oKAY so maybe I couldn't finish it before/by Christmas, but I will say that there's a lot going on over here, so it's been a lot. But again, I swear, I haven't given up on this story yet. I'm just very busy.

...maybealsotryingtogetaboyfriend,butthat'soneofthemanythings.

tHANK you for reading, leaving comments, encouraging me, and understand my deteriorating mental health. I legit always check this story to see if there are any more reviews because I always anticipate feedback and criticism. I just want you guys to know that I appreciate you guys so much for enjoying this story and expressing it.

-gabby

SEVENTY-FIVE - An Interesting Visitor

"Keep an eye on her; don't let her out of your sight."

The guards straightened up and nodding at Zen's instruction, allowing the group to subdue themselves from the Princess' quarters. Shirayuki exited last in order to glance back into the room once more. With her eyes meeting her back, Shirayuki watched Elizabeth sit as still as stone, with nothing but somber eyes and the wedding veil sitting in her hands. But Shirayuki looked away, forcing her uneasy stomach to let up from the sight of the clearly suffering woman on her bed.

"Everything alright?" Obi made her jump as he reached over and closed the door behind her. Shirayuki looks up at him, her cheeks flushed from how close he was. But Shirayuki quickly nods in attempts to reassure her worried lover. It was already too late, however, when he swallowed her in his arms. "Don't feel bad for someone like her, Shirayuki." He spoke softly into the top of her head before pressing his lips against it.

Shirayuki's emerald eyes dulled, listening to Mitsuhide, Kiki, and Zen get more ahead every second Obi has her held. He smells good, Shirayuki thinks. He smelled of pillow sheets, and mint. He was so warm and welcoming, so much so that Shirayuki was getting dizzy from the intoxication of him. "Mmm," is the only thing she could reply with as she shuts her eyes and melts into his touch.

Obi could only smile warmly before sliding his hands down the dip of her back and tapping it softly. She looks up, confused, as he looks down and smirks, "hop up, I'll carry you."

She immediately goes completely red, "n-no, there's no need!" Obi emits a chuckle before doing it anyways, with a frantic Shirayuki wrapping her arms around his neck. Amber eyes watch his lover suffer from embarrassment, her ears just as red as her face. "O-Obi!" He holds her thighs well before running over to catch up with the rest, who somehow didn't notice they weren't so close behind.

But hearing the running, the Prince and his aides turned around to see Shirayuki being carried by her new found chariot. Obi was smirking and laughing, obviously amused by how shy Shirayuki is. She began gently hitting Obi's upper back, insisting that he put her down. "I don't know, Shirayuki. I think you look cuter up here."

Shirayuki shot her eyes open and felt her entire body go hot. Mitsuhide and Zen's eyes go completely wide as Kiki simply raises an eyebrow. Since Obi has come here, he has never addressed Shirayuki by her name. He has said her name to her privately, and very rarely with others around. But this would be the first time that he said it in front of the people who have paid the most attention to him and his relationship with Shirayuki.

"Put me down," Shirayuki huffed. Obi succumbs and gently puts his lover back on her feet. She doesn't turn around to meet the others' looks, but Obi smirks when Mitsuhide and Kiki smile at him. Obi then places his hand on top of Shirayuki's head and pats it. She keeps her fists clenched and her head down.

"Let's get going." Zen finally spoke. Obi met the Prince's eyes, seeing those azure orbs empty and simply dreading the world. His smile straightens out and he lets his hand fall from Shirayuki's head. Kiki quickly takes initiative and takes Shirayuki by the shoulders.

"C'mon," Kiki gently coos, taking her from Obi as they begin to walk ahead of them. The three men stayed behind with Mitsuhide in between Obi and the Prince. It was painfully awkward for Mitsuhide, feeling as though he must mediate the situation himself. But to his surprise, it only took a few seconds later for Obi and Zen to begin chuckling. "Are you two alright?"

"Yeah, why wouldn't we be?" Zen looks over, genuinely perplexed by Mitsuhide's question/ The worried aide looked at the two with shock as Obi returns his famous, cheeky smile. "Obi and I have spoken and reconciled ages ago. You're extremely late, Mitsuhide."

Mitsuhide was baffled, "when was this?"

"Ah, a few ago," Obi states with a shrug. He walks over beside Zen and nudges his shoulder against his. He smirks, and eyes Zen lovingly. "He finally confessed his love to me, and I couldn't help but reciprocate the feeling."

"Obi," Zen growls, pushing Obi away before scoffing at him. "You like annoying me, don't you?"

"What do you mean?" Obi starting with a serious tone. "You told me you didn't like the Princess because you actually wanted to take my hand in marriage." Zen was dumbfounded by the mornic words spewing from his aide.

"You're asking to die, aren't you?" Zen huffs, his hand clearly reaching for the handle of his sword as Obi quickly raises his hands and shakes them in denial. "You mess around too much. If you joke like that with anybody else, someone might actually take you seriously and believe you."

