Posted on: 07/07/17

A/N: Finally got the time to post this! My pc had crashed and my phone's app isn't working either. So I had to wait for 3 entire days for my laptops's repair. THANK GOODNESS!

This chapter is dedicated to my newest readers Mina, zoeb91 and Raggetymanftw. Thank you so much for your review..:)

Oh! Kana nishizono and little blossom, I am so glad to have two Zenyuki shippers from my country. Are you guys on fb/tumblr. We can have a nice chat there, if you are comfortable with that :3

Also, to all the people who take their time out just to drop a feedback, thank you so so so much! You guys have no idea how much it means..
*Hugs and Kisses to all the readers of this fanfic*

ENJOY!

Chapter 7: Game

When Shirayuki blinked her eyes open, she found herself in an entirely different environment. She has stayed in the prince's room for so long that she can easily guess it's an unknown place. Wait. The Prince...She immediately shot-up when the fragments of her last conversation with the second prince of Clarines began flashing before her mind's eyes. A sharp, reeling sort of sensation hit her and she clutched onto her forehead to stop the painful ache.

"Oh my! Are you alright?"

"You shouldn't be up. Lay down.."

Two distinct voices instructed her and she complied as a pair of palms gently pushed her back into the soft mattresses. She closed her eyes as her head touched the pillow and took a few breaths to calm her rapidly beating heart. This time, she opened her eyes slowly and tried to take in the appearance of the two strangers standing by her side, watching her with calculative gazes. One of them was a tall, blonde woman with purple irises. She was holding a notepad against her chest and next to her stood a rather short, turquoise-orbed, little boy of around 12 years of age.

Panic began surging through her and she asked in a shaky tone, "Where am I? Who..Who are you people?!"

The blonde woman smiled, as if she already anticipated such a reaction from her and lightly patted her head. "Calm down, dear. The prince brought you here." She informed.

"Here," spoke the little boy, "drink this and you'll feel better.."

Although a bit suspicious, she pulled herself up into a sitting position and took the offered cup from the kid's hand and in doing so, she noticed that she was adorning a different dress now. That skimpy, white corset was gone and she is glad that someone actually took the liberty to dress her up in some decent clothes. Finally, she took a sip of the contents in the utensil and it made her realise that there wasn't anything to harm her body but a lavender tea that is most commonly used to provide calming effects. Desperately, she took a few more sips.

Pleased by her action, the blonde woman fished through the pocket of her coat for a while and on finding the object of her interest, handed it to Shirayuki. They were a few leaves from the chrysanthemum parthenium plant. They are mostly used to ease headaches. Chewing on the raw leaves of that plant, she began sipping the tea periodically.

"Shirayuki, right?" The woman asked, "Thank goodness you are awake. The prince was so worried about you.."

Shirayuki choked on the tea when she heard that admission from the lady. Worried? The Prince? From what she can recall, that man is the one responsible for her current state. Nonetheless, she didn't respond in any form and continued to listen to the woman.

She further explained, "You have been unconscious for about seven hours now. Let us bring you some food."

Placing the notepad in the arms of the little boy, she called out, "Yatsufusa!"

Immediately, a lean man wearing a bandanna that covered his eyes, walked in through the doors. He bowed once to the lady.

"Go and inform his highness that the girl is awake." She ordered.

The man left with another respectful nod at the woman.

Zen's dark sapphires narrowed as they went through the words scribbled-down on the small piece of parchment in his hand. And by the time he reached the end of the message, he crushed it in anger. This is unbelievable! He knows that his brother gets some sort of weird pleasure by playing with his head but this has gone way too far. It is just as that red-haired girl had stated to him: she is supposed to be his concubine. According to this letter from his elder brother, she is a special gift to him from the first prince of the neighbouring country. Just the thought of presenting something like this disgusts him. How could his brother approve of this without his consent in the matter?!

"What is it?" Kiki asked in her usual passive tone from one corner of the room.

Zen respects her straightforward personality. It is one of the reasons why he chose her, a woman, as his second aide. But that doesn't mean that she can just add oil to his already sizzling mood.

In a raging tone, he answered his blonde chaperone, "He's gone!"

"What?" muttered Mitsuhide in confusion from the other end of the room.

"My brother! He's gone!" Zen yelled agitatedly, "He left for the Eastern Fortress with just this little message that confirms everything that girl had told me.."

"You mean?" Mitsuhide implied as his eyes widened just as much as did Kiki's.

"Yes! She is..she is.." Zen tried to finish the sentence but he found himself unable to utter that last word for he hates such treatment with women just as much as that girl.

"So..what now?" Kiki asked, her concern for her master barely visible in her tone.

The instant Zen moved his lips to answer her query, a soft knock was heard on the door. The three occupants of the room turned towards the door as the prince allowed entrance to whoever the person on the other end was.

Clicking open the door, entered a normal patrolling guard. He genuflected before the prince and informed, "Pardon my intrusion, your highness. The girl has regained her consciousness."

Nodding once, the young prince dismissed the guard. Without exchanging any words amongst each-other, the trio walked out of the room and headed in the direction of the pharmacy. Zen hasn't thought this through but he has a general idea of what he must do in such a situation. But before taking any necessary actions, he needs the permission of the victim herself.

