Snow White with the Red Hair S1 E10

## Plot

Obi is in his uniform, because there are special guests coming to the palace, so he has to dress up. He and Shirayuki talk to a girl they see with a beautiful blue and green bird. She's able to call him back with a special whistle. She's one of the guests they heard of. She has to talk to Zen about something. Her name is Kihal Toghrul. Her bird's name is Popo. She comes from Yuri's Island, a southern Clarines island filled with entire flocks of the same species of bird. They help the people with their livelihood. The birds can hear the sounds of the waves, so they can find the mineral ores near the island. They also know where the schools of fish are. The whistles are made out of the polished walnut stone mineral. The birds are why Kihal has come to the palace. Their island is part of another territory. 18 months ago, a new lord inherited the lands. He and his friends came to the island to hunt the birds for sport and profit. Their feathers are very rare, so the nobles thought that they could get rich (well, *richer*) by selling them. They're now an endangered species. Popo has a scar on his eye from such an attack. The people kept telling the nobles to stop, but they just kept shooting. The man in charge of their land, Lord Brecker, sarcastically told them to bring it up with the prince. That's why Kihal has come. However, her opinion of the upper classes is all the same, and she suspects that Zen will act just like the lords. She likes Shirayuki because she's nice, and a commoner like her. Shirayuki has gotten to really know Zen though, and is more optimistic. Everyone back home is counting on Kihal, but she's so nervous and has no idea what she should say. She and Lord Brecker speak with Zen. She's requesting that he make bird hunting illegal and turn Yuri's Island into a nature reserve. He'll give his answer tomorrow. However, at the moment, he thinks it should be discussed between the concerned parties, i.e. Kihal and Lord Brecker. Obi reports to Shirayuki about what Zen said. She gets an idea and goes to talk to him about how they can save the birds. While the birds are important to the people of the island, walnut stone isn't worth very much. Zen's hands are tied. This is well within the lord's rights. Unless the birds can be beneficial to the whole kingdom, there's nothing he can do. Brecker dropped off a decorative gift made out of the birds' feathers. When the birds are sent out to fishing boats, they know where each one is because they all have special walnut stone bells, and the birds can detect the slightest differences in tone and such from bell to bell. They can also travel long distances and go very fast. Zen wants to use them as messenger birds. If they can benefit the whole kingdom overall, then he can protect the birds and turn the island into a nature reserve. They will test it the next day to see how well it works. Kihal picks Shirayuki to be her assistant by ringing the bell at the assigned watchtower. The bird will be sent there while carrying a document. It's ten kilometers west of the castle, or approximately 6.21 miles. The trip normally takes 40 minutes by horse. Shirayuki will sign the document once she receives it, tie the bell to it, and send it back with the bird. If the whole trip can be completed in 25 minutes, then Zen will do as Kihal asks. Three soldiers and Obi will accompany Shirayuki to the watchtower. However, Lord Brecker implies that Kihal intends to cheat since Shirayuki is Zen's friend, but she didn't know anything about that. Brecker insists on accompanying Shirayuki so she doesn't cheat, and she agrees to his demands. The test will begin at 4 o'clock. Brecker intends to sabotage the test by bribing Shirayuki with access to amenities she wouldn't otherwise have because of her low social status. She refuses, so Brecker throws the bell into the water and locks her inside the tower. Despite a soldier witnessing it all and telling him that it's against the rules, Brecker *lords* his high social status over him. Eh? Lords? Get it? Cause he's a lord. Sorry. I couldn't resist. Brecker doesn't think that Zen will take Shirayuki's word for it about what's happened because she's just a commoner. She refuses to give up though. True human worth isn't measured by social status, but by one's character. Shirayuki opens the window to the tower and jumps into the water to look for the bell. Obi sees her and dives in after her. The soldier, inspired by her speech, arrests Lord Brecker for his actions. Obi and Shirayuki can't find the bell. Popo comes and flies away, but then he comes back around again and starts skirting the surface of the water. Shirayuki remembers what Kihal said about the birds knowing where the walnut stones were, and realizes that that's where the bell is. Popo completes the test in the nick of time. There's a report detailing what happened on the document. Zen, Mitsuhide, and Kiki rush over to the watchtower. You see, when Shirayuki jumped into the water from such a tall height, she injured her arm. Brecker was surprised that she even survived, and Obi flipped out when he saw her fall. She's alright though. Lord Haruka reports to Izana about what happened. He's impressed that Zen trusted his soldiers and Shirayuki so much. Guess what finally happens? Zen and Shirayuki *finally* kiss! Yes! And that's where the episode ends.