Many thanks for patiently waiting for the updates. And for those who took the time to write reviews and PM-ed me. I'm doing great! I just got back a week ago. And I have to recover from my 23h- plus trip. I have 2 stopovers to deal with, and I can't sleep on the plane, so you can imagine who tired I am after the trip. The 12-hour difference was also a nightmare. I sleep late in the morning and early evening, and my body just refuse to adjust.
I was reading the news about the SNOW-pocalypse in UK, and there was this article about how the Brits totally loose their shit over -4 degrees temperature and 2 inches of snow. I felt like telling them, that ain't nowhere as shitty as when I was in Canada. My face just shriveled like a mummy on a -15 deg C. And my skin was dry and itchy, and ugh! It made me have seconds thoughts about why I moving there in the first place (free healthcare, cheaper cost of living, snow :P)
So anyway, I did managed to write some stuff. Not as much as I wanted. Frankly speaking, when I was in Osaka a couple of years back, I finished an entire outline of a multi-chapter fic. Same thing when I was in Paris. The weather was a rude wake-up call for me, and how I was totally unprepared for the cold despite stockpiling on Heattech (Uniqlo sells these warm undergarments).
Sorry for the rambling. A short chapter this week.
Title: A Kiss and Nothing Else
Inspired by: Chapter 46 of the manga Akagami no Shirayukihime
Character: Izana Wistalia
Word count: 388
Rating: General
Status: Beta-ed chapter by Kartara. Please check out her profile and support her works
A week went by. And then two. And then three.
Between a whirlwind of diplomatic meetings, receiving last minute envoys from different kingdoms, and ensuring that the city has enough food supplies to last the cold winter months, I found a small, folded note propped up against my ink stand.
Maruko pretended not to see me when I unfolded the parchment with my name written in her neat writing. Of course, I'd known immediately that the note was from Shirayuki.
The note contained short, precise instructions in avoiding the east courtyard and main ballroom from now until the start of the ball.
Palace staff would be busy setting up the tables and decorations. I implore Your Highness to restrain from impulsive, unnecessary nocturnal visits until the ball has ended.
Smirking a little to myself, I refolded the paper and tucked it into the inside pockets of my coat, and I feel my heart pound loudly between my ears. Not only has she successfully piqued my interest, Shirayuki has employed carefully chosen words to show that she was affected by my show of affections.
It was hard to stay away from her. Often, I would find myself walking halfway towards the room set aside for her temporary use, only to turn back and remind myself yet again that she has a lot on her plate and I do not wish to disturb her.
I would wonder, instead, whether she was affected by that kiss as much as I was, that I find myself unable to function as effectively as I would have wanted.
If Maruko has noticed it, he did not give any indication. Maruko would have made the necessary, but subtle, adjustments in my working hours and moods.
But today, with only a few days till the ball, I am determined to see her again. Alone. Zen would be coming back tomorrow, and there won't be any opportunity to sneak a quiet time with her.
The little voice inside my head mocked me for sneaking around like a thief, but I ignored it.
I reached for a freshly sharpened quill and began to sign the stack of papers with flourish, my cheeks warm with anticipation.