Kiroyuki's POV
"Hey Shirayuki?" She hummed in response as I took a gazed around the halls towards Izana's office. "How in the world can you remember your way here! It's huge!"

'I mean sure my castle is huge, but I run around there like 24/7- wait.... I didn't feel depressed when I mentioned about home right now... What an odd improvement...'

"Kiroyuki...?" I snapped out of my thoughts and smiled at Shirayuki who had concerned and worried expression.

"Yes Shirayuki?" Her emerald eyes gave off a sign of relief as she turned her head forward.

"Well, I was kinda lost at first but, since I found someone to cherish so dearly, I would run the whole castle to find him. I guess that was sort of a motivation..." I giggled at her thoughtful statement. She glanced at me curiously with the sound of my giggles.

"Umm..." I think she's starting to feel weirded out, she must think that her statement sounded funny.

"Sorry, it's just that, are you directing that statement to Zen?" Her face exploded into multiple shades of red and desperately tried covering her face. However, it was useless since her ears were also red like her fiery hair. I giggled in response of her flustered reaction.

"H-how did you know?!"

"Oh, so I was right then?!" Her face grew a slight bit more red, maybe even darker than her hair color— How adorable!

"I knew because while coming here to Clarines, you were staring at Zen from time to time." She smacked her forehead in disbelief.

"W-was I r-really?! I feel so stupid!" I smiled widely as Shirayuki inhaled a couple of breaths to cool down her flushed face. .

"It's so weird..." She glanced back to me with a confused expression that was different than my neutral expression while only looking ahead of myself. "Although at the time I was depressed and solemn, I was still able to observe without noticing. Just right now I just blurted that out without thoughts. I feel as if I'm slowly changing..."

Shirayuki's POV
'Wow... Kiroyuki is indeed special. She's a great addition to the group...' I smiled in agreement.

"Kiroyuki" Although she didn't respond, I knew that she was listening so I just went ahead and spoke. "I'm glad that you're here. I believe that you'll fit in Clarines just fine."

"Thank you, Shirayuki."

At the same time, we arrived at our destination. I knocked onto the grand doors while announcing who was entering. We were granted permission and we both walked forth.

Kiroyuki's POV
"I'm relieves to see you have recovered, Kiroyuki." I gave him a warm smile as he reached out his arms for a hug, which I return the favor by gently hugging him back.

"Thank you Izana... Also how dare you leave me!" He chuckled lightly and ruffled my... Turquoise hair? Wasn't it like light blue, like snowy-blue?! I guess the others were also confused as I grabbed my hair and examined it while gasping in shock.

"K-Kiroyuki! When did your hair color change! It's turquoise now!" I glanced over to Zen then back to my hair that was still in my small hands. I was also confused. Surely I would of remembered my hair being this color.

"I-I don't know.... Izana, do you know anything?" I asked, pulling onto my hair with bewildered eyes.

"I honestly am not quite sure myself. Shirayuki, was her hair like this just before?" We all have our attention to Shirayuki as she look as confused and baffled.

"U-um, it wasn't like that when I retrieved her from the patient's room... And I'm pretty sure her hair color wasn't like that while we were walking..." Everyone was giving their full attention to my even more abnormal hair. I felt self conscious and shifted in my spot.

"Izana?" He hummed in response. "Why did you call me here?"

"Well first of all, I want to discuss your new life here in Clarines."

"Oh... So would I stay locked up in a room?" Everyone's eyes widened in disbelief and yelled out in questioned. Izana was at lost for words.

"WHAT! WHY WOULD WE DO THAT?!" I winced from the yells of the group and they inched closed to my small frame. Shirayuki was grabbing my shoulders with mixed emotions in her deep emerald eyes.

"Aren't I dangerous to Clarines...? If I'm being chased, wouldn't they attack here?"

"That doesn't mean we'd have to lock you up! That is ridiculous towards you and Clarines' reputation to trap another country's princess! You're not a hostage."

