Ch 2

Prince Izana needed something to make him feel alive.. even if it meant he would have to falsely come somewhat close to his own death. He looked down into the palm of his porcelain hand at the gierlder root Ostir had brought him earlier. He began to mentally create a narrative to the fable he was about to write.

'..what am i doing?' Izana asked himself in a moment of clarity.

-A thought that was shut down quickly by telling himself this was to find the true motives of this commoner that had intruded into his palace.. into his mind, and into some unknown part of him hardly even he knew.

Would he really do this?

Yes.

For once in his life he wanted to walk just a little, just slightly, off his narrow path.

...

Izana called his brother Zen into his study.. if he was going to do this he would have to remove all obstacles that could stand in the way.

"Brother.." the first prince said now looking at Zen. " As you know the annual festival in the Kingdom of Sionne will be approaching in the upcoming days. Due to our newly formed ties i wish to show our support by having you attend."

Irritation rose to Zen's face immediately.. he of all people knew of his younger brother's hatred for these types of affairs.

"It is important you go." Izana continued. " The kingdom of Lasxaus has increased its hostility towards us after we blocked trade. We need to present ourselves now more than ever as a Kingdom of strength through our alliances."

Zen sighed loudly in protest but knew that there was no use.. he would have no other choice but to go.

"May i atleast choose who i will be bringing with me?" He asked Izana.

"I'm afraid i have already chosen for you."

"Don't worry, your two closest friends will be attending." The first prince said quickly.

" that will hopefully minimize this blow for you..."

He watched his younger brothers face fall slightly. Izana was sure, if not certain that some part of him had wanted to bring a particular red haired girl along with him. Unfortunately, she could not go, for she was the central character in this whole ruse.

"Is there any part of my life you haven't planned out?" Zen asked him bitterly.

Prince Izana's eyes darkened.. he couldnt help but lash out a bit now.

"Take solace that you will never have the luxury of knowing just how much smaller my cage is compared to your own, sweet brother."

The second prince looked away dejectedly. There was no need to argue that point. Even as boys his older brother had never been allowed to do anything he may have truly wanted. He was forced to study while Zen ran around with the other palace children in the court yard gardens. God forbid the future king bleed his own blood.. perhaps his brother would have been different then.. perhaps more human.

"I'm sorry.." Zen said suddenly.

"When will i be leaving?"

Izana looked up at him through his blonde veil of hair. Slightly surprised at how quickly his brother had resigned himself to the request.

"Tomorrow."

..

The next day Prince Izana watched his brother through a small window as he entered the carriage to take him to Sionne. A pang of remorse struck him hard for he knew that Zen didn't deserve what he was to do to him. He knew that in all their years he had never seen him show interest in any woman as much as he'd shown Shirayuki . But the jealousy he felt towards his brother was enough to continue on with his plan.. afterall, what has Zen ever lost?

In his life it would seem, Izana would be forced to play the villain.. because he didn't truly know what it could mean to actually love.. he'd never been given it. Instead he'd been brought into this world as an instrument-a puppet for a role he'd never even chosen.

He stared again at the gierlder root before infusing a generous amount into his own tea. The smell was musky, the taste would undoubtedly be terrible.. he must be insane.

It wasn't too late.. he could go back to his books, to the slow quiet death of his soul.. watch the people around him live substantial emotional lives he'd never know. He couldn't call himself happy but perhaps almost deadened enough to sleep walk through his own existence painlessly.

But she made him feel things.. in their short combative interactions, Shirayuki managed to shake him awake and he didn't know why. Izana needed to know. Afterall, wasn't it worth it to atleast once fight for his own humanity?

With a deep intake of clean surrounding air he swallowed the mild poison. The crown prince drank his tea quickly, not stopping once to taste it, nor to regret it.

The pain was immediate.. a sharp burn wove through him at an alarming rate. He'd have to act quickly. Izana hid all evidence of the tea then with a strikingly loud howl he doubled over to his side before crashing to the floor.

..