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Wirant Castle was retiring for the night beside the occasional routine guards on their patrol. All one can do is thank them for their loyalty and bravery for being out in the cold night, but also feel happy for them to serve a strong foundation. The guards are lightly armored, but they are generously cloaked without it restricting their movements. The night was calm but absorbingly silent since the snow flurry started. The snow slowly danced outside as it created soundlessness and a beautiful accumulation of white and grey. Even though there was no moon, the snow practically illuminated its own light by borrowing from the occasional warm-colored lamps that gleamed around the castle.
The windows were slightly frosted in delicate designs and accumulated snow around the corners. Inside, every other dark navy curtain closed and the others, drawn as the royal servants have not all gone home yet. Down one of the bedroom halls is the second prince and his princess wife’s quarters. Unlike other past royal couple traditions, they sleep in their own room, together in one bed. When they first moved into this room, there were two beds on each side of the room facing each other, but the two of them had it be moved out and replaced that area with a bookshelf and a small storage closet to hold some of Shirayuki’s books and Zen’s cloaks, respectively. It was quite a modest space with both of their personalities mixed together. While there were many different objects, they were put in the right places with a sense of minimalism and purpose.
The prince and princess were about to retire for the night after a long day of work. Despite Shirayuki being pregnant, she insists to do written work at least to keep herself busy and help herself drift off. Her husband, Zen knew better from the beginning to never just expect her to sit still and take it easy. So, he would work as much as he could to support her emotionally. Although she knows what her limits are and doesn’t purposefully do anything out of her ability and cause Zen to worry. They both just know.
Shirayuki was already in bed earlier and the ends of her hair are still slightly wet from her bath. Her frilly white long-sleeved nightgown fitted her nicely with a long dark red shawl blanket over her shoulders. With her leg’s under the covers, she was sitting back comfortably against the body pillows, reviewing her winter season botany book. It was of modest size and hard cover, but to the unkeen eye, the book may seem intimidating due to its thickness.
The door slowly opens with her husband rubbing his damp hair with a towel, slightly wobbling in his steps because of the hot water vapor from his bath. The prince was still a fashionable mess with his navy blue silk winter pajamas with white borders around the hems and white buttons. He sighed deeply in relief from the sudden lack of humidity and a slight bibliosmia aroma in the air.
“How was your bath?” Shirayuki greets him, averting her eyes to her husband with a teasing smile.
“Wonderful!” Zen said slowly, leaning his head back. He closes the door behind him and flops face-down on the bed.
This, however, doesn’t startle his wife in the slightest. Shirayuki gently ruffles his hair, “I know you worked very hard today, but please don’t push yourself, okay?”
“I should say the same for you!” he pouted, struggling to lift his head. He refused to move any part of his body even though it would have helped him see her better. His body just wouldn’t listen.
His wife chuckled, “I’m fine, Zen! At least I’m not lying limp on the side of the bed.”
Ouch.
Suddenly, as if it was a cosmic miracle, her husband finally found the strength to lift himself up and sat down beside her. He closed his eyes and deeply sighed once more as his body sank into the mattress. Shirayuki couldn’t be any more entertained. She tried to, but her chuckles just kept coming.
Zen smirks, peeking at his wife, “Alright, I give up. So, I tried practicing with the soldiers in the snow again. But it was either that or arrange a meeting with the Sion, Tisua, and Valerie Houses. As much as I don’t mind them, it’s all just a simple 'how are you today?' meeting nowadays.”
Now with both eyes open and facing her, “Still, ever since becoming the Lord of Wirant, I have always dreamed of having you by my side, so any responsibility that may come from it, seeing you at the end of the day puts my heart at ease.”
It could be the hormones or the dry heat from the cast iron fireplace, but her emotions were elevated as her eyes slowly started to water.
Zen jerks up in surprise, “Shirayuki?! Are you okay?” He’s accustomed to saying that a little too often that it developed multiple meanings over the past few months. The playful are-you-okay, sincerely worried are-you-okay, anxious are-you-okay, and the special knowing she is okay but still asking just in case are-you-okay. As she could understand his clumsy language, Shirayuki always knew how to respond to each one.
She sniffled, “Mmm. I’m okay. I just know you’re a wonderful person. You protect and love your country, as you do me. I’m just so happy that our child will come to know that, too.”
The starstruck prince gazed upon his beautiful wife. Her bright red hair and green eyes were warmly lightened by the fireplace, giving her almost a heavenly glow. Even though Zen’s distracted by his wife’s beauty, he doesn’t realize that she, too, was distracted. Her husband’s platinum blonde hair can take in any color and make it his own without asking while his blue eyes melted with her reflection in his iris. Shirayuki’s heart was taken over and over again as if it was the first time and the feeling never failed to make her euphoric. The snow seemed to slow down as if to at least take a peek from the window to get a glimpse of the blessed couple.
“Yeah,” he smiled back at her with a gentle and reliant ambiance. Without daring to break their gaze, he scooted closer towards her until their shoulders touched and softly intertwined his fingers with hers. Just by monosyllabic words and simple movements, he makes her life feel golden. This moment was just too precious to not pass up as their lips come closer and closer together. Finally, as their lips brushed and caressed teasingly, they complete the passionate kiss as they breathe each other in.
As if the world would beg father time for them to enjoy this time a little longer, Shirayuki’s one hand was still holding the side of the book and the other in Zen’s. When they finally break away from their warm tender kiss, they didn’t feel out of breath at all, but Zen did feel his fatigue start to weigh down on his eyelids. He lowered his head as he lightly brushed against Shirayuki’s cheek then finally rested on her shoulder.
The prince’s eyes are half-closed as he tried to tell her that he’s sorry for suddenly falling asleep, but it merely came out as a mumble. Finally, his eyes close completely as he submits into a deep long-deserved slumber. As his breath was steady, she carefully took off her shawl and covered Zen. He wasn’t completely covered, but the fire will go on for a while longer. As she observed her husband’s sleeping face, she reminds herself that it is not a dream, but reality. Even though she was tired, she wanted to finish the chapter a bit more first and then go to sleep.
“Goodnight, my prince,” she whispered, “and goodnight to you, too,” as she looked to her stomach.
As the fates allow them, their love was growing, and enticed the heavens with no questions asked. That one snowy night and the many they will have later gave them more than what they need. It brings warmth to their hearts, courage to their souls, and most importantly, sleep to their eyes.