is a Japanese shōjo fantasy romance manga series written and illustrated by Sorata Akiduki. It was originally serialized in Hakusensha's bi-monthly shōjo manga magazine LaLa DX from August 2006 to August 2011, and was moved to the monthly LaLa in October 2011. Its chapters have been published and collected in 27 volumes as of May 2025. An anime adaptation produced by Bones aired from 2015 to 2016 - the first half aired in Japan from July 6, 2015, to September 21, 2015, and the second half between January 11, 2016, and March 28, 2016.
Plot Shirayuki is an herbalist in the kingdom of Tanbarun with one unique feature: her beautiful red hair, which attracts a lot of attention. Due to her hair color, Shirayuki was raised to always be careful of showing her hair in new surroundings, tying it up with a red ribbon. She grew up to be an independent young woman. The first prince of her kingdom, Prince Raj, learns of her unusual hair color and orders her to become his concubine. She refuses his orders, leaving behind her herbalist business and her long red ponytail.
Just inside the border of the neighboring kingdom of Clarines, she meets and befriends Prince Zen Wistaria and his two aides, Mitsuhide and Kiki. When Zen is poisoned by an apple meant for Shirayuki, gifted by Raj, she successfully obtains the antidote and decides to accompany the trio to Clarines. Shortly thereafter, Shirayuki passes an exam for a position to train in the palace as a royal court herbalist. Shirayuki finds a place in Clarines and works as a court herbalist, befriending the youngest herbalist, Ryu.
Prince Zen realizes his feeling towards Shirayuki and starts working hard to become a ruler that she could be proud of. In spite of external opposition due to their difference in social status and the demands of their professions, Zen and Shirayuki begin to fall in love with each other and eventually begin a romantic relationship. Later, Shirayuki promises Zen that she will wait for him.
Characters
Main characters
Shirayuki (Snow White) is the main protagonist and was born with rare red hair. She often has to hide it due to how it easily attracts attention. She escapes from the kingdom of Tanbarun after its prince orders her to become his concubine. Independent and persistent, she meets Zen on her second day in the kingdom of Clarines and befriends him after tending to his wounds. Later, she is accepted as a royal pharmacist and trains under Garack and Ryu. Shirayuki has demonstrated her abilities as a pharmacist in various situations, particularly in identifying and controlling disease outbreaks in foreign areas. She has a close relationship with Zen and falls in love with him over the course of the story despite her opposition due to their difference in social status. She moves into the east wing of Wistal Castle and is reassigned as a pharmacist to Lilias for two years later.
Zen is the second prince of Clarines and meets Shirayuki on a trip outside the castle. Shortly after befriending her, he is poisoned by an apple meant for Shirayuki, but obtains the antidote with her help. Initially, Zen is often seen escaping his duties to experience Clarines first-hand, though he has since taken more responsibility for official work. He has a close relationship with his three aides, Mitsuhide, Kiki, and Obi, and has both their respect and genuine loyalty. Over the course of the story, he falls in love with Shirayuki and rescues her from various dangers.
Mitsuhide is one of Zen's closest aides. He was appointed by Prince Izana to watch over Zen (despite initially wanting to be Izana's retainer) and is a skilled swordsman. Though their relationship was initially rocky, he is seen by Zen as both a close friend and a reliable aide. He is extremely loyal though somewhat clumsy at times, as well as a little silly. In chapter 92, he is offered a marriage proposal by Kiki, which he declines. Because of his extreme loyalty to Zen, he does not plan to marry, as this may require him to leave Zen's side.
Kiki is one of Zen's closest aides and arrives at the castle sometime after Mitsuhide. As the heir to the household of the Seiran family, her father expects her to return home to assume responsibility after her time serving Zen. Reserved, independent and intelligent, Kiki is extremely loyal to protecting Zen (and later Shirayuki as she becomes part of Zen's life) and is most often seen with Mitsuhide, Zen's other close aide. Like Mitsuhide, she is skilled at swordplay and is often seen training soldiers or dueling with him. In chapter 92, Kiki confesses and proposes to Mitsuhide, which he declines. She is later engaged to Hisame, who has loved her for years, and she seems to be slowly reciprocating.
Obi is one of Zen's self-proclaimed aides. Originally sent by Marquis Haruka as a way to scare Shirayuki out of the castle, he later pledges himself to Zen after being discovered. It is hinted he has feelings for Shirayuki, but his loyalty to both Zen and Shirayuki prevents him from acting out on his feelings. Obi has a relatively mysterious past as a loner but finds himself drawn to protecting Zen, Shirayuki, and their respective goals. He later becomes Zen's official messenger. With his quick movements and reflexes, he is often sent by Zen to protect Shirayuki at times when he cannot leave his royal duties. He has been seen using the alias "Nanaki".
Secondary characters
Clarines
A 12-year-old royal pharmacist who trains under Garack with Shirayuki at Wistal Castle. He and Shirayuki and he established a close friendship as mentor and pupil respectively. Due to his youth, he is often looked down upon and mistrusted by others in the palace, even though he is actually a genius. Because of his intelligence, he has a hard time connecting with people his age but becomes good friends with Shirayuki and Obi. He later learns how to open up and trust others as he grows.
