Chapter 3 – Sweet Jealousy
Zen had finished with his job for today and at long last he could spend time with Shirayuki. Standing up from his seat, Zen moved to the door "Mitsuhide, Kiki, I am going" he said in a hurry.
"take care Zen" Mitsuhide said
Kiki didn't say a word, she just smiled when Zen disappeared beyond the door. Mitsuhide chuckled softly "He really can't wait to see her, huh?"
"Well. It's been a while since they see each other" Kiki smiled gently "He's been looking forward to it"
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Zen was walking at the hallway, heading toward the herb garden. Shirayuki usually went there to pick up certain herbs due to their 'best properties'. Shirayuki said that Ryu taught her the knowledge about it. She needed to pick the herb when they're at their best time. Zen smiled along the way, Shirayuki really loved learning new knowledge and seeing her working so hard made Zen wanted to do the same. He didn't want to lose as well. At times it really surprised him, to think he had this kind of relationship with someone other than Kiki and Mitsuhide. For Zen, Shirayuki was not only the girl he loved, she was also his close friend, the one who supported him no matter what happened.
A humming could be heard faintly from the herb garden as Zen was getting closer, his smile grew wider and his steps became faster. The moment he entered the garden, Zen called out her name "Shirayuki!"
Shirayuki turned her head, slightly jumpy because of the sudden call. "Zen!" she smiled happily.
'ah.. that smile..' Zen thought 'It feels like forever since the last time I saw it'
"how are you?" Asked Zen as he sat next to her.
"I am good" Shirayuki answered, "How about you, Zen?" She asked, staring at the second prince's face worriedly. "You look tired. Is it okay to meet me?"
Zen frowned slightly "What? You prefer not to meet me?"
"Of course not!" Shirayuki waved her hands to the side many times, Zen seemed to interpret her words the wrong way "I mean.. you look so tired, I don't want you to force youreself to meet me.. It's better to take a rest, right?"
Zen smiled gently as he took her one hand and lifted to his lips "For me, meeting you will replenish my energy"he muttered softly and kissed her hand.
The tone was loving and it sent shivers down to Shirayuki's spine and when Zen kissed her hand, heat instantly filled her face. Zen is really good for things like this. For Shirayuki, even though they already became lovers for a quite a while, she couldn't get used to this intimate and loving action Zen sometimes showed her. Her heart always skipped a beat then raced so fast that it could make her flustered. Yes.. The only one who can make her like this is only Zen...
"Shirayuki" Zen whispered her name and leaned closer to kiss her.
Shirayuki closed her eyes and leaned closer toward his face but stopped halfway when she remembered what happened today. She put her hand on Zen's chest to stop her and Zen blinked, clearly confused. It was the first time for Shirayuki to act this way.
"U-um.. Zen.. Before you kiss me, I have something to tell you.." Shirayuki said, her tone was nervous and from Zen's experience what she was going to say was definitely not a happy subject.
"What is it?" Zen asked, still holding her hand. At least she wanted to calm her.
"U-Um.. Well.. Today, I.. was kissed by someone.." Shirayuki said.
Zen body froze, silence filled the area. Zen couldn't believe what he just heard, kissed? By someone? Who? Slowly but sure, blood started pumping his brain. The thought of Shirayuki in another's man embrace and on top of it being kissed filled his mind and it was enough to make him wanted to kill the person.
"..Who..?" Asked Zen. He tried to be calm as he could. "..How..?"
Shirayuki looked so guilty, maybe because of the tone Zen used. She knew he was angry but trying to act calm for her sake. "W-Well.. I was going alone to the town and bump into a traveling swordman named Ray.. and.. As an apology for bumping me, he offered to help me carry the medicine and accompanied me to pharmacy shop.. Well.. There I accidentally revealed my hair, well out of habit since it's inside the shop.. after that, he kissed me on the cheek then left the shop after helping me.." Explained Shirayuki.
'It's on the cheek' Zen mused 'She was kissed on the cheek'
Zen felt only a slight of a relief, still he was still annoyed all the same. "which Cheek?" asked Zen.
"eh?" Shirayuki responded, feeling confused.
"Which cheek did he kiss you?" asked Zen once again.
"o-oh.. it's this one.." answered Shirayuki, pointing to the right cheek.
Zen leaned closer in an instant and kissed her right cheek. Not only once but many times, lovingly. It as if he wanted to erase the memory and the disease that stained her lovely mind and cheek.
