Disclaimer: Anyone has a sturdy rope? Izana keeps on breaking free.

Credits to Talye Kendrin for helping me with the grammar and spellings. Please check out her profile and support this fandom.

Characters: Izana Wistalia, Shirayuki

Pairing: Possible one-sided Izana

Wordcount: 735

Rating: General, Romance

Timeline: Between Chapter 41 and Chapter 49

Quotes: "I thought of myself mixing the fragrance of a certain day – the heavy musk of the hillside after the rain with the lightness of fresh blossoms doused in the downpour. I thought of each little bottle as the essence of a happy day or a sad one. I mixed the scent of a lonely moment – sandalwood and bergamot lingering over a rich, peppery base."
― Sara Sheridan, The Secret Mandarin

A formula for a perfume.

Astonished, he raised his eyebrows. "Perfume? You are creating perfume?"

She snapped back to attention. "Yes."

His brow furrowed deeper. "Perfumes are very hard to create, one often needs to pay attention to the natural scents and properties of the raw materials and ingredients. Surely you jest?"

"Why would I?"

"I don't hold perfumers in high regard despite the complexities of its creation process- I think they are a frivolous extravagance for the privileged few. You should be helping the royal pharmacists and healers in discovering new medicines and vaccinations that would benefit the kingdom more." What a waste.

She shrugged. "Just because perfume is more commonly used to mask stench and enthrall a potential lover doesn't mean it's useless." Turning sideways, she pounced on a bottle, took one of the small droppers on the silver tray, dipped it and let some liquid drop onto the wrist he was holding.

His eyebrows twitched in disapproval at her display of frivolous attitude. "Pray, elaborate." He watched as the liquid was absorbed into her skin, nose recognizing smells of something clean and woodsy.

He felt her wrist pull away and he reluctantly released his grip on her. Strange, really. Why would he want to continue holding her? Was it because he felt comfortable touching her? Feeling the delicate bones of her wrist? Or was it because he was curious about the way her eyes took on a dreamy look while she was lost in her thoughts?

"Scents are not just to mask smells, camouflage poisons, or add to the allure of a woman. Or even a man." She added, pausing thoughtfully at her remarks on the personal toiletries of high society members. "Scents evoke memories long past forgotten." Her hand hovered over her nose, eyelids closing momentarily.

Izana's eyes narrowed into slits. Memories long past forgotten. He felt his chest tighten a little, brushing aside memories he no longer wanted to remember. Memories that pricked at his heart, his mind and his soul.

"Here."

He was startled when she suddenly raised her wrist near his face. He hesitated. The smell of greenery beckoned at him. Come have a smell.

"If you think it's some sort of poison, My Lord, you are sorely mistaken. I sniffed at it first. I would surely be foaming in the mouth by now if the scent is poison fumes."

"I did not really think you would be poisoning me." He frowned at her patronizing tone. "I was thinking more on the lines of whether you know what you are really concocting."

"I'm flattered, Your Highness, that you trusted me enough not to kill you with my knowledge of poisons. I was expecting that would be the first thing in your mind." A cynical smile hovered at the corners of her mouth.

"If someone ever does happen to successfully poison me, let me assure you, Shirayuki, that you won't be on my list of usual suspects." He replied quietly.

She seemed taken aback by his declaration that for a full second, she was robbed of words to say. He could see her getting a little worked up with his unexpected remarks and found, to his internal delight, that she appreciated his trust in her. Her face turned pink, and he resisted the urge to reach out and pinch her blooming cheeks.

And then he realized Shirayuki is the girl he has committed himself to remove her influence from his brother; the same Shirayuki that he disapproved of as his brother's potential bride.

He bit the inside of his cheek to keep himself from saying something more, though his expression was a dead giveaway. Shirayuki was not blind. If anything, she was a perceptive person and she immediately noted his changing expression.

She bustled about, turning her head a little. "Your Highness, I think you have wasted more than enough of your precious time here. I am sure the diplomats from other provinces would be waiting for you to join them in your private office." Her fingers moved quickly to replace the cork stoppers on her precious oils and scents.

Izana could see her fingers trembling a little, and his chest tightened. He continued to study her while she avoided meeting his eyes, and he gave a small sigh.

Why did seeing her look so affected make him feel so much like a villain? Were these feelings of regret?