A Boy By Any Other Nightgown
By,
Rune Wolfe
Disclaimer: I own none of Kyou Kara Maou
-
Behind the curtains Yuuri shuffles in search of his tights which seemed to have strangely gone missing after Wolfram came into his dressing room. Through the key hole the sly blonde enjoys the view of that little tan ass in the air as the king crawls about to peak under his armoire. A cough from Conrad brings him to attention.
"Wolfram," the brunette smirks, a look not very common on him, "I believe his majesty is looking for those…" he points a long finger as the black pants slung over Wolfram's shoulder.
The blonde turns a slight shade of crimson before nodding quickly and announcing that his intent this entire time had been to return the article of clothing to Yuuri which he had accidentally picked up when he had been changing after Act I. The older brother merely smiles understandingly and suggests that Wolfram quickly bestow the leggings unto Yuuri as he was going on soon.
-
Act II: It Begins
Scene I:
Setting: Conrad and Yuuri are riding in a carriage to the Spitzweg Castle
Conrad:
My dear king Yuuri you are shaking hard
Have nothing to fear but your own distaste!
Yuuri:
Distaste? Surely you don't mean of Wolfram
I cannot feel but pulsing love for him.
Distaste… disinterest… these cannot be!
Conrad:
Then what does thou fear, tonight of all nights?
This is your chance, you must take it or else…
Yuuri:
My dear man I know that fate too well!
To live devoid of passionate embraces
To wake not unto that angel's sweet smile
Aye! Do not test me with such bitter jokes
If you need know, I fear he'll be repulsed
Conrad:
By the king? My gods that is blasphemy!
And a sin his heart fares well to evade
He shall swoon to see such a man of merit,
With kindness and morality as one!
Yuuri:
I am but a poor beggar at his door
Seeking Wolfram's heart as warmth by a fire
Alas I should not speak his hallowed name
For he is one to be worshipped from afar
Beggars such as I should not come close
Lest he be tainted with desperation
Such as that of the pilgrims who journey,
To stand below his balcony and watch
No other such salvation am I owed
Conrad:
My king you credit him too much as sacred
He is a man who walks beside mortals
Who scrapes his pale knees and dirties his hands
And is pricked by the roses of the garden!
Yuuri:
If I could I would burn that cruel flower
And clean his hands with water from the gods
Conrad:
My king, love is so strange as to change you
To such a fearful Romeo as this!
Stand! I pray thee, stand! For you are great!
Crowned by the gods you say have born your love
Then how are you any less worthy?
Yuuri:
-ha!
A crown is but a piece of tarnished gold,
If no loving queen will be had with it
Then it is nothing of divine value
I desire family, love, and faith
With that I shall forever be content
Then canst thou see why I am so taken?
By this blonde angel with a virgin womb
I wish to see him plump with my own heir
And to cradle him in my arms at night
I wish to make him mine eternally
By the act that only lovers perform
But by and by I am too shy to speak
Of such things with his very flesh and blood
As I have spoken I have been so rude!
To forget the company beside me
I spoke as if you were no longer here!
For shame, for shame, forgive me of my crime!
Conrad:
No crime hath been committed here, my lord
You speak of your heart and of its great fears
Fears which I wish to quell for you by dawn!
Yuuri:
My friend I thank you for your kind wisdom
And shall trust your word from here on tonight
You are my guide who shall lead me to light!
Conrad:
Indeed I shall see you within his arms
Or shame shall be my only friend at day
(End of scene)
-
Wolfram tugs on his cravat to be certain that its lace does not bunch up awkwardly on his chest. Yuuri helps to brush his hair, remembering tips given to him by his mother long ago.
Down the hall, Gwendal is being fitted into a dress coat suited for a ball scene, whilst Conrad tries several pairs of boots, looking for ones that not only fit, but match his green breeches. Celi giggles happily as strands of pearls are tied 'round her neck. Yet she is not joyous about her jewelry, but instead that she glimpsed her youngest son and the king share a chaste kiss as the prince made his way towards the wing of the stage from which he will be entering. Yuuri heads back to the makeup crew to be prepared for his next scene; he has some time, not long, but enough to breath. Gwendal is hurried out of the costume closet by a group of flittering nurses.
-
Scene II
Setting: the ballroom of Spitzweg castle. Gwendal greets Conrad as Wolfram scans the crowd for the king who has gone to find his courage in the library
Wolfram:
Tell me brother, where is our fine guest?
