Soft morning breeze sweeped steadily through the office window. It swayed strands of his hair as well cooled his skin. His gaze was cascaded down at the courtyard observing daily activities of castle employees. Due to his efforts, all the things in the castle were back to normal in short time. He had himself taken care of everything from military inspection to observation of each and every department in the castle.

How much he showed he was normal to others his mind was still filled with her thoughts. It had been week. A damn week, and she was still unconscious. Before this, he never admitted how much he was fallen for her. He did realize his feelings for her sooner but he didn't let them grow, he never acknowledged them. He had control over his emotions. For someone like him, who was bounded by his duty, love was insignificant fleeting emotion that would cease with time. But he was wrong. Truly and desperately wrong.

And now, in this situation he needed to leave her. Preparation for his trip to sui and rid was almost done. It definitely did not feel right to abandon her like this. The pain of leaving her clawed to his heart. But he had no option.

Also, the message about her condition was sent to alarecia. He knew it would take about month for her brother to come here. By then, he only hoped she would wake up.

"Your majesty, his highness zen has arrived."
His head snapped in the direction of the office door.

Second prince, along with his aides, was returned from wilant. Depictions of events in the castle had left him with a shock. He did not expect something like this would happen.

Outside the office door, mitsuhide and kiki looked at him, gesturing the expression of assurance to face his brother.

Honestly, he did not know what to say to him. Console him? Tell him everything will be alright? He had never imagined a day like this would arrive. He inhaled deeply and prepared himself to meet his brother.

"Lord brother..."
He spoke as he stood in front him, his voice almost radiating sorrow.

"If you are here to offer your pity, zen, then I don't want it."
Izana fiercely told him, remaining in his stern deamniour.

The look in his eyes was the same zen had always witnessed.

"I only need your support, its the only thing I am expecting from you. "he spoke further.

Of course, a king needed him not a brother needed another brother. Zen watched him, taking in the meaning of his words. There was no doubt this man was the king of clarines. He didn't hold slightest amount of worry or concern on his face. Like nothing affected him. The man who showed no weakness. Zen didn't know if his brother truly felt anything for his wife or not. But one thing he knew for sure, his brother was not the person to show how he really felt to others. He was not honest with his emotions. He was unlike him.

"Yes, your majesty." he swiftly knelt down, rolling his fingers into fist over his chest. "I'll always support you and remain by your side no matter what."

I am glad you are here, zen, when I need you the most. Izana silently thought to himself.


Few weeks later

Alarecia - Royal castle

Alarecian prince and his finacee both walked through the royal garden, while lost in the serious discussion. Haki was moved into the castle in preparation for her upcoming wedding with the prince. The date was yet to be decided. But prince insisted her to be living in the castle, so she could get acquainted with all the royal houses and famalies of alarecia. There was enough time before they would get married.

"And that's what i think." haki finished, looking back at the prince drawing her attention away from the flowers she was observing.

"Its really hard to believe, haki." prince responded calmly, meeting the blue eyes of his partner.

"I know. But you couldn't deny the possibility." she pressed on, trying to convince him,"He wouldn't have lied to his mother if he had not felt anything for her. Unless he had any favour to return to any of us, which seems unlikely."

"Even if thats the case, he would never let her know about it." he replied with certain assurance, "You know how that man works."

"Who knows, maybe your sister can possibly change that. After all, she has her own way to deal with situation."haki said, with a small smile appeared on her face.

"Thats true."prince murmured, adding further, "We can't do anything except to hope better for her."
Their eyes locked for a long time, taking in others expression.

"If it wasn't for her we wouldn't be together now."prince reminded both of them, his one hand gently placed on nape of her neck while other hand resting on her waist.

She smiled wistfully at his words followed by his forehead resting on hers. They looked in each others eyes lovingly before their lips found one another. They kissed each other in the daylight passionately, indulging themselves in the enticing feeling.

After a while, they broke apart , a warm smile flickered on their faces as they held each others hands, walking in the garden.

But soon enough, their smile was turned down into a frown when a maid came by in a rush.

"Your highness..."she called and then
paused, "There's urgent message from clairens."


"Shirayuki, you are going back to tanbarun now."

"Brother!"

"It's not happening. She's not going anywhere." Second prince's fingers curled up into a fist, with utter fury displayed in his blue eyes. "She will remain in the clarines for rest of her life."

