NINE—The Monkey With Heart
A few days have passed, and Prince Zen has found himself with several stacks of paperwork to get done. He's delayed much of his work due to his recent engagement, and is now obligated to keep up with his work once more. And on top of it is, in fact, his engagement. Several invites must be created; including invitations to Miss Elizabeth's kingdom as well as the kingdom Zen's mother resided at. And everything was turning his hair whiter than it already was.
"You can slow down you know, Zen," Mitsuhide cooed, worriedly staring down at the Prince before him. He watched as Zen scribbled harshly down on parchment, listening to the quill write harshly down against the wooden desk. Zen's azure eyes looked too focused on the documents as he tossed the finished ones on the done deck while grabbing another from the unfinished stack. It was such a repetitive process that he managed to shut out his aides.
"Everything is piling on him, Mitsuhide," Kiki said simply, arms crossed as she stared down at the 19 year old. "As much as he'd like to slow down, he can't." The turquoise-haired sir stared with concern at the boy with snow white hair. The aides both knew that he was stressed out over his engagement, but they also knew that he was stressed out over Shirayuki, his true love.
Suddenly, the aides merely tense from feeling vibrations along their wing side of the palace. Kiki and Mitsuhide looked over at the balcony to see black hair come into view. The recognizable amber eyes looked dim as he smoothly lifted himself up on the railing and sat down. He had one leg bent and hanging while the other was lying straight on the railing. The body guard flaunted a goofy smile when staring at the two aides.
"Miss Kiki, Mitsuhide," Obi greeted, turning his body forward while sitting up straight. His legs loosely bent, hanging off the fairly wide rail. He pushed down his palms between his upper thighs, keeping them down on the dry, rough rail. "Master."
Zen found himself a little annoyed to hear Obi call his title for him. Obi had always respected Zen, not only for allowing him to be one of his attendants, but also being caring like a friend rather than just his 'boss.' But the Prince couldn't help and allow his jealousy to spill with the way Obi was caring for Shirayuki. It made him seethe in envy to see the scoundrel with the lovely apple of his eyes.
"Good that you're here, Obi," Zen said simply, picking up the signed document to slam on the top of the stack of papers. He swiftly rose from his throne-like seat, the lack of warmth of his rear striking him as he moved away from the desk. Obi hopped off the rail and entered the room, his smile dissolving into a straight, pursed line. Mitsuhide and Kiki stood by the door, leaning on the walls as they stared at the royal blood and the previously rogue man.
"Aw, has the Master missed me?" Obi attempted to joke, revealing a cheeky smile as he stared at the Prince. "My heart is touched, Master."
"Obi, how's Shirayuki?" Zen asked, standing a few inches from Obi as he stared distantly at the ground. Obi painted his face stern, placing his hands behind his head while weaving the fingers together. He expected Zen to ask about his Mistress, but he figured he'd try to be more subtle about it somehow.
"She's… well, more or less," Obi said quietly, unsure how to admit the blunt truth about his Miss. He didn't want to upset the Prince about how she's actually not doing well. He also wanted to ensure her privacy, no matter what. "I just came from the medicine wing, she's hard at work."
"Of course she is," Zen mutters, listening to the obvious. But Zen didn't want to hear what he knew. He wanted the truth. "How much has she cried, Obi?"
"P-Pardon?" Obi choked.
"How many tears has she shed?" Zen asked quietly, his hands clenching into fists. He braced himself for the answer, knowing how ugly it would sound and how awful he'd feel after hearing it. "And be honest with me, Obi. Please."
"Uncountable," Obi said quietly, his amber eyes now a dark, ochre color. The thin swipe worth of his pupils slimmed even more, seriousness and vexation taking him over slowly. "Enough to fill in a moat around the castle."
"Obi," Kiki somewhat warned him, knowing his tongue was prepared to let anger roll off. As much as she agreed with him, she knew that Angry Obi was something beyond her and the boys. Her blue eyes studied him, seeing as he barely dared to glance at her.
"I understand you care about Shirayuki," Zen said graciously, walking a bit closer to the doors but keep the same distance from the attendant. "And I very much appreciate you being by her side during this time."
Zen could feel Obi's eyes burning in him since the beginning of their conversation.
"Where are you going with this, Master?" Obi asked, hoping his voice hadn't been too harsh or assertive.