Surely one so handsome cannot be missed
Even in such a large crowd of dancers
Please tell me that he came, as he agreed
Conrad:
Yes, yes, I merely lost him at the gate
He's so shy he can be called skittish
I am certain that it is part of youth
Wolfram:
I do hope to see him before night's end
Conrad (under his breath
If I indeed shall have my way
You and he shall do far more than that
Wolfram:
What was that Weller? You were mumbling…
It does no good to conceal words from me
Gwendal:
Naïve one, do not pester him further
The king is here, that's all you need to know
Wolfram:
How cruel of you, you treat me like a foe!
When you forget today is made for me!
(Enter Lord Beaugard, Wolfram's fiancée)
Beaugard:
Indeed my lovely one it is so!
(Strokes Wolfram's cheek lightly, the blonde tries hard to conceal his shudder, but is not fully successful, Beaugard continues…)
My dear you shine so lovely on this day
That should I not know you I would wonder why…
Perhaps, I might think, he's just been had…
Has been plucked by a man who is not I
Yet fate has smiled upon me so kindly
I find my future bride still a virgin
Conrad (to the audience):
Does it not disgust, how he speaks so crude?
To doubt my little brother's purity?
To mistake Wolfram's happiness for lust?
This man speaks as if to sell my brother
And inspects as if to figure a price
I'd be not surprised he suspects him bare
Unable now to give life to children
Though Wolfram still is of a tender age
Flee, you perverse man, he is for Yuuri
And not to be touched by your lustful hands
Conrad (to his brothers):
Forgive me, yet I shall search for the king
Dear Wolfram would you care to join my quest?
You are the center of this festival
Wolfram:
Indeed, my brother, I would be honored
And I still wish to see his majesty!
(exit Wolfram and Conrad, grateful to escape from Beaugard)
Gwendal:
Forgive him sir, my brother is still you
(to the audience)
I too wish his match could be someone else
Yet Wolf's options for mates are running dry
I pray Beaugard is not always so bad
Yet duty calls us all to marry young
And conceive soldiers for his majesty
Aye, though his majesty is young, I know,
To exist he causes harm for us all
Beaugard:
His comeliness makes up for his small flaws
Yet his stubbornness makes me doubt his worth
Is skill in bed worth a bride who thinks?
Though I may fill him to the brim with seeds
And find my climax deep within his gate
Forceful enough to burst his sleeping fruit
I worry that he shall harm my good name
A boy who can pleasure my flesh is fine
So long as he expects no more than that
Wolfram shall bear my children and shall live
As my toy for nightly doings thereafter
Gwendal (to audience):
With every new word he speaks I grow ill
To think how our Wolfram shall be treated
When he must take his vows with this man
I swear brother; I wanted to do good…
To see you protected forevermore ….
Yet now I doubt my very own strategy
(to Beaugard)
Forgive me, my lord, I must take my leave
(exit Gwendal)
(end of scene)
-
Yuuri gags as he rereads Beaugard's lines. "God this man is a pervert." He grimaces once more as Wolfram walks by topless. The thought of his fiancée being treated in such away disgusts him.
Conrad too doubts the character of Beaugard, not that he was unaware that the man was a bad guy, but the extent of his crudeness was shocking. It was then that he found himself grateful that Beaugard's part was one of an insignificant length, walking on only when the audience needed reminding that Wolfram was currently (in matters of the performance) in a precarious position.
Wolfram himself, however, was finding it easiest to ignore the situation altogether. It was, in fact, just a play.
-
Scene III
Setting: The library, Conrart comes to introduce Wolfram to Yuuri
Conrad:
Your Majesty, may I present Wolfram
The one for whom today's feast has been made
Yuuri (shaking his hand)
I congratulate you and give you my hope
That you shall have a grand and joyful life
Wolfram (releases Yuuri's hand and blushes as he speaks to the audience
He looks to be so finely made of stone
A god made of ashwood and ebony
With a golden hue to his warm tan skin
And be that rose which sweetly dusts his cheeks?
Aye, he is but a boy made of treasures
(To Yuuri)
Your majesty it is truly an honor
Never have I been able to see you
At least not in so intimate a scene
(Coughing) Conrad:
Interesting use of words, my brother
Yet now I must away and leave you two
Do be sure to try and enjoy yourselves
(Conrad exits)
Wolfram:
Forgive my brother, for he works so hard
Yet you of all people should know of this
Alas, I am so glad to finally meet
Yuuri (his voice shaky):
I too am glad to make your acquaintance
To see a friendly face is such a gift
I so rarely leave my castle these days
I am at a loss for friends and comrades
And those at court so often make me doubt
Whether they see my worth… or just my name
Wolfram:
I am certain if they could see your face
As I am so graced to see it right now…
They would not hesitate to befriend you
Yuuri:
What do you mean by saying this to me?
