My boyfriend and i broke up so im depressed! ive been really shitty so my motivation to do much of anything is at an all time low. But i must resume my story for you all deserve it x thanks to you all sticking around to read because well, at least people stayed for something thats worthy to stay around for. Hope you enjoy x
FIFTY - A One-On-One with the Prince and His Assistant
11 Days Before The Wedding
"M-Miss," Obi stutters, his heart racing at the speed of sound while the rest of his body remained still, "I think we should get up n-now…"
"But I'm still tired," Shirayuki groaned, her body clearly not ready to be woken up.
There the couple had laid, once again on Shirayuki's cotton-filled mattress while entangled in the silk sheets provided for them. But that surely did not exempt Obi from being part of the bed for Shirayuki.
Obi was lying still on the bed, his back against it with his black shirt hugging his built torso kindly. They would enter the dents of his abs, allowing anyone to count all 8 with ease if they so find themselves compelled. Leading down to his legs were his pants of course, as he finds himself gushing with respect and shyness to be in briefs in front of his Mistress. But in these clothes remained motionless limbs as his maiden was melted on him.
The red-haired beauty nested her head on his shoulder as she usually does, her ear particularly fond of being pressed close to his chest where his heart beats gently. One hand resided on the very center of it, her skin pale and cold. One of her legs found themselves also resting on top of him, just below his crotch area on his very thick and muscular thighs. Shirayuki never really noticed these actions, as she's becoming more than comfortable with her lover in her room and sleeping next to him with no inches of space between them.
Obi felt his cheeks burn, as though Shirayuki was not only the gas that pours over him, but as well the flame that lit him up. "Little Miss, w-we should seriously get up."
"But why?" Shirayuki whined lightly, having Obi's heart get stabbed from how adorable she was. His Adam's apple rising in his throat from a strong swallow. He could feel her slim leg carelessly shift slowly, rubbing against his thighs while barely being cautious of his sensitive area. "I'm exhausted…"
"You'll be less exhausted once we get up and get something to eat," Obi suggested, having him shift his head down to look at her. His heart completely halted when realizing that Shirayuki had been staring at him the entire time. Her eyelids were barely up though, drooping down to tease the beauty of her emerald orbs. Her peach lips were slightly chapped but shiny from her tongue just barely swiping it. Obi even felt her gentle breathes against his jaw, noticing that she was even too tired to breathe more steadily.
"Mrm," she hummed, "okay…"
Slowly but surely, Shirayuki removed her limbs from his body and quickly sat up, knees on the bed with the blanket slowly sliding off her petite body. Amber eyes were quick to attach themselves to her figure, watching as she brings her arms up for a relieving stretch. Strands of crimson locks were matted about her forehead and cheeks, but Shirayuki could give less of a damn. Bringing a hand to rub her eye, Shirayuki emits several yawns before her hands were both on her knees and she was looking down at Obi with somewhat wide eyes.
"Good morning, beautiful," Obi quietly mumbled, bring both of his hands under his head while giving her a warm smile. Shirayuki was flushed, but she cracked a shy smile, too.
"Good morning, Obi," she replies quietly, cheeks becoming big as she widened the smile. "Shall we get up? You've been adamant all morning!"
"I've been adamant?" Obi exclaimed, eyes wide with poppy seed pupils alert like those of a cat. He snorts, having Shirayuki giggle playfully as she found herself fully awake. "Miss, what am I going to do with you?"
"Well," Shirayuki began quietly, cheeks deepening to a soft rose tint, "you can kiss me first."
Obi chuckles, meeting eyes with his beloved. She's too damn cute, Obi could only think. Sitting up with his legs bending slightly at the knees, he brings his calloused hands to the beautiful woman's face, holding the very thing that gives him some life purpose. Shirayuki eagerly inches close, having Obi cut the inches as his lips finally met hers.
Of course they were supple. Shirayuki is such a perfect entity that nothing seems to falter anywhere in the works of her very being. They were so smooth, like she had lathered a sweet balm on her lips last night to wake up with smooth, kissable lips. And my, Obi could never forget the saccharine taste of those lips, spoiling him with such a sugary delight at an early time. What sorcery is this goddess conjuring while he's had his eyes on her 24/7 for a long while now?
They would've killed for just a few minutes longer, but firm knocks were heard against the door that had pulled them apart.
"Coming," Shirayuki replies kindly, abandoning the warmth of her bed and her lover as she fixes out her nightgown and crimson locks while walking towards her door. Almost silently, Shirayuki's hand found itself on the cool gold knob before giving it a gentle twist and an open. "Yes?" Shirayuki kindly greeted the young, raven-haired maiden who gave her a curt bow.