"… I want you to spend less time with her," Zen asked. Obi let his arms down, hanging loosely while gritting his teeth harshly. One eye twitched, annoyance flourishing his entity. His own fists clenched, tightening as much as they could. "Again, I've appreciate what you've done for her. I do. But I think you're spending too much time with her. Enough that might just… get her attached to you."
Silence followed Zen's words, having everything remain still. Even the wind that made the trees dance weren't enough to fill in the void that was the lack of sound. Zen had known right then and there that he had struck a chord in Obi, one that definitely shouldn't have even been approached.
"I'm sorry, Master," Obi began, little to no sympathy riding with his words. Zen dammed himself for asking such a request. "But I cannot do that for you."
"Why not?" Zen asked, his neck snapping to look over at his attendant. He noticed the fire in his eyes, a flame he was barely familiar with. He had one opportunity to see them, and that was when Shirayuki had been captured by very bad pirates. Zen walked over to Obi, standing right in front of him with curiosity in his azure eyes. "I understand you enjoy spending time with her, but—"
"This isn't about me, Master!" Obi exclaimed, taking Zen aback as they locked eyes. The brief flame had been extinguished by a welcoming softness. Even those cat eyes can be tamed by the thought of the girl with the red hair. "It's about her."
"Wh-what do you…" Zen pondered, somewhat unsure as to where Obi was getting at.
"Little Miss had asked me to stay by her at most times," Obi admitted, his face softening up with his fists opening slowly. "Even without her asking, I would have done my best to support her. But she needs me right now, Master, and as much as I want to comply with your orders, I absolutely can't. I hope you understand that."
Zen gulped, knowing for a fact that he couldn't even dare blame Obi for his words and his choice to deny Zen's request. It really wasn't what Obi desired, but rather felt he needs to do. Especially when Shirayuki had asked him to stick around during her time of hurting. Even running away from the Prince to go to Obi during their dance gave it away to Zen that she felt comfortable around her body guard.
After all, Zen had assigned Obi to her himself.
"Mitsuhide, Kiki," Zen began, his voice quiet and stern. He glanced over at the two aides, having them stand straight from slight astonishment. His azure eyes had dimmed a color only seen when the storms come. Mitsuhide was frightened by his proceeding words whereas Kiki expected it. "Please leave Obi and I for a moment."
The two were urgent to leave the office, slowly gliding the large doors shut at their exit. Surely, they found knights right outside the office, but the two aides remained. In fact, they stood right in front of the doors, waiting to be called for their return. Mitsuhide couldn't help but chew on his lips in nerves. Kiki, on the other hand, stood with her arms crossed. She knew Zen was jealous, probably trying not to show it so much to his trusted aides.
"Obi, I want to ask you something, one sir to another," Zen asked, his eyes completely locking with Obi's. A new, strange tension joined the room, having Obi curl his toes in fearful anticipation. He had an idea of what he might ask, considering the entire situation. But Obi wanted to be sure, keeping himself from interrupting. "And I want you to be completely honest."
"I'll try my best to be," Obi said bluntly, knowing that not any question can pass. But he knew it was regarding Shirayuki. There was nothing more the two can discuss at the moment.
"Obi, do you like Shirayuki?" Zen asked, completely freezing the room with his words.
Mitsuhide was in awe over Zen's audacity. How could he ask such a question to Obi? Even then, it seemed too difficult to approach such a topic with that monkey. He was silly, and never took things seriously aside from the times that he'd have to. Mitsuhide admitted to being super judgmental, but it's hard to get through to such a mysterious man that doesn't open up to many.
Shirayuki is beautiful, really. Shirayuki is intelligent beyond compare. Shirayuki is kind, the sweetest person Obi has ever met. Shirayuki is brave, willing to swallow everything she has in order to do the right thing. She is someone very scary, but not for her outstanding strength. Rather, for appearing, and genuinely being, perfect.
Obi could only stare at Zen, studying the seriousness painted on his expression. There was no real way to approach this without making it extremely obvious what the answer was. He dropped his arms to his sides, Zen watching as his thumbs merely twitched. Zen found that insane intensity in his amber eyes, the ones that managed to frighten Zen a great deal. Those cat eyes, amber like the yellow of fire with pupils that are the size of cuts from the sharpest dagger. Who knows what they've seen? But the real intimidation resided in the words that Obi emitted as response.
"'Like,'" Obi began quietly, the yellow orbs softening up as he lowered his hairless brows. "Is beyond an understatement, Master."