Papers overwhelmed Conrad's desk. He eyed each one and signed reasonably, watching as the dark ink of his pen morphed to his image of Yuuri's double-black. His eyes blurred as the sun dropped and he noticed with increasing intensity that even while his stack of papers didn't seem to lessen, the time flew past him with amazing speed.

It was with every passing hour that Conrad remembered his promise he had made to Yuuri just that morning.

When finally the sun was barely hanging onto the horizon, Conrad grabbed his baseball glove without thinking and stood away from his desk, debating on whether he should actually spend this alone time with Yuuri or not.

One part of him desperately wanted to see his King. He wanted just to bathe in the way Yuuri's youth shone like it always did and silently catch the small white ball they threw back and forth, listening to Yuuri's ramblings that were sounding more and more like a young man versus the young boy Yuuri once was.

Conrad was dwindling, dying from the lack of time he spent with his King, and he had never truly thought to stop and think about it until he was finally alone, now, in his office. Now it was like a forbidden fruit, this alone time with him, the mere thought of being alone with him.

But then the other part of him chimed in. Yuuri? In the evening? What a joke- that was a set up for failure by just stating them all in one sentence. The nice, peaceful "silence" wouldn't be real during their little game of catch anyway because Conrad's imagination surely wouldn't be quiet. And that would just give Conrad more time to feel uncomfortable under Yuuri's adolescent gaze. Knowing a pair of eyes is gazing at you while you try not to imagine the body that held those beautiful eyes…

There's no way he could play catch like that. He'd end up with a black eye.

And yet something in him told him he was acting selfish. He was Yuuri's mentor, and it wasn't fair to Yuuri for him to just leave him behind like that. He had been avoiding him for almost two weeks now, and he was sure Yuuri had noticed already. And yet, wasn't wanting to spend every waking moment with the boy selfish as well?

Conrad rubbed his palm over his face to shake away the fatigue creeping into his skin, feeling the curl of leather baseball mitt under his fingers, the familiar feelings of intimacy creeping behind his ears. He shook them away, remembering that the last time somebody had become close to him, it had ended in tragedy. With a final resolve he told himself that he couldn't let it happen again, and he put the glove down. After all, he wasn't fooling himself, thinking he could have a choice in the matter. It was simply that he could not be with Yuuri, he could not have Yuuri as his, and he definitely had no right of claim on him whatsoever.

After a final glance at the glove sitting lonely at his desk, he walked towards his door to leave. In a crude sense, Conrad was ditching the Maoh, yes, but he would have to make the sacrifice. His goal was to remain in the stables and tend to the horses instead of running to the field, before Yuuri inevitably found him if he stay in his office.

Conrad hurried to the door, worried a sudden visitor would thrash his plans.

Yet as he reached his door, a surprising face creaked it open. Conrad winced and a silent Gwendal walked in. He nodded at the same time Conrad sighed from relief. It wasn't Yuuri, meaning he was free for now.

"Did you forget about dinner? That's the first time in 87 years."

Conrad blinked at his older brother and paused, nodding- amazed at the amount of energy thinking about Yuuri took from him. The sun was completely gone now, due to the time his inner struggles took on deciding whether he should meet Yuuri or not. No wonder his stomach was aching for something to eat. Seeing Gwendal's silent stare, he gave him an excuse.

"The paperwork was more than usual this evening."

Conrad had that feigned smile on again and he bowed his head to his brother respectfully, hiding any mishaps underneath his skin. And yet they still persisted, scratching at his heart.

"I'll walk with you to the dining hall."

"Of course."

Conrad hurriedly walked into the hallway, avoiding Gwendal's eyes and taking his place beside him. Gwendal said nothing and shut his door, letting his heavy steps walk slowly to the dining area. His presence almost beckoned Conrad to follow.

