The King's Consort

Chapter 1

The air around Blood Pledge Castle was very still as the early morning sun rose over the horizon. It was still too early for most of its occupants to be up and about. But for some, like the soldiers, this was considered a normal hour to be awake.

Usually, a King had the luxury of sleeping in until he chose to get up. But King Yuri, the Twenty-Seventh King of the Great Demon Kingdom, was not a normal king. Those who wished to seek him out could find him at this hour practicing sword-fighting out in the courtyard with his lover, Lord Conrad Weller.

"I don't know why you still insist we practice, Yuri," chuckled Conrad, after losing a scrimmage to a determined Yuri for the third time that morning. They certainly were more evenly matched these days. "You've already mastered your swordsmanship. Why not take the time to get more rest?"

Yuri slid his sword back in its scabbard and turned to look at Conrad.

"You're whining," said Yuri, nonchalantly. "And besides … why must I be in bed on this fine morning when I can spend my time with you? Not to mention," he added with a lascivious look, "admiring your beauty as the morning rays touch your hair."

Conrad could feel himself blush a little bit. But only a little before he let a smile grace his lips to hide his blush. Yuri still could make him blush with his words even now that they were finally together, even if it was just a little.

"Do you always have to be so romantic in the early morning?" asked Conrad, still smiling.

Yuri raised a single eyebrow and grinned lopsidedly. "Why? Do you wish me to stop? As far as I know, you are enjoying this moment as much as I am. Do you want me to change?" he teased as he drew nearer to Conrad and gathered him in his arms.

Conrad smacked Yuri playfully across the shoulder and said, "Of course not. Why should you change? The people love you just the way you are. As do I. And you're right." He blushed again. "I do love the attention a little too much, thanks to you. I just wish you would tone it down a little. Goodness knows my face is all red all day because you keep spoiling me with your endearments."

Yuri laughed lightly at Conrad and then leaned forward to kiss him softly on the lips. "I'm afraid that's impossible. I enjoy myself too much watching you blush. That face of yours ought to be illegal. It's really pleasing and distracting all at the same time."

"Yuri, you're at it again," chastised Conrad, unable to suppress his grin.

Yuri grinned back. "Come on," he said as he gathered up all the equipment they used for training. "We best take a bath before breakfast. We reek pretty bad! By the time we're done, I dare say that breakfast will be ready."

Conrad's eyes danced mischievously as he said, "You're the one who takes forever to bathe, Yuri. Not me. I sometimes wonder what you actually do in there. Swimming, perhaps?"

"Not even close. I take time to run a cold bath to cool off my body temperature that seems to rise every time I wake up from a very good dream involving you and me in bed together." He smiled wickedly at Conrad's expression. "Too bad there are no cold showers in Shin Makoku!" he lamented.

"Wolfram was right about you."

"'Bout what?"

"You are a pervert."

Yuri smiled his sultry smile at Conrad as he made his way to his rooms. He stopped halfway down the steps and said to Conrad, "Only when it comes to you."

Yuri stepped through the door and into the dining hall. All occupants stood still and greeted him. Yuri nodded back and took his seat beside his lover, Conrad.

"Good Morning, sweetheart," he said as he kissed Greta on the cheek. She was sitting on his left while Conrad sat down on Yuri's right.

"Good Morning, papa," Greta greeted back.

"Did you have a good night sleep?"

Greta nodded vigorously. "I nearly couldn't sleep at all last night. I was very excited."

"What about?" asked Yuri, as he chewed on his breakfast bread.

"Oh, nothing too much. Annisina promised me that I could borrow some of her latest books the other day. I can't wait to read them. One of them is about a woman's journey to her coming of age and how she was immediately swept away by a handsome lord's great interest in her."

Yuri nearly choked on his drink when he heard that. The rest of the group around the table was eating quietly, pretending they didn't hear or care when in fact they were all ears.

Another thing that had begun to worry Yuri lately was Greta's coming of age. A year from now, she would be sixteen, and it would be the expected time to present her formally to the court and the kingdom. As the daughter of the king, many nobles would most likely be clamouring after her hand. Add in the fact that she was the Zoracean Princess, she was indeed a promising bride. Yuri would have to beat all the potential suitors for her hand in a duel first before he could consent to a match and give his blessing.

"Well, for my sake," said Yuri, a little too loudly, "I hope you don't get swept away too easily. Even though you are almost of age, you are still an adolescent. A lot of things, not necessarily good things, will be tempting and appealing to you."

"You worry too much, papa," said Greta. Her eyes danced mischievously. "And how would you want me to act? Ought I to take a leaf out of Conrad's and Celi's books? Let my men try to woo me by making them suffer chasing me?"

The others had to stifle their laughter while Yuri groaned and Conrad once again blushed. When had Greta become so cheeky? And how had the conversation suddenly come to this?

"We are not talking about me. We are talking about you, young lady. As a lady, your virtue is important. You deserve the best. And I and everyone here want to make sure you get the best. What you do is up to you. But please, sweetheart … don't do anything foolish."

Conrad ate his meal quietly but all the while thinking about why Yuri worried so much when Greta was fully capable of taking care of herself. Not that he didn't care, but he knew Greta had been taught well. He trusted her. But was the fact that Greta was growing up frightening to Yuri?

Greta just smiled and kissed her papa on the cheek. "I will, papa. I won't let you down. I am your daughter, after all."

"Why does that phrase worry me?" Wolfram asked with a frown.

Yuri turned to Wolfram and smiled. "Come now, Wolfram. I wasn't that bad. Besides, you love me just the way I am ... or have you forgotten?"

"Shut up, you wimp. Sometimes I thank Shinou that you are no longer the naïve boy you once were. Running headlong towards trouble without consulting any of us. Couldn't even let us live peacefully!"

Before Yuri could retaliate, Gwendal interrupted. "I suggest you stop fighting now. You both are starting at it again. And Your Majesty, do eat your meal. By now I think it is already cold."

Yuri resumed eating his food and chatted happily with his family. Everyone kept saying to him that he had an extraordinarily handsome family, and that he had all the treasure in the world. Yuri certainly agreed. But somehow Yuri knew it would never be complete without one last thing.

Yuri stared at Conrad out of the corner of his eye.

Yep. Definitely needed to get it done. But he wondered - would he ever get around to doing it?

To Be Continued.

AN

Not a bad start for a sequel. So click the review button and tell me what you think. Reviews always make my day.