Hey everyone! I'm sorry for the very late update but I had my exams and it was a little difficult to write this chapter during them. I hope you like this chapter and I will wait for your reviews! Almost forgot it... Happy Otaku Day! (even though it was a couple of weeks ago...). Anyway, let's get started!
Chapter 12: Welcoming Izana
Two days passed and Izana finally comes today from the Tashika's Kingdom. Everyone awaits for him and the two royal families will prepare a dinner to welcome him. It will be better if there are a few people, so they'll have fun!
- I'm so excited your brother's coming! I look forward to meet him! Will you introduce me to him, Zen?, Shirayuki says.
- Of course I will do it. I'm excited too... I haven't seen Izana for days and I want him to tell me what happened, so when my turn comes I'll know what to do.
- I agree. When we were kids, you were telling me so many things for Izana that I feel I know him. Will I make to him a good impression?
- You'll definitely do. Your personality is all you have to show... I mean you're so amazing you don't have to be stressed about it... Umm... , Zen blushes and loses his words.
Shirayuki smiles with his reaction and look him in the eyes.
- Thank you for saying these things to me.
Zen and Shirayuki see Obi walking towards them.
- Good morning Obi. How are you?
- I'm fine, young miss. Do I disturb you?, asks while looking to the two teenagers.
- No no, it's okay. Obi, will you come with us to the greenhouse?
- Why not? What will we do there?
- I want to study some herbs that I've seen in my book, Shirayuki says with excitement.
And the three youngsters head to the greenhouse. When they get there, Shirayuki begins to study a certain herb while the two boys are looking at her.
She really is beautiful! I can't help but thinking of her every single night. What happened to me? I have seen many princesses but Shirayuki is different. She's just amazing! I have to tell Mitsuhide about these feelings. Maybe he will be able to help me, thinks Zen while gazing at her.
Obi has his own thoughts going in his mind. From the first time they met, Obi figured out that Zen and Shirayuki were made for each other. The young lady is indeed pretty and everyone would fall for her (including him). However, Shirayuki has to be with Zen not only because they come from royal families but because they love one another even if they don't know it yet.
- I finished my work and thank you for accompanying me. Did it take long?, asks Shirayuki worried.
- No, no. Do you want Shirayuki to return to the castle? It won't be long until my brother arrives here.
- Okay, let's go back, she smiles.
After half an hour, the carriage reaches its destination. Everyone awaits for the Clarines' First Prince Izana Wisteria to get out of the carriage. Queen Miki hugs her son and King Yuu welcomes him. Then, King Mitsuo and Queen Hitomi greet Izana and hug him. Zen shakes his brother's hand and Shirayuki bows to Izana.
- You're welcome Prince Izana. I'm happy I got to meet you. My name is Shirayuki and I am Tanbarun's princess.
- Hello Shirayuki. I've heard so many things for you from Zen. I'm also glad to meet you. Even if it is a little late, I welcome you and your family to Clarines' Kingdom.
- Thank you my Lord, bows Shirayuki.
- Please Shirayuki don't speak to me like the King. We're almost in the same age and it is a little awkward to talk to each other like that.
- Alright. Then, thank you Izana.
In the meanwhile, Zen blushes because his brother told Shirayuki that he talked about her a lot. He hopes that she doesn't get mad or anything. He have to talk with Mitsuhide immediately.
- Shall we go inside?, King Yuu suggests.
- Of course. Moreover, Izana has to rest from his journey. Right Izana?, asks him his mother.
Izana nods and everyone heads to the inside of the castle. The maids take care of their masters and the other servants prepare the dinner.
Shirayuki goes to her room to get a bath and relax. She's thinking about Izana and how handsome he is.
But no one is more handsome than Zen. His blue eyes like the ocean is the most beautiful around the world! I want to cherish them and generally Zen in my heart forever. I can't understand what's wrong with me. Zen is in my mind when I wake up and before going to sleep. I like his white hair as they look like snow and he smells like cedar. Really, what happened to me? I haven't had such thoughts until I came here. I should talk about it with someone but who? Anyway, I have to get done with my bath as the dinner will be in less than an hour.
Shirayuki starts getting dressed with a light purple dress on which there are small diamonds on the edge of it. She makes with her hair a bun and puts on her lips a gentle pink lipstick, not too intense. She puts on her shoes and she is ready.
She hears a knock on the door and she sees Kiki.
