Princess Elsa
by AJ Marks
Part 13
Elsa waited in silence for her parent’s response to such a statement. Having their daughter date the niece of the most notorious gangster in the empire wasn’t something they all probably wanted.
“She told you this?” her father said.
“Yeah, said she doesn’t like him that much, they only speak due to the fact her parents were killed,” Elsa said.
“And how were they killed?” he asked.
Elsa froze for a seconds. “I don’t know,” she finally stated.
“I think we can find that out,” her mother said.
“Yes, well until then, perhaps you shouldn’t see her anymore,” her father stated.
Elsa felt her heart deflate at the statement. She didn’t want that to happen at all, and felt that Lynn had trusted her with that information not do break things off, but to be completely honest with her. She wanted to argue, but the words never quite came out.
“I think, perhaps we should be wait until we hear more before making a rash decision,” her mother said.
“She did trust me with that information,” Elsa said. “I don’t think she’s involved with him.”
“Being her niece isn’t a good point in her direction,” her father said. “We do have some interests to maintain, and if you are involved with her there will be others who say she’s influencing you.”
“I don’t believe that,” Elsa finally said. “Lynn’s been nothing but honest with me.”
“Are you sure?” her father said.
“Yes,” Elsa said, before storming out of the room in anger. How dare they make such statements about Lynn!
She stormed though the hallways not really sure where she was going before suddenly running into Kristoff in a blind corner and bouncing off him.
“Whoa, sorry, didn’t see you,” Kristoff said apologetically keeping her from falling over.
“Its okay, wasn’t thinking about where I was going,” Elsa said.
“Um, you okay?” he asked.
Elsa paused before saying everything was fine.
“You sure, I can listen very well, ask Anna,” Kristoff said.
Elsa hesitated on telling him to leave when she realized he was the only one she knew, aside from Lynn, who wasn’t staff, advisors, or royalty.
“All right,” Elsa said looking around seeing it was clear. “Lynn’s uncle is Ben Trezety.”
She watched as Kristoff had a blank face at the name.
“Who?” he replied. “Does he play a sport?”
The question almost made Elsa laugh.
“No, he’s the most powerful gangster lord in the Empire,” Elsa replied.
“Huh? Oh, you mean Ironside,” Kristoff said using the man’s nickname.
“That’s him,” Elsa said.
“Her uncle?” Kristoff said. “Oh, wow, yeah, that’s, she never said anything about him.”
“Yeah, and now my father wants me to put or relationship on hold,” Elsa said, seething at that thought when a hand rested on her shoulder causing her to look up at him. He seemed to be calm.
“Isn’t that what you’re doing now?” he asked her. “Keeping it on hold until she graduates?”
Elsa opened her mouth to protest when she realized he was right.
“Continue talking to her and trusting her, is she’s telling the truth, it will work out,” he said to her. “Been there done that.”
“You didn’t have a gangster uncle,” Elsa stated.
“No, but a lot of friends who were druggies in sports,” Kristoff said. “Anna believed in me, I told her the truth, and, well, it worked out.”
Elsa looked on never recalling any of that, before giving him a hug.
“Thanks,” she said to him before rushing off to her room passing an approaching Anna and not stopping. It took her only a few minutes to reach her room and looked around before finally deciding on what she wanted to do.
*****
Lynn looked over at her phone again, unable to concentrate on her books in front of her.
“Something the matter?” a classmate asked.
“No,” Lynn replied.
“You keep looking at your phone,” another ones aid. “Thought we were going to study for the test. After all, this information about what constitutes good research won’t do any good just sitting here.”
“I know,” Lynn said, the test was tomorrow and they were getting ready for the last test, which would be made up of everyone’s papers. They had to give a ten to fifteen minute speech over their topic which would then be on the final test.
However, since telling Elsa who her uncle was she hadn’t heard a thing and now was getting slightly worried. She considered texting her to see what was going on, but didn’t want to disturb her if she was in some meeting.
Settling down on going over what primary and secondary resources were she and the others got back into the groove of studying when her phone buzzed. Quickly picking it up she looked at the screen.
I trust you.
Elsa was trusting her as another text came though, a picture one. And there before her eyes was Elsa, dressed in that same sling bikini.
“Who is texting you, your face is turning red,” one of her classmates said causing Lynn to quickly turn the phone off.
“Um, just someone I know,” Lynn said. “Excuse me a second.”
She raced to the bathroom, closing the stall behind her and turning the phone back on and stared at the picture recalling seeing it live before going over the text. Elsa trusted her, it was something she would have to maintain. Of course her eyes kept going back to the picture.
You told your parents about my uncle?
She crossed her fingers about that, knowing who her uncle was, and how little he meant to her. He had never been there all her life, and her mother described him as a self-absorbed fool who loved violence. It was better he had no contact with her as far as she was concerned.
Yes, I trust what you told me.
Lynn breathed out a sigh of relief. Perhaps they could still move forward after all, explore the attraction they felt. Lynn had no impression the relationship would be easy at all due to the fact they came from different backgrounds. She briefly wondered if all the hassle of dating Elsa would be worth it. The reporters looking into her past, people trying to get a picture of her.
