Disclaimer: Izana Wistalia would surely protest if I was the original author
Thanks to Talye Kendrin for doing a fantastic job of beta-ing these chapters. Please check out her profile and support this fandom.
Characters: Izana Wistalia, Shirayuki
Pairing: Possible one-sided Izana
Wordcount: 796
Rating: General, Romance
Timeline: Between Chapter 41 and Chapter 49
Quotes: "A woman's perfume tells more about her than her handwriting."
― Christian Dior
Unable to restrain himself any longer, Izana reached behind his head and with one hand, undid the knot of his blindfold.
The first thing he saw is Shirayuki looking up at him as he towered over her with his impressive height.
"What is that scent?"
Her eyes meet his in puzzlement. "What scent?"
"That scent! The one that you-I smelled just now!" He sounded a little frantic.
"I haven't-" she began, gesturing at the bottle of scent that was overturned on the table. Gold-colored liquid gleamed against the white marble countertop. "I opened one bottle realized it's the wrong one and I was about to put a stopper onto it when it slipped in my grasp." She bit her lip apologetically. "I'm sorry."
Deflated, he sat down on the stool. "Oh."
He felt a little foolish with his unexpected reaction. Didn't he just smell it earlier? That incredible scent? Violets and orchids, pomegranates, freshly cut grass? That incredible summer sky?
Even now, he can still hear the echo of the two children's laughter. Their sparkling blue and green eyes mesmerizing him, rendering him speechless with their perfection and happiness.
He eyed the bottle that Shirayuki spilled on the table. There was no mistake about it. The content of that bottle was the one that he smelled. It was sensual and spiritual, illuminating and hopeful. How could one scent show him such an impossible future?
From the bottle, he glanced back at Shirayuki, who was busy wiping the table clean and moving the loose parchment and quills away, tucking them in one drawer so as not to damage them.
He felt himself drawn to the bottle that was spilled. Out of all the bottles in the perfume organ, this one looked a little special. The bottle was of jade-green color, with a thin bit of ribbon tied at the neck.
"Euphoria."
She stopped wiping the table.
"I beg your pardon, Prince Izana?"
He stood up and took the bottle, cradling it into his palm.
"If I were to describe this scent in one word, it's euphoria." He frowned a little. Such a powerful scent in a tiny bottle. It holds secrets and dreams with only a cork stopper standing in between.
"My mother's wedding scent." Shirayuki had finished wiping the marble top and stashed the rag away. She began to re-arrange the stools, tucking them underneath the table as neatly as she could.
"Your mother's?" he asked, a questioning look in his eyes.
"One of my precious creations. She wore that scent on the day my father was supposed to fetch her to be wedded to my Uncle."
His ears perked up in interest. One would normally mistake her looks to be ordinary and commonplace. But if one were to look closer, like where he stood now, Shirayuki looked extraordinarily beautiful when she looked wistful and dreamy, even if wisps of her red hair sprung loose from the ponytail she subjected them to. Her profile looked soft and ethereal against the late morning sunlight. His fingers itched to touch her face and see if she was real and not some fairy sprite that entered the room and enthralled him into believing in dreams.
His heart began to beat in fast erratic rhythms, blood rushing and warm in his veins. Energy flowed to the very tips of his fingers.
He knew what the scent signified. Knew what this feeling was, blooming in his chest. He was afraid to give it a name, for it might shatter like crystal.
There was a knock on the door.
"Shirayuki? Mistress Garack requests your presence in the operating room."
"Yes, coming!" Shirayuki check her lab coat and began to smooth the wrinkles away. She turned to face him, her thoughts already on hand to the task she is about to do.
"My deepest apologies, Prince Izana. I'm afraid our session has ended."
He shook his head. "The regrets are mine, Shirayuki. I quite enjoyed the sessions and am hoping we could do it again soon."
In a surprising gesture, he took her hand and lifted it close to his face. Pressing his lips to the back of her hand, he felt a faint electrical current passed between them.
He caught the look of confusion in her face.
"M-my lord." She stammered a little, pulling her hand away from his gentle grip. Cradling the hand he had just kissed, she looked at him strangely, unable to fathom what mystery has transpired between them.
The knock became persistent.
"My lady? Shall I tell Mistress Garack that you are on your way?" the messenger asked.
Shirayuki glanced at the door and back to his Izana's face. "I'm coming." She called out, took one last look at him before she left the room, carefully closing the door behind her.