancaster, and properties under the family name were frozen a little while ago. Also, the family issued an official statement declaring that you are no longer part of the Lancaster lineage."
Victoria blinked, the fork pausing in midair. "Is this serious?"
"Yes, ma'am. In fact, I was just informed that your honorary position at Valyria University was also revoked, and the car under your name was retrieved 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 today's meetings. And if you need to leave, go ahead. Take the day off."
"Yes, ma'am. And... if I may... I'm sorry."
The call ended.
Silence returned to the table.
Kael said nothing.
He just pushed his plate aside and took her hand across the table. "They didn't know the treasure they had."
She smiled sadly, murmuring. "They did. But they thought they could keep it on a shelf. Now that I lost the family seal, I'm just a girl in a gala dress with a frozen account."
Kael looked at her firmly. "You're much more than that. And if you want... there's room in the Polar Empire for a woman like you. A throne even. Just say the word."
Before she could answer, the phone vibrated again — video call: LUNA.
Victoria accepted the call, and Luna's flawless face appeared on the screen, lounging on a luxurious sofa, dressed in a white silk pajama with gold details.
"Viiiiiiiiiiiiiiictoria," she said, dragging the name like a song. "I just saw the Lancaster family's notice in the nobles' group. People are freaking out."
"The notice?" Victoria frowned, already afraid of what was coming.
Luna turned the camera and showed the screen of an official digital statement sealed with the Lancaster House crest, circulating in noble circles:
"House Lancaster informs that Miss Victoria Lancaster no longer has ties to the lineage. Therefore, we recommend allies of the House avoid collaborations, contracts, and associations involving the name of the former member."
Victoria pressed her lips together.
Kael, beside her, merely narrowed his eyes, already memorizing every word for future vengeance.
"They had to try to sabotage everything I'm building," she murmured.
"And they succeeded," Luna said bluntly, but not cruelly. "The assistants at Diamante are getting a bunch 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 only murmured. "I'm sorry, Luna. I didn't want you all to lose anything because of me."
Luna raised an eyebrow and leaned back on the sofa, sighing with class.
"Listen to me, chaotic Lancaster," she said, crossing her arms. "We didn't build Diamante Tycoon to play luxury dollhouse. If a noble who lifts her head, throws away a forced engagement, and still sleeps with a hot polar prince can't be in our company, then I don't want that company."
Kael coughed discreetly at the mention of the last part.
Victoria widened her eyes. "How did you...?"
"Nikoly saw a paparazzi video in the elevator, you naughty girl," Luna laughed. "It's going viral on the "18+" side of the net."
Victoria nearly buried her head in her 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 to be happy. The rest we rebuild. Together."
Victoria bit her lip, her eyes brimming again. But this time... with gratitude. "Thank you, Luna. I... don't know what I would do without you guys."
Luna winked. "You'd probably be married to Liam, having to listen to him talk about stocks and hair gel routines."
Both laughed.
Kael chuckled too, even without understanding the reference.
Before hanging up, Luna concluded. "Oh, and I talked to the girls. We're transferring part of the company's reserve fund to you."
"Luna... you don't have to."
"It's not help. It's investment," she winked. "After all... anyone who holds a polar empire in her arms has my vote of confidence."
The call ended.
Victoria set the phone aside, took a deep breath, and looked at Kael. "I'm... broke, disinherited, and a national meme."
Kael leaned in, gently touching her chin.
"And yet, you're the most powerful woman in this room."
She pulled him into a light kiss, soft, as if sealing a new era.
The era of Victoria for Victoria.