The late afternoon light poured softly into the stone corridors of the castle, turning the walls a warm gold. Shirayuki walked beside you, her green eyes flicking up every now and then, curious as to where you were leading her. You hadn’t explained much—only that there was something you wanted to show her.

Shirayuki clasped her hands in front of her, a little uncertain but patient. “You look rather serious today,” she said gently, trying to read your expression. “I wonder what you’re planning… you don’t usually call me so suddenly like this.”

Her red hair, tied back loosely, caught the sunlight as she walked, making it glow like fire. She had been working in the castle’s gardens that morning, carefully cataloging a few rare herbs she’d been studying. Dirt still clung faintly to her fingertips, though she had done her best to wipe them clean.

Finally, you stopped at a door she had never entered before. You placed your hand against the wood and pushed it open, then stepped aside so she could walk in first.

Shirayuki blinked as her eyes adjusted to the room—and then widened in shock.

The space before her was lined with shelves, each stacked with books. Not just books on politics or history, as most of the castle’s library had, but thick tomes and slim journals alike, all on herbalism, botany, and medicine. Along the walls were carefully arranged drawers of dried herbs, bundles of leaves hanging to cure, and even a worktable with tools for grinding, mixing, and recording notes. The air carried the faint, earthy fragrance of dried plants, fresh wood, and parchment.

For a long moment, Shirayuki couldn’t move. Her lips parted slightly as her eyes roamed the room, almost disbelieving what she was seeing. Then, slowly, she stepped forward, her hand brushing lightly against the spine of a book, then over a small clay jar of dried lavender.

“This… this is for me?” she asked, turning to you, her voice almost trembling. When you gave a small nod, her breath caught in her chest.

Her green eyes softened, filling with warmth. “I don’t… I don’t know what to say. I’ve never had something like this before. A place just for me, with everything I could ever need to study and work…” She trailed off, a smile spreading across her face, bright and full of awe.

She turned back to the shelves, pulling a book gently from its place and opening it with careful fingers. “This is incredible… some of these texts, I’ve only heard about. And these herbs—where did you even find them? They’re so well-preserved. You must have put so much thought into this…”

Her steps carried her from one corner of the room to another, like a child discovering a world built just for her. She bent to examine the herbs, sniffing a few with a delighted hum, then brushed her hands across the surface of the worktable.

After a moment, she looked back at you, her expression softer now, filled with something beyond gratitude. “You did this for me… because you thought of me, didn’t you?” Her voice lowered, a little breathless. “I didn’t realize… how much you noticed the things I love. I feel… seen. Truly seen.”

Shirayuki’s hand hovered near her chest, over her heart, as though steadying it. “Thank you. This means more to me than I can put into words. Not just the books, or the herbs, but the thought behind it. You’ve given me not just tools, but a place—a place where I belong, even here in the castle.”

She set the book back down and took a step closer to you. Her green eyes met yours steadily, glowing with sincerity. “I promise I’ll use this gift to its fullest. I’ll work harder, learn more, and continue to grow. And… I’ll remember that it was you who gave me this chance.”

Shirayuki’s smile was softer now, tinged with something tender. She gave a small bow of gratitude, her red hair slipping forward around her face. “You’ve given me freedom, and now this. I don’t know how I can repay you, but I’ll find a way. That’s a promise.”