Icy Highness | Yuzuru Hanyu

30.

Going back to the palace after two weeks with Yuzuru was a change that Athena wasn't fond of.

She missed the relaxed environment of his condo more than anything, she missed Yumi's cooking, but the one thing she missed the most was him and his embrace.

Maybe she shouldn't admit it so clearly, but the princess was growing more and more dependent on him with each day that passed.

If there was something that changed after her trip to Toronto was that they now spoke every single day, a lot of those times by videocall.

Athena loved that he was smiling more and more as his injury slowly but surely seemed to be getting better

Her dad had questioned her almost as soon as she stepped foot inside the building.

"How was it?" He asked.

"It was alright. He needed a friend and I think he is better now."

"Just a friend?"

"Dad... You know we can't. Better than anyone else you know how things work here."

"I don't want you to feel like you have to settle for something else other than a man you love."

"It's not just up to you. Mom would kill me and she would be just the first of many."

"But you wanted something else with him."

"It doesn't matter what any of us wants."

"You want to know what I think?"

"Hum?"

"That dating never killed anyone."

Athena stared at her father for a few seconds, she couldn't believe that he was actually encouraging her to go and date someone out of Royalty, especially given that he was the king and had even more responsibilities than her, one of them being keeping the monarchy.

"Maybe not kill, but I don't want the whole family mad."

"Let's be honest, with your brother getting the throne, there is no reason for you to abdicate your happiness just to marry into royalty."

"You're encouraging me way too much. You forget that Yuzu is also in the public eye and the consequences it would have for him too."

"Just think about it. If you like each other, it just seems a shame to let it all go."

His words stayed in her head, her dad was usually stern about every single royal rule so this was a nice change.
Athena wanted to fall into it all so much and enjoy Yuzuru properly, kiss him without shame, and merely enjoy his touch.

"I wish I could."

"I can keep secrets... Can you?"

The suggestion was there. Her father said it subtly but she understood that he meant that if they were a secret, she and Yuzu could probably be together for a while and figure it out.

The big problem was the distance and communication because Athena wasn't just about to call him on a random day and say that she wanted to try and date, especially not after avoiding the obvious tension during those two weeks.

So she just kept everything the same, speaking with the skater almost every day and not once mentioning the topic.

As incredible as Yuzu was she could never drag him into the mess that was her family.

At least on his side things were getting better every day. After long months of recovery, he had finally been allowed to walk again and put weight on his foot.