Yuuri looked up at Gunter in surprise from the unreadable document lying on his desk. The pen that was previously poised to sign the paper freezing in his grip as he looked onward with a perplexed frown settled firmly on his face.
"Huh?" Came his oh-so-intelligent reply.
"The King of Amarina has agreed to ally with us on the condition of a royal marriage between our two countries." Gunter repeated issuing the words from his mouth as though he were being forced to chew glass.
Yuuri blinked. Then blinked again. He set down his quill pen carefully to the side to avoid the ink staining any important documents, then looked back at Gunter hoping he had misheard.
"Huh?" He repeated.
Gunter sighed, shoulders sagging and a tortured expression twisting his features. Taking in a long, deep breathe he tried again.
"The king of Amarina has agreed to ally with us on the condition-"
"I heard that part." Yuuri quickly cut off in a highly annoyed manner.
"What I don't understand is what exactly that means. Are we talking a metaphorical marriage of our countries, like fully open trade routes, and uninhibited border crossing, and such? Or are we talking about something else, because I'm hoping for option one over here." Yuuri questioned one eyebrow raised, and a small tick twitching beneath his eyelid.
Gunters pained expression increased ten-fold.
"Heika... It would seem that the proposition that he offers would be for the less preferred method of marriage."
Yuuri paused for a moment as though contemplating. Then flat-out.
"No." His tone left no room for argument.
At his answer Gunter managed to look both relieved, and upset all at the same time.
"While I may agree that a marriage between any of our nobility and theirs is not an option we may wish to pursue, I feel obligated to inform you that such a flat out refusal might bring about some unpleasant ramifications."
Yuuri gave him a questioning look.
"War." He stated.
That was about all Yuuri needed to veto the flat-out denial route. But still the idea of a marriage seemed out of the question to him. Arranged marriages were wrong. He believed with all his heart that when two people vowed to spend the rest of their lives together it should be out of love, not duty. The idea of having to choose between the possibility of starting a war or having their country auction off its residents was enough to make him feel ready to pull his hair out. Or just continuously bang his head into a wall somewhere, and hope he goes into a coma until someone else- preferably Gwendal- finished dealing with the situation. He didn't see much of a choice between the two ideas. It was like being stuck between a rock and a hard place. The royalty of Shin Makoku were all well and accounted for around him. And that was where he liked them.
Lady Celi was the greatest promoter of free love in all of both worlds, so the very idea of her agreeing to some random, loveless marriage seemed preposterous indeed. It went against everything that made the woman who she was. Everyone knew that Gwendal was probably the most needed being throughout the entire country. Without him Yuuri would be practically useless as a king and the country would likely fall into a turmoil the likes of which had never-and should never- be seen. Conrad... Yuuri needed Conrad. He could admit to himself at least that much. His godfather was about the only outlet that he had for when he needed someone to lend him an ear, or a shoulder to lean on whenever he felt unstable, or scared, with no fear of judgement.
He didn't think he needed to worry about Wolfram or himself. The fiery prince would more than likely roast anyone who tried to make such an advance alive without a second thought. And if anyone dared to attempt to even think of propositioning their ten year old daughter... Could someone be burned alive and drowned at the same time? He wondered if he could sleep at night if he let Morgif eat their soul as well - Just to make sure they could never reincarnate and suggest something so atrocious again - He figured he probably could. Like a baby.
He briefly toyed with the idea of giving them Stoffel, but he doubted they'd take him. Even he had to admit that the man was ridiculous, and more trouble than he was worth. And Yuuri usually tried to think nothing but good of every person he came across.
However he could never knowingly condone the starts of a war. His country had had more than enough of that in its history and he wanted no part of it. No side of any war ever wins. It was never worth the number of lives that get taken, nor the pain of those that have to mourn their loved ones loss when they're gone.
Yuuri just wasn't sure if there was any sort of happy medium to be found in this situation. He had to at least try to solve the matter without angering anyone or having to give away any of his beloved advisors to the foreign kingdom.
"Gunter, would you please go and call Murata back from the temple, as well as request the others to meet with us at noon." Yuuri issued, in as quick and commanding a manner as the young boy king could achieve.
Gunter gave an enthusiastic proclamation of 'Anything for His Majesty' before quickly departing while a ceaseless litany of praises for the wonders of a decisive and just Yuuri were left echoing behind him.
Yuuri let out a depressed sigh and settled down deeper into his chair to await Muratas arrival. If there was anyone who could help him find someplace in-between that was properly agreeable for both parties it would be the great sage.
. . . .
Murata sat across from him on the other side of the desk. His glasses gleamed over with light obscuring his eyes from sight. Yuuri still had the odd feeling that he might be laughing at him. As a slow devious smirk lifted the corners of Muratas mouth, the feeling was confirmed.
