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Title: Divided in Mind, United in Heart

Inspired by: Chapter 19 of the Manga Akagami ni Shirayukihime

Characters: Izana Wistalia, Zen Wistalia, Obi, Kiki, Mitsuhide

Wordcount: 864

Rating: General

The sky was already dark by the time I finished inspecting the Military barracks. The whole afternoon was spent within the confines of a meeting room, where I met with the generals and high-ranking officials of the royal army of Clarines. I had authorized several revisions of their annual budget over the next five years and the visit was just a formal check that everything was in order before Her Majesty endorsed my recommendation.

My plan was to improve the royal army by increasing our intakes of soldiers and guards in training and introducing better benefits for them and their families. I had several inventors on hand, studying and proposing new methods of keeping the country safe from invasion.

I took the heavy coat Miyoshi was holding for me and I draped it casually over my shoulders. I could see the rest of my small contingent of aides looked exhausted but satisfied with the outcome of our meetings. As the day was ending, I dismissed them all, encouraging them to meet me again late in the afternoon. Tomorrow was the day Shirayuki would depart for Tanbarun.

Maybe I was just feeling anxious, or restless, or even a little uneasy, but I suspected my brother felt several times more so than what I do. Distracted with these thoughts, I found myself heading into the direction where Zen continued to practice- the courtyard of stone and bricks that used to be an old chapel that now crumbled with age.

I could hear the clanging sounds of metal clashing against metal. The corridor where I took my walk was filled with double the number of guards. One by one I made a gesture, and the guards discreetly moved to other parts of the Castle, giving me the privacy I needed.

I settled on one of the open windows framing one side of the long gallery. Flames in brazen pots lit up the entire wall and courtyard as I quietly observed my brother swing his sword towards an invisible enemy just below where I stood, partially hidden.

Several meters away, his aides stood watching him. Based on their rigid posture, they all looked tense, sharing the grim mood of their master.

Leaning against the carved parapet wall, I eavesdropped on their conversation.

"He's practicing alone? Again?"

"It's about time to come back."

"…the number of people attending to Shirayuki in preparation for the Tanbarun trip has piled up."

"…really doesn't want to let her go, does he?"

I paused at this. Zen wanted to put the exotic-haired woman in the cage as much as I wanted to, it seemed. But my brother was too chivalrous, too kind, and too honest to burden the young woman with his feelings. And if my brother went a little further with his feelings, he wanted to be there to protect her himself as she completed her mission.

Of course, he wouldn't be able to, because I'd sooner dismiss his request even before he uttered the words.

"…master."

I watched with interest when his messenger issued a challenge to him.

"If I win, please let me escort the young mistress to Tanbarun. If you can't protect her, then I will protect her in your place."

I felt my heart tighten inside my chest. Ah, these young people; so simplistic in their views of the world. And yet, there was something compellingly envious about the way they could act on their own feelings. I always considered Zen the luckiest between the two of us, simply because he was the second prince and my only brother. He need not bear the burden of being a king someday, and he had the full support of a brother like me.

The fight was over in minutes. While Zen's fighting style was obviously superior against his newly acquired aide, Obi's own fighting style was distinctively raw and organic. He could adapt quickly and defend himself against most weapons, with or without wielding a weapon himself. Zen's new aide is easily on par with Kiki and Mitsuhide, and could obviously exceed them both given the chance of regular training.

"Obi. You will be responsible for keeping her safe."

Indeed.

With one last look at my brother's face, I pivoted on my heel and began to make my way back to my private apartments. Along the way, I snapped my fingers thrice.

A rustling could be heard behind me.

"What are your orders, Your Highness?" came a muffled reply.

I had been thinking about this ever since I left Shirayuki in her room that night. I found myself brooding even more about what would happen while she was away. I was both worried and concerned about my brother; and, to my surprise, I found myself thinking about Shirayuki's welfare, too.

"Have your best man be ready to leave at dawn tomorrow. I want him to shadow the two people invited by Tanbarun and ensure they are safe. I want periodic reports until they are back in Wistal. Understood?"

"Consider it done, Prince Izana."

The shadow bodyguard vanished.

I picked up the speed of my walking. Zen had finally decided on the course of his actions. I had work to do.