Izana Wisteria, the First Prince of Clarines Kingdom, was known to be quite passive and hard to read, even by his own brother and court ministers. However, even as he watched Princess Ria's eyes glitter in fascination and curiosity as they showed her around Wistal Palace, his face was starting to show a thin smile of admiration.

Luckily, no one seemed to see or notice this, and thus, Izana felt a little more relaxed.

"This palace is beautiful." Ria breathed, turning to Prince Izana. "Your staff must take great pride in their work."

"They certainly do." Izana replied. "I'd imagine their efforts paid off handsomely. You seem entranced, Princess."

"Well, I feel that I could lose myself in just how…different everything is." Ria mused. "I knew every corridor and room of the Royal Palace back in Acordia perfectly by the time I was eight. I never really found anything to be new, or took an opportunity to see outside the walls of my home."

"With all due respect, Princess…" Prince Zen spoke up. "I do know several places outside the walls that I could show you. That does include a restaurant and bakery I patronize as often as I can."

"Really?" Ria sounded a little astonished. "You go outside routinely, Prince Zen?"

"Not routinely, I will admit." Zen replied. "Mostly, I go to get some air or exercise, and sometimes to check in on a friend who might be on an official errand."

"I see." Ria nodded. "Who might this friend be?"

Izana cast a glance at Zen, who nodded back at his older brother in a reassuring manner. Izana raised an eyebrow, but he nodded in return.

"Her name is Shirayuki." He said after a moment to compose himself. "She's a Court Herbalist here in Wistal, and…we've been in a relationship for over two years now."

Ria paused and looked at Zen in slight astonishment, but she soon softened her expression and gave him a smile.

"Would it be possible to meet her?" Ria asked.

"She should be in the gardens around this time, if I remember her schedule correctly." Obi said, coming forward. "I'm Obi, Princess. I'm Prince Zen's messenger, a Knight of Clarines, and I look after Shirayuki when Prince Zen cannot."

"Really?" Ria asked. "May I ask why your friend would need a bodyguard, Prince Zen?"

"Her apple-red hair, which is quite rare, has attracted unwanted attention to her in the past." Zen replied as they began to head for the palace gardens. "It's a story best saved for another time."

"I'd like to hear that story sometime in the future." Ria nodded. As they entered the herb gardens, Ria saw a young woman of about Zen's age with apple-red hair come forward, alongside a younger boy who seemed to be only fourteen at the oldest.

"Oh, Zen!" Shirayuki smiled brightly as she moved over to where Zen stood. "What are you doing…oh, Prince Izana, I apologize for not noticing you were here.'"

She bowed hastily, and Izana gave her a reassuring wave.

"It's quite alright, Shirayuki. As you were." Prince Izana replied. "There's someone here I'd like you to meet. This is Princess Ria Avalon of Acordia."

Princess Ria came forward, and Shirayuki bowed again.

"Rise, please." Ria said, a little flustered. "It's very nice to meet you, Shirayuki. Prince Zen told me a few things about you. Good things, I might add."

"Well, thank you, Princess." Shirayuki nodded. "May I ask what brings you to Clarines?"

"Prince Izana offered to court me, and I accepted." Ria replied. "I only arrived just this morning."

"Welcome to Wistal, then." Shirayuki smiled. "Oh, by the way, this is Ryuu. He's a Court Herbalist like I am."

Ryuu, who had stood to the side out of respect, gave a quiet "hello" and a nod before he turned to write some observations in a notebook about a set of herbs growing in a nearby terrace.

"He's quite young." Ria looked over in a curious manner. "Is he a student?"

"Actually, I was Ryuu's student for the first six months I worked here." Shirayuki said. "He's a fully fledged Court Herbalist, second only to Chief Garack, who heads the pharmacy here."

"That's incredible!" Ria said, astounded. Ryuu blushed slightly, but quietly added "Thanks" before returning to work.

"So, now that we're all acquainted…" Prince Izana said. "Was there anything else you'd like to see, Princess?"

"Well, I do feel in need of something to eat." Ria nodded. "If you don't mind, Shirayuki, would you accompany us? I'd like to talk to you more as a friend."

Shirayuki was stunned at Princess Ria's kind words, but quickly agreed. After Ryuu said he could handle the remaining tasks that Shirayuki would miss, she and Zen followed Prince Izana and Princess Ria towards the dining hall. Shirayuki couldn't stop herself from slipping her hand into Zen's, and Zen gave her a quick kiss to the forehead.

"I see you've made a good first impression." Zen smirked. "You get along with people really well, you know that?"

"I'm inclined to agree." Shirayuki nodded back gratefully. "Princess Ria seems wonderful as well. I think I could be her friend. What do you think?"

"I think that's a safe bet." Zen nodded back. However, they didn't notice that Ria, at hearing Shirayuki's sincere words, blushed faintly.

"Shirayuki really is a fascinating person." Ria thought. "I'd be glad to have her as a friend… and the same goes for Prince Izana. I can tell he approves of their relationship…and I hope I can be by his side as well one day."

—

Prince Izana would later confide in Zen, some years later, that moment was the first when he began to realize his love for Princess Ria.