Icy Highness | Yuzuru Hanyu

1.

Every girl dreams of being a princess.

It's part of the inherent childhood of a woman to wish for the lifestyle that so many movies portrayed. A life of white horses and knights that come to save you whenever you're in trouble. A life of beautiful dresses and everything you could possibly want.

This wish is as beautiful as it is unreal and it's something that young Athena understood very easily.

Once you're born in the midst of what's considered to be a dream for a lot of young women, the scenario changes and you understand quickly that nothing is like they portray.

Athena never understood why the movies were so different from her life. Of course, she had pretty dresses and her family lived in the palace, but her childhood wasn't as happy as any of those movies seem to appear.

From a very young age, she understood that being part of Royalty brought a lot of things that weren't necessarily good.
Athena barely saw her parents during the week, being essentially raised by nannies and palace staff.

It didn't help that she was the youngest of 3 kids and was very unlikely to ever assume the throne. By the time she was born, her parents didn't have much patience or time to deal with a small child.

If she was honest, the princess would tell you that she barely felt like she had a family, seeing her parents and siblings only one or two times a week despite living in the exact same place.

Not only that but because she was homeschooled, interactions with other people were limited by small talk with a few members of the palace staff.

Athena had no real friends and the only people she knew of her age were other royals and family members of politicians who attended the occasional ball or official event.

She had just turned 18 a few months before and for any other person, it would be the time to make decisions for the future, finding a degree or a job, and deciding what the future should look like.

But she was no regular woman, and it meant that choosing a path was harder.

It wasn't only that her parents didn't allow her full liberty of choice now, but also, she didn't know what she wanted.

After being tutored in so many subjects, it was hard to understand what she preferred. From piano lessons to dance and even scientific orientation, her childhood and teenage years had been filled with all sorts of activities that didn't help her make a choice now.

Still, the one thing the young princess knew she didn't want was to not do anything.

Athena was sick of being at the palace the whole day without being able to have her own life but there were obligations to oblige.

It wasn't as if she could say she had enough of this 'job' and get another one. This was bestowed since birth and all she had to do was oblige. It didn't mean she didn't try to make it a bit more interesting.

After weeks of consideration, Athena decided to talk to her parents and ask for official royal assignments.

Usually, members of the Royal family did this from a young age, and so did she, but she wanted to start doing it by herself, which is common after a member turns 18.

It wasn't as if these assignments and royal visits were her favorite things to do, but it usually consisted of plenty of traveling and different scenarios making  Athena think that it might help her decide what University course, of those allowed, to take eventually.

She could've asked at any time, but it was hard to find her whole family at the same place and at the same time, so she did it at their weekly family lunch.

It was a tradition they always had to assure seeing each other at least once a week.

Present were her parents, as well as her older brother and sister.

Her mother, Sofia, was Spanish by birth and married her father Alexander after an arranged marriage. It was common in her family, but Athena didn't approve of it.
It wasn't as if they weren't a happy family, but there was never a connection between her parents besides the children and it showed in their interactions.
Her siblings, Gabriel, the oldest and heir to the throne was now 26, followed by Silvia, 22.

Athena was the little baby of the family and it showed with how overprotective everyone was of her.

"I want to talk to you about something." Athena said, breaking the awkward silence at the table.

"What is it, dear? Have you finally decided which course you're taking?" Her mom indulged her with conversation

"It's kinda about that... You know... I'm not sure what I like the most so I have a plan."

"A plan?"

"Yes... You know those events and royal things you keep sending aunt Victoria to do? I think it would be good if I could do a few by myself."
Her father's sister, Victoria, had been the one Royal to do most international affairs ever since she got off college, mostly because she was unmarried and probably liked the lifestyle too.

"You should have a degree... It's expected of you...Why waste your time in Royal affairs before you decide what you want?" Her father interrupted.

But Athena was prepared.
"I think that being in different situations might help me understand which subjects I prefer, especially if it involves meeting other people and seeing other countries."

Her parents looked at each other for a few seconds as if trying to make their decision without fighting in front of them.

That is something that Athena and her siblings noticed very early on and respected as a decision.

Her father finally spoke.

"There is an event in Spain that you might be able to attend."

"I'll take it!" She answered excitedly.

"You don't even know what it is." Gabriel answered laughing.

"I don't care, your royal highness." She joked mockingly. "Whatever it is, I will go."

"It's in Barcelona, during the weekend. I will ask someone to print out the details, but we were personally invited by my brother and none of us wants to travel there to go" her mother started, probably trying to demotivate her.

"It can't be that bad."

"It's figure skating."