The sun was beginning to set when Shirayuki woke. A soft knock sounded at her door, and before she could stand, Obi had moved from her bed. He opened the door to reveal the maid, Camille, holding a box and dipping a quick curtsey.
"Good evening, Sir Obi, Shirayuki. I'm here to help you dress for dinner and brought you a gift from His Highness." Camille stepped around Obi and set the box on the table. She drew an appraising eye over Obi and set her hands on her hips.
"You should get dressed as well," she ordered, then shooed him off towards his room. "I'll take care of your lady." Shirayuki tried to hide a laugh behind her hand as she watched Obi flee from Camille's scowl. Once his door had latched, Camille turned back to the box on the table and gently lifted the lid off. Curiosity piqued, Shirayuki stood and walked toward her as the maid carefully lifted out a silver silk dress. The fabric rippled over her hands and the redhead's breath caught at the extravagance of it.
Ever fashion conscious, Raj and Rona had taken to dressing Shirayuki up like a doll on her visits, trying out the latest fashions on her and filling out her wardrobe, despite her protests. Her complaints had fallen on deaf ears, but they generally kept the dresses to the sort that would pass for nicer dinners or the occasional ball. This one seemed rather excessive for a dinner.
"Oh goodness, are you sure?" Shirayuki reached out a tentative hand and traced it lightly over the gossamer fabric.
"His Highness insisted," Camille replied, draping the dress carefully over the table. Between the women, they changed Shirayuki out of her more serviceable dress and into the newly gifted one. The smooth silk hugged her features except for where the back was nearly non-existent, plunging to her waistline. After a few minutes of waffling, the women decided against a sling, not wanting to mar the look of the dress, and Shirayuki insisting that she no longer needed to hold the injured arm up.
Camille tutted around the girl, fixing bits and pieces of the dress before she reached up and pulled the hair pin from the bun she had secured earlier that morning. Red locks tumbled around Shirayuki's shoulders, and the maid carefully brushed them out, leaving her hair unbound.
"There!" she declared, setting down the brush. "I must say, Prince Raj does have good taste in clothing. You look beautiful." Shirayuki turned and smiled at the woman.
"Thank you so much for your help," she said, standing up from the dressing table. Both women turned when a light knock sounded from the shared door of the suite.
"Are you decent?" Obi called, cracking the door open.
"She's utterly indecent," Camille declared, flouncing to the door and pulling it open.
Obi looked in the room, curiously, to see Shirayuki swathed in shimmering silk. Candlelight rippled through the silver layers pooled at her feet and Obi's mouth dried. His fingers twitched at his sides, aching to reach out and run his fingers along the smooth skin of her arms, wondering if it was as smooth as the silk she was encased in. A few paces brought him to her and willed his fingers to stillness.
"My Lady," he said, locking eyes with her, "You look stunning." Shirayuki blushed and bit her lip.
"Thank you, Obi, you look very dashing tonight." He was dressed in his formal black uniform, and while Shirayuki preferred him in his usual working clothes, she had to admit that the uniform fit him well. He was no longer the scrawny waif that had wormed into their lives. Training and proper care had broadened his shoulders and honed his physique. Shirayuki fought the urge to brush some non-existent dust from his shoulders, wanting to reach out and take comfort from his sturdiness.
"If you are both ready, we should probably get you to dinner," Camille stated with a wry smile, breaking the pair out of their daze. Shirayuki nodded shyly and turned to follow the maid out the door. As she turned, Obi caught sight lowcut back of her dress and he groaned internally. She is going to be the death of me, he thought, balling his hands as he followed the girls.
Instead of heading towards the prince's sitting room, the maid detoured, leading the pair back down towards the greenhouse. Shirayuki followed curiously, not wanting to doubt the woman. Once they arrived, Camille opened the door and ushered her and Obi in before closing the door quietly behind them.
The greenhouse had been transformed. Where there usually was a work table, now there was a small dining table with two chairs. Candles had been scattered throughout the foliage, and the lanterns that usually dotted the area were turned down. Raj stood in front of the table, impeccably dressed as usual, despite his black armband.
"Ah, you got my gift!" The prince beamed, sending an appraising eye over her. "You look magnificent! Come, join me for dinner!" He swept his arm back and indicated the table where cloche covered meals waited. Obi noted Sakaki standing a respectful distance away and took up the same positioning. It was clearly a dinner for two tonight.
"Thank you, Raj," Shirayuki said, settling into her chair. "The dress is lovely, though it feels like bit too much for dinner."
"Nothing is too fine for you," Raj declared and seated himself. With a snap of his fingers, Sakaki moved forward and removed the covering from the plates, signaling the start of dinner.
Despite the unusual location, the friends settled into easy conversation, though Raj fidgeted more than usual. Towards the end of dinner, Shirayuki noticed him glancing back to Sakaki more frequently.
"Is everything alright?" She asked, leaning forward.
"Oh, yes, it's perfectly fine. But, I do have something I want to discuss with you." Raj wrung his hands together and then fumbled with the pocket of his trousers.
"Shirayuki, I'll be crowned king tomorrow night. And, well, every king needs a queen." He gulped. "My advisors said that it would be a boost for morale to have a royal wedding and coronation and we've been friends for so long now." Raj finally managed to fish a small box out of his trousers. His hands shook slightly as he opened the box. "What I'm asking is, will you marry me, be queen of Tanbarun?" A small ring sat nestled in green velvet, a diamond the size of her thumbnail glittering on the band.
