Thanks to Talye Kendrin for doing a fantastic job of beta-ing these chapters. Please check out her profile and support this fandom.
Title: Hope Anew
Inspired by: Chapter 25 of the Manga Akagami ni Shirayukihime
Character: Izana Wistalia
Wordcount: 829
Rating: General
I finally got tired of being cooped up in my office for so long that I decided to eschew my load for the day and take a much-needed break.
Hoping that Garack Gazelt would welcome a drinking companion, I headed straight to her Ward only to be told by little Ryuu that the Head Pharmacist was busy at the moment, assisting a midwife who was handling the birth of triplets. Thanking her protégé, I decided that my timing was probably not right, and withdrew from her large office and thought of nothing better to do. I had done my inspections at the military barracks, as well as the agricultural department a few days ago; even turned in the final report for the country's spending budget to Her Majesty. Besides, I had always wanted to pick Garack Gazelt's brains when she made that comment about the drink she served me before. Had she an inkling of the person I was thinking of? Did she know that I was not only worried for my brother, but Shirayuki as well?
Not wanting to linger too much in the hallway, I decided to spend the rest of the day in the library, but I was a little distracted about the birth of triplets- a rare occasion in the Castle. Maybe I should arrange for a special gift to be delivered to the new mother; after all, even if I didn't believe in old wives' tales, it was stilla sign of good luck that our country was being blessed with healthy babies.
I stopped short and saw myself staring back at the door of one of the herb gardens. Lost in thought, it took me a full second to see that the neat, cursive handwriting on a plaque hanging outside the door belonged to none other than Shirayuki.
My hand automatically went to the brass latch, pushing it gently down and immediately getting a whiff of delicious scents emanating from the greenhouse.
It was a veritable Garden of Paradise.
The greenhouse looked bright and clean; the sound of water trickled soothingly, providing nourishment for the plants. Taking a few more steps, I hesitated a little. Despite the fact that the greenhouse was open to all staff working in the Pharmacy, it seemed like I was invading her private space. I felt like an intruder in my own home.
Still, I continued all the way in, the door gently closing behind me as I took in the scents, the colors of the blooming flowers and cascading vines hanging above me. I could see evening primroses, chamomile, aloe vera, poppies, sweet violets and tea roses; common herbs to cure fevers, headaches, bruises, minor burns and skin rashes.
But I saw other plants that I was rather unfamiliar with, so I approached them a little, cautiously, lest I find myself in a rather troubling predicament. I noticed small wooden boards were written with descriptions of the plants, including the month they were planted and estimated harvest time.
I read the words: Milk thistle, feverfew, comfrey, stinging nettles.
I stopped. My heart began to beat in its familiar rhythm of pain and pleasure.
Fingers smoothed out the neat writing.
Shirayuki had carefully stocked up curatives for the poisons Zen and I took in gradual quantities to boost our immunity.
It was most likely Garack had shared our toxicology reports with her, and thus, she took care of minding the medicinal plants used as antidotes. They all looked healthy and abundant, ready to be prepared at a moment's notice.
Treatment for ivy oak poisoning.
Curative for muscle spasms.
Treatment for certain neurotoxins.
Treatment for severe bruising.
And so on.
One particular plant caught my attention. A small shrub with pointy leaves and bright blue flowers. Wild, blue erigone plants. Written on the wooden plaques bore the words, for hemlock poisons resulting in paralysis. And beside it, initials I know all too well: P.I.W.
Prince Izana Wistalia.
I took another glance at a different species of plants growing beside it and saw my brother's initials as well: P.Z.W.
My heart melted at this. Shirayuki had been working hard to prioritise the health of my brother and I by ensuring there were abundant plants capable of producing powerful antidotes to poisons.
I stretched out my hand, intending to touch the flower of the blue erigone when I heard some rustling sound. The stem I was holding gave a tiny snap and came free between my fingers.
"Your Highness."
Turning, I spied the covered head of my shadow guard crouching before me. I felt my breath hitch. Please keep them all safe, I thought, praying with all my might.
"The Talons have been caught."
Thank the gods!
"Prince Zen is safe."
I supposed I should feel a whole lot better about the last sentence, when I remembered that he had not shared any news about Shirayuki.
"And the girl?" I asked immediately, crushing the flower in my hand.
"Injured, but alive."
Notes: Updates will still take time. I have no news from my beta. And as such, I wanted to give as much space as possible for her to help me with my grammar. However, if it comes to it, I may soon be posting unbeta-ed chapters until I can replaced them with polished ones.