Some time has passed since the day of Haschwald's night conversation with the Emperor. But since that time they haven't spoken about their feelings to each other and haven't discussed this topic anymore.
It was a very busy time in the castle and every Quincy had a lot of work to do. Haschwald was instructed to train the group of rookie soldiers, so he didn't have time to talk with the Emperor. Besides His Majesty was really busy too and Haschwald didn't want to distract him from the important business.
So, Haschwald concentrated on his errand, which was given to him, and started to teach rookies the basics of fighting. The young soldiers tried very hard and soon enough they were showing a big progress. During the one of such trainings Haschwald gave his students a task to practice a certain skill. While they were training, he went to the nearby window and stopped there, looking outside.
The blond Quincy started to think about his relations with the Emperor again. Since that night conversation he really wanted to talk with His Majesty to find out what exactly the Emperor feels towards him. But since that day His Majesty showed no signs that he remember about that event. So Haschwald felt very unsure and didn't dare to ask the Emperor about such things. A few days passed and the blond Quincy eventually started to think that it all was just a joke. Probably His Majesty never really loved him and...
"..Senpai! Senpai!..Are you listening?.."-the voice of one of the rookies suddenly interrupted Haschwald's thoughts.
"Oh. Yes, yes."-Haschwald threw off the heavy thoughts and turned to the young soldier.
"We finished our training. What should we do next?"
Later when the practice was over and Haschwald left the training room, the young soldiers started to chatter.
"Did you notice? Haschwald-sama has been daydreaming pretty often recently."-one of the Quincies said.
"Maybe he fell in love?"
"Oh, then I feel a bit jealous!"-one of the female rookies said.
A couple of days later Haschwald and the Emperor went through the corridor, talking about the military training and other such things. Haschwald was following His Majesty but almost didn't listen to him. The blond Quincy was deep in his heavy thoughts again. He was walking like that for some time but then he suddenly interrupted the Emperor's speech.
"Your Majesty.. it's about that day when you kissed me.."-Haschwald said very hesitantly.
"Haschwald, now really is not the time.."-Juha Bach said without turning around.
Haschwald became very upset and continued to follow the Quincy leader, who meanwhile resumed his speech.
"Yes, I understand. So it was just a game. Excuse me that I haven't understood it from the very beginning."-Haschwald said quietly with sadness in the voice.
"Mm? What do you mean?"-Juha Bach stopped and turned to Haschwald.
"It was a joke, right? You were probably bored and decided to play with me for a while.."-Haschwald said, lowering his eyes.
"What are you talking about, Haschwald? How could you think that I was playing with your feelings?"-Juha Bach surprised.
"Well.. you have never told me what exactly you feel towards me.."-Haschwald said and kept silent after that.
The Emperor was looking at the blond Quincy for some time. He realized that after the confession he was thinking over it for too long. He should have not kept Haschwald waiting and made him worried by that. Thinking so, Juha Bach came closer to Haschwald and embraced him.
"Sometimes you say silly things."-Juha Bach said and kissed Haschwald on the lips. Then he hugged the blond Quincy tighter and said quietly, so that only Haschwald could hear him.-"I love you, Haschwald."
Since that day Haschwald and the Emperor didn't hide their feelings anymore and became closer to each other. Now Haschwald was even happier than at the time, when the Emperor kissed him for the first time. And now he was daydreaming rather often, however, it didn't affect the performance of his duties very much.
So every Quincy was coping with their work well enough and the life in the castle was rather calm. But one day when Haschwald was walking through the corridor, he suddenly heard the sounds of fight. He hurried in that direction and saw the dent in the wall and two Stern Ritters, who were quarreling with each other.
"Oh, come on, big man! Can't you answer such simple question?"-Berenice the Stern Ritter "Q" asked.
"Shut up! You are irritating me!"-Driscoll the Stern Ritter "O" cried and wanted to attack his opponent.
"Stop this at once!"-Haschwald ordered them.
"Oh, commander is here."-two Quincies noticed Haschwald and immediately stopped their fight.
"Will you explain me what happened here?"-Haschwald asked them, looking at the damaged wall.
Two Quincies exchanged glances and started to explain.
"Well, I wanted to test my special ability at the live target and chose Driscoll for that."-Berenice said.-"But as a result he got enraged."
"Of course! It's all your stupid questions fault!"-Driscoll said angrily and they started to quarrel again.
"Enough. Why are you acting like some vandals? Did you forget who you are?"-Haschwald asked.-"Just think about it. You are the two Stern Ritters, who should serve an example to the other soldiers. And you are showing such improper behavior."
"We apologize for what we did."-two Quincies said.-"It won't happen again."
"Very well. I hope so."-Haschwald said with a sigh.
Later that day Haschwald went to the throne room to report to the Emperor about the progress in rookies' training and other such things. Juha Bach listened to the blond Quincy with attention and when Haschwald finished his report, the Emperor asked him:
"And that's all that you wanted to report to me?"
"Yes, these are all the important events for today. Do you wish to hear something else, Your Majesty?"-Haschwald asked, trying to find out if he forgot to mention something else or not.
"Yes, I would like to know what that dent is doing in the wall of the main corridor."-Juha Bach said.-"I heard, you were there today."
"Oh, that case."-Haschwald remembered.-"It was just a small quarrel between two Stern Ritters but I stopped it rather fast. So, I thought that such insignificant case doesn't deserve the attention of Your Majesty."
"I see. And who are those two Stern Ritters?"-Juha Bach asked.
Haschwald kept silent and didn't hurry to answer.
"What's the matter, Haschwald? Is it such a hard question?"-the Emperor asked.
