Chapter 15: The letter! (part 2)
In the previous chapter...
- Well... Shirayuki listen why we are like this. This morning, while you were at the forest, a messenger came here from a neighbour kingdom and gave me a letter.
- What did it say?, asks Shirayuki slowly.
- My dear daughter...This letter was sent by the King of Kareni's Kingdom and...
- And?
- And his eldest son asks you to marry him, King Mitsuo says slowly and worried to see how his daughter will react.
NARRATOR
In the room there is silence, nobody speaks. Zen is shocked and Shirayuki has mixed feelings. She tries to figure out what her father just said and how to respond to it. Izana knew about the letter and he watched the whole scene. After a minute, Shirayuki finally speaks trying to be as calm as she can.
- So, you want me to marry him?
Her parents don't know what to say and stay silent. King Yuu and Queen Miki want to help their friends but this is a family matter so it wouldn't be right to intervene. Zen awaits to hear the answer with his heart beating faster than two minutes ago.
- Honey, of course we don't want to pressure you, her mother says softly.
- But it'd be important for the two kingdoms to be bonded with this marriage, King Mitsuo adds serious.
Shirayuki that moment felt like everyone had abandoned her to a desert island and she couldn't get away from there. She needs to talk to her parents, to tell them her feelings about Zen and the freedom she wants to make her own choices about her marriage without having anyone decide for her happiness.
- I don't desire to marry him and I'll never change my decision, Shirayuki says calmly while standing on her feet and touch the table with her hands.
- You don't decide for the Tanbarun's allies and at last you must understand the duty you have towards its people. You can't do what you want... You're a princess!, her father stands on his feet too and shouts to her.
- You don't have the right to do what you want in my life. This is MY life, not yours!, now Shirayuki shouts too.
Everyone could feel the electricity in the room and Queen Hitomi tries to calm down her husband and her daughter.
- Please, don't yell to each other. We can discuss it quietly...
King Mitsuo thinks that this marriage would bond better the two kingdoms and he would do everything to persuade Shirayuki. This is his duty as King.
- If you want to be allies with them, then why didn't I get married to Zen to bond Clarines and Tanbarun?
This question shocked every single person in the room and even more Zen. He didn't expect to hear this from his dear childhood friend. Now, King Mitsuo is very angry with his daughter and he yells like no one is around.
- Clarines and Tanbarun are allies from when you were a kid. Don't say anything like that ever again. I'm your father and the King and I order you to marry Kareni's eldest prince! That's an order and I won't listen to anything more..., he says angrily.
Shirayuki starts crying but she continues shouting. She never thought that her father one day would be like that.
- Then, I don't have any choice left... I, Shirayuki, quit from the duty of Tanbarun's Princess and you can't order me anymore like you did before!, Shirayuki speaks bravely and calmly.
King Mitsuo opens his mouth shocked and Queen Hitomi can't believe what her daughter just said. Zen thinks that he didn't hear well what she said and Izana looks Shirayuki interested in what she'll say next. Zen's parents understand that now King Mitsuo and Shirayuki will never be like they were before. Everyone can see the hate in their eyes. And all that because of the letter!
- You can't do that. You are my daughter and the future Queen of Tanbarun. You can't leave all these leople without their Princess, her father says slowly.
- I just did it, Shirayuki speaks coldly.
- Please Shirayuki, think it more carefully. Right now, you can't understand the situation but if you think it peacefully, you will change your mind. I'm sure of it!
- Dad, don't be so sure. You can't marry someone that you don't really love. What would you do if you were in my shoes?
- I'd do my duty and yours is to marry Kareni's eldest prince.
- So, you say that you got married to Mom because it was your duty, right?
- No, I married you Mom because we were in love, King Mitsuo looks at his wife.
- Then why can't I marry someone I love?, Shirayuki says dissatisfied.
- First, once more time I tell you that this is your duty and second, you can't be in love at this age...
- And why's that?
- You're still a little girl! Shirayuki, you can't understand what love is yet.
Shirayuki feels so irritated with her father. She has feelings too, even though she doesn't confess them, and he shouldn't say that she's still a little girl.
