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Title: Master of the East Wing

Inspired by: Chapter 46 of the manga Akagami no Shirayukihime

Character: Izana Wistalia, Zen Wistalia

Rating: General

Status: Beta-ed chapter by Kartara. Please check out her profile and support her works

I lowered the crystal goblet I was holding, peering over the rim of the cut glass. Zen looked a little distracted as he continues to poke the cold meat slice on his plate. I observed him from my vantage point; I have never seen my brother looked so defeated in my whole life.

I signaled for the servants to remove the plates and prepare the next course, resisting the urge to sigh. My brother has breached twenty cycles of the spring, but he is still on the last vestiges of adolescence. Signs of rebelliousness are still in his blood and I am growing a little impatient.

Still, I cannot begrudge his request. I find that I, despite my strictness and discipline, am weak when it comes to my beloved brother.

Platters of fruit and pudding appeared. They were less extravagant than what was served in the ball last night. But I prefer it this way. Our breakfast is supposed to be a good start for another bountiful year of the Ærra Jeola - the first breaking of fast for the new year. I am not a superstitious person, but if I don't do something about my brother's gloomy outlook, we could be finding ourselves in an equally gloomy forecast in the next few months.

"If you continue to brood there, I might have to forgo dessert," I said, pulling something heavy from the inside pocket of my semi-formal coat.

Antique gold glinted against the late morning sunlight streaming through the sunroom where we were having our breakfast. Despite the cold-looking bare-branches of the trees outside, the frost covering the square edges of the glass windows, inside, the room is warm and toasty.

"Have pity on your older brother, I feel like I've aged a decade looking after you. My wrists are beginning to show signs of fatigue just holding out the master key of the East wing."

The key I held out is etched with the heraldic symbol of the House of Wistalia, which the family has used for generations. As the key swung gently to and fro on its chains, my eyes were briefly drawn to the vivid colors of the wyvern, the owl, swords and the apples.

Zen looked up and met my gaze incredulously.

"What did you say?"

"I do hope you will not ask me to repeat myself, so please pay attention." I replied with thinly veiled impatience.

"Go on," he reciprocated hoarsely.

"I am giving you authority of the East Wing, which allows you to prepare rooms for your followers, including Mitsuhide, Obi, Lady Kiki, Shirayuki, and other persons whom you designate as someone who will support you. Your rooms will be prepared separately."

Upon snapping my fingers, Maruko, who was waiting behind me with a ledger came forward to my left, placed the ledger down a clear space without disturbing the cutlery. I glanced at the documents, recording exactly what I have uttered. A blob of wax lay at the bottom, and I marked my signet ring on it, effectively putting all my requests as official and approved by my royal seal. This announcement will be circulated to the advisers, ministers and high-ranking officials of the guards and soldiers serving Clarines.

"Your aides, and any who falls under your command, will be regarded as people that support you and will stand by your side. They are required to serve you, as you serve me, and whenever I have need of you, I have need of them as well."

A servant brought in a tray, bearing identification seals-Zen's own seal as the second Prince of Clarines. I watch my brother slowly pick up one of the seals, a smile slowly forming from his lips.

Ah, there's the smile I've been looking for. For a few moments, I felt at peace, appreciating my brother's look of relief. Last night's party, though it did not go according to my wishes due to his avoidance of potential brides, was a surprising revelation. Zen is indeed recognized by the important people of Clarines as the Second Prince and someone who will support me in my rule. He has worked hard to earn this respect, and deserves due consideration on his request. Although it also helps that I am quite fond of him as well.

"I trust that you will use the East wing as you deem fit." I finally let go of the key, and he caught it easily.

"No secret parties and assignations there, do I make myself clear?" I warned him as gently as I could.

"How could I do that?" he let out a sigh of awe, before gazing back at my face, eyes bright with unshed tears of happiness. "It would break my heart if I breach your trust and hurt you."

I pursed my lips, deeply touched by my brother's words. Giving him a huge responsibility such as assigning the East Wing to him is an honor and a sign of huge trust I place as the First Prince. And his words stung my heart a little. Do I even deserve my brother's loyalty when I harbor such thoughts about the woman he desires to marry? It makes me feel rotten to the core just silently thinking about it.

Gingerly placing the napkin on the table, I pushed back the chair I was sitting on and stood up.

"Take the rest of the week off. Come back to me for your next assignment." I turned on my heel.

"Brother..."

I paused, and waited for him to say something.

"I just want to say thank you. For believing in me and for trusting that I will continue to support you until my last breath." My brother bowed, clutching the key hard with his right fist.

I reigned my emotions in, feeling my chest heave with happiness and hurt. "I do not grant things that are unworthy, Zen," I acknowledged, before I strode out of the room, leaving him to savor the happiness I have granted him, and the freedom to woo the red-haired maiden as he pleased.

You are, by far, one of my greatest treasures and pride, after all.

Notes:

I realized that I have taken great pains to search on a unique heraldry for Shirayuki when she became the "Friend of Tanbarun", or in my story version, "The Lady of Lunels"; but I did not even think about Izana and Zen's royal heraldry. So, while I was writing this, I thought about key designs, and decided I want the key to show their heraldic symbol to truly make the key priceless. I believe in the manga, the key Izana gave Zen is only symbolic: the Crown Prince handing the symbolic house key to a sibling doesn't mean that there is only 1 key to rule them all - ahem, one key to open all the doors in the east wing. There would be a bunch of keys, and there would be a person who holds certain keys to his household, very much like the other servants who hold the keys to the household silver, the wine, or even the pantry. Likely, the door that the key opens is Zen's Royal bedchamber (shrugs) but the author lets the reader's imagination think what they like. It may sound cheesy, but I'm just drawing conclusions from bits and pieces of stuff I read from different sources. I may be wrong on some parts, do correct me in the reviews section (if you want to show your prowess in fact finding. :D)

For the Wistalia Royal family coat of Arms, it took me a few hours trying to come up with a proper one. So I came up with this description (below), which I can refer back to in the future chapters.

I used a crowned shield, quartered and held on both sides by a crowned lion and a stag. The family's motto would be written at the bottom of the shield. Feel free to imagine, (and draw if you can! Show me!) :)

Blue Shield (Azure color) – means Truth and Loyalty

Royal Crown above the quartered Shield with images (Clockwise from right to left) Wyvern (Valour and Protection), Owl (Vigilance and Repartee), Three Swords (Power and freedom) and three apples (generosity, happiness, peace and salvation)

A stag holding the left side of the shield – symbolizes harmony, peace and political wisdom

Crowned lion holding the right side of the shield – symbolizes undying courage

Bottom of the shield is the motto with the words Nemo me impune lacessit – No one wounds/touches me with impunity

The best inspiration I used is the Royal family of Britain's heraldry which you can google. The Motto I used above is also from their heraldry, so I do not take any credits for those. There are a lot of meanings and symbolisms when it comes to Coat of Arms, Heraldric symbols or family seals, and if you guys are the type to enjoy learning some, Google has sites dedicated to these. Also, if you are interested on how a household runs during, say, Medieval period, Wikipedia has an article on it as well.

Lastly, I tried googling (I know, how can I survive without google?), I tried to search on the net if the manga has a Wistalia coat of arms or heraldry that I missed (I found nothing so far, but if you do, PM me!). Instead, I found that there is a real Clarines family in Scotland. Wow! You should check out their origins and heraldry at triple W dot houseofnames dot com.