"Why wouldn't they believe me?" Obi begins nervously. He knew Zen's patience for his jokes was thinning, but he was having too much fun. "Everything between us is real after all."

"OBI!"

Mitsuhide quickly stood in front of Obi as soon as Zen took out his sword. Obi covers his mouth, his eyes squinting with snorts leaving his nose from how hard he was trying to contain his laughter. Zen was absolutely trembling with rage, but Mitsuhide gave him a shy smile and tried to calm him down. "Taking Obi seriously is one of the worst mistakes anyone could make. You're someone with the most experience of knowing that."

"It still doesn't keep me from wanting to scold him," Zen hissed. Obi gestured for Mitsuhide to move aside as he walked up to the Prince and smiled warmly.

"I'll take any punishment you see fit to bestow on me, Master," Obi hums. "But they must come only from you, of course." Obi winks as Zen puts away his sword and rolls his eyes.

"Why did I decide to keep you?" Zen finishes before he begins to walk in attempts to catch up to the girls that were far ahead of them now. Obi rushes over to walk right beside him, his hands behind his head as he continues exchanging words with the young Prince. Mitsuhide shakes his head, unsure about those twos' relationship. But sometimes, there's a few things in life that should be kept unanswered.

"Can you really blame me for being unaware?" Mitsuhide pipes as he catches up with the two. They all watch from behind as Kiki and Shirayuki walk together, shoulders touching. "Everything that's been interesting in the castle pertains between you three." The two men can only shrug and smirk at one another.

"Aw Mitsuhide," Obi glances back and puckers his lips, somehow emanating sympathy, "do you feel left out?" Mitsuhide instantly (and rightfully), shoves Obi's back gently and rolls his eyes. Obi can only utter a chuckle before continuing, "we have space for a fourth person. We," Obi gestures between himself and Zen, "definitely have room for a third person if you're interes-"

Obi was interrupted, and immediately met with two jabs to his side. He pretends to feel more pain than how much it actually hurt, and held his side for a bit. "You would think that you'd be more decent, having so much time in this castle and under our watch…"

Obi shrugs, "what can I say? You guys make me want to do rather… indecent things."

"OBI!"

"Shirayuki."

Garak was standing before the ruined wedding dress, meeting Shirayuki's eyes with a curious smile. Shirayuki felt a bit nervous, considering the Queen and the First Prince was right behind her. But solace rushed through when Ryu walked towards her and greeted her sweetly.

"You figured it out and fixed the problem," Ryu hummed, looking up at Shirayuki with the straightest smile she's ever seen. "Good job."

"I wouldn't have figured it out without you and everyone else," Shirayuki hums. She places a hand on his head to give it a bit of a ruffle before glancing back at Kiki, Mitsuhide, Zen, and Obi. "I can't take all the credit when I didn't do everything."

Garak shook her head, "you're being modest." She kicks a few pieces of the broken wine bottles. "I expected you to figure it out, and discredit yourself for it. What I hadn't planned for, however," Garak begins, glancing down at the dress, "is for you to create such a simple, yet genius plan, to expose Lady Elizabeth for her foul intentions."

Shirayuki looked away and blushed. "I didn't think an easy dismissal was enough to convince her of her wrongdoing. I felt the need to make sure she knew what she was about to do."

Before Garak spewed another word, The Queen began making her way to Shirayuki. The court herbalist felt herself go pale as the Queen stepped on the broken pieces of glass without much thought. Her face was stern and straight, with no readable expression. Her wavy blonde hair bounced with each step she took; the only sound of crackling glass and crunched grass entering the shared atmosphere.

"It was very rash and outright aggressive," Haruto begins, her blue eyes burning into Shirayuki's skin. "The punishment should have been handled in a more elegant and proper way. I'm surprised Zen allowed this, seeing as he understands this idea very well." She looks over at her son, silently requesting an explanation.

Zen sighed and nodded, "she told me the plan, yes. She told me what she discovered and her intention to expose the Princess herself. However," Zen steps forward, standing right beside Shirayuki, "I did allow this, and I don't intend on regretting. If you intend on punishing anybody for this, punish me."

Haruto eyes her son for a moment, not allowing a tense silence to ensue. She laughs. Her laugh was relieving and horrifying, as it still felt really tense and awkward. She brings up her hand and guides it towards Zen, who flinches before feeling a harsh flick on his forehead. He quickly rubs his forehead, watching his mother perplexedly. "Bold of you to think I was going to dish out punishments." She shakes her head. "Even more bold of you to assume I was going to listen to you if I had punishment in mind."

Zen just looks at his mother as she looks back at Shirayuki and smiles warmly. She reaches for the girls hands and squeezes them kindly. "Y-Your Highness-" Shirayuki begins to stutter but Haruto squeezes her hands again, and this time, a bit more harshly."