"Raj, I – I don't know what to say." Shirayuki's mind spun. The beautiful dress, candlelight dinner. It had never occurred to her that it could have been anything more than Raj's usual exuberance.
"Yes would be a good start." Raj had paled, his hand still outstretched, offering her the ring.
"I – I can't," the words tumbled out and she pushed forward, seeing his face fall. "It's not you, I love you like a dear friend, and I know that some woman will make you so happy. I just can't be queen. I can't." Raj looked confused as she forced out the words.
"No one else knows, but Zen asked me, too, and I told him no. I can't be royalty. Your kingdoms deserve a princess and a queen who can dedicate her whole self to them. I can't do that. I'm always mis-stepping and I belong in the pharmacy. I want to travel and learn and not be kept caged in the castle. Zen and I split up because I couldn't be who he needed, and I wouldn't make him choose between his country and me."
Obi listened intently, not having been privy to the conversation, and not wanting to pry into their affairs when the break up had occurred. He had never known that Zen had proposed and been turned down. He supposed the refusal had stung after so many years of dancing around their relationship, and the prince had not wanted to share that bit of awkwardness.
"I'd still allow you to travel," Raj said hopefully, though his hand wavered, "And you could still come out into the gardens."
"It wouldn't be the same," she said gently, leaning towards him. "I can't be the queen you need, but you will always be one of my dearest friends."
Raj seemed to deflate for a moment, then tucked the ring and box back into his pocket before pulling himself back together.
"Of course," he said, giving her a small smile. "Thank you for joining me for dinner. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some preparations for tomorrow. Have a good evening." Raj stood and gave her a small bow before turning on his heel, planning to lick his wounds in the comfort of his own quarters, most likely with a bottle of brandy.
With a long sigh, Shirayuki pushed her chair back from the table and stood, making her way to the door, Obi following close behind. She had not wanted to hurt Raj, and she hoped that their friendship would survive the impromptu proposal. Embarrassment pinked her cheeks, but she held her head high as she walked back to their suites. Obi, for his part, kept quiet, not sure if she wanted some peace to mull over her thoughts. By the time they breezed into their rooms, the silence was growing between them into an uncomfortable thing. The redhead strode straight to the balcony, wanting fresh air away from the prying eyes of the servants. Obi stopped behind her and took a chance to speak up.
"Are you alright, Miss?"
Shirayuki shoulders slumped and she turned to face him.
"I honestly don't know. Anyone else would be thrilled to have two princes, one soon to be a king, propose to them. There must be something broken inside me because I just can't be who they want me to be."
Obi's heart stung and looked down into her eyes. "There's nothing wrong with you, Miss. You are exactly who you need to be. And a shitty proposal isn't going to change that."
Shirayuki snorted, "Shitty proposal?"
"Well, yes," he grinned. "As far as proposals come, I've heard far better than 'My advisors said I need a queen and you're here, so let's get hitched.'" That elicited a giggle from the girl.
"And you could do better?"
"I know I could do better."
The moonlight shimmered across the silk, illuminating the dainty woman and sending ripples of light through the fabric all the way down to where it pooled at her feet. His breath caught in his throat as he looked at the ethereal sight. There was challenge written in her face, and it emboldened him.
Obi caught her hand between his and sank gracefully to one knee. Turning his face up to hers, he caught and held her eyes.
"Shirayuki," he said softly, and a thrill went through her, finally hearing him speak her name. "You are precious to me. Your brilliant mind and kind heart inspire me and help me see the good in the world. When I first met you, I never imagined that I could find anyone who would hold me in one place. Every moment I spend with you is a gift from the Gods, and I go to sleep every night with a prayer on my lips, thanking them for letting me have just one more day with you. Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife, of being the first beautiful thing I see every morning, and the last thing I see every night?"
"Yes," she breathed, caught in the snare of his eyes. Her hand trembled lightly, enveloped completely by his.
"Yes?" Obi startled, the spell between them broken. Shirayuki's cheeks flushed and she pulled her hand from his grip, bringing it up to cover her mouth.
"I – I mean, yes, if someone asked me like… like that, I'm sure I would say yes. If it was the right person, I mean." Her heart thumped so hard in her chest that she was sure he had to be able to hear it. Her hand felt aching cold out of his grasp and she dared to glance down at him. He was frozen on the ground, still on one knee. His eyes were wide and unguarded, and for once he was stunned into silence.
"Obi?" She lowered her hand down to touch him lightly on the cheek and startled him from his stupor. He coughed lightly and stood up.
"Yes, Miss, you're right. From the right person, they'd be very pretty words, enough to sweep any young maiden off her feet." He turned from her abruptly and placed his hands on the stone railing of the balcony, gripping it tightly. Shirayuki's keen eyes did not miss the tight set of his shoulders, and she stepped forward to lay a hand on his arm. Before she could touch him, he flinched away, subtle enough that she almost missed it as he turned slightly towards her.
"It's been a rather long day, Miss, and tomorrow promises to be longer. You should get some rest." There was a firmness in his tone that brooked no arguments and she pulled back, feeling as if she'd been rebuked.
"You're right, we should get to bed." She turned from him to walk back into her room, hurt squeezing her heart.
"And Miss?" Shirayuki turned back to him, hopeful that she would see her lighthearted Obi rather than the somber one that she was now faced with. "Lock the balcony door tonight. It's not safe."
"Yes Obi," she said softly, the corners of her mouth turned downward. "Sweet dreams."
"Always," he sighed, turning back to look over the castle grounds, lowering his head to his hands only after he heard her door snick shut.