Icy Highness | Yuzuru Hanyu

22.

When Athena cleared the next two weeks from her schedule, it was inevitable that she had some questions to answer, especially from her parents.

The princess was called out to her dad's office and faced the two stern faces upon entrance with her head held high.

"I don't think we need to tell you why you're here." her mom was quick to say.

"No, you don't. It's because I cleared my schedule."

"Why did you do it? I thought you wanted to do this?" her dad asked, he was always more understanding than her mom. It was easy to tell that he wanted to understand what was behind her actions and go from there.

"I need two weeks off."

"Yes, but why so sudden?"

"I have a trip to make."

All of her answers were blank and open to interpretation. The last thing Athena needed was to explain that she was traveling across the world to see a man.

"Like a vacation?" her mom asked incredulously.

"Yeah, I guess."

"And you decided that now?"

"I figured it was better now than when you scheduled official engagements, no?" Athena couldn't help the slight smirk on her face, she knew that this would be the nail in the coffin, that her mom wouldn't fight her on this given the well-thought-out logic of it all.

It worked, of course, even if her mother left the office pissed and her dad eyed her with a serious look.

"Where are you going?" he asked before she left "Your trip, I mean..."

"Toronto"

The expression on his face told her that her father now knew what was going on, she had spoken about Yuzuru training in Toronto before and he knew well what her feelings for the skater were.

"How is he?" The king asked seriously. Athena had told him about the injury after the World championships and he knew how severe it looked from her reports.

"Not great..."

"Make sure he gets better then. Enjoy your trip."

Being able to fly on such short notice and without much prep was a perk that most humans don't have but one that being a Royal gave her. In no time, her bags were packed, and flights and hotel were booked.

Athena knew that her father had pulled a few strings to make it easier for her and she could only be thankful when he told her that he managed to convince her mom to let her go without any bodyguards and maids. This was no easy feat, knowing her mother. Not only that, flying commercial was not common for royals, but she didn't want anyone to find out that she was in Toronto.

Thousands of warnings later, she was leaving for what looked like her biggest adventure so far.

You see, Athena was used to always having someone by her side to help her in case something didn't go to plan, to tell her where to go next, and how the airport is organized. This sudden change of going somewhere all alone was both scary and refreshing at the same time.

Of course, she knew that even on arrival, someone would be there to help, especially since her Diplomatic Passport carried a few responsibilities.

The princess wasn't wrong, someone was waiting for her after the long flight, and even if the girl was very nice and all, Athena stunned her when she asked where the taxis were.

"Your Highness, I will gladly book a car for you."

"That won't be necessary. Thank you."

There was simply no way that she would make it easier for her family to trace her and know what she was up to all the time. Athena was already mostly sure that she would be followed most of the time, even if her dad told her that there were no bodyguards.