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Title: The Girl with Apple-Red Hair
Inspired by: Chapter 8 of the Manga Akagami ni Shirayukihime
Characters: Izana Wistalia, Ryuu, Shirayuki, Obi
Wordcount: 895
Rating: General
First order of the day is a quick tour of the castle grounds. My sudden arrival has brought the Castle into a frenzied activity: servants bustling about to prepare my private apartments, the palace cooks quickly ordering extra food for my personal troops that accompanied my journey, and a number of palace guards were doubled. Everywhere I went, I could hear frantic footsteps all around, windows being opened wide to let fresh air and sunlight in. More guards were stationed, the royal gardeners who were about to continue their pruning of the plants and trees all around the castle grounds were forced to congregate elsewhere, putting havoc to their schedules.
Zephyr, my magnificent steed was led away by the stable boys, to be groomed and fed. I have exhausted my ride for several days in my haste to come back to Wistal Castle.
My feet automatically headed to the direction of the Hospital and Healing Ward of the castle. I sent a quick dispatch to the Royal Pharmacist, Garack Gazelt. Even if I was away for several months, my poison immunity training continues, and I have to report to her office and update her on my progress.
Up ahead, I saw something white floating in the air.
Papers. Lots of them. Did someone carelessly open a window without weighing the papers down with a paperweight?
Flap. Flap. Like wings of doves, the papers scattered in the air like fallen leaves amidst the sudden strong breeze.
"The administrative records! Ryuu! Ryuu, we shouldn't read these while walking outside after all!" A feminine voice caught my attention as I neared the courtyard.
"Yeah. I'm sorry, Shirayuki." The apologetic voice of the Palace's youngest pharmacist answered back.
Shirayuki.
I turned to the left, my vision obscured by the floating papers. I bumped into something small and soft. A flash of pale skin… and red hair.
"Ah!"
The person who bumped into me almost stumbled backwards. Her face was covered by a piece of thin, white parchment. Small, and slim, my first impression of her was that Lord Haruka must have made a mistake: there's no way my brother would be spending so much time with a young child!
The information I processed inside my brain changed abruptly, when my hands automatically shot out to steady her, as she tried to balance her weight on her feet with limited vision. I immediately noted that her skin felt smooth; like rose petals beneath my touch. How can a child like this maintain such good skin if she is always out and about in the sun?
Curiosity won.
An eternity seemed to pass as I reached out to remove the errant paper, my sapphire eyes finally meeting green ones.
There you are.
"Are you okay, Shirayuki? I'm sorry." Ryuu came up next to me, looking a little taller than the last time I saw him. Still sporting a too serious expression for a child his age, his eyes grew a little wider when he recognized me.
Quickly, I silenced him with a look, putting up the index finger of my right hand near to my lips. Ssshhh!
Ryuu nodded tentatively, though I can see his brow furrow slightly in confusion at my gesture. Without speaking, I helped them gather the papers that was scattered by the breeze. Shirayuki proceeded to stack them away, according to the page numbers. But I can sense her curious look when I wave at my departure.
"Um… Thank you very much!" she managed to call back as I continued on my way to Garack's office. I pretended not to hear. Nor acknowledge the flowery scent that lingered on after our brief touch.
"Ryuu, who's that person just now?"
I was almost out of earshot when I paused, waiting for little Ryuu's answer. Will he give me away, I wonder?
"I…I'm not sure. Look! We need to sort the papers out before we file them. Come on!"
Excellent.
I listened until their voices and footsteps faded away. Still standing on my spot for a good few seconds, I looked up at the huge oak tree towering to my right, its shade offering protection from the sun. I fingered one of the sharp stones I picked up when I helped the two young pharmacists with their papers, barely making out the shadowy outline of a man, lying casually on top of the tree's branch. Long-limbed, long-fingered, and wearing brown buckskin clothes that helped camouflaged his body against the rough, streaky bark, I saw him yawn and stretch, unaware that I was watching him.
I darted into one of the covered passageways leading to my destination. Before I continued my way, I stretched my arm back, my limbs reaching far, the sharp stone held tight between my thumb, fore and middle finger. When I snapped back, the stone made a deadly projectile, headed straight to the branch where the man sat.
As soon as I released the stone, I casually continued my way to the Healing Ward. The leaves made a satisfying rustling sound as the stone hit its target. I deliberately tried to miss. I'm quite sure that Zen's subordinate would be sporting a scratch on his face for a few days, at least.
I rubbed my fingers together in remembrance of her petal-soft skin. A child, is it? But there is no mistaking the softness, the curves that I came in contact with. Hmmm…
My mind was a little distracted by my first meeting with her. I supposed I'd need to summon her into my presence before the day ends.
Zen has a lot of explaining to do on the Castle's happenings during my absence.