Izana is the first prince of Clarines and Zen's older brother. He has a somewhat cold and sarcastic personality, but is also very responsible and serious when it comes to handling the affairs of the kingdom. He enjoys teasing Zen and initially takes issue with Shirayuki's closeness with Zen, but later comes to trust her after watching her handle a disease outbreak in Lilias. While in Lilias, Izana pretends to be a guard using Mitsuhide's name. Known to be very intelligent, strategic, and cunning, he is later crowned king of Clarines.
An advisor in the castle, he disapproves of Shirayuki's closeness to Zen due to her lower social status. He hires Obi to scare her from the castle, but after an unsuccessful attempt and rebuke from Zen, is grudgingly resigned to leaving Shirayuki alone. His gruff appearance, voice, and personality often scare others.
Garak is the chief pharmacist of Wistal Castle. She is rather eccentric and can alternate between humorous and demanding. Despite this, she is extremely talented and cares deeply about Shirayuki and Ryu.
Yatsufusa is Garack's assistant and is often seen wearing a large bandanna that obscures his eyes.
The viscount is the landlord of a small island on the coast of Clarines. Greedy and selfish, he attempts to exploit the island for its resources and then bribe Shirayuki in making the experiment that will determine its fate fail, but his schemes are ultimately discovered and he is put under arrest.
A bird trainer from a small island under Viscount Blaker. She came to Wistal Castle to ask Zen's assistance in preventing Viscount Blaker from hunting the birds native to her island. She befriends Shirayuki, and later proves instrumental in rescuing Shirayuki from the vicious pirate gang 'The Claw of the Sea' (along with Popo, her bird).
A fellow royal pharmacist training alongside Shirayuki under a separate mentor.
(Drama CD) The second-born son of a powerful noble family and vice-captain of the Sereg Knight Circle. Five years prior to canon, he tried to intimidate Kiki into marrying him by challenging her to a duel to win her hand. He wanted to escape being in service to his older brother, the future head of the Rougis family, by marrying into a different earldom. Though he lost the duel, he continues to show interest in Kiki. Hisame and Kiki formed a temporary marriage agreement out of necessity during the Bergat incident to draw out those who were attacking Kiki's potential suitors. However, they reaffirmed their engagement after Kiki's marriage proposal to Mitsuhide was turned down. Hisame is implied to have had feelings for Kiki for years, and she seems to be slowly reciprocating.
Kiki's father and the current head of the Seiran family. He wants Kiki to take over as the family head, and is constantly suggesting suitors for her. He has also imposed a time limit on her service with Zen so that she may eventually return.
Haruto is the mother of Izana and Zen, and the dowager Queen of Clarines. Her husband, Kain, died some time ago, which sent her into a frenzy of work and sickness that caused her to become "allergic" to the castle. She returns for Izana's coronation, before shortly returning north to continue acting as the warden of the Wirant region.
An associate of Izana, he has a distinct scar over his nose. He is the Knight Commander of the Royal Guard, and has served Haruto in her capacity as warden of Wirant.
One of the gatekeepers of Wistal Castle who seems to take interest about Zen and Shirayuki's relationship.
Another gatekeeper besides Kai. He is Kai's senior and just like Kai, he seems to take interest about Zen and Shirayuki's relationship.
A trainee soldier who is the only one unaffected when the strange disease affected the soldiers in Fort Laxdo. He helps Shirayuki to take care of the other soldiers and befriends her and the prince.
The guard of Wistal Castle who goes along with Shirayuki and the viscount to the watchtower during the test to bring in the bird handlers from Kiharu's island for communication. Obi trusts Shikito to protect Shirayuki in Lilias when Obi must leave her during the Bergat incident. and Twin brothers from House Bergat, a powerful clan from northern Clarines who oppose the crown for depriving them of their traditional territory when Haruto became the warden of Wirant. However, the twins secretly admire Haruto and feel unworthy to serve the royal family. They are introduced as new recruits to the Sereg Knight Circle. The brothers are reluctantly aware that their ruthless older brother , the head of the Bergat clan, views them as expendable pawns, including presenting the older twin Tsuruba as a suitor to Kiki Seiran. After Tsuruba and Tariga help thwart Toka's plan to undermine royal authority in Wirant by killing Prince Zen, the prince advises clemency for the twins when Touka is arrested and stripped of his title. Tsuruba becomes Viscount Bergat and the new head of the family, with expectations to rebuild the clan from within, while Tariga is assigned to Wirant Castle to rebuild the clan from outside.
The head of House Lugiria, another powerful clan in northern Clarines, whose territory includes the Oriold checkpoint west of Lilias. He attempts to manipulate Obi, Shirayuki, and Ryu into investigating a potential traitor among his associates connected with Toka Bergat and a series of perfume-induced poisonings in exchange for allowing the propagation of non-toxic phostyrias plant in Oriold.
Lilias
A pharmacist stationed permanently at Lilias and chief of the pharmacology institute of Lilias. He is Kirito's uncle. A childhood friend of Garak Gazeld, he turned down her offer to work as a court herbalist because he did not want to be her assistant, though it is rumoured he aspires toward a higher position to court Garak as an equal. In Lilias, he worked with Shirayuki and Ryuu during the Orimmallys disease outbreak and later leads the research project to develop a non-toxic cultivar of the same plant.