- Dad, I'm already a seventeen-year-old teenage girl. I'm not the little girl you knew back then. I can fall in love with anybody I want and I like! You wouldn't understand how I feel, Shirayuki yells at her father.
- You're innocent and can't realise that falling in love can be dangerous. Please, hear me...
- I am in love and I won't ask you for permission.
- No, you're not.
- I AM!
- YOU'RE NOT!
- I AM WITH ZEN AND NOBODY IS GOING TO STOP ME FROM LOVING HIM!!! OKAY?
Now, Shirayuki cries loudly and hides her face in her hands. King Mitsuo and Queen Hitomi look at her daughter and Izana and his parents have goggled their eyes from the surprise. As for Zen, he looks at Shirayuki shocked and happy at the same time. He has mixed feelings and cannot speak. He is so happy about the confession Shirayuki just did.
Just then, she starts running in the castle's corridors and heads to her bedroom. She locks the door and lays on the bed with her face in the pillow while crying. The weather becomes rainy like it wants to stand by the Tanbarun's Princess.
With all these, nobody ate the lunch chef prepared, especially for Zen. All servants that were near that room could hear King Mitsuo and Princess Shirayuki yelling. Some were shocked and others were happy about the confession. They believed that Zen and Shirayuki would make a perfect couple!
King Mitsuo feels guilty for the whole situation and Queen Hitomi is still upset. She thought that it'd be good to go talk to her sweetie but her husband stopped her.
- It'd be better to leave her alone for a while! Yuu, Miki, I'm so sorry for all these. I didn't intend to become like this...
- Right now, you should think about Shirayuki and no one else, King Yuu says to his friend.
Three days later...
Shirayuki (P.O.V.)
Three days have passed and I'm here in my room still locked. I don't let anyone enter, not even the maids. I have eaten nothing but this doesn't annoy me. I'm still angry with my father. I'll never forgive him for what he did to me.
I cried a lot last night and my eyes are red. I wish nothing would happen! Now, Zen knows my feelings for him and he found it out with the most inappropriate way! I wish that moment could be erased, but something like this is unlikely to happen.
I hear footsteps coming in front of my door. Dad says to come out to my room and discuss about the letter. I'm trying to remain cool but I end up yelling at him.
Then, I hear Zen's voice. That calm voice that can handle my heart and make it beating faster.
- Please, Shirayuki. Let me come inside. It will be only you and me. Nobody else...
- No, I can't right now. I feel ashamed of what I said for you... I-I mean for my f-feelings... I don't want you to see me like this.
- Okay, if this is what you want.
I hear them walking away from my room. I start crying even louder this time. I really don't want him to see me like this.
The next day...
I feel very hungry and my stomach growls. I want to go to the kitchen and eat anything I'll find there. It'd be better if I went for it in the midnight. This way, nobody could see me leaving my room.
skip time*
It's already midnight and I sneak out of my room. I walk like a cat and the carpet helps me more. I go to the kitchen and luckily there isn't anyone here. I find some cookies and eat them. I return to my room and lock the door again.
When I am ready to go lay on my bed, I see Zen sitting on the chair which is next to my bed. I turn to the door and Zen stops me by holding my arm.
- Don't go this time. Please...
- Alright, I won't do it, I say looking down the floor.
We sit on the bed and look each other. I feel embarrassed and my head's turning red because of it. I can't imagine what we could say this time. It's awkward and Zen just looks me deep in the eyes.
- Well, I guess we won't be able to talk normally from now on, right?, he starts speaking shyly.
- I suppose you're right... Zen, I feel like I want to disappear from the world at the moment. I don't want you to see me like this...
- Why?
- I wanted to confess to you but not in this way...
Zen just looks happy and I can't tell what he's thinking. He smiles and his face becomes brighter. I really can't figure out what he's got in his mind...
Hey everyone! I hope you liked part 2 and I'll be waiting to see what you think of it... I know I ended this chapter suddenly but I'll let you imagine what will happen in the next chapter with Zen and Shirayuki... Thank you for your reviews!!! You really give me courage with your amazing reviews and I'm so glad to have all of you as readers of my average story... Again thank you for the support and I'll try to write as nice chapters as I can!
See you next time...