Shutting off that thought she made her way back out to the table where she was studying and left her classmates. She had a goal to finish first, followed by gaining a job. The others were still reading and working when she returned.
“You okay now?” one asked.
“Yeah,” Lynn replied.
“Good, you were really red,” another stated. “Get some sort of love text?”
Lynn coughed at that. “Um, yeah, something like that.”
“Lucky, most I get from my girlfriend is nagging texts on where she wants to go.”
“I keep telling you, break up with her.”
“I know, I know, but, well,” he trailed off looking over at Lynn and back at the other classmate.
“Who cares if she’s good in bed.”
Lynn’s eyebrows rose at that.
“She’s got other qualities,” he quickly stated.
“Yeah, like spending your money.”
Lynn paused at that thought, realizing it was the first time in all of her relationships she wanted more than just sex, she wanted to know more of who Elsa was. Pushing the thought out of her mind she went back to work on her studies.
*****
Lynn stepped back into the apartment feeling tired. She put in a full day of studies when a knock came at the door. Frowning she knew of no one who she was expecting. Checking the screen she noticed a man standing at her door, actually two, one just off screen but she could see his feet. They looked rather, pompous in her opinion but answered.
“Can I help you?” she asked.
“We’re here to see Miss Lynn Sauer,” the man answered.
“For what?” Lynn asked, nervous about answering the door and giving too much information. She was about to say more when her phone buzzed.
Don’t be surprised if my dad sends some people to talk to you, be honest, love – Elsa
Lynn looked at the words, then at the men and noticed a new word. Elsa used ‘love’ and it made her heart skip a beat before the man asked if he could come in again.
Walking over she opened the door allowing the two men to enter, looking around rather carefully much to her annoyance. She watched them in silence as they seemed to take the room in before sitting down at the table motioning for her to sit as well.
“You are Lynn Sauer,” the man with dark hair said, both wore dark suits giving them an air of intimidation.
“Yes,” Lynn said.
“I’m here to ask a few question for the king,” he said as Lynn sat down. She had an impression of meeting Elsa’s father, or any of her girlfriends’ fathers, but this wasn’t how she imagined it. She thought of actually seeing them face to face.
“How well do you know Ben Trezety?” the question came, no build up, just blunt. Lynn recalled the advice she got from both her uncle and Elsa.
“I don’t,” Lynn said. “I only knew he existed and never even talked to him until after my parents were killed.”
“Yes, we reviewed that, tragic,” the lead man said, making Lynn feel like she had been punched in the gut at the impersonal attitude they had. “And this led you to contacting Mr. Trezety?”
“He’s listed in my parents will as the person who oversees the trust until I graduate college, and responsible to make sure college is paid for out of the trust,” Lynn said. “I’ve talked to him only a few times.”
“Yes, we know, including one earlier today,” the man replied. “Why?”
“I think you know,” Lynn said, now getting angry at them.
“Now Miss Sauer, we’re here only for the truth,” the man said, his tone never changing making Lynn wonder if the man had any compassion for anyone.
“Right now, I’m beginning to dislike you as much as him,” Lynn growled out watching as they both exchanged a glance before the other one spoke up.
“You recently won a vacation to the Grand Pyramid over Thalos?”
“Best vacation I’ve ever had,” Lynn replied.
“And while there you met with someone,” he asked.
“I met five wonderful people and became friends with at least one,” Lynn said, recalling the fun she had with Elsa during that time.
Before they could say anything else her phone rang. Looking at the number she realized who it was and with an apologetic glance their way answered it.
“Hello?”
“Is this Lynn Sauer?”
“Yes.”
“This is Apple from Hannover Museum, I’m sorry to say we’ve filled the position.”
“Oh, okay,” Lynn said, disappointed. It had been the last good chance and hung up and looked back over at the others waiting really not wanting to deal with this anymore.
“So you would say friends with at least one?” the man said, and they all seemed to understand who.
“Yes, she’s a remarkable young woman, and a good friend,” Lynn stated.
“I see, anything else,” the first man said.
“Nothing to you without talking to her first,” Lynn replied back. “If you want to know more, ask her.”
The statement seemed to catch the two off guard.
“Ah, yes, well, I think we’ve got enough to begin,” the man said, looking at the other.
“Yes,” he said as they got up and Lyn followed them to the door.
“We’ll be in touch again,” he said as Lynn watched them leave.
”Great,” Lynn thought to herself before taking her phone out.
They just dropped by, nice guys, no personality.
Lynn made her way back over and got out a drink and turned on the TV to unwind when Elsa replied.
Yeah, they’re like that. How was your day?
Sucked, was rejected again for a job.
Oh, sorry to hear that.
I’ll just have to keep looking.
Lynn knew it wouldn’t be easy, but she seemed to have no luck at all when it came to her job search. Tomorrow she would have to work on a new search and see if anything came up.
End part 13