While Conrad would openly admit he loved his brother, it was difficult to get any closer to Gwendal than he already was, which wasn't much. He already knew that trying to start a conversation with him would be futile. The two remained completely silent through their walk to the west corridor. And yet Conrad welcomed the company, thinking constantly of how it could have been Yuuri. If it had been, he would have failed then. They would have ended up ditching dinner like they usually did to play baseball or talk or smile or whatever, and Conrad didn't know if he could handle that right now.

Had it been Yuuri though, Conrad's left side of his heart would have slid out and he would have been excited to see him nonetheless. Plus, he always loved to see Yuuri's face when he came to his office; Yuuri's face seeking out him…

Conrad's feet carried him straight to the dining hall behind Gwendal without thinking, his mind running off in varying directions- though anyone on the outside wouldn't notice. Whether or not anyone could tell, he could hear his thoughts go wild, and he inwardly sighed with exasperation. This was becoming all too much. Before, it had never been a problem. There was always some sort of underlying wave beneath his skin when Yuuri was nearby, but then it had been containable. Some two weeks ago it was a sort of thin air that certainly didn't choke him as it was doing now.

Gwendal cleared his throat and Conrad let his eyes shoot to the back of his head, afraid that his brother was too in tuned for his liking. He forced his gaze to linger there until they eventually traveled under the awning to the dining room, hoping his thoughts wouldn't stray if his eyes were at least fixated.

Gwendal cleared from the front and allowed his younger brother to walk in, not bothering to give a welcome to anyone who had looked up from the table. Conrad took the incentive and plastered that brilliant smile of his across his face, trying to graciously beeline to his chair and avoid all other contact.

And then his eyes brought him instinctively upon Yuuri at the front of the table, regardless of his efforts.

He was reading some sort of paperwork with his plate in front of him, waiting to be served. His frail hands were gripping the sheets with a certain intensity about them that only solider eyes would have noticed, and Conrad tried to make nothing of it. Occasionally, when Yuuri looked up and caught people's eyes, he would graze over Conrad's sight, and would then frantically look back and scan his obviously important papers.

Yuuri formally looked up from his documents at Conrad when he entered the room properly, just in time for the man to divert his eyes to the closest thing possible, which happened to be Wolfram.

His face was sour and the blonde scoffed, looking away and to his wine glass, which probably had something less strong than wine inside. Wolfram seemed pretty ruffled, at least more than usual, which most likely had something to do with the cancellation of the engagement. Something irked inside of the soldier akin to guilt, something foreboding and dark, something like vile. He was sure his face was being read by the blonde, yet Wolfram didn't seem to notice and simply refused to acknowledge Conrad's presence. And, to Conrad's astute observations, the blonde had still insisted upon sitting at Yuuri's left.

But Conrad; Conrad's seat was to Yuuri's right, a small cherry wood seat that stood gracefully even when empty. It was followed by several others, ending with Gunter at the other end chattering of something or the other. He walked over to his place as second nature told him to, but hesitated at the last moment. It was then that he noticed Yuuri had been looking at him the whole time, waiting for his knight to notice, and that he would have to speak with Yuuri and interact with him eventually. He looked down at him and noted the gracious curves of Yuuri's smile, the soft pink on the bottom lip and the charm his expressions held. He returned it with a smile he hoped to be half of what his King's was.

Conrad was half tempted to give a little bow to Yuuri before he sat, but a voice in the back of his mind told him that was a bit too much like flirting considering his personality, and he pulled out his chair instead.

Conrad took his seat and before he could even have the chance to avoid Yuuri, Gunter made a huge show of standing up, clapping his hands for attention.

The solider could hear Yuuri groan to the left of him and became immediately intrigued, wondering what announcement could be so bothersome.

"Well we all know that our lovely Maoh has grown so fast…!"

The table shuffled uncomfortably and someone coughed, ignoring Gunter's beginnings of a nosebleed.

He continued on and even Conrad's mind began to wonder, gazing across the table at his mother for a moment and past Wolfram's constant sneer. Gunter's voice turned into a dull murmur, and he zoned for a second, somehow remembering instances of when Yuuri had attempted to show him how to cook curry- until a harsh "psst!" broke his concentration.

