HAPPY NEW YEARS- IM LATE.
So what had happened was… my wifi wasn't paid for. So I didn't have wifi for a little and I apologize! All is well and this chapter can finally be released. I'm so angry due to the fact that I return to school in about 19 days and I really wanted to reach chapter 60 before then. But what can ya do?
Anyways, I hope you all enjoy this chapter and resume to stick around for the ones that will follow (hopefully) shortly.
FIFTY-SIX - Parasitic Princess
10 Days Until The Wedding
The Second Prince of Clarines couldn't help but drag his feet down the lonely corridor.
Zen's mind had been floating with the clouds for several hours, unsure as to how his life ended up like this. This woman he loves is no longer his. The very man he hired to be his Personal Knight has fancied and achieved having her. And Zen is stuck engaged with a woman who will never be as good as Shirayuki is.
What am I even alive for?
It seems like the life he's worked so hard to make his was still far from his grasp. His father is dead, his mother is torturing him, and his older brother always exceeds in getting on his nerves. It's like he was only a doll in a dollhouse, controlled by others constantly and they refuse to relent. It wouldn't matter if he died anyways- seeing as his brother is likely to reign for the rest of his days and by the time he dies, Zen is due to death just shortly after.
Zen has come to the realization that he was not meant to find his true happiness. The only potential of that being untrue was Shirayuki but even that was taken away from him. There was no happiness set aside for Zen in this lifetime, and he's losing hope that there might be- even if just a little bit.
And the saddest part was how pathetic he was. Zen announced that engagement that he knew he didn't want to participate in. He knew that Shirayuki was stood there, somewhere in the crowd, questioning his words due to his lack of making her aware.
The tears she must have cried.
The pain that she had to suffer.
The love for him being forced out of her like a dagger was stabbed into her precious heart.
Zen knew he was getting sick in the head. His hand subconsciously rose up to weave through his white locks. Rubbing it some, he turns the corner and eyes the corridor before him. He counted the doors he trudged by, rushing his own legs to get to the room he was looking for. All he wanted to do was talk to the Princess upon his brothers request and get a long night's rest.
His blue orbs stumbled upon the two guards stood in front of one of the doors. They heard their Prince's boots clink into the corridor and were quick to move themselves away. He nods at them before raising a hand, dismissing them in the process. As his staff dissolve from his senses, Zen forms his hand into a fist and knocks gently at the door.
"Who's there?" His betrothed calls out quietly, having Zen already groan.
"It's me," Zen says quietly by the door, "the Prince."
Silence ensues, but soon follows a few gentle footsteps. Zen listens to the click of the lock before he hears the feet retreat. He solemnly places his hand in the knob, feeling the metal bring chills to his flesh.
Giving it a gentle twist, Zen opens the door wide and finds his eyes upon his fiancé.
Elizabeth's hair is down and wet, no product maintaining its usual curly and frilly state. Her face was pale and bare, no powder or makeup made of the ashes of almonds. She was melted on the bed in a large, white nightgown, her important parts surely to be seen if she hadn't draped herself in her blue cotton blanket.
She eyes the Prince, curious of his presence before her. Zen doesn't speak a word just yet as he turns to close the door behind him. Refusing to scare her further than he already has, he leaves the door unlocked. He wasn't going to do anything to her— he didn't want to. His brother requested for them to have and talk, and that was it.
"Have you come to resume your verbal beating?" Elizabeth asks, looking distantly at her night stand. Zen blinks, forcing himself to keep his eyes on her. "Or are you here because your brother wants you to make happy with me?"
She's smart. "You're good at guessing."
Elizabeth scoffs. "It's not that hard after really understanding what goes on about this castle. About your family."
"Watch your tongue, half-princess," Zen begins maliciously, "you don't get to be one to talk about families."
Elizabeth shrugs, "good point. So what brings you to my room, Your Highness?" As if she doesn't know.
"I'm here to apologize."
"Oh are you now?" Elizabeth raises her eyebrows. Both sets of blue eyes lock on each other right then, emitting a sort of challenging aura into the atmosphere. "Please do entertain. I've been in need of a good laugh."
Zens tolerance wears thin. "I wasn't seeking to yell at you the way I did. You must understand that my people come before anyone, even if you are my fiancé and soon-to-be Princess of Clarines. But I also understand that raising my voice against you is also not the way to approach things."
Elizabeth's tension eases up, her glare softening to a curious expression.
