Chapter 2

"So, let me get this straight. You were in that carriage with her for five hours and you still couldn't manage a proposal?"

Izana leaned back and took an irritated sip of tea, keeping his gaze firmly fixed on the documents at his desk and not Zakura sitting across from him. "She ran away before I could say anything."

"And what were you doing with all that time you spent in there beforehand?"

He grabbed one of the documents, making a show of reading the contents. "I was strategizing."

There was a beat of silence before Zakura spoke. "You got nervous and forgot what to say, didn't you?"

Izana twitched his eye. "Feeling impertinent today, are we?"

After her drunken revelations, he'd spent the night formulating exactly what he was going to say and just how he was going to say it. And when morning came and Obi had loudly (too loudly) proclaimed his desire to ride outside for the rest of the journey back to Wistal, Izana's plan neatly fell into place. Or at least it had, until she swept into the carriage and he lost everything he planned to say at the sight of her. His brain had flooded with the memory of the night before, of her lemony sent as she tearfully rounded on him and the warmth of her breath on his neck as she passed out on his shoulder. He'd had practiced courtesans and randy young widows aplenty, yet none could compare to the fire that surged through his blood at the feel of Shirayuki's soft lips briefly brushing the corner of his mouth.

He supposed that was the difference love made.

He'd suspected her feelings for a while, had noticed her eyes straying on him longer than was proper, had seen her hesitate by the door whenever he dismissed her, as if she were waiting for something. But, Izana had done nothing, idiot that he was. The persistent fear that he was only seeing things, that his own feelings for her were inspiring too much wishful thinking, had kept him from reaching out to her.

The goddamn King of Clarines was afraid of a girl's rejection.

"I'm your knight. Its my job to steer you in the right direction."

"Just like it was your job to steer my fiancée into your arms?"

"Oh please, we all know you sang to the heavens when she ran off with me. Haki knew it wasn't happening the moment she saw you making those forlorn moon eyes of yours at Shirayuki during the coronation ball."

"I had no intention of pursuing the woman my brother thought he was going to marry." He sighed and took another sip. "But yes, I was relieved."

"I must note, you did not deny the moon eyes part," Zakura replied with a wry smile.

He wouldn't because he couldn't. He'd harbored his feelings for a shamefully long time. He could still remember mercilessly smothering the bolt of lust he'd felt when she first dared to look him in the eye all those years ago, and having to all but beat out the warm fluttering of his heart as he carried her in his arms at Lyrias, her warm smile as she delighted in his approval slamming into him like a brick wall. Thank the gods Haki hadn't loved him, else the shame would have been too much to bear. It had already been hard enough to look his brother in the eye and it had ripped him apart to ensure Shirayuki would have no obstacles on her journey towards a life in Wilant. Then, Izana's fiancée had run off with Zakura mere days before the wedding, and Shirayuki returned to Wistal after ending her romance with Zen.

And still, he'd kept his distance, content with having her friendship if he couldn't have her heart. He hopped from dalliance to dalliance in an attempt to get over her, futile as it was to think mere sex could even begin to wipe her from his heart, hoping that when he could delay marriage no longer, he would be able to perform his duty towards the royal bloodline without having a silent meltdown on his wedding day.

And then, with a bottle of brandy and a drunken confession, Shirayuki had changed everything.

"So, what's the plan?"

And there was the current predicament. Izana clasped the teacup in his hands and stared at the contents, the liquid a washy amber of generic tea rather than the bold burgundy of Shirayuki's herbal blend. In the week since they'd returned, she had dodged every attempt at an audience, either sending one of her coworkers in her stead or claiming to be too busy with a myriad wedding responsibilities. She was avoiding him and becoming increasingly obvious about it.

People were beginning to talk.

"I've half a mind to just barge into the pharmacy and demand an audience. But then, I'd rather not the gossipmongers think I'm chasing a sulky mistress." He had always gone out of his way to prevent any sort of speculation that could damage her already fragile reputation.

"But, now some are questioning whether it is proper for someone who has lost the friendship of the king to be Lady Kihal's attendant."

"I am aware." It seemed he was damned if he did, damned if he didn't.

"Would it really be so bad for them to think you're her lover? She'll be your queen soon enough."

"If she accepts my proposal."

Zakura rolled his eyes. "She's going to accept your proposal."

"Still, I want to avoid too much excitement before Zen's wedding." He also wanted his brother securely married before announcing his own betrothal. Lady Kihal, and by extension Lord Yuri, would be humiliated if Zen became visibly upset at the news, showing all that his feelings were otherwise occupied and giving the union a more than shaky foundation. While that was still a big 'if', he was not sure if the shock of it all would undermine his brother's usually shrewd prudence. Izana did not want find out the answer to that question in front of the entire court.

"She won't come to you, and you can't come to her." Zakura shook his head. "You two are ridiculous."

Izana opened his mouth, but a knock at the door interrupted the set down he was about to deliver. He straightened, ignoring Zakura's thinly veiled snort of amusement. "Enter."

Garak Gazelt's assistant poked his head through the door and shuffled inside, looking wary and unsure of himself. "Your Majesty. The head pharmacist humbly requests an audience." He held out a folded note, his eyes averted.

Izana took the paper with a raised eyebrow and read the contents.

Your Majesty,

I would be pleased if you would inspect the flowers we have cultivated for the wedding. I understand this is Shirayuki's job, but I am certain she would love your advice. Just as I am certain you would love to give it to her. In private.

-GG

A slow smile spread across his face. "Tell her I'll be there shortly."

"Understood." Yatsufusa bowed and turned on his heel.

"What was that about?" Zakura asked as the door shut.

Izana stood and grabbed his coat, excitement thrumming through him at the prospect of finally catching his quarry. "It appears I have an ally."