Bedridden

Chapter 1:

There is a word one would use to describe the condition at the castle: mayhem.

Maids scurried every which way in a panic-stricken frenzy and those close to the distinguished individual by whom this furor was induced paced relentlessly, unbounded anxiety weighing down their mirth. News of this overblown misfortune spread throughout the castle city like untended wildfires and, like any rumor many times retold and passed along by a multitude of plebian, the supposed actuality of the situation was blown way out of proportion. Some even to go as far as to say that someone was dying.

What was happening?

The 27th Maou of the Great Demon Kingdom, the king of great double black who had countless times brought profuse tranquility to many nations in this second world of his… was sick.

Inside the royal chamber, a most trusted doctor examined the bedridden adolescent.

Yuri Shibuya sat on the regal sheets, having no more to do with the, to him, bothersome doctor than merely cooperate—if only to shut his handlers up. After a series of strange, and unwanted, procedures, the examination was over. Naturally, Wolfram was the first inquiring person in the room.

"So? What's wrong with him," he demanded.

"Maoukowsu Kais," Gisela said gravely, yet unsurprised.

Yuri gave no regard to the unfamiliar disease, it was probably just another name for a cold. Yet, he couldn't shake the woeful gasps from his comrades.

Günter popped his head into the door. "Did I hear correctly, Maoukowsu Kais?" he asked. A wide smile took to his face. "Oh, splendid!"

"Von Christ, have you forgotten that it is fatal?" Wolfram growled.

"F-Fatal?" Yuri's eyes bugged out.

"Ah, only if His Majesty cannot pass the tests," Günter shot back cheerily.

"Test?" Yuri was growing more and more panicky.

"Now, now. Do you hold such little faith in your fiancé, Wolfram?" The violet-eyed man shook his head daintily and tsk'ed.

"Of course not! I believe in Yuri!" Wolfram was furious. Well, he believed in his ability to withstand challenges such as these, but he wouldn't gamble on the fickle king if it came down to the terms of their engagement.

Yuri yelled above the two, "What is it?!"

Günter flashed him a smile. "Maoukowsu Kais is an illness that every Maou gets sooner or later, but it isn't like a normal disease. It is a test of your willpower, strength, and loyalty."

"Basically, it's test to see if you're a good king," Conrart chipped in.

Nodding, the Maou's advisor continued, "And, as Wolfram said, if you fail, you die."

Yuri sat quietly, taking it all in. "What kind of test?"

Wolfram shrugged, "Dunno. Each set of trials are unique to the current king."

"Or queen!" came a defiant voice from somewhere.

Wolfram deadpanned in thorough displeasure.

Lady Cicilie spun into the room and glomped the young Maou, pressing her lady hoods in his face. "Oh~! You've finally got it! I knew it was just a mater of time."

Fearing that Wolfram was going to incinerate the room, Yuri loosened her grip and pushed her away. "So you've had it, too?"

"Of course," she winked.

He exhaled a sigh of relief and sunk into his pillows. "So it's easy."

Cicilie laughed, "Why heavens no! It's hard as crap! I was about to just give up and die!"

Yuri flushed.

"Mother!"

"But of course these guys," she shrugged towards her sons and Günter, "wouldn't let me. I was lucky to have their help."

Yuri's eyes lit up. "You mean I don't have to do it alone?"

"Nope! Well, some of it you do, but for the most part you can have help."

The double black sagged in relief. "What kind of tests have some Maous had?"

"Well, this one had a dragon pestering him for months. Finally he just had to knock it out and send it to a protected reserve," Günter said.

"And another's skin changed color and grew boils. He was in so much pain, and he looked like a frog!"

"Remember the one who had octopus tentacles come out of his belly button? They nearly choked him to death!"

"There have been a few Maous through history that we didn't like and let die," Gwendle, who had remained silent until now, said casually.

"Paralyses."

"Memory loss."

"Poisoning."

It didn't get any better, and Yuri didn't regain consciousness for another few hours.

"Hey, you awake?" Wolfram looked over at him from where he sat at the end of the bed as Yuri's eyelids flitted open.

Yuri looked around the otherwise empty room. He asked after a minute, "Where is everyone?'

"They went to make preparations," he murmured, though he was sure Conrart still lingered just outside the door.

Yuri sighed and propped himself up on his elbow. So this really was a big deal for the Mazoku. He wondered why. He was nervous, despite his best efforts. He had little doubt that he could overcome the challenge of the sickness itself, he had dealt with greater and more demanding tasks like the Soushu. Although, he had just barely dodged death then, and many times since. He was only human—well, half human at least.

"I know what a hard time Mother had with this, so please be careful. I was so afraid of losing Mother. She was going to give up, she wanted to die, it was just too hard for her. Yuri," he gazed at him intently with clear emerald eyes brimming with emotion, "I don't want to lose you. None of us do. We believe in you and we're here for you."

Yuri was startled by his abnormal behavior. Since when did Wolfram ever care that much whether he was okay? What, between throwing fireballs at him and his various murder attempts for his being "unfaithful." In Yuri's opinion, this affectionate character he was showing did not suite him. Either way, he smiled graciously and accepted the offer.

Suddenly, immense pain shot through him that made him crimp in anguish, clutching his stomach and almost screaming. That is, he would be screaming if he could find the air to. His breath came in short little gasps as he struggled for each labored breath.

"Yuri!" Wolfram jumped up in alarm. "Conrart!" he called unnecessarily, for the half-Mazoku was already rushing into the room. Wolfram saw Dacauscas sprinting down the hall. "Is this?"

"Yeah," Conrart answered, flustered, unable to do anything for his king.

Gisela arrived after a few minutes and observed as Yuri coughed up blood and some sort of slimy crawling thing that changed into a myriad of colors before it exploded. A few cramps and a nosebleed later, it was over and Yuri collapsed wearily.

"Can't you do anything?" Wolfram asked.

She contemplated for a moment, then said, "I can give him a regular treatment, but it won't do much good."

"It won't do any bad either." Wolfram scowled and turned his attention back to Yuri's peaked figure.

The door opened and Günter stepped into the royal chamber and proclaimed:

"We have just received white pigeon mail from Small Shimaron. King Saralegui has announced his departure; he will be arriving in Shin Makoku tomorrow."


I came up with the name Maoukowsu Kais by trying to combine "Maou" and "case" (my spelling: "kais") like in a case of the (i.e.) flu. But coincidentally, a "kaiser" is a ruler, like in the Great Roman Empire, so it turned out better than I thought. :)

Anyway, was it any good? Should I continue it?