"I'm sorry to disturb at such an early time, Miss Shirayuki," the maiden spoke shyly, just barely meeting the emerald eyes (which granted, are quite intimidating). "But Master Zen is asking for Sir Obi to ascend up to his quarters."
Shirayuki stood there, somewhat baffled by the unexpected request. And it wasn't a request for her, either. She went mute, holding the side of the open door as she turned back to stare at Obi. He already heard the request and had already been buttoning up the top shirt he usually wore as his Personal Assistant attire.
He had been trying his best to avoid her stare. Obi knew Shirayuki is very much not content with Zen and doesn't want him to be punished for not doing as he's told, if he's even disobeyed once. He also knew how worried Shirayuki is over him every single day. She would always ask him if he's eaten enough or if he's ever feeling even the tiniest bit off. She exceeds beyond her role as a Court Herbalist for him.
Pulling on his puts, Obi raises to meet her eyes and slightly tilts his head for Shirayuki to open the door a bit more. She stubbornly obliges, pure skepticism in her emerald orbs as Obi smiled at the kind maiden at the door. "I will be right there. Thank you very much for coming to tell me."
The maid smiled shyly, cheeks flushing coral before muttering a "pardon me" and fleeing from Shirayuki's room. The young herbalist closed the door slowly, leaning her back on the wall to look down at her lover, who is sat at the edge of the bed, pulling on his licorice black shoes.
"Please don't go," Shirayuki already pleaded.
Obi sighs, "I don't have a choice, Miss." She pushes her bottom lip out in a pout, but Obi clearly wasn't budging. "You know this just as much as I do. I know you're uncomfortable about it, but you know Master. I doubt he intends to have a malicious discussion or do anything to cause any trouble."
"I know that," Shirayuki admitted, her shoulders dropping. Her finger tips rubbed anxiously against the door behind her, the light of her eyes slowly going dull. "I just don't want him punishing you for what took place yesterday."
"Miss…"
Obi rose from the bed and walked towards her, his boots thunking the ground with each firm step he took. His hands were back to cupping her cheeks, his body just centimeters away from pressing against hers. They were cold at his touch, with her button nose even flushing from the sensation of Obi's hands. Her petite hands were quick to go over his, having him feel the trembles torturing her. It killed him a bit to know that he was partly responsible for the dark side of her feelings as she's very much in love with him.
...or so he hopes and believes.
"He's not going to punish me for being unable to protect you," Obi quietly murmured. "I'm sure he expected that you would be one to take on battles face-to-face rather than screaming behind a wall."
"But Obi-"
"Just trust me," Obi pressed gently, having Shirayuki's eyes flicker from staring at one of his eyes to the other. "Please?" The herbalist dropped her shoulders in defeat, her fingers gently digging between his hands and her cheeks. She squeezed his hands tightly, looking down while giving him a nod.
"I trust you," she whispers, letting out a deep breath. Obi smiled, pulling her head close to bestow a kiss on her forehead. She felt her heart slow down, as her lover somehow removed the entirety of her anxiety from her bones. But she's quick to pout before adding, "you better come to me immediately after though."
Obi chuckles, "there's nowhere else I'd like to be."
Obi removes his hands from her cheeks, with one hand remaining for his fingers to hold her chin. He lifted up her chin without permission, her pupils dilating quickly as they met eyes once more. Shirayuki could see the deep ambar in his eyes, the light yellow that she has finally realized they were only a sight to her. Eager for a kiss, Shirayuki pushes herself against him, getting on her toes to press her lips up to his. He took this by surprise, but was more content that she wanted to kiss him as much as he wanted to kiss her.
"But," Obi began as he detached, smiling when seeing how upset she had become when his lips abandoned hers, "I want you to get dressed so I can walk you down to your office before I go to see the Prince."
"O-oh, there's no need!" Shirayuki quickly tried to decline his offer. "I can walk down on my own, it's oka-"
"Get dressed," Obi repeated, "I want to walk you down, Mistress."
Shirayuki emitted a frustrated sigh before she playfully pushed him away, grabbed her uniform that was folded on her table, and trotted over to her bathroom.
"You asked for me, Master?"
There the two men stood, separated by several feet of space with an intense stillness coating the room. Obi stood by the double doors, listening to them close behind him as his eyes were on the back of the man who had given him a better purpose of living and a reevaluation of his morals. The sun had made the Prince's white wisps of hair shine even brighter than they already do as such a light color alone. Obi had noticed his arms were crossed, with legs apart and his back completely straight.
