SEVEN—A Day Outside
The next day, Shirayuki decided that a day outside was completely required.
She wanted some fresh air and decided to bring her work outside. She was to take notes on a few herbs as her job for the day, making it easy to just bring a leather notebook and a jar full of herbs. Shirayuki also decided that she wanted to see Obi stretch and feel more of himself. So he resided back in the trees, sat on a strong branch where she was in view and vice versa.
Rumor made it to the red-haired herbalist and her body guard that the soon-to-be Queen of Clarines and the King of Clarines showed up at the ball last night. Together.
The two paid no mind to it as Shirayuki wrote into the birch-colored notebook. In her hand, she held a lovely Echinacea flower. Its beautiful pink petals tickled softly at Shirayuki's fingers when she studied it. The red bulb in the center of it provided most of the medicinal properties, having it help cure the flu as well as strengthen the immune system. I'm such a dork, Shirayuki thought to herself, giggling at her own mind.
The girl had written a good few pages, deciding that it was a good time for a break. Putting the items aside, Shirayuki tilts her head up to check on Obi. And to her delight, Obi was dozing off.
Obi has gotten little to no sleep these last 2 days due to Shirayuki's heart break. Guilt churned in her stomach in the thought of it. So to finally see those amber eyes hidden from her made her feel somewhat better. He looked so at peace from below, seeing one leg bent close to his body while the other was bent more straight along the branch but not quite. There was another branch to his right, using it to lean his bicep on so he can rest his head on his hand. His face looked at ease, a few quiet snores escaping his nose.
Shirayuki found herself wondering if Obi had ever fallen in love. Although his used to be a rogue man and is built upon comedy, Obi tended to speak words with sentiment at dire situations. The way he was caring for Shirayuki couldn't go unthought-of. Has he been the support for others as well? She knows nothing about his past other than the fact that it was not sweet and kind. It made Obi such a mysterious man, and Shirayuki was definitely curious.
As she stared, she sudden heard some distant voice come close.
Shirayuki was quick to snag her notebook back into her hands with the pencil. She was cautious not to drop the jar of herbs, quickly taking out a white one as the voices were right behind her. The voices came from the open corridors behind her, the ones that allow access to the small plot of nature Obi and Shirayuki were residing on. As they walked, they had yet to notice the two. So Shirayuki glanced behind her, silently gasping to see the bodies.
Shirayuki was introduced to the backs of Miss Elizabeth Knight, the soon-to-be Princess, and Izana. The brunette had been swallowed up by a big, puffy lavender dress, which was ornate with white thread flowers dancing about her sleeves and skirt. By her was Izana, the tall, white-haired King talking bombastically about the castle and what regions they have conquered as of currently. Elizabeth laughed, her laugh incredibly kept in and petite. Then Shirayuki's emerald eyes finally spotted the prince between the two.
Zen had been trotting between the two, his face evident with distaste and boredom. He had yet to notice her as well, allowing Shirayuki to stare at those silvery locks before her. He was, as usual, in his Prince attire, with one hand bent behind his back with the other held out to Elizabeth. Her arm was wrapped around his, having Shirayuki bite her bottom lip to avoid the sudden influx of emotion. But her eyes refused to divert anywhere else until they had made a turn to the left.
"Oh, what wondrous red hair!" Elizabeth uttered, awe rolling off her tongue as Shirayuki felt her eyes. Shirayuki looked over, feeling her heart halt by the girl's immense beauty. Those blue eyes, though incomparable to Zen's, was definitely an attention grabber. Her perfectly round face with chiseled jawline and sweet pink lips was enough to see why any Prince would snag her as a bride. "Who is she?"
"Oh, that's our Court Herbalist and Pharmacist, Shirayuki," Izana announced, vexing Shirayuki with a snarky smirk as Zen suddenly turned to look at the girl as well. The azure eyes met with her emerald eyes, a shared longing dancing between the two in their gaze. "Shirayuki, please come here."
Obi opened his eyes at the calling of Shirayuki's name.
"O-of course," Shirayuki stuttered, pure displeasure in standing from the bench to walk towards the royal blood. She felt uneasy, her heart hammering her chest as she stood in front of the three. It pained her to be so close to Zen, to feel his eyes practically burning her with his intense stare. "Everything is well I hope, Your Highness?"
Zen felt anger well up inside him to listen to Shirayuki force formality in front of her brother. Although she was always this kind and respectful, she didn't have to address him as 'Your Highness.' His perfectly white teeth gritted harshly as he held his fiancé. He noticed how curious she stared at Shirayuki.
"Everything is quite well, considering my little brother is finally getting himself a Princess," Izana hummed happily, noticing Shirayuki softly wince at his words. Elizabeth looked over at the King and beamed up at him, having Zen look down to the floor in discomfort. "Aren't you happy for him, Shirayuki?"
