@icynhot continued after this
Upon reuniting with her father she’d immediately been questioned as to what had happened and if she’d gained the prince’s favor. Though Mina knew it would make her father happy if she said she had, she also knew he was only asking as he wanted to be closer to the king. So she only told a partial truth and a lie. She said they’d had the one dance and that he hadn’t seemed particularly interested in her. She took note of how her father’s eager attitude deflated and felt bad for lying to him. But reminded herself it would hurt her new friend if he thought she was only seeing him to get closer to his father. Besides her father quickly smiled, shrugged and said “Perhaps next time you two will get closer.”
All she could respond with was a knowing smile and a repeat of his words.
“Yes. Perhaps next time.”
Time passed since the party, things returned to normal, days turned to weeks which turned to almost an entire month. Though her father had all but forgotten about the ball, Mina hadn’t. She found the dancing, the prince and the darkening sky they watched etched into her memory. Though she was happy to think of the prince, to reminisce of their time together, she also felt saddened by it. A part of her heart felt missing as though she’d dropped it back at that castle and it was calling for her to return. Home felt more lonely, though she had plenty of friends at home and her family was very close, she felt lost almost.
By the time half a month had passed she knew she wanted to see the prince again. Despite the fact they wouldn’t be holding any more balls any time soon. At least none she knew of. So early morning one day she informed her family she was going out and left with one of her favorite horses. She rode for hours, leaving her kingdom behind until finally she reached the Todoroki castle.
Upon approaching the castle she realized she really hadn’t thought this through. She couldn’t exactly enter and demand to see Shouto, she’d be kicked out for sure. Possibly even banned from seeing her friend. She didn’t even know if he was at the castle today or not or if he even had time to see her.
None the less her body acted before her mind could realize what it was doing. Soon she found herself scaling the side of the wall to the garden and stopping at the top of the wall. Luckily she saw him, the prince standing amongst the flowers. Her heart slammed against her chest, her smile grew and without thinking she called out
“Prince Shouto!”