The Prince of Ice

Frozen Petals – Episode 1

The Price of Ice

Hana Moriyama had always known what it meant to fight. She wasn’t like the other students at Aoyama Academy—a school for the elite, where the wealth of your parents defined your place in society. Hana wasn’t born into money, wasn’t groomed to be anything more than a girl from the wrong side of the tracks. But she was determined to prove herself. She wasn’t invisible.

Her mother worked double shifts at a local diner to keep a roof over their heads, and Hana wore the same uniform from middle school. Every day, she fought the whispers, the looks, the feeling of not belonging. But she never let it break her spirit.

When she stepped through the gates of Aoyama Academy for the first time, she felt the weight of the stares. Expensive cars lined the entrance, and students with perfectly styled hair and designer uniforms walked past her as if she were a shadow. An outsider.

But she would survive this. She had to.

The class was buzzing with excitement when the teacher stood up. "This semester, we’re starting a mentorship program. Each first-year student will be paired with a senior to guide you through your studies and personal growth."

Hana didn’t expect much—maybe a kind soul who would help her navigate this world she didn’t belong to. Maybe she’d even make a friend.

But when the teacher announced her partner, her heart sank.

Hana Moriyama & Ren Takahashi.

The air grew thick with tension.

The students went silent, their eyes flicking between Hana and the board. A quiet, nervous murmur spread across the room like wildfire.

Ren Takahashi. The name alone made her stomach churn. Everyone knew who he was—the untouchable heir to a multi-billion-dollar empire. Ren was impossible to approach, a notorious bad boy whose every word, every movement was wrapped in mystery and disdain.

He had everything. And he made sure everyone knew it.

Hana didn’t expect kindness, but she certainly didn’t expect this.

When Ren entered the room, the atmosphere shifted. Students straightened their backs, some even looking down. His presence was overpowering. He walked in like he owned the place, and, to be fair, he probably did.

Ren’s eyes—dark, cold, and unreadable—swept the room, finally landing on her. His gaze was nothing short of scathing. A slow, mocking smirk crept onto his lips as he looked her up and down, taking in her worn-out blazer, the scuffed shoes, the creased sleeves. She was everything he loathed: ordinary.

Hana didn’t flinch. She stared back at him with as much defiance as she could muster.

His smirk deepened. "You’re my partner?" His voice was as cold as ice, each word laced with the bite of arrogance. "What a joke."

The entire room held its breath. This was Ren Takahashi’s world, and everyone else was just living in it.

Hana felt the sting of his words, but she didn’t back down. "I didn’t ask for this. But I’m not going to let you look down on me just because I wasn't born with a gold spoon in my mouth!"

There was a moment of stunned silence. Everyone knew how Ren treated people. No one spoke back to him. Ever.

Ren’s eyes flashed with something—amusement? He leaned back in his chair, his gaze never leaving her. "You should learn your place, Moriyama," he said, his voice laced with quiet menace. "People like you don't survive in places like this."

Hana’s heart raced, but her voice remained steady. "I’m not here to survive. I’m here to thrive. So don’t think for one second you can intimidate me."

The room gasped. No one had ever spoken to Ren Takahashi like that.

Ren’s eyes narrowed. This girl was different.

"Don’t get too cocky, scholarship girl," he said, his tone sharp. "You’ll regret it. I don’t waste time on people who can’t keep up."

With that, he turned away, settling into his seat as if the encounter had bored him. But Hana could feel his words slicing into her, leaving a scar that would take time to heal. She wasn’t the type to back down, but this—this was a battle she hadn’t expected.

After class, Ren left without a second glance. Hana stayed seated for a moment, her hands trembling as she fought to keep her composure. She wasn’t weak. She wouldn’t let his words cut her, even if they hurt.

She made her way to the library, where he had told her to meet him. She had no idea what he wanted, but she wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction of thinking she was scared.

When she entered, Ren was already there, leaning against a table with a smug expression on his face. His eyes followed her every move as if waiting for her to collapse under his gaze.

Hana squared her shoulders, determined not to show how much he had shaken her.

"You’re late," he said without looking up. His voice was so casual, as if he were discussing the weather, but Hana could hear the bite behind it.

"Do I look like I care?" she retorted.

Ren looked up, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "You really think you can talk to me like that?"

Hana didn’t respond. She wasn’t about to play his games. She crossed her arms. "What now?"

Ren straightened, his smirk deepening. "We start. I don’t do things halfway, Moriyama. If you want to survive in this world, you’ll have to learn how to play it my way."

Hana’s breath hitched. She knew what he was implying. This wasn’t just about studying. This was about the game of power, the one Ren had mastered long ago.

But Hana wasn’t afraid.

She had fought her entire life. And she wasn’t going to stop now.

"I’ll play your game," she said, her voice unwavering. "But I’m playing by my own rules."

The battle had just begun, and in a world where only the strong survived, Hana was about to prove that no one—not even Ren Takahashi—could break her.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***