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Title: Aut Viam Inveniam Aut Faciam
Inspired by: Chapter 10 of the Manga Akagami ni Shirayukihime
Characters: Izana Wistalia, Zen Wistalia
Wordcount: 586
Rating: General
Present Day
Acclimatizing myself again to the day to daily operations of running the main castle took me a while. Zen had done a good job of looking after Castle Wistal, and while I appreciated the fact that he had been good in the small details, I preferred to run the Castle on a broader scale. So apart from reviewing the expenses and carefully monitoring the budget, there were still other projects I needed to consider: repair works on the oldest parts of the Castle, the food storage for the coming winters, additional facilities that were needed by the country, compensation, special privileges and personal improvements on the staff and military soldiers working under our command, etc, etc.
While the Crown Prince of Tanbarun was busy touring the countryside of Clarines and was gone for three days, I took advantage of catching up on work. But all too soon, the three days were about to end, and Prince Raj was due back today. He would be preparing for his journey home after the state visit. I suspected an invitation to visit Tanbarun country is coming very soon.
On my way back to my private apartments, I toyed with the idea of sending Zen in my stead. I was beginning to get a little bored with my experiments. I barely cracked Shirayuki's shell, and made little progress with dissuading my brother from becoming even more entangled with her. I weighed my options as I continued to walk back, pushing thoughts of my brother and his infatuation with Shirayuki at the back of my mind.
Earlier, Garack Gazelt requested my presence, citing concerns about a small outbreak of infantile paralysis a few weeks before, at a small village south of Clarines. She was a bit concerned even after she had assigned two medical teams to immediately travel south; so far, the disease had been contained into a small clutch of people. I gave her my permission that should the situation escalate, she could travel for a short period. Garack was a little restless; I could sense that she was anxious for news. Luckily, a messenger arrived just in time, in the middle of our private discussion. We were informed that the second team was coming back because the number of people affected had dwindled down, and the first team would soon be sending the last batch of recovered patients home.
A soft thudding near me interrupted my thoughts.
I paused in mid-stride.
Boots made a rustle in the soft grass underfoot.
Zen.
I pivoted on my heel, meeting his eyes squarely.
"Perfect timing, Zen. Come, my shoulders are getting stiff. Let's see your progress with the sword." I turned back and did not wait for a response.
"N-now?!"
"Why not?" I answered back. "You wouldn't just seek me out if you don't have something on your mind that you wanted to tell me?"
He looked surprised with my statement. His face took on a slight pink color.
Zen had been trying his best to conform to my wishes, but I could sense he genuinely wanted to go against my will. He would find it difficult should he still insist on his wants. It had been a while since someone had challenged me on the way I dictate how things are run.
Aut viam inveniam aut faciam, I thought, noting my brother's determined steps as he followed behind me.
Notes:
Infantile paralysis - another term for poliovirus.
Aut Viam Inveniam Aut Faciam – a Latin phrase meaning I will either find a way or make one.