He looked at Wolfram for a second but realized he was looking away, then looked, almost hesitantly, towards his King.

Yuuri smiled and waved with one hand almost beneath the table, the other pulling on the red satin cloak draped around his neck and shoulders. Conrad smiled in return and was about to look away in fear of snapping, but Yuuri waved his hand out in an attracting fashion In order to get Conrad to keep looking at him.

This time, Yuuri's face was desperate. Conrad cocked an eyebrow and leaned ever so slightly towards the boy and honed his hearing, all the while glancing at Gunter to assure he hadn't seen them plotting anything.

Yuuri's voice came out in a raspy whisper at first, and he had to clear his throat for Conrad to hear him.

"I need you to get me out of here."

Conrad looked at Yuuri in mild surprise, wondering if he understood the full extent of interrupting Gunter's speeches. Furthermore, he wondered if Yuuri knew what exactly that could imply had they been lovers at present. If the maids were overhearing this, Conrad's reputation of restraint was done for.

"Your Majesty-"

"No, Conrad, I need to leave."

The tone in Yuuri's voice snagged Conrad's eyes and he turned to face him. Yuuri was being more tense than usual, something that was completely not expected from the boy when he was talking to his knight. Something about that made Conrad worried and he felt a metallic tinge in his throat, warning him about something. Yuuri's eyebrows were stitched together and he gazed at Conrad, worrying at his upper lip. His fingers curled at the fabric around his neck and he seemed to be almost sweating.

"Are you all right, your Majesty?"

Conrad kept his tone completely professional, despite the tremendous, overflowing worry in his veins. He felt it rush through like a familiar fire, ready to thoroughly dismantle anything that was bothering Yuuri, but remained in his seat. His face stayed stone still as Yuuri nervously fidgeted, yet Conrad wasn't quite able to stop the natural flow of adrenaline that tended to pulse when Yuuri was bothered.

" I don't… I already know what Gunter's saying, he told me about a week ago…"

Yuuri stopped abruptly and looked up, seemingly paying attention, and instantly Conrad knew Gunter was looking in their direction. He pretended to be slightly crouched over, fixing the table cloth, then looked at the silver man's face and nodded. He hoped the man thought he was paying attention, and Gunter fell for it.

"Ah, get me out of this! He's…he's…"

Conrad didn't dare look at his King in fear of giving him away, and he was surprised that no one else was. Cheri was quietly speaking to Greta, and Wolfram was the one passing their little folded notes back and forth. Everyone rustled quietly and Conrad supposed they were all too busy to hear Yuuri's cries for help.

He looked at Yuuri then, hardly able to hold his concern back. "Just tell me what's wrong, Yuuri." He stated, giving the young man an encouraging look.

Yuuri blinked and glanced over at Conrad, still worried.

"I don't want to-"

"-BE ENGAGED AGAIN!"

Conrad flinched at Gunter's loud voice and saw all the clapping around the table. He immediately clapped along with them, registering everything. Yuuri froze then slumped, rubbing his face with his hands all in one fluid motion. He looked through his fingers at an applauding Conrad, who was clapping yet still slightly confused.

...No.

No.

...What?

Gunter nodded and kept chiming through the applause, even while Yuuri obviously looked mortified. Conrad clapped along, his thoughts screaming at him in vertiginous motion.

"Yes! Quite wonderful news, of course!" Gunter's eyes were brimming with silent tears, Cheri was waving her napkin in rejoice, Wolfram was looking away from Yuuri with iron resolve- and Gwendal… Gwendal was being himself, his eyebrows slightly twitching.

Conrad was smiling, smiling so well he didn't even know it himself- and he looked at Yuuri, panicking, wondering if this had been brought about because someone had found out or-

Yuuri cleared his throat, and finally spoke up to the table.

