Once A Kingdom's Flame (Todoroki x Reader) [Fantasy AU]

Once A Kingdom's Flame (Part III)

"Your hair...?" You reached up and felt a lock of soft white hair between your fingers. 

"Oh, back then it was merely a piece, a wig." You nodded and looked down.

"I found it odd how a stable boy could dance so elegantly." You smiled to yourself.

"Shall we dance again? Perhaps you've improved over the past few years." He threw his jacket aside before he pulled you against him, wrapping his arm around your waist.

"Was I not a fine dancer?" You got a bit worried. 

"Oh no, not fine at all." You pouted, looking away embarrassed. "You were astounding." He said softly as he gently lifted your face back towards him.

"There's no music." He nodded and closed his eyes. After a few silent moments he began humming a familiar tune; the first song you had danced to together that perfect summer night. He looked into your eyes with a stoic yet soft gaze and eased the two of you into a dance. Without the dense layers of fabric and tight heels you danced as if weightless upon a cloud. After a bit you gave in and hummed the melody along with him. 

The two of you swept across the moonlit hallow enjoying each others' smiles. Fireflies hovered around you, their soft lights pulsed along with the song it seemed. 

He had laid out his jacket for you to lay on and the two of you rested beside each other like you had that night; laying on your sides in each others' arms. 

"So you're of noble blood. Have you actually met the prince? Was it true when you said you never saw him happy?"

"Ah, Prince Shouto. Yes, I have met him a few times, and unfortunately yes I never saw him smile except one time."

"Oh?" You fidgeted with his fingers in your hand as you listened.

"Actually the following morning I was at the palace and I was surprised to see him with such a smile. I thought at first it was fake, but then I thought...how could one who never smiles fake one so sincere?"

"Oh! I remember that day you told me the prince was informed of his duty to marry. Maybe he had dinner with a princess that night. Maybe...maybe he fell in love." Your eyes sparkled at the thought of the poor prince having found such happiness. 

"Perhaps he did..." The man leaned in, pulling you closer until your lips met. His hand ran up your back until his fingers were twisted in your hair pushing your head closer to his. Your hand found its way to his cheek, caressing the blushing skin gently. His tongue slid against your bottom lip and you happily gave into his request, slowly parting your lips just enough for his tongue to meet yours. Your heartbeat was rapid as you clung to him tighter. You both let out soft moans of ecstasy in harmony as your bodies heated up even more. 

In one swift move he guided you to lay on your back as he hovered above you, lips still locked with yours. You wrapped your arms around his neck, keeping him close. The kiss naturally slowed and he pulled back a bit. His hair fell loosely around his face as his eyes stayed glued to yours. You noticed his chest heaving with each quick breath. He noticed the same with you. 

You were absolutely elated; sure he wasn't the prince they planned for but he was nobility so your parents would have to accept him as a candidate to be your husband. Maybe the dull life of endless restrictions wouldn't be so bad if I had him by my side.

You hadn't noticed, but his hand slid down your bare arm to your hip, enjoying the shape of your body. He wanted more, and you wouldn't have objected to the thought but the fantasy was cut short by the thunderous bells alerting the start of a new hour. 

"We should head back." You agreed with his words and hurried over to pull the dreaded skirts back on as well as you could without the help of your maids. They seemed to stay put so you turned around to follow your mystery suitor who had secured his mask back onto his face. "Your mask." You had forgotten all about it. You smiled and put it on again.

The two of you parted at the garden; him going into the palace a few minutes before you, having recovered your heels. When you returned to the ballroom you stayed to the side, pacing around so you wouldn't be asked to dance.

"Hear, hear!" You turned to see a herald standing on the platform where two thrones were placed. You hadn't paid attention to the details but the queen had stepped down to take an extended medical leave. Only the king and the prince remained, the other royal children had married and left to their betrothed's lands. "His royal highness, King Enji Todoroki." A chorus of horns blew as the scowling king strode to his seat. The entire company in the room had dropped to kneel before him. 

"Rise." The king's voice commanded. You followed suit as everyone rose to their feet once again. "My son, the crowned prince Shouto has now met and danced with all of the lady candidates and will announce his judgement." You let out an excited snicker, earning you a few nasty looks. You had managed to slide by your task of dancing with the prince. You would have to find your new suitor and thank him for that. A few moments later, you realized that search wouldn't be too difficult. Your heart turned to stone and dropped into your stomach watching his figure walk across the platform. That can't be him, right? This is a joke, right? I'm probably drunk. You were pulled out of your stunned state by a guard pushing your shoulder to make you kneel. Oops. 

It was the same boy. Red and white hair, tall and slim in the same outfit. The only differences were that his face wore an empty expression and a golden crown adorned with large gems sat on his head. You stood as you heard the shuffling of others around you doing so. When you looked back at him you swore he still had a slight dash of pink on his cheek and he seemed to be scanning the crowd intensely. Is he looking for me? You wanted to scream out that you were there, but at the same time were terrified at the idea of him spotting you.

"Thank you for attending this affair. I hope you've all enjoyed yourselves." You were probably the only one who actually did. "As it's my 18th birthday, it's my expected duty to prepare to succeed my father and inherit the title of king. With that is also the requirement to wed and prepare my wife to become a loyal and serving queen for this kingdom. It is tradition that royalty marry royalty however in this generation there are no princesses of age who are suited to be my wife. Our kingdom believes in prosperity and progressiveness, therefore we are diverging from the long held tradition to give opportunity to the devoted noble ladies in position to wed to have myself, the prince of our kingdom, as a possible suitor. Unfortunately, I have not found my princess to be tonight."

"Shouto?!" The king stood, clearly enraged. You stood in shock, trembling, tears threatening to burst from your eyes. You held back your growing sobs as you pushed past others to leave. You however, with your face hidden by your hands as you ran, couldn't notice that the prince had detected your fleeing form. Without thinking he began sprinting off of the platform to follow you only to be caught by his father's iron grip.

You had left the palace, almost falling and tumbling down the stairs leading to the road. You heard the snap of one of your heels and paid no mind, kicking both of them off and running, just running.

Eventually you lost all energy you had to the never ending  tears and difficulty breathing. You collapsed on the ground, not taking any note of where you were, not particularly caring either. 

"(y/n)?" Emma?