"If that's what it is, then you can leave too." the king turned his back on his brother, "Clairens doesn't need a prince for whom a mere girl is more important than his kingdom. You have became shame on the name of a prince, zen. "

The most bitter words were spoken. Zen's eyes widened in disbelief. Hearing that from his brother was the last thing he ever wanted.

She was watching them from far. She couldn't help herself now.

"Please-"
Before she could speak she was met with furious glare of her husband.

"If you insist on supporting him, you are also free to go back to your country."

Her heart dropped heavily in her chest. This shouldnt have been happening. She needed to stop this.

She was back to being conscious. These painful dreams had stirred her entire being. She was in state of emotional turmoil.

She breathed, and breathed. Her body ached so badly.

"Take it easy." She heard, and then instantly looked whom the voice belongs to. It was garack. "And don't make any unnecessary movements."

She remained still lying in the soft mattress. She couldn't comprehend anything for an instant. She had thought that she was truly dead in that moment. So many thoughts clouded her mind.

She was disturbed, she was stressed and she was unstable.

"Where is his majesty?"
Her voice was nearly shaking in her throat. But she had to ask.

"He is not in the wistal at the moment but he would be returning soon."

"And what about those assassins?"

"We can discuss this later."

"But-"

"Only rest for now. It's an order and I am the incharge here." garack bluntly told her, not wanting to hear any kind of excuse from her. She was too week. After all, she was living on nothing but fluids for several weeks.

"Lord haruka would be here sure, asking the details what happened. You have time to discuss that later." she then later added for her comfort.

More than comfort, it only added to her concern. She couldn't let anyone find out they were after shirayuki. If anyone knew, it would end of statement for zen and shirayuki. Because she knew it, Izana wouldn't allow it, he wouldn't allow one woman to disrupt everything he had planned out. He had responsibilities and zen had them too. He couldn't risk anyone's life because of shirayuki. As much he cared about zen, his duty was his first priority.

But if she didn't tell him and something bad happened in the future then who would be responsible for it? Of course she would. Was she ready to risk it? She didn't know. She was stuck in somekind of whirlwind.

For next two days, after debating with herself over and over again in her not so well condition, she had come to conclusion. She risked it. She risked with everything she had. She lied. Because she had to.

After having meeting with her, lord haruka had left with nothing but confusion. He had hoped she could tell some important piece of information. Everyone had known those deposed lords had done it because they wanted to take revenge, but why such skilled assassins in large number helped them? What connections did they have? It was still a puzzle to solve.


"How dare he do that? He had no right to keep it from us!"
Voice of alarecia's first prince was ringing in the walls of wistal castle too loudly. He was just returned from weeks of long journey from alarecia to wistal.

Unfortunately for him, the king was not here yet. Or else he sure have created a difficult situation for him.

Meanwhile, when lord haruka witnessed Lady haki walking with alarecian prince into the castle, he had mild panic attack.

Immediately digging up some information, he had found about the reason. And when he heard, 'Soon to be Queen of alarecia. He had totally lost it.

At first, he was just concerned at haruto changing her decision. He had his doubts. And he should have spoken up, but he decided to keep quiet. Because the benefits they could get after the relationship established between the two kingdoms were many.

But now, he could see the reason why. He couldn't help but to wonder what kind of trick izana had used. Maybe it was haki and the prince who did something. He did not know. But there was no use to fussing over it now. He knew. Everything's had been said and done, and not to mention behind his back.

"His highness zen, I will leave them in your care." Haruka simply stated and left zen, alone, for handling the foreign prince. He did not give it second thought to help him.

Prince didn't stop his bickering, and haki couldn't help it.

"Now I understand why brother left us to deal with him alone." Zen whispered so only kiki and Mitsuhide could hear him.

"I wouldn't blame the prince for acting like that. His majesty should have inform them first." Kiki spoke in prince's favor.

"That's true." Mitsuhide also commented supporting kiki.


"I do understand your worry." garack had stated to the prince, "But I would very much appreciate if you treat her normally. She's still recovering." she strictly warned him, before letting him go to meet her sister.

Normally. If he could only act like that. He only hoped. But surprisingly, seeing his sister had melted his anger.

"When you would stop being so reckless, anna?" he was almost pleading, sitting by her side, without hint of yelling or scolding in his voice.

"Crying doesn't suit you, brother."she commented.

Even when he received haki's letter. He did not cry.

"It's all my fault. I shouldn't have let you marry him." He blamed himself angrily. He truly regretted sacrificing his sister for his happiness.

