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Title: If Only He is Not a Prince

Inspired by: Chapter 11 of the Manga Akagami ni Shirayukihime

Characters: Izana Wistalia, Shirayuki, Obi

Wordcount: 1115

Rating: General

"… .. grain supply need to increase by 20 percent more. The corn crops did not deliver our anticipated supply." I dictated my instructions to another of my aides assisting me with the inventory of food supply while I paced around my office. Autumn was coming. The last season for harvesting was our only chance of taking more stocks of food for the coming winter, and I was able to personally oversee the replenishment of the Castle's food supply store. Zen followed my instructions zealously last winter, and he had made some changes suitable with the current condition. However, when I got hold of the inventory report, I decided to make some drastic changes based on the weather patterns. We were in for a long winter.

"Understood, Your Highness." My aide continued to scribble, the nibbed ends of his quill made loud scratching noises on the parchment.

"Have the granary manager report to me if the supply limit has not been met." I pivoted on my heel and walked back again to the table where my aide was busy writing.

Peering down at the list of items I specified, I made quick calculations. Wistal Castle needed to store as much food supply as possible in order to stabilize the rising prices of goods during the winter months. Whenever there were shortages, our Kingdom always made it a point to provide enough food for the citizens, although we had also made it clear that each individual household must be able to provide food for their own table. The supplies in our store were constantly rotated and kept in case of emergencies like war and famine. Thanks to my father, the late King's initiatives, food shortages were a thing of the past. Whenever there were food shortages, we would open up our store supply and sell them at reasonable prices so that merchants would not be tempted to raise prices of their wares and goods. This trick continued to be our working platform to stabilize the Kingdom, and I intended to improve this practice more. Hence, I had been slowly buying lands for cultivation, hiring the locals to work and till the soil, plant seeds and harvest the crops. Each farmer who worked in the Royal fields was compensated for their hard work, and therefore, content with the current arrangement.

I frowned a little. If I increased the food supply, the castle's monetary budgeting would be affected, too. Garack Gazelt, the Royal Pharmacist, would not be happy if I did not approve the medical supply budget she was seeking. She wanted to increase our supply of immune vaccines for babies and toddlers and their mothers who gave birth to them, and I did not want to disappoint her, because we were investing a lot on the people's welfare, particularly the vulnerable women and children. These people were important members of our society, for without them, there would be a huge decline in the population. Not to mention the next generation of taxpayers would be lower in count. It was imperative that we kept the balance within the population.

"You are dismissed. Ensure that my instructions are followed thoroughly." Not waiting for my aide's reply, I stalked out of my office. An impromptu visit to the Healing and Pharmacy ward was needed.

Walking past grand hallways and galleries, I encountered the numerous maids, cleaners and guards each preoccupied with their tasks and assigned stations. All of them paused in what they were doing to give their respects.

I turned right as soon as I took the last step down to the bottom of the stairs, and my keen ears suddenly caught a snatch of conversation coming from the Great Storeroom for Medicinal herbs.

"…You think so? But as you work on it more, it gets more fun."

I paused mid step, my thudding, boot-clad feet touching the floor without a sound. I suddenly realized that in the short span of time I met her, I would never mistake that voice for someone else's.

"…so, what are we going to do with these bottles?"

That must be the man that my brother assigned to watch over her. What was his name again?

"We have to store them on this shelf for half a year while checking on them every now and then. Fermentation will turn them into medicine," Shirayuki replied.

I could hear clinking of glass bottles. I chose to ignore their conversation and pivoted on my heel, but something held me back when I heard the male voice ask in a hesitating voice.

"Say, mistress. Do you mind if I ask you a question?"

I paused.

Silence.

I quietly retraced back my steps and stood next to the door jamb, trying to be as silent as possible.

"What is your question, Obi?"

I could hear some parchment rustling and the scratching of quill.

"Don't you think it'd be better if Prince Zen wasn't a prince?"

My breathing hitched.

The scratching of the quill stopped.

The sound of a chair being moved broke the silence.

"Give that to me." Shirayuki's voice turned a little sharper, but I could detect some traces of pain in her tone of voice as I tried to imagine the expression on her face.

I peered a little into the crack between the door leaf hinges and the jamb. Shirayuki seemed to strain her neck looking up at the lean man assigned to dog her footsteps. From my vantage point, I could see her ears turn a little red, and her cheeks were flushed with annoyance.

"Listen to me carefully, Obi, for I will only say this once: if you say that one more time, I will take offence."

Obi, Zen Wistalia's newest aide, looked taken aback by the fierce look on her face.

"O-of course, mistress. Forgive me for asking it. I was only a little curious if the thought ever occurred to you," he added, expression now looking a little sheepish.

Shirayuki glowered a little, took a slow inhale and let out a sigh. Making a movement towards the door, I whipped my head back and flattened myself against the wall. How would one explain to a pharmacy apprentice that the future king of the castle she worked for was standing outside eavesdropping?

How indeed? A sly voice inside my head asked.

You are the future king! You need not explain yourself! Another voice argued indignantly.

My pounding heart increased its pace. I could almost hear Shirayuki near the door… and then she moved away from the direction of my hiding place.

I breathed a sigh of relief as I inched away from the door.

"Obi, to be fair to you, that thought did crossed my mind once."