"Forgive me my rudeness, Your Majesty, but I can't tell you their names."-Haschwald answered.
"What?"-Juha Bach surprised. He didn't expect to hear such answer.-"Why?"
"You will kill them."-Haschwald replied.
The Emperor smirked.
"Maybe I will and maybe not. I don't need soldiers, who can't even maintain the simple discipline in my army."-he said.-"Well, I am still waiting for your answer, Haschwald."
"Excuse me but I have to refuse you again, Your Majesty."-Haschwald said.
Juha Bach frowned.
"What a nonsense. Why are you protecting those two idiots?"-the Emperor asked.
"Your Majesty, you appointed me as the leader of Stern Ritters and that means that I am responsible for every one of them. And as their leader I can't allow my subordinates to die. I vouch for them and promise you that such case will never happen again."-Haschwald said very seriously, looking straight at the Emperor.
"Is this your final decision, Haschwald?"-Juha Bach asked, looking right into Haschwald's eyes.
"Yes, Your Majesty."-Haschwald replied confidently.
The Emperor was silently looking at the blond Quincy for some time and then talked again.
"Looks like I made the right choice, when I appointed you as Stern Ritters Grandmaster, Haschwald. You really have qualities of the good leader."-Juha Bach smiled.-"Very well. I will leave those two to you. I hope, you will explain them how exactly they should behave in my army. I expect that none of your subordinates will do such thing again. Because next time I won't be so yieldable as today."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. I promise, I won't let you down."-Haschwald said and bowed politely.
The Emperor was looking at Haschwald for a while, then rose from his throne and went to the blond Quincy. Haschwald didn't know what to expect from His Majesty. Everyone in the castle knew that the Emperor doesn't like, when someone contradicts him and, according to rumors, some soldiers had already lost their lives because of that.
The Emperor stopped near Haschwald and then suddenly smiled.
"Your determination - it's one of the qualities which I love in you, Haschwald."-Juha Bach said softly to the blond Quincy, noticing that his soldier felt slight tension, and then kissed him gently.
A couple of days later when Haschwald was in his room, Bambietta visited him again. They have been talking for some time and then Bambietta mentioned that quarrel case.
"Jeez, Haschwald. You really know how to earn the others trust! Everyone heard how you saved those two fools back then."-Bambietta said.-"So you were able to earn the respect of all Stern Ritters and other soldiers. You are kinda a hero now!"
"Really? Well, they should also know that next time I won't be able to help them."-Haschwald said.
Then two Quincies chatted about various things.
"Ne, Haschwald. Has someone ever told you that you have pretty nice hair?"-Bambietta asked.
"Maybe."-Haschwald said, remembering the Emperor's words.
"Just as I thought."-while talking Bambietta touched Haschwald's strands.
"You shouldn't do that."-the blond Quincy said a bit displeasedly.
"Why?"-girl asked.
"It's not right."-Haschwald said, not going to explain the reasons further.
Bambietta only chuckled. Then suddenly her eyes twinkled playfully.
"Ne, Haschwald. If I shouldn't do that, then who may?"-Bambietta asked slyly and smirked.-"Maybe His Majesty?"
Haschwald blushed deeply and Bambietta laughed.
"Stop that."-the blond Quincy said and frowned.
"Oh, ok. If you are not in the mood, then I will leave."-Bambietta said and left the room.
Haschwald sighed tiredly and went to take some rest. The performance of his duties for today was finished and he had some free time. But the blond Quincy didn't have plans for how to waste it. So he decided to take a walk through the castle.
Haschwald went through the different corridors and didn't notice how he reached the Emperor's room. He was staying near it for a while, but then he decided to knock the door and entered the room. Haschwald looked around and then heard the familar voice:
"Oh, Haschwald. Do you need something?"
The blond Quincy turned in that direction and saw the Emperor, who was sitting on the sofa.
"I thought I let you go after you completed your duties for today. Did you forget something?"-Juha Bach asked but then smiled.-"Or maybe you were missing me?"
"Yes."-Haschwald said, realizing that it was really so.
"Well, it's nice that you visited me, Haschwald."-the Emperor said.-"Don't stand in the doorway. Have a seat."
Haschwald went to His Majesty and sat on the edge of the sofa.
"Why are you acting like a stranger, Haschwald? Sit closer."-Juha Bach offered.
Haschwald did as was told and sat closer to His Majesty. The Emperor put his arm around Haschwald's shoulders and drew the blond Quincy to himself.
"We both were so busy the past few days. I wish we could spend more time together."-the Emperor said and kissed Haschwald on the cheek.
It made the blond Quincy blush and he cuddled to the Emperor, trying to hide his embarrassment.
"Who could think that after a thousand years I will be able to fall in love with someone."-Juha Bach said thoughtfully.-"To tell the truth you are my first love, Haschwald."
After these words Haschwald smiled slightly.
"What? Does it sound funny to you?"-the Emperor said a bit resentfully.
"No. I just thought that it sounds rather sweet.."-Haschwald replied with a blush.
"Maybe so... I didn't expect that I still have some feelings after so many past battles."-Juha Bach said while playing with Haschwald's hair.-"Speaking of which, you really wanted to know what I feel towards you but you didn't say me what you feel. So what about you, Haschwald?"
Haschwald embraced the Emperor and answered to him:
"I love you too, Your Majesty."
"I am glad to hear that, Haschwald."-Juha Bach said with a smile and adjusted the blond Quincy's hair.-"I think if we met in the past or in some other time, I would still have fallen in love with the same person."
The Emperor kissed Haschwald on the lips, then hugged him and said:
"Even if another thousand of years passes, I will still love you, Haschwald."