Author's Preface
The girl climbed out of the bed, making sure to glare extra hard at Obi, as she walked to the other side of the room and sat in the corner, away from everyone else.
Shirayuki watched the girl with sad eyes. "Who...how many people have cut you before?"
The girl stared at her before turning her head and looking out the window. "Look, we don't know each other, so why do you care so much about what has happened to me? I was watching you looking through the forest for me," she pointed to the Obi, "and did you see that knife he threw at me?! He nearly cut my favorite pants. I haven't even been told why I'm here yet.
She scowled at Obi. A lightning bolt of pain ran through her temple, and she threw her head in her hands. Shirayuki rushed towards her.
"Don't!" The girl put out her hand. "Stay over there, I-I'm fine."
Shirayuki's brow furrowed with worry, and she smiled. "Well then, let's get to know each other."
She pointed to herself. "I'm Shirayuki; you can call me Yuki. I'm a Court Herbalist." She pointed to the other faces in the room. "The Prince of Clarines, Prince Zen. His Knights, Mitsuhid, Kiki, and Obi, my personal guard."
Obi looked at Yuki with soft eyes.
The girl put her hands in her lap and looked down at them. "I-I'm Tiana Nilam..."
Tiana peeked at Yuki, who smiled back brightly at her. "Wow, 'Precious Blue Stone, ' right?"
She opened her eyes in shock and nodded; her cheeks felt hot. "N-no one but my parents knew that..."