"Z-Zen.." Shirayuki moaned his name softly.
Soon, Zen moved to her lips. He kissed her lovingly, his arms wrapped around her possesively. Zen never knew that he was a possesive man until he met Shirayuki. Although he didn't show it so often, since he knows Shirayuki is not the type that can be confined, he couldn't help but feeling jealous if other men being close to her. If it was Mitsuhide, it was okay because he knew Mitsuhide's personality. Ryu was also okay since he was way younger than Shirayuki, Obi was also the same. He cared about Shirayuki so much, even though sometimes Zen felt it was more than a knight feeling but he knew Obi wouldn't betray him. But if it was other men, he always felt restless. Shirayuki sometimes didn't realizethat her personality was as beautiful as her face, especially her hair. She didn't realize that men were drawn to her because of it.
Breaking the kiss, Zen smiled "It's okay now" he said, softly caressed her cheek. Well he was still annoyed but Zen didn't want to make Shirayuki worry anymore about the matter, the fact that she told before the kiss showed how much she thought about Zen and their relationship. Both of them spent the night together for a while before going back to their own quarters.
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"King?" Shirayuki was surprised even more, Ray on the other hand was grinning like mad. He clearly enjoyed the reaction Shirayuki gave him.
"Yes, He is King Reinhart Thorian from Ruthergent Kingdom" Zen explained, he paid attention how Ray was grinning at Shirayuki and the jealousy he felt last night slowly crept in his heart once more.
"So you are not Ray, the traveling swordsman?!" Shirayuki asked in disbelief.
Ray laughed hard upon hearing the words "This is a surprise. You prefer me as the traveling swordsman rather than a king, Shirayuki? Don't tell me you fall in love with me after I give you the kiss" Ray smirked, clearly he was teasing Shirayuki.
Shirayuki blushed slightly and glared at Ray "I am not! And I want to say something about that too! You can't just kiss a girl on the cheek like that!" She said. "you have to ask for her consent first!"
"Hoo~? Then If I say I want to kiss you right now, will you let me~?" Asked Ray.
Shirayuki glared at him, clearly annoyed "Of course not!"
"Then all I can do is stealing it little by little right~?" Ray grinned.
Shirayuki gaped slightly at the man, how could a man like him exist? Telling things like that in front of so many people.
"W-Well.. I was going alone to the town and bump into a traveling swordman named Ray.. and.. As an apology for bumping me, he offered to help me carry the medicine and accompanied me to pharmacy shop.. Well.. There I accidentally revealed my hair, well out of habit since it's inside the shop.. after that, he kissed me on the cheek then left the shop after helping me.."
Shirayuki's words, repeated in Zen's mind. So the one who kissed Shirayuki was King Reinhart and based from the conversation between them, Reinhart hid his identity, masquerading as a traveling swordsman. Somehow Zen didn't like this matter even more, the fact that King Reinhart kissed her, showed that he was interested in Shirayuki.
Zen cleared his throat, Mitsuhide and Kiki shared a quick nervous glance. Zen was clearly trying to be as calm as possible, after all, the guest was from another Kingdom and on top of it was the King, himself. "Let me introduce you once again, This is Ryu the Royal Pharmacist, people usually called him The Genius because of his ability"
"..Nice to meet you.." Ryu said while bowing slightly.
"And Shirayuki is his aprentice" Zen continued,
"Ahh, yes.. The genius Ryu" Ray said, cast a sharp glance at Ryu before smiling. "Nice to meet you Ryu"
"Well then I shall introduce you to Garak and Yatsufusa, this way please" Zen said and smiled toward Shirayuki "See you later Shirayuki"
"Un! Zen" Shirayuki smiled.
Ray frowned slightly hearing the words exchanged between them but decided to play it cool for now. There was always time for a game after all.
As crowd left the garden, Ryu muttered softly "..I don't like him.."
"eh?" Shirayuki turned to the boy "You mean Ray?"
Ryu nodded "..that guy.. is dangerous.."
"What do you mean, Ryu?" asked Shirayuki, clearly confused.
Ryu shook his head "No.. It's okay, It's just the feeling.. I have.." he muttered. "..Let's continue gathering the herbs.."
"Okay" Shirayuki said, still feeling curious for the words Ryu said. What was so dangerous about Ray? Except his teasing trait, Shirayuki thought he was a decent man. Pushing the thought away, Shirayuki helped Ryu collecting the herb once again.
