FROZEN: The Queen and Her Knight

CHAPTER 3 — Year Three

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"Come on, come on!"

"Princess, at least let me put my books somewhere..."

Leon chuckled as a small hand wrapped around his forearm, tugging him forward with surprising urgency.

Princess Elsa, now a lively three-year-old, had an infectious energy that made it impossible to refuse her.

Her bright blue eyes sparkled with excitement as she practically dragged him from his study room to the nursery.

The grand wooden doors of the nursery creaked open as the Princess eagerly pushed them inward with the help of the maid stationed there, revealing the familiar space where she had spent most of her early years.

Leon’s gaze swept over the space, taking in the carefully arranged toys, some that even he had contributed, the small wooden chairs, and the soft carpets meant for delicate feet to roam freely.

But what caught his attention most was the familiar wooden cot at the center of the room, the same one Elsa had once slept in as an infant.

Only now, it had a new occupant.

Turquoise eyes, wide and unfocused, blinked sleepily at the blurry figures looming above the crib. Nestled snugly in a bundle of soft blankets, the tiny newborn lay peacefully against the cushions as she drifted back to sleep.

Princess Anna, younger sister of Princess Elsa by three years.

Before he paid full attention to the baby in front of him, Leon looked around and asked with a confused tone.

"Where are the maids?"

"I asked them to leave." 

Elsa announced as she placed her hands on her hips. Leon raised an eyebrow. 

"You... asked them to leave?"

"Uh-huh! I told them I could take care of Anna all by myself! They always do everything, but Mama says I must be a good big sister. And good big sisters take care of their little sisters!"

Leon gave a small chuckle, glancing back at the peacefully sleeping baby. Although the Princess had insisted on this arrangement, he had no doubts that the maids were still watching from just outside the door, ready to intervene at any signs of trouble.

He decided to humor her as he sat on the soft carpet.

"I see. And what exactly do you plan to do if Anna starts crying?"

Elsa blinked, tilting her head as if she hadn't considered that possibility. 

"Umm... I could sing to her! Or maybe give her a toy?" 

She glanced around, grabbing a small stuffed reindeer from a nearby shelf before gently placing it beside Anna as if that alone would make sure that she wouldn't cry when she awakened.

The cute sight made him unable to hold back a snort.

"Well, that's a good start, Princess, but taking care of a baby is a lot of work. Are you sure you're ready for that responsibility?"

Elsa pouted, crossing her arms at the suggestion that she wasn’t capable enough.

"Of course! I’m her big sister! That means I have to protect her when she grows up, just like how you're going to protect me!"

Leon paused at that, his expression softening. Well, he couldn't deny that undeniable truth in her words. Still, at a very young age, she seemed to already have a strong sense of responsibility for her little sister. That was great news.

"Alright then, if you're serious about this, I suppose I should help you learn how to take care of her properly."

He acknowledged as he got up and sat near the crib, resting his arms on the edge as he peered down at the tiny bundle.

Elsa’s face lit up. 

"Really? Yes!"

Leon smirked at the expression before going to work.

"Now, then, the first lesson of taking care of a baby—they need quiet when they sleep, so we should lower our voices."

Elsa immediately slapped a hand over her mouth, nodding eagerly, and sat next to him, watching her sister as he started to give his personal advice on how to care for a newborn, something that he caught on while taking care of the Princess over the years.

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His studies remained a constant in his schedule after being appointed as the Princess’ personal guard.

Just last year, at the age of eight, Leon had already finished learning the basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic beyond his peers. His tutors, initially skeptical of his capabilities, had quickly found themselves impressed as he absorbed information like a sponge, studying material meant for those years ahead of him.

Now, at nine, his lessons had grown more advanced, covering subjects that extended far beyond what was expected of a typical peasant yet honored citizen.

The King had personally selected the finest scholars, tacticians, and diplomats in the kingdom to shape his education, with the intention of also using him as a test subject to assess their worth before entrusting them with the instruction of his future children.

From dawn till afternoon, he trained in combat with the sword, learning discipline, endurance, and strategy under his father. The afternoons and evenings, however, were devoted to his studies.

At one in the afternoon, the intricacies of noble etiquette and diplomacy were drilled into him, learning how to properly address royalty and nobility, navigate courtly conversations, and defuse tense negotiations without offending foreign dignitaries.

At four, he studied the history of Arendelle and the political landscape of both the past and present to keep up with the balance of power regarding the kingdom, analyzing treaties, wars, and alliances.

After a short break, at six, he went through mathematics and logistics, where he was tested daily with quizzes and tests, while he calculated provisions for armies, established trade routes, and learned about the resource distribution by observing the finance department at work an hour later.

Frequently, on Saturdays, he attended rotating classes that alternated between outdoor survival and first aid, studying how to navigate dense forests, identify edible plants, track wildlife, and construct temporary shelters while during his first aid lessons, he would focus on lessons on treating wounds, setting broken bones, and recognizing symptoms of poisoning.

It… wasn’t as exhausting as Leon personally thought, though it certainly consumed more of his time. The most noticeable change was how little time he now had with the Princess.

At three years old, Elsa’s energy had its limits. She would tire herself out running around the castle long before Leon finished his evening studies. By the time he was finally free after dinner, she was usually already close to sleeping, yawning tiredly with the stuffed toy he had bought for her clutched in her small hands.

Even so, he always made sure to check on her before retiring for the night; it was a routine at this point.