Chapter 9: Reassurance

Long stairs. Colorful curtains. Endless corridors. Different faces. High classes, middle classes, and low classes. She was wondering when she will ever get used to these.

She got some stares on her way to see her beloved. Even though she was engaged to the Prince didn't mean they still didn't gossip about her. Luckily the gossiping has lowered. Especially when she found out she had noble family members living in Tanbarun, from her father's side. She even got to meet her father's, uncle's son. So in other words, she met with her great-uncle's son, her first cousin. She was really happy when she went back to Tanbarun to stay with her new family for a while.

To be honest she still wonders what kind of resources they used just to get to her. And it was just after her two-year mission. They gave her an offer staying with them. Of course, without thinking, she said no. She didn't regret her decision though. She couldn't possibly leave her Zen and friends here. Even though she met her other family didn't mean she couldn't meet with her mother's family. Her first cousin arranged a meeting between her and some of her mother's family. They really complimented her. Especially about how she looked just like her mother. They even showed her, her mother's picture.

I giggled, almost reaching my destination, at my wonderful recollecting moments. I was about to remember more about these moments, but unfortunately, I was already standing in front of my fiance's door. I quietly knocked and patiently waited for approval, which didn't take long as I heard Mitsuhide respond calmly.

I opened the door slowly and faced my fiance, and his three attendants, Mitsuhide, Kiki and Obi. They all gave me a smile, unfortunately, the smiles weren't reaching their eyes. It was more like they were faking it.

"Hey," I greeted quietly as I took my last steps. They were all smiling weirdly.

"Hello there!" Mitsuhide greeted as he put his arm around his waist. Kiki was just smiling and Obi leaning on one of Highness Zen's balcony door waving his hand. And Zen... he looked worried.

"How you doing, Miss?" Obi asked waving his hand again as he grinned widely at me.

"I'm doing great." I giggled.

Then there was a silence.

"How did your meeting go with my brother?" Zen asked trying his best not to sound serious towards me. I told Zen three days ago about my meeting with King Izana. Zen definitely didn't like it. He still had trust issues with his elder brother.

I averted her eyes immediately from Obi to Zen. "Really well. Actually more smoothly than I expected." I replied. Zen just nodded his head.

"So, did my brother tell you about the territories and the titles?" Zen asked after a long unreasonable silence.

"Yeah, and explained everything about it," I answered as I put my hands in front of my toe length dress.

Silence.

"Did he make you sign anything?" Zen asked looking straight into my eyes without any expression. To be honest, Zen is becoming good at showing no emotion at all, but sometimes I wished Zen would show a bit of sentiment sometimes. Especially at a time like this.

"Yes. About resigning from the herbal court." I said quietly. I shifted my eyes from Zen noticing all of them were looking sad. I gave an assuring smile, but unfortunately, they didn't fall for it.

"I see." was he muttered worriedly under his breath.

After moments of standing there Zen looking angry and sad at the same time, Obi broke the silence. "So, um, Miss? Are you supposed to even see Master?"

"That's a good question," Kiki commented as she put her fingers on her chin.

"Actually no," I said as I bit my lip, smiling lightly.

They all laughed even Zen smiled.

"Don't worry, we won't tell anybody," Mitsuhide whispered.

"Thank you," I whispered back.

"Since we don't want to tell anybody about Mistress and Master seeing themselves one week before the wedding, which is forbidden, I think we need to plan what to do. What do you say, aides?" Obi said as he winked at Mitsuhide and Kiki. They got the idea and left for the balcony, closing the door, leaving Zen and me alone.

After the door went shut Zen looked at me with sad eyes. I immediately knew what he was going to say. But before he could do so, I shushed him. I gently placed my thumb on his smooth lips.

"You don't have to say anything," I reassured Zen.

Zen placed his palm on my cheeks, as he explored. He gently caressed my cheeks. "You cried." Zen didn't ask, he made a statement.

I couldn't have definitely lied to him. "Is it that obvious?" I asked.

"No. I just knew." Zen replied calmly.

I moved my hands from his smooth lips and lay it on his back. I hugged him tightly, while his hands were hugging from my shoulders, caressing my ponytail hair.

"It's my fault. It's my fault, you're going through this." Zen mumbled as he placed his nose in my hair. I heard his breath through my hair.

I quickly released from our right embrace. "What do you mean? No, it's not your fault. It was my own decision. You must understand I did it for me, for you and for us."

"I'm sorry. I just feel bad, that the one thing you love very much has been taken from you." Zen murmured.

"But I love you the most. And I'm willing to do anything for our relationship." I murmured back. "Or maybe he has his own reasons for doing so. You know that your brother always does something with a reason." I continued.

"His reasons better be good." Zen became vexed while I smiled.

We leaned forward again our foreheads touching. "I love you", Zen mumbled. "I love you too", I also mumbled. My hands immediately left his back and wrapped it around his neck. He also laid his hands on my waist. We slanted into a deep open-mouthed kiss. It has been quite a while since we kissed like this.

We pulled back and smiled. "So, just only one week left then you'll be completely mine," Zen said smirking.

"Yes, one week left," I repeated a bit light.

We tilted our head again into a kiss. Not noticing the door was opened, Kiki walked in and coughed. Zen and I immediately pulled back and looked at her. Looking back at us, the men were smirking, which made Zen give them a warning look. "I hate to interrupt, but if I remember correctly, Shirayuki must be going now. She has important things to take care of" Kiki informed.

Even though Cora usually informed me about my next meetings and everything, Kiki also informed me. Obi had been applied to be my bodyguard ever since the start of the case. Kiki has now been appointed in his position since males aren't supposed to be close to the bride. So Zen had asked Kiki to be my bodyguard, which Kiki happily obliged.

I removed my arms that were wrapped around Zen and took a step back. I gestured towards Kiki for us to leave while I also waved them our probably last goodbye before the wedding. They all smiled. And with that Kiki and I left.

After seconds Kiki and I heard noises, that belonged to Obi and Mitsuhide, coming from the door. Kiki and I looked at each other, firstly concerned. But sighed as we couldn't do anything to a situation, where the master was scolding his servants. Kiki and I smiled and walked away.

A/N:

Hello! It's been quite a while.

I've dreamt about this chapter for weeks.

Unfortunately, I forgot how to write it, especially the POV.

And also since we all know about Shirayuki's father's uncle. I wanted to bring them back, by letting Shirayuki meet her great uncle's son, her first cousin. But I'm not going to introduce them further but in the later chapters.

Hope you enjoyed ;)