The Red-Haired Princess || Akagami No Shirayukihime

22. Twilight

Chapter 22: Twilight

The last fireworks were blown out already. Some of the visitors had left. Minority of them had decided to stay in the castle till the next day. The celebration was over. Everyone was retiring to their private chambers, even their Majesties themselves.

Shirayuki was escorted to the dressing room to take her dress off. She gently took her necklace and earrings off. She was helped by Maya to clean her makeup. After she was done, she was given a look-alike night dress. She thanked the seamstress, Maya and the assistants. She left with Kiki and Cora to the East wing.

They excused themselves immediately after they reached Prince Zen's quarters. Shirayuki walked past the guards, that were guarding Prince Zen's quarters. They gently bowed to her.

Shirayuki stood nervously at the door. She didn't know if Zen was inside or not. She gently took a deep breath and quietly opened the large door. She peeked. The room was pitch black. She walked into the room and turned on a lamp that was nearer.

Her things were moved to Zen's room days ago. Since she couldn't see Zen, she couldn't arrange the things herself. After the lights started brightening brighter, she saw three doors. She entered the first door. It was dark. She lighted another bright lamp. It was an enormous closet room. It even had a dressing mirror, wardrobes, shelves, hangers... She noticed some of her things were hanged and placed neatly. Zen must've placed them. She lightly blushed at the thought of Zen touching her attires. She imagined what Zen could have taught during the arrangements. She switched off the light. She left the room and gently closed the door.

Shirayuki entered the next room. She switched another lamp on. It was the washroom. It had a washing area, wall mirror, a shelve underneath it and a wardrobe. There was another door in the washroom. She opened it. It was the bathing area. Very huge it is. She existed switching off the lamb. She was now inside the main room again.

She wasn't sure what could be in the third room. She opened it, but there wasn't any light in there to switch, so she ignored it and left the room.

The lamb's light was clearly balancing with the night sky. The night sky was looking different from usual, it looked more colorful. More like a twilight. She had had a very comforting, large and spacy room during her engagement, but Zen's room is unbelievable.

The bed was a King-sized bed. Covered with many layered sheets, a heavy looking blanket, and pillows. It was canopied and curtained. The canopy was supported by the tall bedhead.

A glass door. Behind the glass door was a balcony. Long and colorful curtains. A table centered in the middle of the settee and a sofa, pillows placed on each of them.

Shirayuki looked at the lavishing room. She wasn't sure what to do. Was she supposed to sleep on the bed? Wait for him? Besides, if he was to be here, was she to make the first move? Shirayuki couldn't help but feel hot in her body at the last suggestion.

She covered her mouth and sat on the sofa. She saw a book. 'This must be the book Zen was talking about', she thought. She started reading the book. All her focused left the book, instead, she was thinking about the future, especially tomorrow. How is tomorrow going to be? It will be her first time as a princess. Are people going to bow every time they see her? Does she really have to ignore them, like Lady Adela taught and instructed her?

Shirayuki was in deep thoughts, she almost couldn't hear the door open. Her mind came back to Earth after the door was shut. She gently looked up and saw Zen's surprised eyes. Probably surprised that Shirayuki was still awake or sitting on the sofa.

"Hello," Shirayuki said in a low tone, bringing Zen back to reality.

"So, how long have you been awake? I thought you would be asleep. It's over midnight." Zen said walking towards Shirayuki.

Shirayuki closed the book and said, "Well, I decided to stay up for a while."

"Okay, I will be inside." Zen gestured to the first room, the closet. Shirayuki nodded.

Shirayuki watched the back of her now-husband. She had been watching the door to the extent of not knowing Zen had disappeared from the scene for the last minutes. She quickly shook her head and starred back at her book and opened it, once more, not concentrating.

Shivers immediately sprinted through Shirayuki's spine. She was secretly, desperately waiting for the results. She took two different blood tests; First, to prove she didn't have any virus or disease in her blood. Second, optional, to know where her ancestors really come from and where they're expanded to. Even though Shirayuki had known Hiroyuki then, she still got inquisitive. The first blood results were negative, giving her a go-ahead into her marriage. The second blood test was promised to be ready by months, which Shirayuki is dying for that day to come.

A noise was suddenly heard from the door. Shirayuki immediately turned her head. It was Zen, coming from the door, she had observed secondly. She suddenly got confused. Zen had entered the first room, not the second, she thought.

She was surprised to extent of not realizing it showed on her face; making Zen chuckle.

"The closet is connected to the washroom," Zen stated.

Shirayuki giggled, embarrassed at her unawareness of surroundings. Zen immediately felt Shirayuki's embarrassment.

"There's nothing to worry about. You'll get used to everything before you know it." Zen said comfortingly. Shirayuki smiled shyly. Zen had always wonder, how his wife can change her mood easily; especially from any mood to shyness.

The way Zen saw Shirayuki's shyness was different. It was more than embarrassing. Zen didn't have to guess twice to know what his wife's sudden shyness was about. He took few steps and knelt in front of Shirayuki. Shirayuki gasped a bit at his husband's immediate action.

Zen took Shirayuki's hand into his warm palm, making Shirayuki's other hand hold the book. Zen said gently caressing her hand, "Things went well today, and really fastly. Today is the day, the both of us has been desperately waiting for, ever since day one. We're here now. The both of us will have to wait to see what the future holds for us." He gently pecked Shirayuki's hand and smiled. He released her hand. Shirayuki took the book again and started reading. She was smiling brightly, meaning, she wasn't focusing on reading.

Zen looked at his smiling bride and just shook his head. He sighed and said, "I'm not quite sure if you're reading or not. But if you are, I would really love you to teach me, how to read upside down."

Shirayuki blushed heavily and uncontrollably. Shirayuki was on the extremity of expiry. She couldn't help but cover her face. She felt so abashed, it made Zen laughed. He removed Shirayuki's hand from her face. He gently leaned in and kissed her. It was tensed at first, but later calm and sweet.

"I will have an early meeting tomorrow, so, you won't probably be able to see me. But later at launch." Zen informed immediately after they broke apart.

Shirayuki nodded, the blush disappears. He pecked her forehead saying, "Goodnight. I will see you later in the afternoon."

"Goodnight to you too."

They shared a smile. Zen stood up and walked to the king-sized bed. Shirayuki smiled even more brightly. She was thinking how lucky she really is. Starting from tomorrow, she will be able to stand beside Zen's side firmly without shaking grounds, even though their marriage is morganatic, but with privileges. Shirayuki gently laid her head back, stretching it. Not later before she joined her husband on the bed, nervous, trying not to wake him up if he really is sleeping.

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A/N:

Hello! It's been quite a long time.

Hope you enjoyed;)