The woman didn't struggle as the policemen handcuffed her. "I wasn't doing anything," she whined. "I was just standing here. They all saw me standing here."

"Everyone saw you soliciting," said the sergeant.

"They're making it up. I didn't do anything."

The sergeant said, "Come along to the station, Miss." He prodded the woman with his nightstick. She made a low, wordless moan and began a mulish lumber.

Halfway to the police station, the woman spoke up. "I'm a seamstress," she said. "That's what I am, a seamstress. I'm no whore."

"We'll get your information at the station, Miss."

The police station was two stories of whitewashed brick. Steel bars covered all its windows. The sergeant delivered the woman to the officer on duty, saying, "Good luck with her. She won't tell me who she is."

The officer guided the still-handcuffed woman to his desk, to the seat opposite him. He grabbed a form. "Name?"

"I don't have one."

"What do they call you?"

"They don't call me anything."

"Do you have any friends?"

The woman looked down and traced a circle with her foot. "Guess not."

"Where are you from?" The woman didn't answer. "Are you from around here?" She shook her head. "Tell me where you're from."

"Weselton."

"When'd you get here?"

"A week ago."

"Why'd you leave?" Tears formed in the woman's eyes, and she shook her head again. "Are you running from someone?" When the woman didn't answer, the officer went across to the other side of the desk and peeked down the back of her dress.

"Get your hands off me!" the woman yelled. "You have to buy before you can look!"

The officer returned to his seat. "Are you running away because he beat you?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"I saw the bruises." The officer met the woman's eyes and stared until she looked away. "Is he your boyfriend?" The woman grunted. "What's his name?"

"Andre."

"Did Andre ever pimp you out?"

"I'm a seamstress."

"Really. Where did you work as a seamstress?"

"I'm between jobs."

"I see. What does Andre call you?"

"Twinkle," the woman said.

"Alright, Twinkle," the officer said, dipping his quill in ink and writing her name on the form. "I think we're making progress."

Elsa was sipping her morning coffee and reading the newspaper when a short article caught her eye. "Look at this," she said to Anna and Kristoff. "'Arendelle police announce the arrest of a prostitute who has been soliciting near the city square for the past week. The woman, who goes by the name Twinkle and claims to be an unemployed seamstress from Weselton, denies the charge.'" Elsa put the newspaper down. "I wonder what's really going on."

"What do you mean?" asked Anna.

"Why would they arrest her?"

Anna rolled her eyes. "Because she's a tart."

"Were they trying to meet some quota? They're not supposed to have quotas. Maybe it's because she's from Weselton."

Kristoff said, "No, it's because she's a whore. And a dumb one, too, for doing it next to the square."

Elsa continued, "It's unjust to accuse her of being a prostitute in the newspaper. She can't even defend herself. If she's innocent, then her name is being ruined. Though I don't know what kind of name 'Twinkle' is supposed to be." She twirled her braid and thought as she reread the newspaper article. "I'm going to help her," she announced.

Anna spewed coffee out her nose. "What do you mean, 'help her'? What kind of help does she deserve?"

"Defending her name. Getting a job. I'm going to meet her."

"Elsa, what are you thinking? She's a prostitute!"

"Only maybe."

Anna stood. "I can't be involved with this. I am not going to be seen with a prostitute."

Kristoff said, "I'll stay and meet her."

Anna shook her finger at Kristoff. "No, you will not! You're not going to be seen with her either!"

"Anna-"

"You need to keep away from prostitutes!"

"I just-"

Anna was waving her finger in Kristoff's face. "We are not discussing this any further! She is off limits!"

Kristoff looked up at Anna's furious grimace. There was no point arguing with her, but he wasn't going to admit to anything. He said, "You're reading something into this that isn't there. But I think it's time for me to start making deliveries, anyway."

"You do that," said Anna. As she left the dining room she called out, "And Elsa, don't you dare invite that hussy here!"

Later that day, the police escorted Twinkle to the castle. She was brought to the den, and her handcuffs were removed. Two castle guards stayed in the room with her while she waited for Elsa.

When Elsa swept in, she greeted Twinkle with, "How nice to meet you! It's terrible what's happened to you."

Twinkle stood when Elsa entered but didn't meet her eyes. "Yes Ma'am," she mumbled.

"I understand you're from Weselton. How do you like Arendelle so far?"

"Lots, Ma'am."

"Come sit with me." Elsa sat in an easy chair near the fireplace, and Twinkle sat on a couch. "I heard you're a seamstress but can't find a job. Is that true?"

"Um, yes Ma'am."

"Why do you think you can't find a job?"

"It's not my fault," Twinkle said. "I'm a hard worker. I've worked all day before. Ma'am."

"Have you always been a seamstress?"

