"So, now that we are on equal footing and acquainted, I have something to ask."

Soojung's eyes narrowed slightly. "And what is that?"

"Please explain why I still feel like you are apprehensive with people. Even with your friends, you withhold your true self. That icy exterior is creating an invisible barrier separating you and the world. Why is that?"

Soojung's eyes widened slightly before hardening and she schooled her face to show an unreadable expression. Pulling her knees up to the her chest and resting her cheek on top of her crossed arms she huffed, "There is no reason."

"Remember, I 'm trying to understand you here," I reminded her. "I know it's hard to open up, but I am your friend, you don't have to hide from me."

"It's always ice princess this, ice princess that." She said with distain a while later. "I get it whether I am in an icy mood or not."

"I've noticed." I replied. "That's why I want to know, what made princess Soojung become dubbed the ice princess. I know there is a reason why, so don't bull me and lie."

She surveyed my eyes deliberating if she should tell me the truth or not and if my pointed look was a bluff. The way she sighed with thinned lips told me that she knew I wasn't bluffing and I would easily be able to detect if she was lying to me. Deciding it would be easier to tell it to me straight instead of beating around the bush like she had no clue she began to explain.

"I have that natural iciness and I can't help it. I've never been good with people. When I was 2, my mother died due to complications. I was so young then, I couldn't understand anything of what was going on. I can't even remember her face or how she would smile, but my father reminds me all the time with sad eyes that I look just like her."

"I didn't know," I said gently.

Soojung snorted lightly, "Of course you don't know. It's not something to flaunt out at every occasion now is it? Besides, you're new here."

"That's true."

She continued where she left off, "Growing up my 'friends' were really only friends because I was the princess and my father was the Emperor. They were greedy and wanted things; that was the only reason for being friends with me. Their fathers also wanted prestige and what better way to worm their way to my father than use their own daughters to get to me, and then get to get to my father?" She made a disgusted face at the memory.

"Hence the reason why I'm not keen to warming up to new people who want to be 'friends' or anything of the likes. You ask why I am an ice princess, well it is what it is, I guess." She even shrugged at her own answer. "I took my 'ice princess' personality that everyone assumed of me and put it to good use."

It was silent as I took in the information the princess so graciously shared. It disgusted me to think that people would be so diabolical to get what they want, including dragging in innocent people like their own daughters for their gain and an already wounded princess as bait. No wonder why the princess is so cautious of anyone and only has a very select group of friends that she actually enjoys the company of.

"Is that why you have that icy attitude?" I asked conclusively. "You don't want to be hurt first so you do the damage first. I