"I don't even know if I'm ready to choose, there's too many."

Conrad's eyebrows stitched as if he couldn't quite grasp what Yuuri was saying. Was he stating that he suspected Gunter wanted him to search all of Shin Makoku?

"Y…Your Majesty, only a few days remain!"

"I know that!"

Was Conrad the only one confused?

He looked around and saw Wolfram pouting per usual, Cheri still clapping, and Gwendal actually looking quiet and satisfied. Greta, who had come back from whispering to Cheri, was smiling as well. He must have missed something earlier in the week, or…

In an attempt to make it seem like he was paying attention but to find out information as well, Conrad asked, "Perhaps his Majesty could wait to choose-"

"Conrad! Yuuri has to be at least engaged in three days, he can't wait! The court calls!" Gunter spilled out some tears and dabbed them with a cloth. "Ah… he was only just sixteen…"

Cheri smiled and was cheering Yuuri on while Wolfram pushed his dishes aside and excused himself. Gwendal was thinking god knows what and Greta was fine and smiling like she normally was, but Conrad…

Conrad hesitantly looked at Yuuri, who was staring at the intricate patterns of the tablecloth. The papers he had been sorting through earlier sat by his silverware, and for the first time, Conrad caught what they said. "ROYAL ENGAGEMENT." After that followed a list of names.

Yuuri must have taken so long in choosing a partner after the engagement to Wolfram was annulled that the court was pushing this against him. Conrad knew the customs, but it had never really registered within him. Yuuri was nineteen, (and with his stature, seemed more years than that to the people) with no wife, and no biological children. As the sole heir of the throne, Yuuri's future relied completely on his offspring, and Greta had taken care of that. But apparently the people wanted a queen.

"What a fabulous list to choose from, Your Majesty! You may choose to court and marry any of the noble's daughters! Oh if that's not your fancy I have a noble's sons list here-"

Yuuri groaned and stood, the papers on the table shuffling and falling to the floor. Gunter immediately quieted himself and stared at his king, slightly taken aback.

"Your Majesty-!"

"I'll decide who when I'm ready! Just give me the list."

Yuuri walked abruptly over and snatched the list from his mentor's hand, ignoring the shocked gazes from Cheri and yes, even Gwendal.

Conrad attempted to stand but thought the better of it, watching silently as Yuuri scanned over the paper, clenching it tightly with one hand.

When had this even happened? Conrad's mind reeled and he tried to remember if any of his brothers had mentioned this and he had simply forgot, or maybe he had signed a paper without seeing what it really said, or…

He looked quietly at Yuuri, at the Maoh's fingers shaking and flexing. Yuuri's mouth opened slightly as if to say something, but only Conrad noticed, and it was closed before anything fell out. His heart leapt and he vainly tried to read the King's eyes, but nothing came to him for once in his life, and he struggled with the notion that Yuuri had really become a true King and was accepting his courtly fate.

Before anyone else could say anything, Yuuri turned around, never looking up to meet anyone's eyes, and walked briskly out of the dining hall, tipping his chair over in a rush as he went.

_____________________________chapter 2 end

Ah...! First of all, I can't believe... the hits.. over 300. And the comments. I thank each and every one of you for taking your wonderful time to comment... I am so awestruck. Never had I thought I'd receive so many positive comments in a first try! Thank you, thank you so much! I'm so glad that any negative comments were kept at bay as well. Thank you....for your refrained thoughts...TT+TT

And, for those of you worrying this is going in the same old direction- don't fret. I've got some good ideas for this fic, and I'm planning on making it a good first run!

Thank you to Amanda, Raven Cactuar, Gaelic Lover, dreamerswaking, Goddess of All Knowing-ness, showmaster64x, markyc58, Rodick, Miss Plague, RuByMoOn17, Katie, sweetsally, aida135, Aigle and anyone else who favorited or tagged this story! It's all because of you guys that I'm continuing! I promise to update much faster this time. Please continue reading!