Zen stared up again, staring straight into Shirayuki's eyes as she returned his stare. Her emerald eyes suddenly dimmed, its glimmer fading away to be replaced with an evident sorrow. She brought her hands together, weaving the fingers together loosely. Raising her eyebrows, she forces a smile on her lips before closing them to reveal one of her heartwarming stares. But this one lacked in genuine happiness.
"I've never felt happier to see our Prince finally find his happiness," Shirayuki uttered, her cheery tone forced as she stared at the Prince. Zen wanted nothing more than to grab the girl and escape the castle to a faraway place. But his blood forces him in the worst situation as the maiden he adores forces her 'happiness' for his sake.
"Shirayuki, is it?" Elizabeth began, having Shirayuki slightly nod as she smiled excitedly at the apple-haired maiden. "Since you're an herbalist, you must be very aware about flowers and such, right?"
"Mm," Shirayuki hummed, having Elizabeth's eyes glow with excitement. Her blue eyes then wandered down to the herbalist's hand, seeing the flower she held.
"Oo, which is this one?" Elizabeth gushed, grabbing Shirayuki's wrist as she held the white flower between the two. Incredibly rude, Shirayuki thought.
"This is just a white lily," Shirayuki said sheepishly. She then darted her eyes to Zen, feeling her heart hammer even harder as she did. "I've been studying it for my work, you see. It's used to heal several wounds, including therapeutically conditions like heart break if you brewed it into a tea."
"What an intriguing plant," Izana murmured, having him glance back at his younger brother. Zen stared at Shirayuki with awe, his heart throbbing from her words.
"Since you know so much about flowers, maybe you can assist Prince Zen and me in choosing the flowers for our wedding?" Hopefulness slid off the brunette's tongue as Shirayuki's heart froze. That was the last thing she wanted to do. But she sheepishly nodded, having Elizabeth practically hop with glee as she held Shirayuki's hands. The white lily fell down to the ground. "Thank you so much!"
Zen's aides began walking from one of the inside corridors, the two easily recognizing Obi sat in the tree as they walked up to Shirayuki and the royal blood before her. Kiki was quick to realize a clear coat of tears forming in Shirayuki's eyes as she directed her gaze down to the ground. She tapped her heel twice on the floor, having Obi quickly bounce off the branch and back to the ground.
"Obi?" Zen asked, surprised yet a hint of annoyance followed in his tone. All eyes turned over to the ex-assassin as he stared at them with his usual stern stare. He didn't like these people one bit at the moment, seeing as they were causing Shirayuki disturbance. He had mentally thanked Kiki for the cue as he walked respectively up to the group.
"If I may intrude," Obi began with a small bow. "But Shi—Miss has to return back to the hospital wing, as Ryu asked for her return by noon." Obi bit the tip of his tongue after almost uttering the girl's name. Shirayuki couldn't help but smile softly at such a gesture, feeling Elizabeth let her go as she walked back to stand beside her body guard. Izana nodded, a grim smile painting his face to Obi's annoyance.
"Kiki, Mtsuhide," Shirayuki greeted the aides, smiling happily to interact with them after so long. The two sword wielders smiled back at her, deeming her brave over the way she's facing everything. Mitsuhide tended to be quite silly and clumsy, but he knew that Zen completely messed up. As for Kiki, her sympathy resides fully for the young herbalist, seeing as Shirayuki is one of the only people she very much respects. "King Izana, Miss Elizabeth… Prince Zen." Shirayuki stared at the young Prince once more before turned around and walking with Obi.
Zen felt his blood boil, staring as Obi offered the girl his arm and seeing as her delicate hand took it. He felt envious of his servant, seeing him so close to the girl, seeing him able to touch her. It bothered him to see Obi get to stare at her so closely, seeing the perfections that is her creamy face and kind smile. He watched those red locks dance with every step she took, feeling as the connection between their hearts beginning to falter.
He can't let that happen.
Everything went mute in his head, completely disregarding the reality occurring around him. His fiancé had detached from him, pecked his cheek, and went off with the aides for her personal tour. Izana wanted to discuss with Zen about the wedding and several other familial duties. Those in which not even his trusted knights and best friends could not lend an ear to.
"I think you should stay away from that girl," Ivana said simply, popping Zen back to his reality as he looked around for his fiancé. He watched as his aides began guiding her away. He heard Elizabeth ask Kiki why 'a lady was taking on a masculine position.' Zen could only imagine Kiki's eye twitch. "She's proving herself to be no good at a time like this."
"A few ago, you approved of me wanting her to be my bride," Zen spat angrily, distantly looking Shirayuki's silhouette before it disappeared inside the corridor.
"That was then, Zen," Izana pointed out. "You're now engaged to Miss Elizabeth."
"Yes, I know but you know why!" Zen pleaded, feeling s though he's being completely misunderstood.
"I know," Izana muttered, shrugging as he bent down to pick up the white lily from the floor. It was already withering, slowly but surely. He held it close to his sharp, chiseled nose, taking a whiff of the white flower. "But you had absolutely no obligation to do so. You did it by your own free will."