"You have Clarines to protect you."

'I feel so cared and loved... I'm really thankful for them... I'll make sure to protect them this time...'

I inhaled slowly and glanced up towards everyone's line of sight with a serious face. My lips pursed up and my hands gained some of its strength.

"Thank you for your encouragement and kindness. I don't only plan to accept your protection, but I want all of you to accept my proposal of protection for you too. I want to help Clarines in as many ways as possible. Please tell me any orders that I can hep assist with."

Izana's POV
'She's very determined just as her father had told me. I wonder what has gotten her back to herself.'

"I can't deny your request, so I would like for you to live as a normal princess and person. Perform tasks like a normal princess and to live freely as you wish, but I would like to ask a favor."

"Huh? What is it?" I smirked as everyone else but Kiki and Kiroyuki were leaning forward.

"First, I would be honored if you could train our soldiers whenever you feel ready. Second, you wouldn't have all of the paperwork that you're used to back at Hyoushou. After all, it's not necessary— You are young and technically our guest. You won't have to worry about huge matters unless needed. I don't really want to overwork you when there's both Zen and I."

"W-wait! Brother! Kiroyuki, train the soldiers?!" Zen was very confused. Even the whole group had a flabbergast and speechless expressions that yelled out in wonder of her abilities.

"Zen, I would like to inform you that her kingdom excels in battle tactics throughout history and such in the category." Zen was silent and his face was in utter disbelief.

"I wouldn't mind training the soldiers, but are you sure about those conditions? You and Zen could handle it right?"

"We are not weak. Do not underestimate Clarines" Zen mumbled to himself, slightly pouting.

"What Zen meant to say is that we appreciate you helping with some paperwork. Zen or his aides will show you the reins of how Clarines work slowly, bit by bit. I hope you aren't overwhelmed by all of this."

She shook her head and gave a small smile. "No, it's no problem. This is how I can help Clarines and it shows my gratitude towards everyone."

"Kiroyuki, you won't have to start your princess duties until a few days till you're fully familiar with Clarines and it's history, geography, and culture. You may go explore to your heart's content now." She nodded her head and gave me one last quick hug. I guess I'll let her huggable side slide.

"Oh yeah, I bet you left because of business, so I'll forgive you, but next time, please tell me."

"As you wish." I smiled and grabbed Shirayuki's sleeve.

Kiroyuki's POV
"Shirayuki! Can we go to the medical wing! I want to see what kinds of herbs there are and how you make the medicine!" She giggled and nodded her head.

"Zen, I guess I'll see you later. Oh and Obi, you want to come along?"

"I guess I can see the small buddy of mines..."

"Okay then, I'll see you later Shirayuki. Mitsuhide, Kiki, let's go." They exited as Obi walked over to us as Izana went to sit at his, desk starting on some paper work. Before we  exited, I stopped and turned back to Izana as he felt my stare and looked up from his paper.

"Make sure to not overwork yourself big brother! Bye bye!" He grinned back in return and we left. I was suddenly walking ahead of Shirayuki and Obi and noticed that they were still far behind me. I stopped and turned my heels back and cocked my head to the side. I had questioned to why they had stopped walking.

"Umm... Are you guys okay?" I walked over to them and poked Obi's forehead and Shirayuki's arm. "Ahh~ come on, I told Ryu that I would talk to him again!"

They snapped out of their blank thoughts and vigorously shook their heads. In unison they both questioned me. "BROTHER?!"

'Oh yeah~! Eheheh....'

"Why don't we walk as I explain?" They slowly nodded their heads as Obi was slightly ahead of us since I didn't know the way.

"So, first of all, Izana's like my self-proclaimed brother." They quietly 'ohh' and I continued.

"He taught me small bits about medicine while I taught him about battle tactics and pointers on how to wield a weapon in return. He showed me kindness of what I thought of what a big brother would be like. So that's why I basically call him big brother. He was the one to tell me that I could consider him that." They nodded their heads in understanding with their thumb and index finger across their chins. I just sweat dropped at their actions.

