Late at night, people rested and all things recovered. At this hour, the whole world had fallen quiet.
Spring had already arrived, and the temperature in the Ice and Snow Kingdom had changed considerably, shifting from winter's bitter cold toward a gradual warmth.
Midnight was an hour when vigilance easily slipped. The Ice and Snow Kingdom had been fairly peaceful recently, and security in the Royal Capital had noticeably slackened.
Several major incidents had drastically depleted the Ice and Snow Kingdom's military strength. Most of its remaining elite troops had been dispatched to the surrounding regions to stand guard, leaving very few men to protect the Royal Palace.
Now, with spring drowsiness compounded by the weariness of night, the soldiers stationed throughout the Royal Palace wore pained expressions as they struggled against fatigue.
A hazy spring breeze, carrying a hint of coolness, began to drift into every corner of the Royal Palace. Beneath that refreshing chill lay a faint warmth that made people feel sleepy.
The weapons in the soldiers' hands had drooped limply, and their bodies, on the verge of sleep, had lost even their most basic vigilance.
The walls were particularly solid and substantial. Leaning against them only made that hazy drowsiness deepen.
The elite troops were no longer stationed here. The soldiers newly transferred to guard duty were recruits from good families with clean records. Though trustworthy and of respectable backgrounds, they lacked basic experience and inevitably made the mistakes common to new soldiers while carrying out their duties.
The Ice and Snow Queen had not yet retired. She was reading in her bedchamber by the bright, gentle light of a luminous pearl.
Too much had happened in the kingdom recently. It troubled her deeply, yet she had no way to resolve any of it.
"Bring me