VOTING RESULTS (as of 12/28/20, when I woke up):
Stroll through the village - 6 votes
Horseback riding - 5 votes
Picnic - 3 votes
OTHER - (courtesy of @luminousardwolf)
I fee like it would make everybody happy, and it gave me a brilliant idea so thank you
Thank you guys for voting!!
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What about all three?
You smile, a glorious plan forming like always.
What if you rode horses to a picnic, then strolled through one of the nearby villages?
With permission, this time. Wouldn't want another person being mindlessly thrown in the dungeon.
But, oh, the weather is perfect, as if designed for such activities! A cloudless sky, little wind, and a smiling sun shining down.
A romantic encounter it shall be!
You promise yourself, clenching your fist in determination. You will make Shoto smile. Laugh.
Perhaps a kiss or two?
You blush at the thought, squealing. You haven't had much time to fangirl over your newfound fiancé, after all. Fangirling is much deserved for a prince like him.
Genes sure have aligned perfectly, haven't they?
You can't imagine what would've happened if you had married Iida or Momo; or, even more un-imaginable, marrying Bakugou. That blonde hedgehog could never match what you feel for Shoto.
You love him.
Oh, how you wish you could shout it out to the stars, let the whole kingdom know. Who could've imagined an arranged married could've lead to this?
You sigh, straightening your dress and calling Takahashi inside your room.
He must be rattled from the attack as well. You can only imagine losing three friends. They trained together to become guards. His smile saddens your heart, feelings of euphoria fading away.
Your guard peeks in your room, his voice unwavering, yet there's a tone of undeniable sadness:
"Yes, your Highness?"
"How is the king doing? Any progress?" You ask him, leaving your room and entering the hall.
"Honestly," Takahashi sighs, "the kingdom is sort of a mess currently. The king has been getting better, but his advisory is collapsing. They're falling apart without Duke Callahan."
"I see." You fiddle with your hands. "Is there perhaps a way me and Shoto could go on a little trip?"
"I'm afraid that wouldn't be such a good idea," the guard says, turning to you, "with the attackers still at large and multiple people missing. . ."
"I understand," you sigh, "but is there any way?"
"Well, actually," he smiles, "maybe if Shoto could sort this all out, then. . .?"
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"If you can sort out the advisory until the king feels better, then they can focus on finding the person who attacked you that day in the courtyard," you explain to Shoto, leaving out the part about the surprise trip. "You are the king's son, so surely they shall respect you more than me."
The king's advisory is a group of men, formerly led by Duke Callahan, who help him make decisions and arrange things like treaties.
Shoto sits with you in the garden, considering the idea. "Okay, I'll try it. I'm not sure what could be causing so much trouble, though."
And so, you're in the advisory room, standing behind Shoto while he tries to calm down the advisors.
They're arguing, waving their hands around like animals. They haven't noticed Shoto or yourself.
There's about six of them, normally seven, but Duke Callahan isn't here. . .
"Excuse me," Shoto tries to say, but not loud enough.
You clear your throat. If they won't listen to him, you'll make them.
"EXCUSE ME--!"
They all stop moving, turning their heads in shock. Eyes widened, they all bow, in perfect sync despite their fight moments before.
"Your Highnesses?" One steps forward. He looks the youngest; the only one in the advisory not fifty years old. He looks your age, actually. Freckles dust his cheeks.
"What's with all the ruckus?" You ask sternly. "Grown men should not behave this way. Especially not the men of the king's esteemed advisory."
"Callahan left us this!" One of the older men shouts, still angry, "That bastard!"
Shoto frowns. You nudge him, urging him to speak.
"Do you men know anything of the Duke's betrayal?" Shoto asks. You can sense his nervousness in the presence of the angry men.
"Betrayal?"
Whispers fly through the room. Brows furrow, and a paper is thrown to the front of the room.
You catch it in your hand, glaring at the same man who threw it.
Freckles apologizes. "Oh my gosh, your Highness, I'm so sorry he's just angry--"
"Please," Shoto interrupts, "instead of recklessly and hopelessly expressing your anger through paper, why don't you speak like the man you're expected to be? Or are you not worthy for your position in the advisory?"
The older man grits his teeth. "Duke Callahan was no traitor. He was an idiot, sure, but that man didn't have the balls to defy that hot-head Todoroki."
Shoto's gaze hardens. "I assume you must be very close to the king to refer to him that way. The king who is currently delirious and hysterical. Kind of disrespectful, don't you think?"
He shrinks under Shoto's eye, correcting himself. "Bless his Majesty and may he be well soon."
"That's better."
The six men are fidgety. Only the youngest apologizes.
You un fold the paper ball that was thrown at you. You recall what the old man said: "Callahan left us this!" he said.
The paper reads, in sloppy handwriting:
тнє кιηg ιѕ ιℓℓ. уσυ мαу ησт ѕєє мє ƒσя α ωнιℓє. ιη тнє мєαηтιмє, тαкє єχтяαναgαηтℓу gσσ∂ ¢αяє σƒ му ∂αυgнтєя.
Why does such a short note anger them so much? And the Duke has a daughter?
You read it to Shoto: "The king is ill. You may not see me for a while. In the meantime, take extravagantly good care of my daughter. Why is it worded so strangely?" You ask him.
Shoto turns to the six men before him. "What about this angers you so? Although he knew he was leaving. . .how can that be? He was a traitor for sure."
Freckles steps up. "Well, you see, the Duke had said something odd before he left. And now he left us this note. . .you must understand, we all have nothing to do with the attack on the castle, but, well, we fear we might've interpreted his note incorrectly."
"What do you mean?"
"There's a secret message in the note," Freckles says, "the Duke always liked puzzles. . ."
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