Such kind words often bewilder young boys
And I have no experience with age…
Does thou mean we mightbecomeacquainted
Wolfram:
My dear, we are already acquainted
Do not dare to doubt our newly formed bond
But a deeper friendship I too would seek
For I have seen none with so sweet a smile
Yet tell me, my dear king, for I wonder…
Why did you hide at the party's starting?
Did you fear that I was not attractive?
Yuuri (hurriedly):
Please do not think me so cruelly shallow
Yet if looks were to be a true concern…
I knew you to be a golden beauty
For whom the angels sing when he doth wake
Even before your brother brought you here
Wolfram:
T'was a joke, my lord, and all in fun…
I ask, my dear king, do but answer me…
How did you know I was fair as you claim?
To be heralded by the gods themselves…
If we have not met before this moment
How could you think me so truly divine?
Yuuri (blushing he paces a few steps away and hides his face):
Dear Wolfram I must make a confession
Though scolded I shall be by your brother
Forewarned, I was, not to act so rashly
'Be steady' Conrart did sayest to me…
Yet your anxious lovely eyes thirst for truth
And by, I cannot deny your desires…
Let me say I acted with good intent…
Yet I must admit you have been misled
T'was not your invitation brought me here
Thou so happy I was to receive it…
It was the heart that has brought me to you
And it is for my heart I stand here now…
I came here to declare my love for you!
Wolfram (astonished):
But My King, surely this is all too soon
We have just been introduced this evening
How could something so strong as love be true?
How could it grow in such thin soil we've laid?
Yuuri:
My love, therein lies my true confession
Though we have never spoken 'fore this night
I watched you chastely as you bared yourself
Unto the waters of the palace bath
Wolfram:
Your majesty!
Yuuri:
-My love, please pay me heed
I had not meant to see you defenseless
Nor had I planned to fall so deep in love
Wolfram:
I find that I do pity you, dear child,
My poor king, surely you know I'm to wed…
Yuuri:
A man for whom I know you can't find love!
Aye, Conrart told me of the cruel sorrow
That dared to break my heart in two once heard
So now I must fall to my knees and beg
Be mine, dear Wolfram, be my fair queen
And I shall see that you live in joy with me
Wolfram:
I cannot still my heart for I am faint
(he falls upon the couch)
A declaration of my king's true love
Finds me his heart's one single desire
And a proposal is his gift to me
And yet I fear, for I am not certain
Yuuri:
What do you doubt of me, my fair Wolfram?
I long to keep you warm against my breast
You'll find my heart as pure as of a babe
Never having known the flesh of a mate
I am for you, whole and unspoiled by age
Wolfram:
My king, as sure I am that you love me
I fear my brother's wrath should I not wed
May lead to exile from my family
Yuuri:
But you shall wed! I shall make you my queen!
What greater honor could your brother want?
Wolfram:
My king I do find love in your pure heart
And truth within your beauteous black eyes
Hold me in your arms for I am frightened
My heart beats fast, my breath is far too short
I fear that I shall fall and bruise my soul
(Yuuri moves to hold him as he asks)
My king, you loved me in my purest form…
Unclothed of gold, riches, wealth or jewels…
You knew me not to be a prince or lord…
Yet love did find your heart there even so…
I am unworthy of your adoration….
Yuuri (stroking Wolfram's hair):
Hush, my love, what you say cannot be so…
Worth is for the eyes of he who beholds…
And in mine eyes you are above all else
Wolfram (pulling away and unable to look Yuuri in the eye):
My darling your words pull me so deeply…
I fear I do believe that you can save me
From this man to whom I am to be sold
His cruel grasp wishes to crush my frail heart
And grind it to dust to make me a toy
A toy with which he can play forever
Yuuri:
I swear you shall suffer no such cruelty
So long as I do bear the crown and the throne
Nay… so long as I doth breathe on this earth
I shall keep guard at your hallowed temple!
None but I shall reach its doors in this life
Nor shall they force it open in the next…
'Spite heaven and earth, I shall keep you pure
'Till we, together, can reach that climax
And become one for all eternity!
Wolfram:
Oh great knight who protects my weak spirit
Be guardian of my shrine from here on…
I swear, here by the clock, I am yours!
Yuuri:
And I shall love only you for always!
(Yuuri carries Wolfram offstage, kissing as they leave)
(End Act II)