Castle Date

It had only been a week since Jirou found out the truth of the second prince's engagement rumor, as well as the second prince's intentions. He couldn't help but let his eyes wander during his watch, hoping to catch a glimpse of the red-haired woman. Apple red, he learned, was the specific color of her hair.

"Oh, Miss Shirayuki, are you going to town today?"

Jirou whipped his head around so fast he swore he heard his neck crack. Wincing in pain, he reflexively put a hand on his neck.

"Are you all right?" a pleasant voice called out to him.

Bright red hair filled his vision, and for the first time, Jirou saw what the rumored Shirayuki looked like. He stared at her, wondering what made the prince fall in love with her. Her hair was certainly apple red, and her eyes were a warm shade of green. She was very cute, he noted. When her expression of concern deepened, he realized that he'd yet to respond to her question.

"Ah, yes. I'm fine, Miss Shirayuki," Jirou replied. "Thank you for your concern."

"That's good," she smiled. "If you have any problems later, please stop by the pharmacy to get it treated."

"I will. Thank you," he smiled back.

"Miss Shirayuki, will you be coming back today?" the other guard asked.

"Yes, I'm just going into town to get supplies for a medicine we're making," Shirayuki said. "Flu season is around the corner, and we need to be prepared for it."

Shirayuki waved goodbye as she left to go to town. Jirou stared at her hair as she walked away. The color was so vibrant and beautiful, it was hard to look away. She was kind and obviously valued her job as a court pharmacist. But she wasn't particularly special. He still couldn't understand why the prince wanted to marry this woman.

Jirou was on the evening shift, so when he'd finally finished the sun was low in the sky. As he passed through the courtyard to reach the barracks, he saw a flash of red hair in his peripheral vision. Turning, he was stunned to see Shirayuki walking with Prince Zen. Retreating into the shadows of the castle, he observed the couple. They weren't touching, but their smiles and laughter radiated warmth. They looked at the sky, at the breathless colors of the sunset. Jirou couldn't hear anything they were saying, but he could see the happiness on their faces.

Prince Zen smiled at her as she took in the beauty of the courtyard. While she marveled at the size and grandeur of the gardens, he gazed at the wonder and awe on her face. When she turned back to him, she was smiling, and the prince reached down to take her hand in his.

Both Shirayuki and Prince Zen blushed, and Jirou became aware that he was intruding on a private moment again. Maybe he should leave? No, he already stayed for this long, he might as well stay until the end.

The couple continued talking for a while, their hands entwined. To many, it was a small romantic gesture. But to them, it was bliss. Jirou saw the joy and love in every movement from both of them, and they reveled in each other's company. Prince Zen wore an expression of absolute delight, and it was one Jirou had never seen before. As the sun finally set, Prince Zen brought Shirayuki's hand to his lips and kissed it softly, eliciting another blush from her.

Once they finally left to return to their rooms, Jirou emerged from his hiding spot. The image of Prince Zen's blushing face was burned into his memory. Jirou smiled. If Miss Shirayuki could make the prince act like this, then she was more special than he thought. As he returned to the barracks, he wondered what it would be like to serve Miss Shirayuki when she became princess.

This one's a lot shorter than the first one. Thank you for reading!