...Another party. Another party. Another excuse for my fiance to leave me.
...I hate it.
~~~Earlier that Day~~~
"What? Flynn Gilbit-san is coming?" Yuuri asked his advisors in apparent shock. "Yes, Your Majesty, it happens to be her birthday in just a few days, so we planned to throw a party for her, and the citizens of Caloria have been invited to come too, should they wish. Surely, Gunter must have told you?" Conrad replied, earning another "nazukeoya" look from Yuuri, which was soon replaced with one of confusion. Wolfram looked at Yuuri with a slight frown. Flynn Gilbit... Wolfram felt his moderately good mood leave him instantly. He understood fully what would happen for the next few days. He didn't dislike the woman, per se. Though whenever she was around, Yuuri would give her - and only her - his full attention, almost completely blowing off Wolfram until the visit was over. He let out a deep sigh at the thought, albeit unintentionally. Yuuri took note and shot a look of concern at Wolfram. Is he not feeling well? Yuuri wondered quietly, his onyx eyes widening with worry, going unnoticed by Wolfram. A voice broke the silence, which was a fairly short period, though seeming like forever to the two. "I'm not quite feeling well. I'm going to my quarters for a bit... Please come get me when dinner is ready." With this, Wolfram solemnly walked out, leaving Yuuri's anxious mind to get the better of him. Oh, he must be feeling bad after all... but usually he would stay here! By my side! Something must be seriously eating him up to make him leave like that... Gwendal looked at the boy, then at Gunter. The look of worry on his king's face was no new occurance; what truly amazed him was that the silver haired man had not broken down into a panic of sorts upon hearing Yuuri had forgotten yet another lesson of his, which usually happened quite shortly after. Perhaps he's gotten used to it. Gwendal closed his eyes, not out of stress, but simply a look of understanding.
"YOUR MAJESTY!"
Gwendal opened his eyes to the sight of Gunter, sobbing and collapsing on the floor. He closed his eyes again. Or perhaps he was in such a shock the news had not reached him just yet. Gwendal shook his head slightly, muttering something under his breathe. Yuuri took his attention from the door and turned it to Gunter, a look of surprise, confusion, and anxiety combining and forming on his face. Conrad looked at this new scene and laughed. He truly is a wonderful young man. He makes everything work here, and whenever he is gone, the castle and everyone in it feel dull. He stopped laughing and looked at his godchild with a smile, while Yuuri tried to figure out what was happening, looking here and there with a slightly panicked look. It's like having another younger brother... Conrad's kind smile only grew at this thought.
~~~Meanwhile, in Wolfram's room~~~
"Ugh... Why?" Wolfram rolled over onto his stomache on his bed. He had not bothered to do much more than take off his blue overcoat before plopping himself down on the bed, suddenly exhausted. He shifted his head so he could see out the window, his emerald eyes sad and lonely. Why does this kind of thing keep happening? I just... I just want to be with Yuuri... I just want him to smile at me, and talk with me, and be by my side. But... Wolfram rubbed his eyes when he realized he had started tearing up, wetting the pillow under him. Damn it! A soldier shouldn't be this weak... Wolfram felt more tears fall silently onto the pillow.
"Right." A voice Wolfram knew and was shocked to hear responded, not quite agreeing, but rather restating it. I was thinking aloud? Wolfram thought, before the horrid realization Yuuri had seen and heard him finally dawned on him. Yuuri continued, staring at Wolfram, his eyes serious. "A soldier... you would know what would make a soldier weak, more so than me. But, Wolf..." Yuuri paused and walked to the bed where Wolfram had propped himself up on his arms with a terrified and embarassed look on his face, before sitting down on the edge of the bed and looking Wolfram straight in the eyes. "But as a person, Wolf... are you being weak as a person?" Wolfram tried to respond, to ask quite what Yuuri was trying to get at, though his mouth made no sound, it merely moved up and down. Yuuri patted his head, making Wolfram blush furiously, though the look of shock hadn't quite left his face entirely just yet. "Wolf... can you tell me how you are feeling? We both know I'm really wimpy, and dense, and naive, so... earlier, I gathered you were feeling sick. But... you got that way after I mentioned Lady Flynn, so... Can you please tell me, is there anything I can do to make you feel better? About either?" Yuuri's eyes filled quickly with concern. Wolfram looked away, knowing that anything he asked wouldn't be the right thing to ask. "Oh, I'd like it if you told Lady Gilbit if she couldn't come." That would be what would make Wolfram happiest, but the woman hadn't actually done anything wrong, and it would be rude, not only to her, but to everyone who had put effort into the party and was looking forward to it. "...No. There isn't anything. I'm sorry I made you worry. I'm just... having a rough day. That's all." Wolfram grimaced internally, understanding that even if it hurt like hell, he would bear it, for everyone else's sake. Just like with Saralegui, and just like every time they went and visited Lady Flynn in Caloria. He always managed, and this time would be no different.
"Wolfram... I understand. How about... I tell them we need to shorten their visit. How about I make something up - with your help, since we both know I suck at lying - as a cover story so we can shorten the thing, so we can spend that last day hanging out?" Yuuri asked, giving a awkward smile that typically meant he didn't know the best thing to do in the situation, so he was throwing out his best idea in high hopes it would work. Wolfram gave a small smile, feeling grateful for his fiance and closest friend's concern. "You understand me a lot better than you used to, wimp." Yuuri decided it was Wolfram's way of saying "thank you". Yuuri gave a big grin and said "You're welcome" before being dragged out by a sobbing Gunter. Wolfram smiled for a short while after Yuuri left. When it comes down to it, wimp, you're still the only one who can make me feel so warm, happy and safe. Wolfram sighed. In the past, he had always felt like a third wheel during these visits... but he was hoping this time would be different. He hoped this time, Yuuri would keep him close.