"Patience is needed between to people regardless of the state of their relationship," Zen begins promptly. "Even if we are part of a set up, we needn't find ourselves so quick to hate each other. That can come in our later years, but we're far too young and early in this engagement to make it hell so soon."
Elizabeth keeps quiet, giving Zen permission to get closer. He stares at an unoccupied spot of her bed beside her and she notices. She waves a hand towards it— more consent— as he finds himself sitting beside her.
He keeps his hands away from her, placing them on his knees. He knows it's awkward— it'll always be awkward— but this is what he must do. For his people. For his only sibling.
For his mother.
"Half princess or not, you are still to be the Princess of Clarines," Zen begins with a harsh swallow. "So I'm going to work my hardest to ensure that we can at least exist with each other decently. My hope is that you, too, can put in the same effort."
Elizabeth pouts, nibbling lightly at her bottom lip. She isn't particularly in thought, but she doesn't feel as far as she felt before. She knows there's this wall between her and the two brothers, but somehow Zen has made a sort of small hole for them to reach one another if needed.
"That doesn't sound too horrid," Elizabeth responds softly, the two sharing a curt smile. "I think a friendship can be found between us."
Zens heart stopped.
This progress was too rapid, it made Zen anxious even. This woman is clever. She turns off her defensiveness, presents herself as some sort of vulnerable dove, and then proceeds to have a normal exchange with him. He hasn't got a clue what game she's playing, but he prays he isn't losing.
With a fake smile, Zens cheeks rise. He offers his hand and meets her eyes with ease, "sounds like we've found one." Elizabeth smiles and takes his hand. They shake, having Zen feel some sort of nostalgia. Her hand was soft and petite like Shirayuki's, but clearly hasn't worked a day in its life.
Elizabeth's face soon falls as she lets go of the Prince's hand. She looks distantly at the clean blue carpet beneath her bed, in some sort of thought. "It makes sense why you would be in love with such a girl. Even as a commoner, Shirayuki is someone with a rather good heart." Elizabeth shrugs. "I suppose I can't help but envy her."
"She's someone who forces envy from people without trying," Zen smiles. "She's so much more than people could imagine."
Elizabeth stayed mute but kept a simple smile on her face. A thought was quick to enter her mind as she exclaimed an "oh!" She take's one of Zen's hands, having him flinch, before she rises from the bed with her blanket still draped on her. "Did you see the crates that came from my country recently?"
"Ah yes." Where is she going with this? "I was curious about them until you had raised your voice at my staff. I was informed they were placed in your room upon request."
"Did they tell you the contents of them?" She asks, having Zen remain silent to think.
"They're full of wine, no?" Zen begins. "I assume a gift from your family."
Elizabeth nods, "they're for the wedding, of course. We have wine for us to toast with our families and close allies and then the next toast with your people."
"That's really kind of you," Zen begins as he stands up and allows her to guide him. "It's rather kind of you, but we could've also provided some drinks." Elizabeth shrugged as she guided him to her closet.
"It's just a kind gesture from my family for taking care of me," Elizabeth says quietly. "Since I did come on my own after all." Zen nodded slowly, understanding how difficult it must be to be without her family or friends. Especially for so long. "Anyways, I need you to close your eyes for a little."
"Why?" Zen's suddenly reticent. "Are you planning to do something to me?"
"I'm opening my closet," Elizabeth begins. "There are things in here other than the crate that you should not see." Zen flushes up before obliging. His eyes close, having Elizabeth let go of his hand and begin to open one of the crates.
Zen listens as she shifts through the container, seeming to be seeking a particular bottle. He wondered why, but he guessed that there is a certain wine that is specially sent for him to drink. He could here parchment dragging on the class, having him imagine it would be a note attached to the bottle. Obi's senses are rubbing off, Zen thinks as he waits for his lady to finish whatever she was doing.
Zen suddenly feelings cool glass slip into his hands with her petite ones wrapping around it all. "Okay, you can open them now." His azure eyes quickly darted down to see the contents of his hands. As he did, he noticed that Elizabeth was quick to close her closet and stood to watch his reaction.
"This… is very fine wine, Elizabeth," Zen begins as he is familiar with the crest embellished in the glass. "We'd have to travel far distances to acquire this kind of wine." Elizabeth smiles warmly.