- Wow! Shirayuki you look lovely! I bet everyone will stay with his mouth wide open. Shall we go now? Everybody's waiting for the Queens and the Princess to go down.
- Thank you Kiki. You're very kind. C-Can I a-ask you something?
- Yes, Kiki smiles.
- Um... D-Do you know how it feels like to be in love or something like that?, Shirayuki says nervously.
- Well, this is a matter that needs a lot of time to be discussed. If you want, we can meet up somewhere and talk about it. And of course we'll be alone. What do you think?
- Kiki thank you so much. You're helping me a lot. Then I will see you tomorrow morning.
- See you tomorrow Shirayuki!
While Shirayuki is going downstairs, Zen is talking with Izana. Zen hears that his childhood friend is getting downstairs so he turns his head towards her and stays with his mouth wide open gazing Shirayuki.
Wow!!! She is indeed the prettiest princess I've ever seen in my entire life! I'm so proud of being her friend. I'm looking forward to sit next to her, Zen thinks without figuring out that his brother is looking at him.
The two royal families sit down on their chairs and the servants service them their food.
- I would like to make a toast to Izana, says King Yuu. Izana, you carried through with the negotiation you'd been given to. I believe you will do the same thing with the following. I hope Zen will walk on your steps when the time comes. To Izana!, King Yuu says with his glass lifted up as the rest do the same.
The food is delicious and with every bite everybody is enjoying its taste. The four parents are discussing about administrative matters while the teenagers (actually Zen and Izana) are talking about how the people of Tashika's Kingdom were having fun. Shirayuki blushes and eats without saying a word. Izana notices it and speaks to her.
- Shirayuki, why don't you join the discussion? Is there anything you need?
- Oh...Um... Of course I have everything I need. Please don't mind me, just continue your talk.
- Why aren't you continue it with us? Is that you maybe got tired or something?
- No, I just... don't know what to say, Shirayuki whispers so the boys can hardly hear her words.
- Is that all?, Zen speaks. When we are the two of us, you talk with me normally.
- I think that we don't know one another well so you can't talk with me like you do with Zen.
Shirayuki doesn't know what to do. Her cheeks now are more red than any other time Zen have seen them. She looks at the two brothers and breathes out.
- Alright. Well, where have we stopped our conversation?, she smiles and Izana thinks that she is pretty.
Earlier that day, before they go down for dinner, Izana had told his brother that Shirayuki's a beautiful princess. Zen's reaction was what he waited for. He said that she was indeed prettier than any other princess and the way Shirayuki laughs is adorable as her smile brightens up his entire day. Izana started to laugh and Zen stopped talking. He wanted to beat his older brother but he tried to stay calm. The First Prince of Clarines figured out that his younger brother was in love with the guest princess. Besides, the two teenagers used to play together when they were just kids so it's only natural they'd fall for each other.
The rest of the dinner is enjoyable while King Mitsuo plays the violin and King Yuu tells his own jokes just to tease his friend. It is a happy atmosphere so it'd be a shame to ruin it.
- I can't continue laughing anymore. My stomach aches, Queen Miki says and Queen Hitomi with Shirayuki agree with her.
- It would be better if we went to our beds for now. What do you say?, Izana proposes.
Everyone nods in agreement and stands up to walk into their rooms.
- Thank you for accompanying me to my room. You are a very good company, boys. Let's do this another time again.
- We should thank you Shirayuki. Yeah, it will be awesome if we go for a walk in the forest or something like that, recommends Izana.
- See you tomorrow Shirayuki, smiles Zen.
- See you, Shirayuki smiles to him back.
When Shirayuki's door closes, Izana looks at his brother.
- It can be visible from miles away that you're in love with her, Izana teases Zen.
- No... I-I'm not! W-We're only friends.
Izana glares at him. He knows that Zen feels this way so it will be a matter of time until he will admit it.
- Oh... Okay, okay... I-I love h-her. Is it that bad? I mean falling in love is the greatest thing in the world, especially with Shirayuki.
- I didn't say anything, smirks Izana.
The brothers go to their rooms to sleep. Izana feels happiness that his brother admitted he's in love and Zen is frustrated with his brother and blushes with the acceptance of his feelings.
Everyone sleeps well and have nice dreams, especially the childhood friends that dream of each other.
I hope you liked this chapter, the last one for 2017. I tried to make this one a good chapter to apologise for the late update.
I wish 2018 will be a great year for each one of you! I'll try the new year to update more often... Happy New Year!!!!! 3 :)
See you next time...