Ep 10. Inexperienced Heart Going Deeper

Shirayuki is caught in the middle of a dilemma when she realizes that she has to choose between her obligations as a court herbalist and her feelings towards Prince Raj. Raj is currently suffering from an illness that might greatly affect his ability to rule his kingdom, and Shirayuki has been asked to concoct a medicine that could cure him. However, the medicine requires a rare herb that can only be sourced from the mountain of the southern part of the kingdom. On the other hand, Shirayuki's growing connection with Prince Zen has put her in a difficult position since she doesn't want to hurt Raj's feelings.

The episode opens with a flashback from Shirayuki's previous experiences with Prince Raj. She recalls their first meeting and their numerous interactions since then, including the time when he tried to kidnap her. However, despite the rocky start to their relationship, Shirayuki has grown to appreciate Raj's kindness and generosity towards her. She acknowledges that she has never seen him so vulnerable, and it makes her feel like she has a responsibility to help him.

Meanwhile, Zen and Obi are busy trying to track down the rare herb that Shirayuki needs for Raj's medicine. The mountain they have to climb is treacherous, and Zen has some misgivings about sending Shirayuki there alone. However, he ultimately decides to trust her abilities, knowing that she is capable of taking care of herself.

As Shirayuki heads towards the mountain, she has some time to reflect on her feelings for both Raj and Zen. She realizes that Zen has been there for her more than anyone else, and she starts to understand the nature of her affection for him. However, she is not sure if she is ready to pursue a relationship with him at this point in her life.

When Shirayuki finally reaches her destination, she comes across a group of people who are also searching for the same herb as her. They are from a neighboring kingdom and have been tasked with finding the plant for their sick prince. Shirayuki quickly realizes that they are after the very thing she needs for Raj's medicine.

The two groups decide to work together to find the herb, but tensions quickly rise as they compete for the same resources. Shirayuki finds herself having to balance her loyalty to Raj with her desire to help the other kingdom's prince. She feels a growing sense of responsibility to everyone involved and resolves to find a way to meet everyone's needs.

Just as it seems like all hope is lost, Shirayuki has a stroke of luck and manages to locate the rare herb. However, their situation is far from resolved, as they still have to make it back to Raj's kingdom before the plant loses its efficacy.

The rest of the episode is filled with nail-biting action as the two groups make their way back through the treacherous mountain pass. There are plenty of close calls as they fight their way through the snow and the wind, but ultimately, they manage to make it back to Raj's kingdom in time.

In the end, Shirayuki is left to deal with the ramifications of her actions. She has succeeded in helping everyone who needed it, but at the cost of possibly hurting Raj's feelings. She feels conflicted about her own emotions and her responsibility to those around her. As the episode concludes, she begins to realize that perhaps she doesn't have to make a choice between her duty and her heart, and that there might be a way to balance both.