Icy Highness | Yuzuru Hanyu

12.

Coming back to the palace after her trip to Spain was equally good and frustrating. Athena enjoyed being home and not having to act princessy all day was great but she missed that Japanese skater like crazy, even if he texted her a few times during the last days.

Conversation with him came easily, even if his English needed work and her Japanese knowledge was almost unexistent. They spoke about the most random of things and she noticed how comfortable he was getting with her through the days.

She wondered about him all the time, especially now when it was that time of the year when people exchanged gifts. In her family, Christmas was always the time for family, no matter how busy they all were. Athena had no idea if Yuzu celebrated Christmas, but she wished she could give him a gift.

'What are you doing for Christmas?'

She eventually texted to find out...maybe he would be willing to give her an address to send a little something.

'Competition'

'what? On Christmas?'

'We don't take it as seriously here in Japan'

'right... So it's in Japan?'

'Nationals'

'ah... Good luck then'

'Why did you ask?' Yuzuru found himself asking, he knew the message couldn't have come without a purpose.

'Me and my parents usually exchange gifts...'

'Isn't that normal there?'

'yes'

'So...'

Athena was getting frustrated at him, she knew he was fishing for explanations for her question and she wasn't sure what to answer now.

'I was wondering if I could send you something.'

There it was, she gathered the courage to ask, but not without blushing a deep red.

'Send me something?'

was he really playing dumb?

'yeah, a gift...'

'You don't have to...'

'what if I want to?'

'Then I guess I would need to get something for you too.'

'can you send me your address? Or the name of the hotel you're staying at?'

'I can send you both... But...'

'No buts, Zuzu'

'Zuzu? Is that a nickname?'

'yes.'

'What if I don't like it?'

'I didn't ask...'

'Spoiled princess'

She couldn't help but laugh at his words, Athena knew he was just joking with her.

'You like this spoiled princess.'

'Yes, I do.'

The princess blushed again, even if the only thing he did was confirm her words, she still felt giddy. Her silly smile was only interrupted by her father entering the room.

"Hello, Pumpkin. What are you up to?"

"Hey, daddy. Just texting some friends."

She took it as a cue to interrupt the conversation with Yuzu.

'huh... I gotta go... Please don't forget to send me the addresses.'

'Send me yours too.'

'It's not like you can't google the palace's address...'

'I'm pretending your house location isn't public knowledge...'

'I will send it to you later then. Bye bye.'

The smile on her face must have been a dead giveaway and her father didn't waste much time before questioning her about it.

"Friends, huh? Nothing you want to tell me about?"

"What do you mean?"

"It's just that you're smiling a whole lot at that phone. Is it a boy?"

"Dad... Where would I even find time or opportunity to meet a boy? I barely leave the palace."

"Don't pretend you don't leave this place without our knowledge... As smart as you are, your security detail is better than you think."

Athena was dumbfounded. Did this mean her dad knew all about her crazy outings when she was a teen?

"I..."

"Just in case...let me warn you about the dangers of..."

"Dad, don't! I'm very aware that I can't date anyone. He is just a friend."

"So it is a boy."

"A man...yes."

"Who is he?"

"Dad..."

"Come on, I just want to know your friend. How did you meet?"

"He's a skater..."

"Oh, so in Spain, yeah?"

"Yeah."

"I do remember being told that you had a guest on your last night there."

The princess was still surprised at how much her dad knew, but couldn't help but feel that all of this was a huge breach of her privacy. Not that it mattered.

"All of these years... You never said a thing"

"I just want you to be safe. Believe it or not, I was your age once and even if they are usually lighter on us boys, it doesn't mean I don't understand what it's like."

"You're not mad?"

"No. But make sure that if you ever decide on doing something more, a relationship or something else that this title of yours does have weight and we can't just go around and date all sorts of people."

"You can just tell me I can't date."

"That's not what I mean. You can and should... Just be very certain of the person you introduce to the rest of the family. As much power as me and your mom have, we can't protect you from everything. Especially not from the rest of the institution."

This was the first time that one of her parents spoke clearly about the matter. They had never discussed it so openly before, even if she knew a whole lot of what was expected of her.

"They will always expect a royal."

"And it's bullshit. You love who you love, don't let anyone define that. That's an order from your king, young lady"

Athena was obviously surprised, she didn't expect these words to come out of her father's mouth, especially not when it could bring them trouble if she followed them.

"Are you telling me to go out there and date?"

"I'm telling you to enjoy your life outside of this palace. No matter who or what brings you happiness."

"Thanks, dad."

"So, tell me about this skater..."