"It's not funny." Yuuri declared, frowning at him in what he hoped was a fair enough impression of Gwendals stern look. He thought he probably just came off looking constipated instead.
Muratas smirk widened to a grin. Yup. Definitely constipated. He gave up trying to glare, and instead settled for a nice childish pouting fit. It really was the best way to win any argument. Not even Gwendal at his most unhappy could last long against his all-mighty pout. It was patented.
Yet apparently it didn't work against such a strong foe. Murata just continued sitting there grin firmly in place and glasses emitting their creepy evil light all over the room. Yuuri was tempted to just reach over the desk and just rip the damned things right off his face. Just as he was contemplating that he probably could get away with it - and therefor should just go on ahead and do it - Murata seemed to realize his evil plan and had already settled back into his chair, glasses safely out of the light and showcasing his eyes. Which were definitely still laughing at him.
"I guess you should be glad that Gunter got to it before Wolfram could, or else the whole castle would be up in flames by now." He smirked.
Yuuri was tempted to just smack him across the face. No one had to know.
"You say that like you think it's me that that letter was aimed towards. Everyone in this entire darned world knows that I'm engaged to Wolfram. He's personally made sure of that." Yuuri pouted.
"And you have personally made sure to rebuke every claim he tries to lay on your person. As well as the fact that his yelled claims of you being such a 'cheater' have surely been heard by enough people that anyone who thought to investigate would see his feelings for you as being one-sided."
Yuuri sunk deeper into his chair, and crossed his arms protectively around his body.
"Yeah well I'd rather not be claimed by anyone. Especially not by another male! That's just not right." He glowered.
Murata gave him a look that clearly said, 'Yeah. Just keep telling yourself that'. It made Yuuri wonder why he was friends with the haughty little Know-It-All bastard.
"Now now Shibuya, don't take out your frustration on me. It's not my fault your in denial." Murata said, eyes narrowed and voice edging on anger.
Yuuri looked up at him in surprise. Surely he wasn't stupid enough to have said that out loud? He hunkered himself as far down into his chair as he could manage and glared up at Murata from the small space where his eyes peeked over the desk. Could Murata read minds? He wouldn't put it past the sly great sage to have a trick like that up his sleeve. In fact he should have expected it.
He narrowed his eyes further as Murata was staring at him in obvious amusement. Yuuri pressed his hands tightly over his ears in a weak attempt at keeping the Sage out of his head. Yuuri jumped and near hit his nose on the edge of the desk when Murata suddenly broke their staring contest, and burst into a full blown fit of stomach clenching laughter. Yuuri eyed him warily as he rose from his practically crouched on the floor position and slowly settled himself back into his chair, careful to keep a suspicious eye on his hysterical friend. Murata slowly unfurled himself from his laugh induced ball and gave yuuri a long look, tears still leaking from the corners of his eyes, and goofy grin still splashed across his face.
"I don't need to read minds to know what your thinking Yuuri. You need to learn to mask your thoughts better. What you feel is always written in your reactions." Murata said as slowly calmed down, a mildly serious look momentarily crossing his face.
"But then again, that part of you is also why so many people are willing to follow you. Even when they might be following you straight into the underworld." This time the smile Murata gave was no longer mocking but seemed instead rather affectionate - Indulgent, really.
Yuuri turned and hid his blush with a frown. He wasn't used to people giving him such looks. Save of course for Gunter.
"It's not like I always get into trouble. I can make good decisions too!" Yuuri defended himself with a pout.
"Your decisions are almost always the right ones, my friend. They just usually aren't the smartest. " Murata replied, trademark taunting smirk back in place.
Yuuris mind tried to stutter over a reply, failing as a small 'Ahem' made itself known. He turned his attention back to the great sage, who seemed ready to stop bullying him and finally give his advice on the situation at hand.
"My best suggestion to defuse the situation at hand would be to go on ahead and arrange a meeting between the possible wedding candidates of both sides" Murata said, quickly holding up a hand to halt Yuuris imminent protest. "It's only a meeting, and if things don't work out then the king of Amarina can't claim offense over the denial. It will give us all a chance to make a good enough impression that they'll want to join the alliance, but not want anyones hand in marriage."
Yuuri closed his mouth with a thoughtful frown. "That sounds fine, but then how are we gonna get them to like us... but not like us."
Muratas smirk widened to a slightly evil grin, eyes dancing mischievously in the light.
"Simple. Be unavailable."
Yuuri stared at him a questioning look on his face, head tilted cutely to the side until Muratas meaning dawned on him and a look of pure terror spread over him.
