Shirayuki
I look around at the palace gates and allow myself a smile. Home. I had missed the palace a lot. I was very excited to see Zen as well. After all, it had been 5 years.
He'd asked me to wait for him to propose to me properly before I had left for Lyrias. I wonder if he would do it now. It had been a while, but my love for him had not faded in the slightest.
I was also overjoyed to see Kiki and Mitsuhide, because I knew that they had gotten engaged, and I was most happy for them.
But I was most excited to show Zen my hair. I had reached the middle of my back now, and the fiery red tresses were now trimmed neatly and usually kept back in a braid.
There was one thing I found strange, though. It was the fact that he had stopped sending me letters after the 3rd year I was at Lyrias, and I was curious as to why. Maybe I could ask him when I see him.
I walked down the familiar path to the outdoor flower/herb garden I had first met Ryuu in.
Speaking of Ryuu, he was 17 now, and taller than me. He was still the same Ryuu though, quiet and sometimes a little apathetic sometimes. He hid his emotions well. Once, I had read him a story about a young girl who lost her parents and eventually died, but he had not even shown a single tear! The first time I had heard that story, I had cried for 10 minutes!
I chuckled. Yes, Ryuu was Ryuu.
Then, I heard a deep, throaty laugh. Zen. I turned toward his voice, a huge grin forming on my face, starting to say "Zen….." when my voice trailed off.
Another woman. Zen had his arm wrapped around the most stunning woman I had ever seen. They were laughing together. Zen, with his deep, throaty laugh, and the woman with with her tinkling laugh that sounded like the chiming of silver bells.
Zen looked older, with longer hair, but in that same pure white color, and was taller and more serious looking. His eyes hadn't changed, though. His brilliant blue eyes were still filled with the mischief and spirit that made me fall in love with him in the first place, but there was also something else in his eyes.
Love. Zen's eyes contained a mixture of pure adoration and love that was undoubtedly caused by the woman in front of him. He had never shown me this expression before.
The woman in question had long ebony locks the color of darkest night, and ethereal violet blue eyes. Her features were perfectly symmetrical, and she moved with the grace and regalness of a princess. Her full, pink lips and button nose only emphasized her beauty. All in all, her beauty rivaled that of a goddess.
I suddenly felt dread and fear forming in my stomach. Who was this woman?