Chapter 10: Assignment

"Very beautiful", she thought to look at the starry night sky. She walked back to space where her child was fast asleep. It had taken forever before her child gave up crying before going to sleep. She kissed the forehead of her child and whispered, "Goodnight, my sweetheart. Have sweet dreams." She made her way to the door and blew out the last candle that was brightening her son's room but made sure her son's room still had light as she didn't want her son to be scared when he wakes up in the middle of the night and left.

She walked tiredly to her sleeping chambers. She gave a tired sigh. She was wondering maybe, just maybe her husband must be asleep by now. He mentioned about having a court meeting at daybreak. That's why she tried her best to retire early, not wanting to wake her husband. But her son was having a nice moment with his uncle, that he started to cry when he was told he was going to bed.

She didn't have to knock to enter, even though it wasn't her chamber's but her husband's, as she has the authority to enter freely. She noticed the lights were dark. "He must be asleep by now", she thought as she opened the door quietly and entered. To her satisfaction, the King was still awake. He was leaning on one of the pillars, arms crossed, focusing deeply on something.

"Good evening", she greeted gently. Trying to see if her husband would make any move.

"Evening." His Majesty replied back looking at her with his deep sapphires, making a combination with the night sky.

The King knew from the start of his marriage that his wife never retires late. It all started after she gave birth. And worsened, when his son started recognizing people, wanting to be with them more. People like his younger brother, Zen. He had always wondered what was so special about Zen that made his son become a magnet towards him.

The Queen made her way to the washroom. She has always been grateful the dressing room was near the washing room as it would have been embarrassing to walk out of the washroom with dirty clothes, especially if her King was to be the one watching. After cleaning up her body with hot water and a refreshing soap, she took her light-colored robe and wrapped it while her nightgown was underneath.

She walked out of the washing room only to see her husband sitting on a couch. She was surprised a bit and questioned herself if her husband really had a court meeting as by this time he must be asleep. If her husband was still awake then that means something, he wants to talk to her or wasn't worn out.

The King had become bored and detached his body from the pillar. He walked towards the couch and made himself comfortable. After minutes of hearing his partner splash water to her body, the door opened. His wife was wearing a nightgown, that had been covered by a robe. She had let her hair down. Truth be told, the King always loved to see her hair down. And she usually let it down only when she was in either her chambers or his.

At the beginning of her marriage, when she was young and naive, she didn't know anything. She had problems with almost everything. She hadn't gotten used to her husband's facial expressions. She didn't understand most anything about the palace. All she knew was, she was the Queen. And had to wear various attires at various sessions. And was still getting used to the hot summers here.

She gently took her seat beside her husband and took a book from a corner of the table. She ran through pages before she reached her stop and continued reading from the page she last left. After reading some pages she spoke,

"Am I to interrupt your thoughts as you are quiet? If I may, is something troubling you?" She asked as she turned to face the side of her King.

Even though she has the permission to call her husband by his name, she doesn't. Since her husband doesn't protest at her calling him by honorifics, she prefers it that way. The King even enjoys calling her with honorifics too, but only to tease her at times. He just refers to her by her name, Haki.

"Nothing is troubling me. I just want you to do a duty for me." He said not turning to face her.

"What could that be?" She asked curiously. The last time the King gave her assignment was a long time ago, so she was overly excited to hear what her King has in mind for her.

"I want you to take Shirayuki to the dungeon tower."

Her Majesty's jaw suddenly dropped and looked at her husband with shocked eyes. She didn't want to question why, since she knew her King didn't like to be questioned. After a while of thinking his Majesty turned to face her Queen asking,

"Is something wrong with what I said or is the assignment going to proceed incompletely?" His fierce voice and eyes made the Queen shift a bit.

"No. I will be delighted to complete it." She said uneasiness in her voice. Although she had been with the King for years, she still hadn't gotten used to some of the king's voice. For he doesn't use it on her regularly.

"Good" was all he said as he lowered his voice tone.

The Queen slowly averted her eyes from the king's and continued to read. Even though she had been uneasy with some of her husband's facial emotions, she can still testify she isn't terrified as the first years of her marriage. Ever since their first brawl, that led them into understanding, they had become close and started to open up to each other. It had not been easy though, especially from her side, when she tried to store her husband's reactions into her memory.

During her first pregnancy, she became suddenly clueless about what to do and what not to do. She had conditions of almost every pregnant woman. She thought the pregnancy would've drawn Izana away, instead, it brought them closer. Izana became surprisingly helpful. Even though he wasn't present while she was giving birth, which he was in the castle, she will always be grateful.

"I'm doing so because I want Shirayuki to get her own crowning," Izana spoke getting his wife's attention.

Haki suddenly puzzled. Izana wants Shirayuki to get her own crowning? "Isn't it for various people in the court?"

"She signed the papers, which didn't take long. So she's proceeding her way to be a princess, not only a princess but a Grand Princess. I had asked Zen if he also wants his own crowning, but he said he wanted his fiance to have all the glory", he explained.

"Then that means she's also going vow. Does she even know about this?" She asked, her mind still confused.

"Yes, she's going to vow and no, she doesn't know." He confirmed. "I didn't tell her that much. That's why I want you to take her to the dungeon tower, show her and tell her." He continued.

She just stared at her book and nodded.

After a long silence, he broke it.

"The second in line to the throne is the one to always crown, but unfortunately he will be the one having a wedding. And according to tradition, the head of the Kirk or the Queen/Queen mother, can also crown a Grand Princess. So I am asking, will you do it? Crown Shirayuki to be the Grand Princess?"

"I will be glad," Haki said, happiness in her voice. Izana knew the reason why her wife was happy. She was happy because Zen had crowned her during her wedding to become the Queen of Clarines and now she wants to give a payback.

"Do I have a due date? ...the dungeon tower assignment," she asked after seconds of silence.

"Till the wedding"

"Okay."

"I included you today to tomorrow's daybreak court meeting."

"What?! I mean, why? I wasn't informed about this!" She exclaimed.

His Majesty gave her a ferocious expression, which made the Queen quite down a bit. Inside the cerebrum of the King, it was his normal facial emotion he was showing towards his wife, smirking.

"You wouldn't be arguing if you would have come to my office today." He now made his smirk available on his lip making the Queen give an annoyed expression.

"Goodnight, my Queen", he said teasing her. He got up from the couch and walked towards a large King-sized bed.

The King knew how his wife didn't like the court meeting. Even though they made the most important decisions, which wasn't necessary for her to attend, she still couldn't stand the Lords arguing about each other's statements. She had always indirectly told him about not involving her. Of course, she doesn't mind public council meeting, but minds court meeting.

She watched her husband make himself comfortable in the large-sized. She gave an exhaustive sigh and closed the book then laid it on the corner again. She took her robe off, now showing her nightgown. And blew the last candle that was shinning the room and drove to sleep as well.

A/N:

Hey, Guys!

Okay, I know many of you wants a Zen and Shirayuki moments, but unfortunately, we have a wedding coming up so the couples can't see each other until the wedding:(

But I'm promising after the wedding the will be more of Zenyuki moments:)

And as you can see this is an Izana and Haki chapter.

I really love this couple, that I think I couldn't write anything but their chapter.

And also, Izana was mentioning something about taking Shirayuki to the "dungeon tower".

I would love it if you guys could comment/review what the dungeon tower should be could be.

Hope you enjoyed;)