While Shirayuki goes back to work at the castle, Zen is pressured by Prince Izana and Lord Haruka to hold a ball to find a suitable woman to marry. Zen refuses but eventually decides to have one marriage interview. The castle is suddenly ablaze with gossip about the marriage interview, and Shirayuki learns about it by overhearing the head herbalist mentioning it. However, to comply with his duty as a prince and at the same time to postpone the issue at least for a while, Zen holds a marriage interview with Kiki, whose identity is kept a secret. During the fake marriage interview, Zen and Kiki remember when she came to the castle, and when Kiki first met Mitsuhide. Only after the interview Zen learns from Obi that Shirayuki knew of the interview, but was aware it was with Kiki. Worried about what she might think, he finds her and explains the situation. Later that night, Zen is visited by prince Izana who informs him he will soon take a wife, after which Zen will be required to do the same. Zen reaffirms his will to be with Shirayuki and take her as his wife, to which Izana says he should make an effort to convince him to give their union his blessing.