A/N: This chapter holds so much vulnerable information about this current ongoing script. Though, if you find it difficult to understand, just re-read the chapters 47: Reveal and 48: Paralyzed. But if there's still something to ask, just go ahead;)

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Chapter 49: Snake in Pasture

The breeze of the most unfavored weather and season was miscarrying its wind uncontrollably. It was just the start of the freeze but felt as if the middle of winter. The treetops, the ground, the roof, and even the humans were topped by the snow from the of minus fifteen-celsius degree.

No other sound echoed, not even the sound of the walking white-haired Prince. His lips have been reserved since prime. He was so lost. Nothing made him smile, nothing made him cry, nothing made him emotional, only chuckled when with his children, his cherished twins. Nothing else. He was a broken piece, ready not to be repaired, and also not wanting to be repaired. Nothing kept him going. His heart was shattered and somewhere far away from him, bedridden.

He curved his path into another hallway, somewhere he was familiar with, somewhere he was first not allowed to enter, allowed to know, somewhere he was forbidden from all in the name of to keep him "safe".

So far, along with his brother and some trustworthy men, he has managed to clear all gossips and rumors about Shirayuki and Obi. It worked successfully.

His body braked. "What the—" Suddenly the person started running. Once again, no guards around.

Mitsuhide took the lead and started chasing the person, and Zen took the other path from where he or she came from.

His legs were moving unsurprisingly on their own. He burst into the room where his soul and hope left his body anytime he entered.

Zen saw her bitterly crying, her red hair a bit messy, her face reddened from crying.

Shirayuki's reddened sclera met with his astounded husband.

"Zen..." She called his name with a gently and cracky voice, and more tears flowed down her cheek passing by her chin, sweaty neck and down her bandaged chest.

In less than a rapid, he walked over to her and hugged her. Goodness! He had never seen Shirayuki so broken in his entire life. Her body hugged back. Her hands clutched tightly on Zen's attire and cried and cried.

He continued to hug her and listened to her cry, that poured so much emotion till her sobs lowered slowly.

Zen, in a motion, caressed her hair and back, kissing her on the head regularly, with his eyes closed.

He admits it's been so long he's held Shirayuki in this way. The last time was when he was leaving. They hugged and kissed, only for him to come back weeks later that his wife was seriously unconscious with her aide, bedridden.

They released from their long-term hug. He set her back to the bed. He wiped off the tears from her face with his thumb, then took a handkerchief from his pocket and cleaned her sweaty neck from crying and her upper chest.

"Tell me," Zen began softly, his fingers caressing her face. "what happened?"

"She threatened..." Then another flow began.

Zen's eyebrow raised lightly when he realized the person is a she - a female."It's okay, take your time."

Shirayuki strongly held Zen's other fingers, trying to take her time to remember and recover.

"It was awful. She wanted to kill me. She strangled me."

"Nothing is going to kill you. No one is going to kill you. I'm here now."

Zen soothed his words so Shirayuki could calm down, but she was still restless. Unwilling to listen or be comforted.

It's been only three days since she woke up from her slumber. The relief that went through past his body was beyond amazing. He wanted to be of help. He was trying.

He was trying, really.

Just then someone knocked. Zen realized how much Shirayuki's body tensed, but he reassured her by using calming words.

"Obi...?" Zen muttered softly, really surprised that the man who was nearly shot in his heart was standing there. "What are you doing?"

"Spying on some suspects," he answered gently. His eyes shortly sighted at Shirayuki, who looked equally surprised. He's been secretly visiting her, whenever she sleeps to seek forgiveness. He felt responsible for her situation. He might have saved her from getting burnt in the face, but that alone didn't and couldn't make him a hero. Nothing is going to make him, as long as he felt responsible for her accident. "Mitsuhide seeks your presence." Then he quickly left, not waiting for any response. Too much guilt filled him to stand there another second.

Zen pecked Shirayuki on the forehead, but as he was about to leave she held his cloth so tightly and looked straight into his eyes. He wanted to know who was in the cloak and who made his princess cry, but she didn't want him to leave her alone.

Zen visits her every day since he found out about where she was. He wanted to be the first person Shirayuki sees when she wakes up, and he succeeded. He helped her regain full consciousness and health, despite being destroyed in the leg.

He recognized the plea in her eyes and decided to stay longer with Shirayuki.

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His legs moved accordingly, desperate to reach his destination. He was imagining all possible people who could be behind this and still be torturing Shirayuki. Luckily, he met Obi on his way who showed the rest of the way.

Upon reaching their end, Zen realized only Mitsuhide was on the view.

"Where's the person?" Zen asked Mitsuhide with impatient voice. Mitsuhide might have betrayed Zen, but that didn't mean he would hate his aide forever. He forgave and tried to forget.

"She's been detained by his Majesty's guards, unfortunately."

Zen hissed. His brother's guards. He knew he's not going to get any information now. "Who was it?"

"The nurse," Mitsuhide quietly as if he didn't want any outside to hear. "The nurse who was in charge of taking care of both Shirayuki and Obi. She's the reason they were unconscious. Apparently, also slow poisoning them."

"That's absurd!" Zen's face horrified. The nurse of all people. She always seemed so different. He couldn't believe it. The nurse was the one who soothed him whenever he visited. She was the one that gave him words of courage. Only to find out she's behind this.

"But that doesn't explain why she would want to be caught," Obi stepped in, getting Zen off his far mind. "She could have used her nurse uniform instead of a cloak."

"Well, apparently, it was a plan. She knew Zen always visited Shirayuki during this time, so she definitely planned it. On top, the person who arrowed you and deformed Shirayuki also wanted to be caught, that's why he didn't kill the maid when he had the chance, but didn't. He wanted to be caught," Mitsuhide replied.

"This," Zen twirled his I decided finger in the air. "doesn't make sense. Nothing is making sense. Especially wanting to be caught and be executed." And it was true, nothing was making sense.

Zen looked up at Obi. "When did you start secretly spying? Are you not at pains?"

Obi shrugged lightly. "When I realized the nurse always acted funny whenever I didn't eat the food or drink she brings to me. And no, I'm not at pains."

Mitsuhide suddenly raised his eyebrows to Obi's last sentence, which explained Obi was definitely at pains, which Zen saw.

"Okay, if you say so. I must return to Shirayuki. Mitsuhide, forward all these information to my brother." With that Zen left.

"Really?! You lied again!" Obi burst in immediately as Zen was no more.

"I had to! His Majesty needs someone from the inner circle!" Mitsuhide defended.

Obi frowned. "Still! It's called betrayal! If he finds out -"

" - he's never, only if you help me." Mitsuhide interrupted.

Obi stood quietly for seconds. "Since you know too much, tell me, who's really behind this? Who is the one that leaked information of Shirayuki's schedule, bribed the nurse into this?"

"Alyne," Mitsuhide called out straightforwardly as of he wanted wanted Obi to ask. "The daughter of the most respected Duke in Clarines."

"That lady-in-waiting?" Obi called in bitter. "She's the one Shirayuki trust most out of her other maids. How could she?!"

"She's evilest compared to a snake in the pasture. She's in partnership with Lord X and his co. She's supposedly the one responsible for your pains and also for the reason Shirayuki might never be able to walk again."