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Title: Princess Lessons

Inspired by: Chapter 19 of the Manga Akagami ni Shirayukihime

Characters: Izana Wistalia, Shirayuki

Wordcount: 1384

Rating: General

Wistal Castle is a huge building complex filled with various sections, each with official offices that helped govern the country. The Castle is not just the residence of the existing royal family, but is also the seat of power that dominated all aspects of civic life within Clarines: the Military, Education, Arts and Culture, Pharmacy and Healing, Agriculture and Forestry, Animal Husbandry, etc.

So aside from the royal private apartments, there were dormitories for various members of the household and government staff. The noble families, on the other hand, owned mansions and sumptuous apartments outside the castle walls, where they could easily gain access to the Castle during official ceremonies, state balls, and in times of war.

Conveniently, Shirayuki's room was within my private apartments. As this mission was solely assigned by yours truly, I thought it prudent that I supervise her lessons within earshot.

And yet, I could not help but think that my brother was rightfully jealous when he found out she would be sleeping practically next door to my own room.

But he had enough on his plate, what with the regular duties I assigned him with, not to mention the task he took upon himself in searching for the would-be kidnappers on the lookout for the red-haired girl, and assigning a suitable knight to guard his princess' virtues. Besides, the two young ones were too busy to have time to see each other, and my brother deemed it practical not to disturb her while he concentrated on his own mission.

To be frank, I already had a plan forming inside my head should the need arise, but I indulged my own brother with his whims. Well, it seemed wise to give him what he wanted on that occasion.

For the next few days, as I did my paperwork, I was interrupted time and time again by the advisers and tutors assigned to whip the young woman in shape.

"Your Highness, will the young mistress have time to memorize the family tree and various aristocrats serving the royal family?" One middle-aged tutor twittered anxiously, rolling and unrolling scrolls of parchment bearing the various names and titles of the important people living in Clarines.

"Do not treat the girl as a simpleton," I replied sharply, signing the piece of document I was holding with my slashing signature. "Make sure she knows who these people are. I will personally quiz her in two days' time. And if she fails to answer my questions, I will have you whipped fifteen times." I shooed the maids away after they poured my second cup of tea.

"Prince Izana, the girl is hopeless! Should we suggest to Tanbarun's prince to let her dance with the quadrille and be done with it?" The dance master hopped back into my office with a pack of cold compress on his other hand.

I could not help but imagine Prince Raj's slender fingers skimming down Shirayuki's waist while they spun around the ballroom. I did not particularly like the idea of that bratty prince dancing the waltz with Shirayuki, but it was a necessary part of learning to know the basics, at least.

"Teach her the basics," I snapped impatiently, "but if we are in dire straits, Lord Haruka will ensure she knows what to do." A week into her training, and I decided to send one of our staunchest advisers to escort them until they reached the borders of Tanbarun and Clarines. Lord Haruka had about a week through the journey to teach her what the tutors failed to, and I was sure whatever he imparted to her would certainly come in handy.

I pushed back the chair I was sitting on and walked out of the room, needing some fresh hair. Along the way, I asked the maids on the status of her wardrobe. They all looked at each other and led me to another part of my private apartments where they were busy preparing for Shirayuki's trip. Scores upon scores of silk, satin, lace and other trimmings were piled high on the floor and tables as a small team of seamstresses frantically produced a month's worth of clothes fit for a princess.

I could feel the tick on my forehead as I eyed the ready-made day dresses and evening gowns for her; they were the wrong sort of colors that would not suit Shirayuki's vivid coloring.

"Harper!"

Another middle-aged woman approach, hands full of lace petticoats ready to be stack in the trunks. "Your Highness."

"Some of these colors do not suit Shirayuki. What is the head seamstress thinking?"

"Forgive us, Prince Izana, but some of these clothes are ready to wear, we simply do not have time-"

"I specifically mentioned that Shirayuki is a special guest of the Crown Prince of Tanbarun, a future King." I interrupted, gesturing my hands to the clothes put on dummy displays. "I expect her to be fitted like a real princess! Not some pauper in hand-me-down clothes."

Harper paled. "R-right away, Your Highness! We will select a different color theme-"

I gestured for the book of patterns and began to rip bolts of colored fabrics out from it one by one. Ranges of forest greens, deep blues, purple amethysts, golden yellows and light pinks landed at my boot-clad feet. "I need her to be fitted for day dresses, evening dresses, tea gowns, riding habits, undergarments and whatever dresses ladies deem important. Use these colors and work your way around it!" I handed Harper the book again and strode out of the room, leaving the women exploding in a frenzy of sewing and cutting.

Barely a week and the whole project was driving me mad! I did not know whether I would survive, but if anything, I wanted her to be outfitted in her best. If Prince Raj saw her looking elegant and beautiful, he may yet change her mind and I would gladly hand her over to Tanbarun's responsibility.

Liar. A voice whispered inside my head. Is that really your intention, or you just wish to see how she would look like clothed in gold and living in splendor? Don't you secretly wish to see whether she would be suited as a queen in rich finery?

I brushed those betraying thoughts away, moving towards the room where soft strains of violin could be heard.

My hand rested on the brass doorknob, twisting it open. The door gave no resistance and swung open slightly. Peering into the room, Shirayuki held her head, while the etiquette master placed a couple of books on top of her head, correcting her posture.

"…Duke of Spoleto has a duchy northeast of Clarines, while the Duke of Braye occupies a duchy in the southeast, bordering the country of Arundel."

The peerage tutor nodded in satisfaction as Shirayuki continued to answer his questions while encouraged to walk about the room, balancing the books on top of her head.

"Come and have a seat, young mistress. The maids have poured tea." The etiquette master beckoned her to a vacant chair.

I found myself leaning against the door jamb, studying her from where I stood, hidden. She was certainly working hard, putting her heart and soul into this mission. I expected her to lose her composure, maybe demand to see me, and make up some excuse. But seeing her work so hard stirred up some deep emotions from within me.

She sat down, hiking her skirts up a little. My eyes strayed to the exposed ankles and noted the redness of her feet. The dance master certainly took my instructions seriously as well, judging from the rawness of her skin. He seemed to be wearing her feet down to the bone in his determination to teach her the basics of dancing. My eyes worked up and saw the shadows beneath her eyes, evidence of the strain of her princess lessons.

I shut the door as quietly as I could and went back to my office, my need for fresh air forgotten. How can I loose to such a young lady working hard? But even as I sat on my table and picked up the quill, I became distracted the whole day by Shirayuki's show of strength and resilience.

Notes:

Duke of Spoleto was a real title, rulers of Spoleto and most of central Italy during the Early and High Middle Ages; while the Duke of Braye was borrowed from the title of Baroness of Braye, in the county of Bedford (England) where it was created in 1529 by writ, meaning it can descend through both male and female lines.