Bewitched (Snow White with the Red Hair Fanfic)

8.Blonde

"Despite being of nobility, you are being too naive for your own status, Lera. Not because of what she might be planning but because she has made both you and Zen be protective of her."

I lowered my head in shame. Is it true? Was I being weak? Like the girl father always told me I was. Weak....unlike my sister.

"But..." I mumbled softly and Izana heard it.

"Hmm?"

"Is it wrong to believe in someone? Can't I somehow prove she doesn't have any negative influence on us?!? Can't you trust me?" I said with all my confidence out in the open.

I said it. I finally questioned the question I wanted to ask to Izana. Yet, he seemed unfazed by my words and simply grinned.

"Well, if you're that confident, I guess I could give her a chance. Actually, I planned a special event for her today and you're going to witness it silently."

He took my hand in his as he led me to one of the aisles he has in his structured room. The ones which had curtains in use for private conversations.

He made me sit on the cushioned seat and instead of sitting down himself, he leaned down to whisper into my ear.

"Wait quietly in here. Make sure they don't know you're here."

I nodded as obediently as I could. What was Izana planning??

Then he left the aisle with the curtains fluttering after him until they returned to covering the sight outside from me. Only silence followed afterwards and I waited nervously, anonymous of what was about to come.

After a while, I heard a knock on the door. Izana responded a 'Come in.' before the door opened and about three people entered.

"Brother, where have you hidden Shirayuki? I believe your intentions are nowhere close of being ill." Zen stated. The atmosphere was getting thick until Izana spoke up.

"You mean the red haired maiden? Zen, as a prince, I'm sure you know where your duties lie. Your last occurence at the Fort wasn't something acknowledgeable." Izana calmly replied. "As for the girl you just mentioned..."

I heard Izana's footsteps come closer to my aisle. My heart throbbed nervously as I anxiously awaited for him to flutter the curtains open.

Until, the sound of curtains fluttering was heard but was not the aisle I was in.

"Zen!" I heard Shirayuki's voice. "Shirayuki.." Zen called back in reply. Although I couldn't see both of them, I could imagine the shock on Zen's face as he sees Shirayuki.

"As you see, I'm having a guest and I'm busy. You may leave." Izana said and I heard nothing from Zen. I took a small peek at the curtains to see the whole picture.

Instead of replying to Izana, Zen rushed over to Shirayuki and whispered something into her ear. Whatever he said, Shirayuki's eyes lit up. He must have encouraged her.

Izana continued his talk with Shirayuki which I couldn't quite understand about. It was about Tanbarun and about Shirayuki being acquainted to someone named Prince Raj.

The whole situation was confusing me so I decided to ask Izana for answers. Shirayuki was dismissed with a tulip in her hands, a present from Izana. More like a warning signal...

"Did you wait for long?" Izana's sudden voice surprised me as I fell onto my back, away from the fluttered curtains. "My, my. You really shouldn't be this clumsy, Lera." Izana chuckled and I blushed shyly.

He handed me his arm and I took it to recover from my fall. After I fixed myself, Izana sat down and gestured me to sit next to him. I awkwardly sat next to him.

His eyes felt like piercing me so I just looked down at my fiddling hands. "Um...what's the connection between Shirayuki and Prince Raj? And about the Fort? Did Zen do something wrong??"

My questions were nonstop but Izana simply looked at me, his chin resting on his hand with that devillishly handsome pose directed at me.

"Please, I beg you. At least answer one of my questions..." I asked.

"I apologize. It's just that your fazed expression piqued my interest." Blush..."As for your curiosity, I called you here for a reason, Lera. I won't stop you from meeting Shirayuki but keep in mind that I can make her go away at any time."

"I...I understand."

"For further notice, Prince Raj of Tanbarun is arriving to pick his prized collection. I need you to prepare for it. Maybe I should choose a dress for you this time..." his hand reached out to caress my long hair in his hands. "Though you make me want you no matter what you wear."

My face was heating up and I could do nothing but get hypnotised by his enchanting ocean blue eyes. "That's an honour. I'm flattered." I replied too formally.

"Is that so? Perhaps I should make you my wife all the same?"

"That is not my choice but your parents..."

"I can make you mine with or without my parents consent, Lera. I will treasure you as long as you return all your love and loyalty to me. Doing that is your choice, not my parents."

Zen's face suddenly flashed through my mind. He would be engaged to me if I somehow not get ended up with Izana.

"I'll...I'll think about it. Please, I need some time."

Izana sighed. "Fine."

♢♢♢

Prince Raj. The crown prince of Tanbarun, the country where Shirayuki supposedly lived. I have heard of the eccentric behaviour of the prince but I needed to hear from Shirayuki herself.

Apparently, she is the key to the mystery of Prince Raj's arrival. So I sent her a letter that I would visit her. Before the prince arrives.

"Miss Lera? I hear there's going to be a court herbalist exam very soon." Kinare said, whilst braiding my hair. "Court herbalist?" I asked.

"Yes. There is one every year and only the best and talented are chosen to work in the palace. I thought this news would help your green-eyed friend."

Kinare was actually considering for my friends as well. I feel blessed to be her friend. "God, thank you so much! Kinare, I am grateful for this." I hugged her and she hugged back.

"I'm going to tell Zen about this..." I told her and rushed off to Zen's quarters. Only to be stopped by running into a certain someone.

"Lady Lera...!?"