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Obi leaned against the wall and watched as Shirayuki spoke to her apprentice. She was just far enough that Obi couldn't hear their conversation, although he knew it was something about the plants in front of them from the way she kept gesturing towards them while the girl took note, but that he could reach her in time if something were to happen to her.
The whisper came from behind him. A female asking, "Is that him?"
"Yes," answered another girl. He turned just enough to see them out of the corner of his eye - two of the palace maids walking with their bodies close together and their gaze locked on him. Neither of them had seen his movement, continuing their conversation. "I told you he was gorgeous, didn't I?"
"In a way the prince's aren't. Exotic."
There was a brief fit of laughter here.
"Ah but, even though he looks like that," the second girl started, "you shouldn't do anything more then look."
"Ah? Is he seeing someone?"
"Well..." the more experienced maid let out a soft sigh. "He's not, but there are rumors."
"Of what?"
"You see, Obi hasn't dated anyone since he entered the palace as his highness Prince Zen's messenger though he quickly became Madam Shirayuki's bodyguard. That was almost a decade ago."
"No one? Surely someone has tried before?" The other maid seemed to clam up here, reluctant to say whatever was on her mind. Obi found that interesting. Usually the servants of the castle were ready to share the gossip. "Come on! Tell me!"
"I'm not sure if it's something I should say with him so close...If he can hear us..."
"We're being quiet and he's way over there," she insisted. "If he could hear us, he surely would have stopped us from talking about him by now."
He bit down the laugh that threatened to escape his throat. He watched as the older girl glanced at him before leaning closer to her friend to say, "He's declined other girls by saying he's too busy guarding Madam Shirayuki to have a relationship. Since the two of them are so close, some people think their relationship may not be as platonic as it's supposed to be...."
There was a small gasp from the first maid. "Really?! But her highness and her husband are so-"
"I think that's what's keeping the rumors from getting any worse. There doesn't appear to be any love lost between Madam Shirayuki and Prince Zen, so it doesn't make much sense for her to be having an affair."
"Obi!" He tore his attention away from the gossips, focusing all of it back on Shirayuki. His smile widened of it's own accord as she waved her arm at him. "We're going to the pharmacy now."
He pushed himself off the pillar, calling back, "I'm coming, Little Miss!"
As he left, he could hear the fading spluttering of the two maids.
Obi hummed to himself as he waited. He was crouched down next to a door, waiting for Zen who was inside speaking to some lords.
Mitsuhide had gone in with him, but Obi found that kind of thing too boring to sit through.
It was probably, he thought, a side effect of getting to spend his time primarily with Shirayuki whose duties were usually much more exciting.
However, Shirayuki was with Kiki who had made it clear Obi wasn't to disturb them until he was told to.
"Hey, hey have you heard the rumors?"
Obi glanced down, having been staring up at the ceiling, just in time to see two guards turn into the hallway in front of him. He didn't recognize them, so he figured they were probably new to the job.
"I've heard lots of rumors. It seems to be all the women in this castle want to talk about."
"It's more interesting then anything else I've heard." Obi watched as the speaker bumped his hip lightly against his companions, "They're saying the second prince has a lover."
"He's married."
"Yeah, but they weren't talking about the princess," the man insisted. "They said he had a male lover."
"What?" the word came out loud and brash. The other man hit his shoulder, shushing him. "Who?!"
"The Princess' bodyguard - Obi."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Apparently the princess came to the castle originally as the prince's friend. Some people said they thought the reason they're relationship escalated was to hide the Prince's affair without him having to marry politically and ruin his relationship."
The man hummed before saying, "I don't know if I believe that, though. It's not as though I've seen them together a lot, but from what I heard the prince and princess are fairly lovey dovey."
A shrug, "I'm just telling you what I heard man. I thought it sounded pretty interesting."
"Why?" The man bumped his elbow against his friend, a sly grin spreading over his lips. "You looking to get into the prince's bed yourself?"
"Well," he drawled as they disappeared around a corner, "the prince is certainly a beautiful guy, isn't he?"
Obi was turning this new information around in his head when the door behind him creaked open. He craned his neck up, finding Zen stepping out.
"Obi," the prince greeted, "let's get going."
"Yes master," Obi replied as he climbed to his feet.
As he fell into step with Mitsuhide, the aide questioned, "Anything interesting happen out here?"
Obi shook his head. He bumped his shoulder against Mitsuhide's and teased, "Anything interesting happen in there? Or was it as dreadful as I imagine?"
Obi pushed the door shut behind him as he entered the chambers.
"You know, I'm offended that you were the last to get here," called a voice from the bed. "Especially given that you have the least duties."
He let out a small laugh as he slipped out of his shoes and tossed them into the corner with the rest. "I checked the perimeter before coming. Sorry."
"You can be forgiven if you get into bed quickly," said a second voice. "I want to go to sleep."
"You could have slept without me," he pointed out.
In unison, the two of them answered, "No we couldn't of."
He looked up at them, a smile spreading along his face as soon as his eyes fell on them.
Zen and Shirayuki were both in the bed. Shirayuki was lying down, her hair a stark contract to the white of the pillow, looking as though she could fall asleep at any moment. Zen was laid on his side next to her, propped up on one elbow while his other hand rested on her stomach.
"I'm sorry I made you wait," Obi said. He wandered over to the wardrobe that kept their clothes. Not all of his were here, most of them resided in his actual room, but there would at least be something to sleep in. He hummed a bit as he shuffled through them, pulling out a pair of loose pants. "Actually, you know I heard something interesting today."
"Mm?" Shirayuki's voice was heavy with sleep as he asked, "What was it?"
"Apparently half the castle thinks I'm sleeping with you behind Zen's back while the other half thinks I'm sleeping with him and you're just a cover story." He stripped himself of his top layers, letting them pool on the floor until he was bare chested. Then he started on peeling himself out of his trousers. "Interesting, huh?"
"Ridiculous," Zen answered. "I love Shirayuki."
There was the soft smack of their lips joining behind him.
"I know," Obi said. He stepped into the pants he'd pulled out.
"But we're in love with you too," Zen continued. "There's obviously no cover up or affair happening."
"I know." Obi's smile stretched wider as he turned to face them again. They were curled further into each other now, Zen leaning over Shirayuki as if he hadn't pulled back after their kiss and her hand loosely in his hair. "I love you too."
"We know," Shirayuki murmured. She reached her other hand out, gesturing for him. "Now to bed. I can't sleep without both of you here."
"Whatever you want." His eyes flickered between the two of them, affection warming his chest. "Whatever you want."