"Please,"she urged, "Don't say such a thing again. I wouldn't like it." she strictly told him, looking straight into his eyes.

Prince was surprised at that.

"So, you don't regret if after all."
He wondered. If that was the case, he would be the only one extremely happy for her.

"No." She firmly said. "And I'll never."

The certainty in her voice had left him stunned and mystified. But he was glad, as long as his sister was happy.

Later in the evening, chief pharmacist entered the room along with some maids who were carrying tub of hot water, towels, set of fresh clothes and herbal medicines. Task of dressing her wound needed to be done.

"You had enough visits for today, your majesty." garack mused, moving towards the bed, following by maids behind.

Her brother, haki, yerin, zen, lord haruka so many people had visited her today.

"Seems like it."
She said smiling a little.


By the time he arrived back in wistal, it was already night. And the moment his feet touched castle ground, he was informed about queen's condition. One could never describe how he felt about it. He was revived again. He only hoped she was mentally doing fine.

He had intended to go straight to his room. Because he knew this was no time to disturb her. She must had been asleep, and he was also tired from his journey. But he couldn't help himself, somehow his feet took him of their own accord to the medical wing.

Not causing any noise, with slight creak, he opened the door and entered inside the room.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, he observed her sleeping face. His warm hands held her.

"Are you planning on weeping, husband?"

He almost stopped himself gasping at that. She had caught him off guard. Her tone wasn't serious. It was like she was trying to ease the tension.

"You should have been sleeping."
His expression turned down into a frown, his voice solemn.

She slowly started to sit up, not much to his surprise.

"Stop being stubborn for once and go back to sleep." He continued his scolding, but she didn't listen.

How can you expect me to sleep when you are here? She had wanted to scream loud, telling him how much he meant to her. But somehow her voice was never meant to leave her throat.

When her eyes looked into his, she could sense it. Hidden conflicts beneath the coldness of his eyes. She could tell he had suffered a lot because of this situation. And he was painfully hiding it. She didn't want it.

"Please, don't worry yourself about me anymore. I am fine." she tried to assure him, giving a hopeful smile.

But in reality, she wasn't fine. She was still disturbed, she was still affected by everything that happened. In spite of the fact how strong she looked, she was still fragile inside.

"Stop it, anna."

As soon as the smile appeared on her face it vanished. Whom she was fooling? He obviously managed to see through her false pretend.

Even he didn't know the every detail of what happened with her he could tell she must had been through a lot. It wouldn't have been easy for anyone. But still she faced it.

"...Sorry..."
Her head leaned on his chest as she started to sobb, her hands tightened on fabric of his shirt. She had to admit, he was better at this. Pretending to be alright. She couldn't do it. He was really a strong man.

She could feel his arms moving and placed around her body, carefully, without touching her wound.

"I am sorry for causing problems for you. I was so reckless."

Not only that, but she was keeping a secret from him. She was completely hating herself for hiding such a thing from him. But it was better if he didn't know.

"It wasn't your fault." he stated in all seriousness. "You did everything you possibly could." then his voice softened.

Impulsively, he pressed her more closer to him. Embracing her. Comforting her. He cherished warmness to his heart.

With time, her cries died down. A long silence loomed around them. Only sound prevailed was that of their heartbeats. It was comfortable. He didn't need to ask if she was feeling any better, because he could sense it in her evened breathing, in her calmed heartbeat. She was at peace. It was soothing to be held like this, in each other's company, in each other's warmth.

When he gazed down at her, she lifted her head to look at him, their eyes locked for long time.

She looked so captivating, so appealing. An uncontrolled emotion took over him.

His one hand moved and delicately held her cheek.

His touch had conjured a surge of electricity running down her spine.

He leaned more close towards her. Her skin flushed in heat with self-consciousness as she got awareness of what was happening.

He was so close that she could feel his breath tickling her skin. She stayed still without any movement. His nose brushed against hers as he tilted his head. Her breathing stopped for a moment. She could feel her heart fluttering continuously inside her chest. She could feel warmth growing on her skin...

"Your majesty..."
A loud voice interrupted, followed by series of knocks on the door.

It had separated them quickly from each other.

"What is it? " he asked, annoyed, as disappointment settled into his veins.

"Prince zen wants have a word with you."

That was it. Even if it wasn't his fault, second prince wasn't going to get good sleep tonight. Izana would make sure he will have piles of documents on his desk to complete by tomorrow.


Blame zen, not me. :-P

I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Do comment your thoughts. Also, stay safe everyone!