With Shirayuki and Zen serious about their intent to be together, they need to persuade Izana to approve their marriage. Perhaps Shirayuki’s position as an official court herbalist is key, as she and her mentor, Ryu, to the northern regions.
And who just so happens to also be visiting Lilias: Izana! Meanwhile, Obi runs into someone from his past who invites him back to his old way of life.
The Obi chapters are a nice change-of-pace for the manga. Snow White with the Red Hair has had chapters dedicated to him and others, but this is more of what I was looking for in regards to Obi. He has settled in his position as a bodyguard/messenger, but he’s also a bit of a wanderer and jack-of-all-trades. We know he’s fond of Zen, Shirayuki, and the others, but it still is a significant career change. These chapters were strong not because they showed off how different Obi is from before but a more subtle change. His old partner doesn’t fully understand why Obi is now a royal caretaker, but she’s also like, “You do you!” It’s not a case of an overly dramatic former antagonist bleating on about realizing what friendship is all about. Those moments are fine in many scenarios, but the slowly-drifting-apart approach is more natural and relatable. Plus, it doesn’t turn Obi’s old friend into a villain.
The other chapters are not as impressive unless you want some Zen/Shirayuki scenes or funny reactions in regards to each other. Izana is not necessarily being coldhearted about their relationship, but he’s not going to simply approve of the first girl Zen declares as his intended. Zen takes it upon himself to study harder to support his brother while Shirayuki and Ryu are to visit a cold, remote locale known for its extensive library and research materials. Although they make it there and start to learn about Lilias, the volume ends with Zen heading to Izana/Shirayuki’s location after receiving a message from his brother. I don’t know what Izana’s planning, and maybe it will turn out to be an interesting plot, but I was hoping to see Zen and Shirayuki work hard on their own projects for a while. The main couple has no intention of becoming dependent on each other, but I wanted to see Shirayuki’s first traveling gig as an official court herbalist be the center of attention of this next arc, not whatever Izana’s cooking up.
However, for now, it’s Ryu and Shirayuki learning about this city of academics. Not too much stood out to me as important, and I found it a bit dull as they are introduced to several characters who may or may not play a significant role. But well, if the past is any indication, everyone here will return later in Snow White with the Red Hair. So maybe I shouldn’t have mentally tuned out during that portion of volume 8. Still, I’d rather go reread the Obi chapters or go back for the Shirayuki and Zen blushing than all about Lilias’ elite scholars.