“Fall in line?” Elsa repeated. She wasn’t sure she liked the sound of that.
Hans appeared flustered. “You know what I mean. They’ll respect your power the way they respect me for coming after you.” He reached for her hand again. “Think of all we could do for the kingdom together.”
Together. Elsa flinched. So that was it, wasn’t it? Why hadn’t she realized it before? Hans wasn’t there for her; he was there for himself. “You still want to get married?”
He got down on one knee. “Yes, even with these powers, I want to marry you! Come back and accept your crown, and we can rule Arendelle together. You’ll never have to be alone again. I promise you.”
There it was again: We can rule Arendelle together. Hans coveted the throne. He didn’t want her—he wanted power. “I’m sorry, but I can’t marry you. And I am not going back with you, either.” She started to ascend the staircase. “I’m sorry you came all this way for nothing.”
“What?” Hans’s face fell. “You have to come back!” His voice had a sharp edge to it. “Only a monster would refuse!” He caught himself, and his eyes widened. “I mean—”
“Please leave,” she cut him off. Monster. Despite his pleas, Hans saw her the same way the Duke did.
“Come back with me. If you would just stop the winter…Bring back summer.” He sounded frustrated. “Please?”
“Don’t you see? I can’t,” Elsa told him. “I don’t know how, so I’m staying here, where I can’t hurt anyone. I’m sorry.”
Hans’s face was calm. “I see,” he said softly. “If you can’t fix things, maybe Anna can.”
The wind whistling around the palace was the only sound.
Elsa stumbled in shock. “What did you say?”
Hans pulled a piece of parchment from his pocket and held it up. “I said, maybe Anna can bring back summer. That’s why you’re up here, isn’t it? You’re looking for your sister. I read everything in the queen’s letter.”
Elsa froze. “How did you get that?”
“You dropped it in your haste to get away from the castle,” Hans said as he read it over again. “I guess you found it the day of your coronation. Why else would you have had a magic ice meltdown?” He smiled smugly. “I can’t say I blame you. If I learned I had a sister who had been hidden from me for years, I’d go a little mad, too.”
“Who did you tell about that letter?” Elsa whispered.
“No one—for now,” Hans said. “I was hoping you’d come back, marry me, and make this arrangement easy, but if you won’t, at least I have another option.”
Elsa grasped the ice railing in panic. “You wouldn’t.”
“As thirteenth in line in my own kingdom, I didn’t stand a chance.” Hans paced the floor. “I knew I’d have to marry into the throne somewhere, so when the Duke of Weselton told me about you and Arendelle, I was intrigued. But I could never get anywhere with you. You were always closed off, and now you’ve doomed yourself. Once I tell the people that you wouldn’t return or bring back summer, they really will think you’re a monster.”
“No!” Elsa rushed down the staircase at him, and Hans drew his crossbow and brandished it at her. Elsa stopped short in surprise.
She didn’t recognize the man standing in front of her. This wasn’t the man who had courted her for a year, sent her flowers weekly, and patiently waited for her to decide on their future.
In truth, Hans was the monster.
How could she have been such a fool?
“Thankfully, we now know Arendelle has another heir to the throne,” Hans said. “Once I show the people this letter and find Anna, they will be indebted to me for saving their lost princess. I am charming, so unlike you, Anna will probably want to marry me in an instant. Then all that will be left to do is kill you and bring back summer.”
“You’re no match for me,” Elsa told him. She felt a familiar tingle in her fingers as she prepared to aim at him.
“Maybe not, but I’m the hero who will save Arendelle from destruction.” Hans ran to the castle doors and opened them. “Guards! Guards! I’ve found the princess! She’s armed!” He grinned at her. “Help me!”
Hans had tricked her. Anger bubbled up inside her as she raised her hands, a bright blue glow hovering above her fingers. “You won’t get away with this!”
“I already have.” Hans pointed the crossbow at the ceiling and fired.