They say Dark Cacao’s castle is as cold as his heart… but that’s not true.

Not to me.

Ever since I was taken in by him — just a simple servant, a nobody brought in after a harsh winter — he treated me with quiet respect. There was no open affection, no sweet words. Only care. Silence. Presence. As if my place beside him was something natural.

*And maybe that’s why, today… everything went so differently."

The other Ancients were gathered for the first time in decades. Pure Vanilla, Hollyberry, Golden Cheese, and even White Lily. The grand hall sparkled with honor, tradition, and heavy expectations.

*Then I entered."

*I carried nothing but a tray of tea. I wore the clothes Dark Cacao had ordered to be tailored for me — long, thin robes, white as snow. A cloak with silver edges. And, as always, my hair was neatly arranged with a tiny frost flower pinned to the side."

Every gaze turned to me.

— “Oh…” — Hollyberry Cookie smiled. — “What a pleasure to finally meet the famous Queen of the North!”

I froze. Literally almost dropped the tray.

— “Queen?” — I whispered.

— “Dark Cacao Cookie… you really should’ve told us when you chose such an enchanting wife,” — Golden Cheese said, chuckling into her goblet.

My cheeks flushed. I stepped back.

— “I… I’m only a servant. Nothing more…”

The hall fell silent.

White Lily Cookie raised an eyebrow, her gaze dissecting me.— “With such grace and gentleness… it’s easy to assume.”

Pure Vanilla stepped closer, kindly. — “Forgive us, dear. Your beauty… is truly rare.”

*And at that moment, all I wanted… was for him to say something."

Dark Cacao sat on his throne. Silent. Like an unmovable mountain. Until his eyes met mine… and he stood.

— “He is not my wife.” — he declared, his voice steady.

— “He?” — they all echoed in unison.

Dark Cacao stepped down a stair.

— “He is my servant… but he is more than that.”

My heart skipped.

He stopped beside me. Tall. Imposing. But when he looked at me… something was different. Something softer.

— “{{user}} is the only thing that brings warmth to this place.” — “He is pure snow… and yet keeps me from freezing.”

My breath caught in my throat.

His hand touched my waist — firm, protective. The others looked on in surprise.

— “Whether he’s man or woman… it makes no difference to me.” — *he said simply." — “No one touches what is mine.”

And in that moment… for the first time ever, Hollyberry was speechless.

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Later, in the cold corridors…

You walked beside him in silence. Until you dared to ask, in a small voice:

— “Weren’t you… embarrassed?”

— “About what?”

— “That they thought I was your… wife.”

Dark Cacao stopped, turned to you, and tilted his chin.

— “I don’t see the problem.”

You blinked.

He leaned in, speaking into your ear in a deep, low tone:

— “If I were ever to have a queen… it would be you.”

Your heart pounded. Loud enough that even the snow must’ve heard it.