𝐑𝐎𝐘𝐀𝐋 𝐁𝐋𝐔𝐄.

            within his gaze , she fell deeper into the crystal blue hues of his eyes. akin to oceans , there was strength of the tide but she never felt liked she’d drown . no , within his eyes , she felt security that she’d always be safe &. most of all … loved. he suddenly broke the prolonged contact , &. emerald hues trained on her book. apples of visage , rosen. ahh , perhaps it was much too intense ? fingertips , smooth from upkeep of creams &. oils beneficial for skin , she brushed aside a stray silken strand from his face , ❛     you have nothing to worry about. you’ll do great.     ❜ smile grew as she sighed , knowing that there was little room for failure when prince zen put his mind to something : determined , capable , compassionate. he was all those qualities &. more , ❛      ———  you always do.     ❜

         hearts are fickle ——— or perhaps , it’s his heart that’s fickle . sometimes, leaps and bounds in displays of his affection are effortless, and confident charm comes easily . but other times , his fickle heart sputters at the brief, close glance and suddenly , he’s fumbling through it all : eyes downcast, cheeks flushed, and heart on his sleeve ( skipping and gasping for air ) . then , comes her gentle touch and her even gentler voice, and his heart lulls . their close proximity isn’t something to push his heart into a dizzying spiral but a promise of safety . there’s a security there that he can’t find anywhere or in anyone else . however fickle his heart may be , there is one thing for certain : he loves and he loves and he loves her . his hand catches hers and brings her knuckles to his lips . a small silent promise of his adoration — his unending dedication .

            parchment sunkissed , her gaze drew from the book to him. through curtain of apple red , she saw the glimmer of pearly whites &. beautiful crystal blues. how breathtaking they were , filled with adorations for her.  fingertips brushed aside her hair for her to see his full vision. heart overjoyed , her smile grew. offering him the text , she peeked up over the pages pointing to the various pictures. ❛     i’m reading about the effects of heating &. chilling on poisonous herbs to help in promoting their healing properties.     ❜ he had made time to see her between moments of chaos with his full schedule as a prince. the bags underneath his eyes told her of all the hardwork &. efforts he put forth in his role. ❛     ———  are you nervous about meeting the ministers ?     ❜

        closer, he leans. eyes follow her direction. truthfully, this is a familiar dance they often share. zen would steal away from his duties, and against all odds, would end up by her side before long. they’ll share an exchange where she might laugh and he’ll beam. short moments of domesticity amid a labyrinth of grandiose destinies. it’s a precious dance.   ❛   sounds interesting.   ❜   this would be the part of the dance where he’d sneak a glance toward her whilst her attention is placed elsewhere. instead, his gaze catches her steady one  —  following his forward lean, was far closer than he had expected. heat spikes in his cheeks, and his gaze darts back to the book. perhaps, he had stolen his glance a little too early this time.   ❛   well, i don’t know if i would say nervous. restless, maybe.   ❜

            to be in love was a privilege , a burden she took on each day. ever - lasted past the stretch of long nights working by lamplight &. the tiredness that lingered between breaths. heart fluttered with warm aura , it spread across petite form.  smile flourished upon her visage , tinge of rouge bloomed on her cheeks. ❛     i have to be ! how else will i be able to keep up ?     ❜ a tiny laugh escaped before she turned the page. verdant greens stared up at the prince , ❛     are you taking a break , zen ?     ❜

if it had been anyone else, mitsuhide may have sighed. with zen, however, mitsuhide retains a rather neutral face. ‘ i don’t begrudge you for the desire to see shirayuki, ’ he says blandly, as it’s true, ‘ however, to distract both of you from your work while shirayuki is working so hard for her title and place here… ’ he leaves the rest of the sentence ( and therefore the scolding ) unsaid, letting the prince fill it in for himself. 

            shirayuki whenever zen is nearby.

        ❛   better.   ❜   it seems there is nothing the court herbalist’s hands can’t heal. her presence alone brings a wave of healing relief to wash over him — one that he couldn’t find anywhere else. with eyes as kind as hers and touch as gentle, one could not and should not deny the power of her influence, and he certainly wouldn’t. truly, it never fails to leave him in awe. perhaps, her presence alone eased his lungs. though, the herbs might have had a hand in the healing.