Princess in the SnowA Christmas Fairytale Short Story

It's the night of the Christmas Day ball. A small party meant for family and a few honoured guests. Certainly not assassins, banished Princes, mermaids in disguise, and a woman out for revenge against the Queen. One question looms over all the festivities. As the King lies on his deathbed, who will claim the throne? And what are they willing to do to get it?
It's certainly going to be a Christmas nobody forgets.