"It's Miss Haruto, remember?" Shirayuki flushes and nodded, forgetting about the Queens preference. She glances back at the dress and smiles, "you're quite creative, Shirayuki. I've always planned interesting punishments in my mind, but I would have never thought of this one." Haruto looks back at her with pride in her eyes, "I'm impressed."

"Th-thank you…" Shirayuki was practically breathless. She wasn't sure if Haruto could feel it, but her entire body was trembling under the Queen's look and touch. "I'm just glad to have helped keep Clarines and its people safe from any harm."

Haruto smiles at these words, "I'm happy to have someone who loves this Kingdom as much as I do work for us. I hope you have intentions of staying for a long time."

Shirayuki nods, "I don't want to be a court herbalist for any other Kingdom. So long as you have intentions on keeping me." Haruto nods, the two women exchanging the kindest of smiles.

This was somehow filling and breaking Zen's heart at the same time. Two of the most important women in his life were stood before him, reenacting his dreams. His beloved mother and his future wife, exchanging kind words and smiles. A real bond had been forming, but it was far too late, and the circumstances were very much different. His dear mother had been holding hands with the woman he's deeply in love with.

Zen could only look at the red-haired woman fondly, with a clear amount of longing residing in his eyes. He was absolutely crazy about Shirayuki, and had no plans of getting over it. The way she spoke, the way she behaved, her mind, her touch- everything about her was an addiction. But those things were no longer his. Her words, her actions, her thoughts- he could no longer indulge in those things.

She was now Obi's, and although it pained him, Zen was more relieved to lose her to Obi than anybody else.

Haruto notices the stare Zen had been giving Shirayuki and allowed her thoughts to connect 2 and 2 together. Eyes widen slightly, but not enough for anyone to notice. Instead, she lets go of Shirayuki and resumes, "I assume it was my youngest son's idea to bring you to Clarines, yes?"

Shirayuki giggles, "we met under the most interesting circumstances." Kiki and Mitsuhide smirk as well, having Haruto keep her smile. "Anyways, allow me to clean up the mess I caused." Shirayuki quickly goes to the wedding dress to pick it up, but Obi swiftly made his way to her and held her by her wrists.

"There's glass shards," Obi quietly murmured to her. Shirayuki blushed at how sudden Obi was, and his serious expression when halting her. "I don't want you to cut yourself, Shirayuki." Her name sounds so good on his tongue. "I have gloves on- allow me."

Everyone watched this interaction, Haruto mentally noting it down as Izana patted Obi's back and gestured him back. "I'll get someone to clean up the mess, you two needn't worry."

"But I made it, so I should take responsibility."

"I already respect you enough as is, Shirayuki," Izana hummed quietly. "Let me a few servants to remove this from the grass." Shirayuki smiled enough for her cheeks to seem bigger than they already were. As though Izana's words were being heard, a maid rushes over to Izana and bows. "Yes?"

"A friend of Young Prince Zen's is here," the maid informs.

"Who?"

"Chief Mukaze of the Mountain Lions." Everyone looked at Izana with surprise and confusion. My father? Shirayuki thought. Zen steps up to the maid and quickly thanks her before asking his itching question.

"Did he never receive my bird regarding the wedding cancellation?"

"He did. He came with it."

Everyone rushes to the front of the castle, with Haruto being the only person completely confused as to who they're dashing to see. She follows close behind Zen, holding the skirt of her dress while looking over to seek answers. "Who is Mukaze?"

"He's a good friend of mine," Zen spewed briefly. "He helped us in a shared dilemma." Haruto doesn't ask anymore, seeing as she clearly doesn't know this individual and she was just about to meet him. What she does notice, though, is how much Shirayuki was picking up the pace in making it to the front of the castle. She must know him, too, Haruto thought.

They all make it to the front, with Izana staying at the top of the stairs. He just barely knew Mukaze, and greeting him wasn't none of his business. Zen was front and center, with Shirayuki and Obi closely behind him. Haruto walked down, tailing behind them while Kiki and Mitsuhide helped escort her down.

"Papa!" Shirayuki begins loudly. There wasn't exactly enthusiasm in her voice, but she was just as curious as everyone else about his unannounced appearance. "What are you doing here in Clarines?"

Mukaze, letting out a harsh, flemmy cough, walks up to Zen. A few representatives (including Kazuki, for some reason) stood behind Mukaze, clearly standing out from what is normal in the Wistal Castle. Haruto gave the man a good look, and immediately figured it out for herself. It wasn't hard to see his burgundy hair and his moss green eyes and not assume him as the father or relative of Shirayuki.

Standing before Zen, Mukaze brings up both of his hands, each of them holding 2 different letters. His left hand held the wedding cancellation announcement; and the other: the letter Zen had written regarding his separation from Shirayuki. Zen recognized both of these letters and threw his hands up in guilt.

"You better have a great explanation for this, Zen Wistaria," Mukaze growls, keeping himself from the temptation of crumpling both parchments. "Because I don't intend on leaving here without one."