"I did." Zen's voice was deep, much more rasp than what Obi's familiar with. It almost sounds strained in a way, his voice still full and strong. "I had wanted to ask if Shirayuki is well after everything that occurred yesterday.
"Mm, she's fine, Master," Obi assured, nodding to himself. "Mistress is very nonchalant about things like this it seems."
Zen cocks his head a bit, his azure eyes studying the tips of his blue boots. He felt awkward to ask Shirayuki how she is. He had also promised his sibling that he would stay away from the red-haired beauty. It destroyed him, to be quite frank. He required his Personal Assistant, the one who is by her side 24/7 to ensure her protection, to know of her condition. It genuinely killed him to think that he was replaced and it was all his fault.
"That's good," Zen murmurs hoarsely, "I'm glad." He coughs a bit, clearing his dry throat before resuming, "That's not the only thing I brought you up here for though."
"Oh?" Obi acted surprised. Of course that wasn't to be the only thing Zen wanted to discuss. "What else do you need from my services?"
"I need you to do yet another letter delivery for me," Zen hummed, quickly flicking his arm up to show Obi the letter he had between his index and middle finger. Obi studied the parchment, even slightly squinting in attempts to read the inked words. "I had been too much of a coward to actually write it, and so I delayed it. I need you to personally deliver this one as well."
"Are all the messenger birds occupied in sending the rest of them?" Obi curiously ponders.
"No," Zen answered, "this letter has a bit added to it and I don't want to risk it being lost or damaged in any way."
Obi raised an eyebrow right then at his words, curious as to who this invitation is addressed to. He had already delivered the invitations to the Prince of Tanbarun as well as Master's own mother. Who else had held such significance for a letter to be delivered to them personally?
"Understood."
Zen had always appreciated that fact about Obi. He had always been so obedient, but never failed to act rebellious as he had always been prior to coming to the kingdom. Zen was content to install manners and a better direction for the man to follow, but he also didn't want Obi to feel the need to conform completely. If that were the case, Zen would find himself bored with Obi.
Zen turns around to meet eyes with Obi, somewhat taken aback by the intense intimidation that those amber orbs always seemed to have with them. It wasn't like Obi was intending to attack him either, it's just the fact that this man has seen more than Zen will ever see in his life. It almost makes Zen envious, as bad as it sounds, to want to have seen the things that have probably traumatized Obi beyond belief. The Prince can't stand this coddled life, spoiled and having people protect him as though he were incapable. But before becoming his Personal Assistant and even while he holds this position, Obi doesn't have to deal with people requiring so much from him. After all, he is just a commoner trying to live his life to the fullest, even though some choices were not the best to take.
"It takes less than a day to get to get where you need to go and back," Zen informs as he walks towards Obi, "so you shouldn't worry to much for leaving Shirayuki for long. You may leave tomorrow at the most convenient time for you."
Obi does feel his cheeks burn slightly from his words, but he keeps his posture straight with eyes steadying with Zen's. He offers his hand out for Zen to place the parchment gently on his hand. He noticed that the Prince had precisely placed it with the address facing down for Obi not to see it just yet.
"Pardon me, Master," Obi quietly begins, "but you seem to be stalling just a bit."
"And you've observed correctly," Zen admits with a brief smile, "this letter made me sick to my stomach to write, but there it is. It's embarrassing almost, and it kills me that I have to explain myself to someone I very much respect."
Obi nods, understand that feeling all too well. He brings his other hand to hold the letter, still not checking as to who he is to be delivering it to. He was more than compelled to flip it over and find out, but he wanted his Master's permission.
"I hope this letter comes to them without misunderstanding nor disrespect then," Obi quietly utters. "I shall have it delivered as urgently as I can."
"Thank you," Zen replies with a nod, the two exchanging curt smiles before Obi bowed.
"Pardon me, Master," Obi uttered before turning around and strolling towards the doors. But surely, the Prince is never one to adjourn a discussion without some last words.
"And Obi," Zen hummed, bringing Obi to a halt. He turned his head to barely glance at his Master. "Good luck."
Giving him a nod, Obi flees Zen's quarters and started walking towards Shirayuki's office. Amber eyes quickly lay their attention to the letter, curiosity destroying him. He hadn't actually gotten Zen's permission, but he also didn't tell Obi where was he to go and who he was to deliver this letter to.
So, of course, Obi flipped the letter over.
His eyes soon widened, cat-like pupils slimming as his sight dragged along the words written. This letter is to be delivered to the General of the Mountain Lions. Meaning Obi is to meet with Shirayuki's father, bearing news that might not sit well with Mukaze.
"'Good luck' huh…" Obi chuckled nervously, his heart racing as he takes a slow walk towards the office of his lover.