"Er, uh, well I guess so. Ever since I started working."

"So you have lots of experience."

"Yeah."

"And yet you still can't find a job! Tell me, why do you think employers turn you down?"

Twinkle shrugged. "Men don't want to pay me what I'm worth. I have to eat. I can't work for free."

"Is that it? The men don't treat you fairly?"

"No Ma'am, they don't."

Elsa was nodding now. "And if men treated you fairly, then you wouldn't be mistaken for a streetwalker."

"No Ma'am, I'd be much higher class than that."

"I see. This is all making sense. Why do you think they treat you unfairly?"

"They all think they're so big. Like they're not the same as everyone else. Like they're doing me a favor."

"Big? Like self-important?"

"No, I mean down here." She gestured towards her crotch. "They think it makes them better."

Elsa leaned back in her chair. "Oh. Oh yes, that would be a problem." Elsa looked at her crotch and pondered. "I know how to fix this. I'll get everything straightened out, for you and for all women." Elsa rang for a servant. When Kai arrived, Elsa said, "Miss Twinkle is a free woman. Send a note to the police saying I have released her on my own authority. She is not to be persecuted by them."

Kai said, "Your Majesty, are you sure this is the right course of action?"

"It's just the beginning. I feel inspired."

The next day, Elsa issued a proclamation. A herald read it aloud in the city square. "Citizens of Arendelle! Whereas, Her Majesty Queen Elsa of Arendelle is a woman, and therefore cares deeply about the condition of women in Arendelle; and whereas, men do not pay women a fair wage for a day's work, and this is repugnant to Her Majesty; and whereas, a man's pride is his physical attributes; therefore it is hereby decreed by Her Majesty that effective immediately, all male-owned businesses shall be required to employ an equal number of men and women; and the women shall be paid a fair wage, that wage being not less than the wage of a man; and all male business owners who fail to comply shall have their manhoods frozen off by Her Majesty the Queen."

The Arendelle Chamber of Commerce was appalled. Their government liaison went straight to the castle and pleaded for an audience. Elsa received him in her study. She said, "I hope this isn't about my decree."

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but we have strong feelings about it."

"How many women are there in the Chamber of Commerce?"

"Please, Your Majesty, our members employ plenty of women-"

"Answer my question. How many women are there in the Chamber of Commerce?"

"Most women in Arendelle are self-employed and work from home. They're laundresses, or seamstresses, or wetnurses, or jobs like that."

"I already know the answer. There aren't any women members of the Chamber of Commerce. You're part of the problem."

"Ma'am, we don't seek to exclude women. We welcome women. But there aren't enough women who want employment outside the home for our members to satisfy the new law."

Elsa stood, placed her hands on her desk, and leaned forward. She glared at the man and said, "What I hear you saying is that you like the status quo. Well, history is moving on. If your members won't embrace progress, then Arendelle doesn't want them."

"But Your Majesty-"

Elsa slammed her fist on the table. "Was I not clear enough? Or do you want to drop your pants?"

The man recoiled. "No, Your Majesty. I understand, Your Majesty."

Later that day, Twinkle was again soliciting men in an alley outside the city square when a fat businessman approached her. "I need to hire someone," he said.

"Fifty," Twinkle said.

"Not like that. For my business."

"Is it more than four guys? I could do forty each."

"I need a woman because of the new law."

"And I'm telling you what my rates are."

"You don't have to do anything. You just have to be on my books. We could say you were a seamstress."

"I don't know how to sew."

The man scowled. "I'm a fishmonger. I don't care about sewing. I just need a woman."

"And I'm telling you, my price is fifty."

"Go to hell," the fishmonger said. "I used to like women."

That evening, Kristoff wandered the dark city streets. He had felt the itch again, that itch that he couldn't and didn't want to control. He respected Anna as much as he did any woman, so he kept his visits to prostitutes secret. Anna was great in bed, but trying new girls was a thrill he didn't want to give up. It made him feel manly. So did getting away with it; there were only rumors, never proof.

As Kristoff passed out of the city square, a voice called to him from an alley, "Looking for a girlfriend?"

Kristoff stopped. "What if I am?" he asked.

"I could be your girlfriend," Twinkle said.

Kristoff looked around, then stepped into the alley. He eyed the curve of Twinkle's body and the flesh visible beneath her skimpy dress. She wasn't familiar. "I'd like that."

"Fifty."

"Forty."

"Forty-five."

"Done."

Kristoff and Twinkle walked to the back of the alley, still in sight of the street but far enough back that they wouldn't be disturbed. As Kristoff undid his belt, a voice shouted, "Twinkle! I see you back there!"

Kristoff swore and redid his belt. Twinkle yelled back, "I don't know you anymore, Andre!"

