**Chapter 12A: Echoes of Ice**
The journey home from the palace was long and quiet, the Frost carriage rumbling steadily over frost-hardened roads beneath a sky heavy with stars. Snowflakes drifted lazily past the windows, catching the light of the passing lanterns like tiny shards of glass. Inside, the family sat in their usual places, but the atmosphere had shifted—charged, like the air before a storm, thick with unspoken words and lingering adrenaline from the night’s events.
Felix broke the silence first, his voice warm with genuine pride that seemed to fill the confined space. “You did well tonight, Rin. Exceptionally well. The King himself acknowledged it. House Frost owes you a debt we may never fully repay. Your quick thinking prevented what could have been a catastrophe for the entire realm.”
Alfons nodded from across the seat, his serious demeanor softened by a rare, approving smile that reached his eyes. “You saved the royal family—and us, by extension. That kind of quick thinking and precision… it’s not something taught in salons or academies. I’m truly impressed. Where did you even learn to move like that? It was like watching a shadow slip through sunlight, effortless yet deadly effective.”
Albert, ever the lightest spirit among them, grinned widely and leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees. “Impressed? I’m downright jealous, sis. That ‘stumble’ was smoother than any court dance I’ve seen in my life. You turned a potential disaster into a legend in a single heartbeat. The court will be talking about the ‘Ice Savior of House Frost’ for months. I bet the bards are already scribbling songs about it in the taverns below the palace.”
Rin stared out the window, watching the snow blanket the passing trees and frost-covered fields in a pristine white layer. “It was necessary,” she said simply, her voice low and steady, carrying that faint borderlands accent. “Nothing more. I saw the threat and acted.”
Felix leaned forward slightly, his silver-threaded hair catching the lantern light as he studied her with a mix of admiration and curiosity. “Necessary or not, it was masterful. I’ve wondered about your time in the borderlands—what you learned there, how you survived all those years. Tonight answered some questions… but raised many others. The way you anticipated that poisoned trap, the precision of your ice magic—it’s not mere attribute magic. Perhaps we could train together sometime. Alfons and Albert could benefit greatly from your experience. And I from seeing my daughter in action, truly.”
Alfons inclined his head, his eyes thoughtful and respectful. “I’d welcome it without hesitation. A spar would be highly instructive. You held back even in that chaos at the banquet—show us the rest when you’re ready. Father’s right; family should sharpen one another, especially in times like these.”
Albert laughed heartily, clapping Rin on the shoulder before she could sidestep the gesture. “Come on, don’t be so mysterious! You’ve already trounced me in the yard twice. Teach me that ice-trap footwork and those lightning counters. I’ll buy you the best blades in the entire city if you do. Maybe even commission a custom frost-enchanted set.”
Rin’s gaze remained fixed on the darkness outside, the passing landscape blurring into a sea of white and shadow. “I have my own training. I’m comfortable with it. There’s no need to complicate things.”
The carriage continued its rhythmic journey, wheels crunching over snow and ice, while the family’s words hung in the air like frost on glass. Lily sat nestled against Lilian’s side, her mother’s arm wrapped protectively around her shoulders. She had been quiet since the antechamber, her earlier flush of excitement from Prince Cade’s attention replaced by a subtle pallor that the lantern light could not hide. Hearing her father and brothers lavish such open praise on Rin felt like salt ground slowly into a fresh wound, each compliment twisting deeper into her chest. She forced a small, composed smile and lifted her chin slightly, determined not to let the envy show.