Thank you for patiently waiting on the next chapter. I am doing well and on the road to recovery. More health challenges for me ahead, and I intend to tackle them one at a time. In the meantime, here is the next update and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Title: Moving House
Inspired by: Chapter 47 of the Manga Akagami no Shirayukihime
Character: Izana Wistalia
Rating: General
Status: Beta-ed chapter by Kartara. Please check out her profile and support her works
Like a kid who has gotten the best present, Zen wasted no time making preparations to make the East Wing as habitable as possible. Trying not to get too distracted with the extra activity, I watched with a mixture of amusement and trepidation.
Maybe this was how our mother felt when I was about to go on a journey alone as an envoy to neighboring kingdoms. Even if she didn't show that she was anxious, I can tell that she wanted everything to go smoothly on my first foray as the Crown Prince.
And because our mother could not stay in Wistal castle after our father died due to health reasons, I looked after my brother when puberty hit. I became both his father and mother during those trying years when he suddenly grew like a reed and rebelled like a pirate. It was only thanks to Garack Gazelt's special skin remedy that the zits on Zen's nose disappeared like magic. I tried not to smother him with my worry, letting him grow on his own, knowing full well that I would be there to support him as he vowed to support me. Still, to see him learn and do things on his own, he has earned my respect.
Zen's private bedchambers were located within my own private apartments, where, along with handfuls of my own personal aides and doctor, he resides with his small band of supporters. When I am crowned King, I have thought of letting Zen use my room while I move to the royal apartments that my mother and deceased father used to occupy. And because my mother made Wilant Castle her permanent home, no one occupies Her Majesty's private sanctuary.
However, I find that Zen needs more room to spread his wings a little. I have no doubt about his success in the future. But I would like to prepare for every possible scenario, and giving him access to the East wing is the best decision I have made. Only, if he didn't say anything about it last night, I would eventually give it to him. There is no point in delaying something that has been on my mind for days, really.
"Maruko."
"Your, Highness?"
I turned away from the window and watched Mitsuhide accompanying Shirayuki towards the east side of the palace. I was told that today is the day that Shirayuki is supposed to move in after a briefing from Mitsuhide. I was expecting two or three servants to follow behind them, carrying her belongings. Shockingly, she only carries a big bag, while Mitsuhide himself carried a larger bag that contains her only possessions in the world.
It bothers me a little that a young woman her age has only a few possessions to her name. Not to mention how easy it would be for her to disappear; she will not have any problems about her ties to her possessions if she decides to run away.
The last thought made my back prickle with apprehension. Shirayuki has a history of moving from one place to another, mainly due to her thirst for studying herbs and medicine. But she moved to Clarines to escape the attention of Prince Raj. Despite her red hair glowing like a beacon in any location, Shirayuki can easily blend into a crowd and disappear if she wishes to. It made me feel anxious, knowing that like an elusive bird, if something spooks her, she will not hesitate to leave. And as Shirayuki cements her presence within our household, she is unknowingly entering a den of power struggle and dirty politics. If something disturbs Shirayuki enough to disappear, it would be troublesome to track her. I frowned as I brooded over this information.
Nails dug into the inside of my palms. It would be difficult to put her in a gilded cage. But I need to do what I can.
"Maruko, make arrangements to inspect the East Wing for any possible security problems. I do not want anyone to enter and leave the Castle without any checks done. Double the amount of guards if need be." Zen can easily defend himself, and both Mitsuhide and Lady Kiki are expert fighters. However, once he completely leaves my apartments, I may have created an opening for a possible attack.
Maruko's eyes widened with my unusual request. "I beg your pardon, Your Highness?"
"I want the East Wing heavily secured. Have the palace architects review its design, whether it needs improvement. I will be expecting a report in two weeks."
My aide bowed. "As you wish, Prince Izana."
Notes:
Once again, I speculated on Izana and Zen's living arrangements. I should have done this in the previous chapters, but it never occurred to me to do it until I wrote this chapter.
I am interested in floor plans, architecture being my practice. I longed to study the manga and anime to try and draw up plans of Wistal castle. Drawing on my knowledge about castles and fortresses, contrary to what many think, a castle is like a mini city and lots of people are required to make the household a conducive environment to live and work. In comparison, Wistal Castle is like Windsor palace, or the palace of Versaille. I've even wrote a list of rooms that could be found (just for the sake of imagining the floor plan I have in my head).
In Wistal castle, not all of the rooms are used; some of them are for ceremonial purposes only, while some rooms are set aside for the royal family's private use. Izana, being the Crown prince and the next in rank to the Queen, would be in charge of personally running the Private apartments. And because Zen, who, until recently, just came of age, would be living under direct supervision of his next of kin (Izana). The fact that he now is moving on his own private wing signifies the trust Izana places in his brother.
Although, in my opinion, Zen should be getting his own place (ie, palace), much like Izana having his castle built, But, incoming chapters in the manga seemed to show (spoilers!) that Zen will be moving to Wilant Castle.