Andre swaggered down the alley. He had a scraggly beard, yellow teeth, and smelled of raw onions. "You can't run from me, Twinkle," he said.

"We're done! I'm not your girlfriend any more."

"You owe me."

"I don't owe you anything!"

"I do everything for you! I keep you safe. I find you clients. I come get you when you go missing."

"I don't want you to get me!"

Kristoff was trying to sneak around Andre and leave. "Stop right there," said Andre. "Twinkle, did he pay you yet?"

Kristoff said, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"See Twinkle, this is why you need me. He was going to run off without paying."

"Look, this is just a misunderstanding-"

"Pay up!" Andre yelled in Kristoff's face. "Or I'm gonna beat the hell out of you."

Kristoff had survived plenty of fights growing up, and he was taller and more muscular than Andre, but Andre might have had a knife. "Alright," Kristoff said. With a pang of regret, he reached into his purse, pulled out some bills, and handed them to Andre.

Andre counted the money and said, "Not enough. She's worth sixty."

"We agreed on forty-five, and I didn't even get what I paid for!"

"You want a beating?"

Kristoff felt indignant. All he had wanted was some action, and now he was being robbed by this puny, conceited man. "Give me my money back or you're the one getting the beating!"

"Fool, pay up or get wrecked."

Kristoff threw the first punch. It landed on Andre's cheek, and he stumbled backwards into the wall of the alley. Twinkle began screaming. Andre and Kristoff circled each other. Andre charged and made a wide swing with his right fist. Kristoff blocked it, but Andre drove his knee into Kristoff's groin. Kristoff doubled over and felt Andre's fists pounding against his back. With a roar, Kristoff lifted Andre overhead and slammed him to the pavement. As Andre got up, he charged Kristoff again, shoving him against the wall.

A pair of policeman appeared at the entrance to the alley. "Hey you! Break it up!" one yelled.

"Huh?" said Kristoff. Andre punched Kristoff in the gut, and Kristoff crumpled. Andre bent over and punched Kristoff in the face until the policemen tackled Andre.

Twinkle had stopped screaming. Kristoff looked for a way to escape, but another pair of policemen had arrived and were running towards him. "Oh, hell," he said. Anna was going to find out now.

The police knew Twinkle had been arrested for prostitution before, and besides, Andre kept yelling that she was a dumb whore for having run away from her pimp. The police believed Kristoff when he said he was being robbed but not when he claimed he was just out for a walk. But, lacking any evidence against him, they escorted him home.

When Anna saw Kristoff's bloodied face she was horrified. "Oh my God! Kristoff! What happened?"

"Don't worry, I'm fine," Kristoff said.

One of the policeman began, "We found him in an alley near the city square-"

Kristoff interrupted, "Getting robbed. Some guy with bad breath wanted my money."

Anna said, "You poor dear! Come here and let me take care of you."

The policemen said, "Ma'am, there was a woman who seemed to be a-"

"An accomplice. Of course."

"What I mean to say is-"

"I'm sure there's nothing more to it. Kristoff's a good man at heart. Thank you for assisting him, officers. Good night."

The policeman gave his partner a sidelong glance, and his partner shrugged. "Good night, Ma'am."

When Kristoff and Anna were alone, he said, "I'm sorry, baby."

Anna put her hand on Kristoff's swollen, whiskered cheek and stroked it. She leaned forward, rested her head on his chest, and hugged him. "Don't you ever do that again," she whispered. "Ever."

Kristoff felt ashamed. He had expected Anna to be angry, but she wanted to dote on him. She cleaned his wounds, had Elsa make ice to put on his bruises, and gave him a bath. He was surprised when Anna undressed for him. Afterwards, as they lay together in bed, he kissed her and said, "I don't deserve you." She smiled and rested her hand over his heart.

The judge ruled Andre, being a pimp, was a business owner and Twinkle was his employee. Since Andre had already admitted to taking more than half the money Twinkle earned, he became the first man convicted under the queen's new equality law.

Elsa wanted the punishment to be a public event, so it was performed on the gallows next to the city jail. Andre was handcuffed and restrained by two policemen. Twinkle, who was in the crowd, called, "Andre! I didn't mean it! I'll be your girl again!"

"It's too late! Look where you got me, you stupid whore!"

Twinkle was overcome by rage. She yelled, "I didn't get you nowhere! See if I care!"

At the appointed time, the police removed Andre's pants. His manhood hung for the world to see. Elsa took it in her hand and froze it solid. Andre gasped with pain. She wiggled the icy appendage back and forth until it broke off.

Elsa raised the block of ice for the crowd to see. "This is the punishment for mistreating a woman!" she proclaimed. "Ladies, rejoice!" She expected cheers, but there was only silence.