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Title: Mea Culpa, Mea Culpa
Inspired by: Chapter 10 of the Manga Akagami ni Shirayukihime
Characters: Izana Wistalia, Zen Wistalia
Wordcount: 866
Rating: General
Clang!
My eyes watched Zen's sword carefully as steel versus steel clashed. Having discarded my long coat on the ground before our match, I could see that I need not put in too much of an effort with this fight.
Judging from Zen's appearance, his mind was obviously divided.
I smirked a little, swiftly dodging his countermeasure. He had never bested me yet when it comes to swordplay, and today was no different.
"All right. Talk," I commanded him, our blades hissing against each other. "Enough dilly-dally."
Zen's eyes narrowed in annoyance.
"Why did you treat Shirayuki as if she's a hindrance before trying to get to know her?" he accused.
Clang!
Ah, the root of the matter.
We broke apart, and I began to stalk him like a panther, giving enough distance between us, while Zen continued to watch me like a hawk.
"Well." I drew down my sword, baiting him to attack. "I don't have that much free time to spend casually observing a girl like her, for starters." I shrugged, faking a relaxing pose.
Zen took the bait and dove forward.
I swung my broadsword back at him, and he dodged it in the nick of time, but not before scratching the front of his shirt.
A small, clean tear appeared.
Landing on his feet, I could see he was even more annoyed. "Are you so busy that you'd determine something without knowing anything about the matter?"
I raised my eyebrows. "Oh, ho! So you can talk back to me now?"
"Don't tease me! This is an important matter to me!"
My brother still didn't get it.
"That's the thing."
He gave me a puzzled expression. I stifled the urge to let out an exasperated sigh.
"Just look. I didn't need time to tell just how much you've fallen for her."
My brother's cute face turned a violent shade of red.
I took advantage of his momentary distraction and attacked on his opening.
"That aside, this matter has nothing to do with how you feel. Besides, there are other prestigious girls who have higher values. And I meant that in a political manner."
He avoided my attack, almost losing his balance. His left arm shot out to prevent his fall.
"Other people expect something from that girl more than just her red hair or her green eyes. As soon as they find out that's all she has to show, everyone is going to give you the cold shoulder."
Gripping the handle of his sword until his knuckles turned white, he lunged towards me again. When something bothered his concentration, Zen's actions were pretty much easy to guess. The clanging sounds of steel meeting marble echoed across the empty, unused hall of the Castle.
"I'm fine with what other people think. They don't know Shirayuki well. Taking actions to defeat something is that girl's specialty."
My brother refused to be cowed by my will. I did not know whether I should be proud or irritable at this.
"That's troublesome."
"Mea culpa, mea culpa," Zen replied. "I was the one who insisted that she stay here. She did not do anything to earn your suspicions. She took the exams to be a pharmacist because that is the path she wishes to take. Even if I am not responsible for her decisions, she would eventually take the same path."
"All right, I'm leaving now." I lowered my broadsword. I lost my appetite to continue this fight.
"Brother."
I ignored him. Walking towards the corner where I discarded my coat and the sheath of my sword, I stooped down to retrieve my personal belongings.
"Brother, I absolutely will not let my meeting with her hinder the path that I truly want to walk on."
A promise. His promise to me. I know how hard my brother wants to fulfill the promise he gave me. And yet I worry that Shirayuki might be his downfall. I do not want Zen to become a laughingstock to the nobles and advisers. Where is his sense of pride?
"Leave her behind, Zen. I mean it. Your path is filled with a lot of obstacles. And bringing her along, you might be forced to make decisions that you could have otherwise avoided."
Taking the coat, I swished it around my back before donning it. I strapped back the belt holding my sword and sheath and stalked off. I did not want to see my brother's face. I felt a little jealous and hurt that he saw me as a villain rather than someone who supported him.
Opening the door to enter the castle, I saw Zen's aides, Kiki and Matsuhide, standing nearby. As soon as they saw me, they bowed low.
"While you were with him, he brought back quite a troublesome little thing," I reprimanded them. My rebuke was for naught. Of course, these two would always side with their Master.
Mitsuhide straightened up. I turned to leave them, but not before he replied.
"I think it's actually because I was with him when he brought the troublesome little thing, your Highness."
"Hmp!" I pushed one hand into the pocket of my trousers. "You've gotten quite cheeky, too."
I strode away.
Notes:
Mea culpa, mea culpa – a Latin phrase meaning through my fault