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Shirayuki rested on the garden alone, sitting on one of the stone bench. Her job had finished already and Shirayuki borrowed one of Garak's book about herbs. She wanted to read as much as she could during her free time. But when she read the book, her mind couldn't focus on the content. Instead, her mind was recalling the event with Ray or King Reinhart and how Zen behaved.
She knew Zen was trying calm her down last night. As always, he tried to act cool but Shirayuki knew he was angry. Now that the person who kissed her cheek turned out to be a king from another kingdom, somehow Shirayuki filled even more guilty for being reckless.
"I have to see Zen now and apologize" Shirayuki said, standing up from the stone bench. As she turned around, She could see Zen was on his way toward her.
"Zen?" Shirayuki said in confusion "What are you doing here?"
"I want to talk to you" Said Zen.
A smile crept on Shirayuki's face as she giggled softly. Zen raised an eyebrow "Is it that funny about me wanting to talk to you?"
Shirayuki shook her head "No, but I am about to go to your office. I want to talk to you too" Shirayuki smiled happily.
Hearing the words, Zen became happy. The insecurities he had inside slowly disappeared. "I see" He said and sat on the stone bench "What do you want to talk about?"
"How about you Zen?" Shirayuki asked "What do you want to talk about?"
"I asked you first" Zen replied stubbornly and Shirayuki giggled even more.
"I want to talk about Ray.. I mean, King Reinhart.." said Shirayuki. "I want to apologize for being reckless, getting kissed like that.."
Zen smiled softly "I told you It's okay right?"
"But Zen.." Shirayuki pouted a little "You are still angry right? I can tell you know"
Zen was stunned, amazed by how Shirayuki could sense his inner turmoil. He thought he could fool her, playing it cool but it seemed futile. Sighing softly, Zen gave a sheepish smile "Well.. I am.. even now.."
Shirayuki sat next to him "I am sorry Zen" She said, looking so sad.
"No, it's okay.. This is just me being.. uh.." Zen looked away, tried to hide his embarrassment. "..Jealous.." he finished the word softly.
"Jealous?" Shirayuki repeated.
"Yes, not just to Ray or King Reinhart.. but.. to other men as well.." Zen added then sighed "The truth is.. I don't want other men get close to you, moreover.. Let them see you.. I just realized that I am a very possessive man because of the feeling I have.. But I try to hold it back since I know you don't like to be confined.. If I do that to you then I will be in the same level as Raj right?" Zen explained.
Shirayuki didn't say anything. Zen might wondering what was in her mind but the truth was simple. There was only one thing in her mind, it was Happiness..
Shirayuki didn't know that she was being loved this much by Zen, the way he became jealous toward other men, somehow it looked cute and Shirayuki was so happy to know about Zen's jealousy. She really loved this man but this man loved her more.
"I am happy, Zen" Shirayuki said as she touched his hand. "..To know about your jealousy.. to know how much you love me.." she smiled.
"So.." Zen was slightly surprised with her words. "You don't find it annoying.. or disturbing..?"
Shirayuki shook her head "No, I find it cute and adorable.."
"C-cute?!" Zen flustered and Shirayuki giggled.
"Then how about lovely?" Shirayuki offered a different word.
"Slightly better.." Zen muttered and smiled. He leaned closer and gave Shirayuki a loving, tender kiss.
The breeze blew softly, sending shiver to both of them but at the same time for both Zen and Shirayuki, the fire inside their heart also lit up. Just being together like this, Shirayuki and Zen were already felt so happy. However, they didn't realize that from the shadow, a figure had paid attention to them from the start...
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Okay, This is the third chapter of my story. Thank you so much for the review and I read one of the reviewer said there are grammatical errors and I say to you "THANK YOU SO MUUUUCCHH! TT_TT" Finally, Finally! Someone said that! QAQ
English is not my first language and I already tried to go to five people in my country who know english better than me, but they can't point where I did wrong! QAQ Please, Oh please to all reviewer, Please point it to me! *bow deeply* I can't learn it by myself, if there are people out there who are kind enough to teach me, I feel really grateful. I really really want to be a better writer! :D
Oh right! Before I bid farewell, Please review the third chapter since the chars are at the entrance of a future conflict and drama ~ XDD
Thank you so much before hand! :D Love and Peace! ^o^/