Zen has a mound of paperwork piling up on his desk like a little reminder of the people, though a more ill placed one than a perfect one, and Shirayuki's out in the sunshine. She's working in the herb garden with a heart drawn towards the future, not overlooking the present however. She loves the plants that greet her here, loves the sunlight that warms her skin, but up in an office in the castle is a prince that she loves more.

Zen is hard at work, and he's grateful that it keeps him busy, because otherwise he may grow restless. He's grateful that this paperwork gives him a way, a means to help the people, even if it's not a perfect one, even if it's a rather indirect one. But he reminds himself that sometimes indirect methods are the best ones.

And together, you'd think that these tasks have nothing to do with each other and that the two people doing them wouldn't know each other or love each other so much. They are individuals with hearts bent towards the people; two people that love so much and yet express it in different ways.

Zen has an adventurer's heart, and is after direct methods when possible to get to hear the people's voices, to find the unique individual in each of them. And if it brings him far away from the castle he doesn't mind. He's spontaneous and has the heart of a romantic set within him.

And Shirayuki isn't after a traditional adventure. If a plant or herb brings her to different places than normal, it isn't for the thrill of the adventure or even to meet others. It is a practical thing, and she's happy with each, little discovery, delights in them, and yet she's there to find the plant or herb that she needs.

She takes a very practical, almost rigid approach, and yet even so it's a very human approach. When she loves, she loves hard, stubbornly, she's there for people, trying to help them see their own value and worth and also reach out and have a genuine relationship with her. She likes real people and honesty, and it's how she came to really appreciate Zen.

When he let down his guard, she became someone he could approach, wall-less, and she embraced that side of him. And it took time, but slowly love blossomed like a persistent flower, and now she knows she's safe with that love. He's safe with it too, because she would never abandon him.

They are different people, and live very independent lives that converge down the middle, that draw the two of them closer. And one day, perhaps their future will be properly aligned, and despite different personalities, interests, experiences, and lives, they would come together to brave everything together, to learn from each other, and to grow with each other.

Shirayuki's at peace here in the castle taking care of the herb gardens and making medicine, because somewhere nearby Zen is hard at work, and both of their hearts burn for the future and are savoring these lovely days in the present, savoring every second together.

Love is a beautiful thing that reaches out and draws two people close, like a waterfall spilling into a lake; it reaches out of itself. And together, they go on stronger than ever.