"It's my mother's favorite," Elizabeth confesses as she quickly pulls off the note attached to the bottle. Zen assumes it is a message from her family, likely a response from previously sent letters. She then pulls at the cork, removing it with ease. "Shall we?"
4 cups in and Zen knew he was drunk.
He had worked diligently in his plan to acquire immunity against a vast variety of poisons. From snake bites to poisonous herbs- Zen has built an immunity beyond a humans capabilities. But working a tolerance for drinking? He could never.
Zen wasn't particularly fond of drinking anyways. Aside from being inspired by Shirayuki's lower-than-low tolerance, he didn't particularly like getting drunk and not having as much control over his body and mind like he does when sober. He didn't think Shirayuki approved much of him drinking anyways (as if she's seen him drink much before).
The two were sat back on the bed with crystal glasses held in their hands. Zen's eyes were begging to wonder but knew they could not leave Elizabeth's sight. Zen wasn't scared of her, but he doesn't exactly know the extent of her intentions. He watched her pour the glasses, without adding anything to them so he knew she wasn't drugging him. Even then, one can never be too sure or careful.
"You know, Your Highness," Elizabeth begins to talk, taking a small sip of her 5th cup, "I've always wondered something but could never build the courage to ask you about it- seeing as it appeared to be a sensitive topic."
"Mm?" Zen hums, still having a fairly good amount of sobriety to pay attention and respond on cue.
"If you love Shirayuki so much," Elizabeth begins. "why do you let her mess around with a man like Obi? It doesn't bother you to see them as lovers?"
Of course it does- it fucking kills me. "It's not my favorite thing to watch, but it's not like I can do anything about it." Zen rubs the rim of his glass with his thumb. "I love her too much to let her keep suffering over a disgrace like myself. It's better to see her move on with someone I have my eyes on than her leaving to go with a complete stranger."
"But you have to think of yourself first, Your Highness," Elizabeth begins. "And to extension, your family and people."
"They are in the category of my people," Zen slurs quietly. "They're in the same position as Kiki and Mitsuhide. They treat me the way I desire to be treated but can't be due to the fact that I'm a Prince and not some citizen."
Elizabeth's pupils dilate but she keeps her ground. "But it bothers you to see Obi with Shirayuki, doesn't it? Why do you let yourself go through that pain?"
"What do you mean?" Zen asks curiously. "What am I going to do? Tell them not to be together? It's not in my place."
"Zen, it's your kingdom," Elizabeth begins. "If you see something you don't like, you can just say something and it'll be subdued in seconds."
"I can't do that to her," Zen murmurs. "I love her too much… if I do that to her, I might as well damn myself." Elizabeth wants to express her botherness about the way he speaks about Shirayuki, but she can't. He'll just figure her all out, if he hasn't yet already. "I can't keep her from him."
"Then keep him away from her."
Zen's eyes widen, having him slowly turn to lock eyes with the fellow blue orbs. There's just something not right in her eyes that Zen wants to dissect, but he can't. Not when he's this drunk and exhausted. "That's… the same thing."
"But it must bother you to think one of your closest friends is finding his way into your previous lovers heart," Elizabeth begins her poison. "Obi lacks respect for you, choosing to engage in such a relationship without any regard as to how you would feel about it."
"Elizabeth…"
"Has he even asked for your blessing?" Elizabeth quietly questions. Zen's eye twitches. "Well, has he?" Zen looks way, remaining mute. Her eyes flicker down to see his grasp on the glass tighten. "All this time, and he didn't even bother to consider your feelings."
"I asked him to take care of her," Zen admits.
"But is this the way you meant it to be?" Elizabeth's tongue was scarier than a sword to the throat. She was saying the right words to build up Zen's anger, and he was very much aware of this. The unfortunate part of it all was that he was allowing it to happen, even when he's caught on miles before she could bring it all home. Zen couldn't even speak- this girl was good at getting into his head. She reminded him almost of his brother, but even she couldn't amount to a snake like him.
"It's just…" Zen's grip was tightening, having Elizabeth nervous for him to break it. She quickly removed it from his hold, his hands only being able to clench tightly into fists from there. She places one hand on his knee, rubbing figure 8's with her index finger.
"You don't have to hold back," Elizabeth whispers. She nears his ear, a smirk forming within seconds. "You're the Second Prince of Clarines- you needn't cater to anyone's feelings. Not even one of your good friends."
Zen's immunity was not built up for this verbal poison, and he wasn't particularly sure if he wanted to build an immunity against it.