Upon reaching the pharmacy, the castle's head pharmacist, Garack Gazelt explained Zen about all the actions and behaviour of the girl. "Your highness..the cause of her sudden fainting is malnutrition. According to our test results, she may have not eaten anything for three complete days.."

"Three days?!" He exclaimed with irritation, Mitsuhide and Kiki equally shocked.

Garack lowered her head slightly, "Uh..and um..she hasn't said a word ever since she woke-up and is still refusing to eat anything..."

Sighing haggardly, Zen passed a hand through his hair, his eyes narrowing with worry for the girl. She is so young..just like him and yet, she is receiving such harsh treatment from this society. He can totally understand why she isn't eating anything because after suffering this much, anyone would lose their appetite.

He brought his hand out and asked, "Give me the tray of food. I'll talk to her." Yatsufusa handed the tray to his highness Zen and the three pharmacists stepped aside for the prince to walk in. He turned the knob with one hand and looked back at his chaperones, "You two stay here as well. I'll call you guys if I need anything."

"As you wish, your highness." Both of them bowed and let the prince go in alone.

The first thing that he noticed about her, was her dishevelled state. She was wearing a simple blue dress and her lovely, red tresses were freely cascading down her shoulders. Even if frail, she looked like the prettiest woman around. He walked with his chin straight, a smile plastered on his face to make her feel comfortable.

On the contrary, she frowned when she realised who the person attending her was. As he reached her side, she snuggled more into the bed. Ignoring her discomfort with a neutral face, he placed the tray on the small bedside table, himself pulling out a chair to sit infront of her.

"I see you're extremely quiet." He commented as he sat down.

She made no response, either verbally or physically. She just sat there, watching him nonchalantly.

"The Chief Pharmacist told me that you haven't eaten anything in these three days.." He said as he blew out his breath on a spoon full of the freshly-prepared soup and then brought it close to her lips. "Sip it in." He commanded gently but she refused by turning her face to the side.

He sighed and shook his head. "Look, I know.."

She chuckled bitterly just like the last time they had talked. "You are the one responsible for my present unhealthy state. You left me all alone in that lavish room of yours for two days!" Tears began brimming her beautiful emeralds yet again and Zen's fingers twitched to wipe them away. But he controlled himself..He knows that she wouldn't approve.

A sob left her quivering lips as she continued, "You think you can just act kind, leave me alone and then come back to pretend being a nice person all over again?! Well your highness, I am not that foolish..I have experienced betrayal and I know what you are trying to do.."

Zen could only bite the insides of his cheeks as he tried to think for another method of approaching her. This conversation isn't going as he had planned it in his head while he was on his way here. If only he had talked to her about her presence in his room on their very first encounter, then maybe..maybe things would've been different between them..maybe they would've even been friends..

He resorted to the last option that he was left with— an apology.

Taking a deep breath, he spoke in the most convincing tone that he could muster, "I'm sorry.."

There was short pause in the silent room which was followed by a sharp, whacking noise. The spoon in the prince's hand went clattering to the floor and broke. It was Shirayuki's hand that had slapped Zen right across his cheek. The door to the room was immediately unlocked by the two aides of the prince and they rushed in.

"Your Highness!" Mitsuhide called with concern.

The aides gaped when they heard a low, dark sort of chuckle escape the lips of their master. The silverette's face was still turned to the side and he continued chuckling eerily. "Atleast you haven't lost your emotions entirely. You can still express anger so nicely..."

"Have you no shame at all?" Shirayuki glared at him, his face shadowed by his silvery-white locks. "I..I just slapped you.."

"You-"

Zen signalled for Mitsuhide to halt his words. He pressed his lips together into a tight smile and looked-up at the red-haired beauty, who was now staring confusedly at him. "I deserved that.."

The young woman's eyes widened and she found herself at a loss of words. "Will you eat now?" The prince asked her in a low, raspy tone.

As he had expected, her eyes narrowed yet again, "I will not. I won't eat anything you offer me..and I won't accept your apology...I will not forgive you for what you did to me!"

He laughed dryly as he stroked his bruising cheek, "You know..I'm actually being nice here.."

"I'd rather be treated like your concubine than receiving your fake generosity." She responded with hostility.

Zen placed the thumb and fingers of his gloved hand over his forehead and began massaging. Seriously, if only his brother had informed him about all this then the whole matter wouldn't have twisted to this extent and maybe, he wouldn't have gone through with this argumentative conversation. This girl has no idea what she's getting herself into. She may have played like this with other people but she mustn't underestimate him due to her experiences. This is a game afterall— a game to test his limits..And two can play at this...

"Well then..Mitsuhide, Kiki, ask a few maids to take care of my precious concubine. Make sure she eats healthy, sleeps properly and doesn't try anything funny." Zen ordered, his intimidating sapphires gazing directly into her disbelieving emeralds. "And..if she so much as tries to disagree, she'll have to face the wrath of the second prince himself."

A/N: Too dramatic? Hehe XD

They aren't going to be buddy-buddy so easily. It takes time..

Please review the chapter as it keeps a writer motivated.

Some angsty Zenyuki moments in the next chapter ;)

Until Next Time...

~Manika