Timeskip
'We're finally here! Hm, where is Ryu at?' I looked left and right and heaved out a sigh.

"Hmm... Shirayuki, where is Ryu?" I walked back over to the two and continued looking around just in case he walks by.

"Miss Kiroyuki, why are you so anxious to see Ryu exactly?" Obi randomly took out a small notebook and I stared at the object curiously. I pointed at the notebook with a questioning expression of suspicion, but he just ignored it all. Shirayuki was sweat dropping and nervously chuckling however.

"Well first, he's the first boy I have ever met at my age. Second, he seems to know a ton about herbs and medicine. Third, he seems pretty cool. Lastly, I want to have a friend around my age and I guess that's it so far..." Obi was frantically writing in his notebook with a huge grin. Like a huge weird creepy grin.

"Is that all Kiroyuki?" I slowly nodded my head and quickly grabbed Shirayuki's sleeve and drag her with me a couple of feet away from Obi.

"Um Kiroyuki...?" I tightened my grip on her sleeve and cringed.

"Obi is scaring me right now. He looks like a creep..." Once I said that, it looked as if Obi was shot by an invisible arrow. He's weird but pretty funny...

"Anyways Miss Kiroyuki, shall we find little Ryu?" I nodded my head eagerly and they both chuckled at my excitement.

Shirayuki led us into a room which I suppose was the main room for the herbalists to come together, but it was more well known as the chief herbalist's office. My eyes widened in awe of the room. Shelves of books that were full of herbs and medicine, a large table covered in bottles of tonic and papers, upstairs had different smells of relaxing or exotic medicines—It was lovely. We all walked in further and Shirayuki called out to someone name Garak and Yatsufusa.

"Yes Shirayuki-" A grown female adult with dull blonde hair and brown eyes along with a male that had a blue hat-thingy that covered his eyes and was pretty tall entered the bigger room from the blocked off room of a curtain. The woman, who I suppose is Garak, stopped speaking as her and the male, Yatsufusa, attentions' were on me.

"... I'm Princess Kiroyuki but just call me Kiroyuki without any formalities." Even when I introduced myself, they were still frozen and again, Obi was writing in his weird little notebook. They finally had came back to their senses and Garak cleared her throat.

"Yes, it is a pleasure to meet you Kiroyuki. I am Garak and this is Yatsufusa. I was informed about you since your fever, but I haven't seen you quite yet since Shirayuki here took care of it." I nodded my head in understanding and looked around the room.

"Um Ryu, the boy that also helped me. Where is he at?" They both gave an amusing face as in surprise. Even though you can't see it clearly in Yatsufusa's face, you could just tell.

"O-oh, well he's in the herb garden. Shirayuki can show you the way." I nodded my head and hugged the pair as their muscles tightened but soon relaxed.

"Thank you! Also, you might see me here more often since I really am fond of herbs!" They again had wide eyes as they were I guess... Speechless?

The three of us left after we said our goodbyes and made way towards the herb garden. I myself was excited to see a field of herbs since I wouldn't find one in Hyoushou besides it being indoors.

Garak's POV
As the three left the room, Yatsufusa and I were still standing there, frozen in our spots.

"Yatsufusa..."

"Y-yes?"

"She's quite interesting isn't she?"

"Y-yeah..." Some more time of silence passed as we still stood in our places.

"I can't believe there's someone else that has rare hair besides Shirayuki. A princess too... I think Ryu is in for a treat~!"

"I just hope that you don't tease poor Ryu too much..." I just chuckled while smirking.

'I might just do that...'

"She's interested in herbs, I think I'm gonna like her! She has fire in her eyes of determination. Now I'm gonna have a quick drink!"

"Heh, I guess so. Ryu sure is gonna have a lovely flower to cherish..."

(Edited)