Deleting Desktop.ini from folder

I have a folder with 3 links on my Desktop that is
titled "Games". Inside that folder are links to card
games: Microsoft Hearts, Solsuite (purchased) and
Spider (purchased). For years I've assigned a
Windows' smiley icon to that folder. Yesterday it
changed to a Folder icon and now when I change it back
to the smiley the icons include "Desktop.ini" that's
never been there before. If I delete it the main
icon bops back to the Folder icon.

How can I delete that bloody Folder icon and leave the
enclosed smiley icons as it was for years.

Thanks