Chapter 3: Through Conrad's eyes

Watching her lay in her bed reminded Conrad of the time he first saw her. A baby at the time. She now she lay before as his Queen, far more beautiful than he last remembered. He found it remarkable that she remembered his voice.

To think she would name him Godfather. From what he remembered of Miko Shibuya, Yuri definitely took after her. From what he remembered from his friend, the healer was rather reckless himself...

While watching his god-daughter, Conrad noticed how his younger brother had a faraway look in his eyes. At the same time the blond toyed with his sapphire studded white gold ring. Conrad could not understand why Wolfram would be thinking about that particular person at this moment... unless he knew something he was not supposed to...

That sapphire ring once belonged to his teacher, Lord Julian Von Wincott. Conrad had only seen it around Wolfram left fourth finger soon after Julian died. The blond refused to say anything about it.

Conrad figured that Julian had given Wolfram that ring soon after he had given him the pendant. Call it a hunch, maybe there was an agreement between them. Wolfram always kept quiet at the mention of his teacher.

It was one of those things which made Conrad wish he could turn back time and take Julian's place just. For reason's unknown however, he was spared. Among the reasons, he knew, was Yuri. There has to be a reason why it was Julian's soul that was to be Yuri's, a reason that he probably would never understand. Despite it all, he was confident that this girl would make a good Maoh no matter how few believe it to be...

What Conrad did not know was that Julian had completely trusted Wolfram as well, despite the young prince's many faults. Wolfram knew now that he had better watch his steps, but he had a theory about Yuri he knew only Conrad had knowledge about... the first stage of the test was done, though it resulted him ending up to be fiance to the last person he had expected, the second stage would come as soon as Yuri woke.

He had an idea that he was not going to like it.

"Hyaa!" she yelled throwing the baseball towards Conrad. Lessons with Gunter were over for the day as was the paperwork and the meeting with some of the nobles. She had a rather sickening experience with Lord Spitzberg. Earlier, when she was reviewing the day's plan, she noticed how the name Stoffel Von Spitzberg was a taboo among the three brothers. When she met him, he began a long speech that would bore a monkey to tears.

"Please, if you are in need of my service..." Stoffel finally said.

"I shall think about it," Yuri told him politely.

"Thank your Majesty," Stoffel said, bowed most outrageously. Yuri felt a little sick and felt sorry that her Godfather had an uncle such as Stoffel. She knew he was trying to suck up to her.

"I've never known a Maoh to be so studious with her studies," Conrad joked as he caught the next throw. "It's my brother's fault," she told him. "Eh?" said Conrad, throwing a curve ball.

"Up until now he is my idol, my role model," Yuri explained to her godfather.

"Really, your Majesty?"

"Conrad," she admonished gently, "we've been through this already. You're my..."

"Godfather," he chuckled, "All right, Yuri, you win,"

"I knew you're just cheater!" said a familiar voice, "You proposed to me and yet go out with other men, let alone my brother!"

This guy's worse than an old lady, Yuri thought. She saw stars then and fell backwards, realising that she had not been concentrating on the ball Conrad threw.

"Yuri," exclaimed Conrad, "Are you all right?"

"I would be if Lord Brat would shut up," Yuri muttered, rubbing her sore head as she stood.

"He hit you with a ball and you're not even offended?" Wolfram kept ranting.

"Wolfram," Gunter admonished at the doorway, "That's not the way..." Yuri, however, had enough.

"That's it!" Yuri exclaimed, cutting off her advisor. She threw down her mitt and marched towards Wolfram, leaving her godfather surprised, wondering what she would do.

"Your Majesty," Gunter tried to calm her, "Please try to...," This time she ignored him and marched right up to Lord Brat and...

"Ite-te-te-te-te-te!" the blond exclaimed.

...pulled his cheeks, hard.

Everyone around them stood wide eyed, inclusive of Conrad. No one, no one, especially a girl, had dared to punish Wolfram in such a way. It was a few minutes before she finally let go of the reddening cheeks.

"Do we understand each other now?" she asked coldly. Wolfram nodded, rubbing his cheeks.

"If I ever hear an insult from you again," Yuri warned, "the next one is going to be even more painful."

She then picked up her mitt and turned her attention to Gunter, who told her that there were more papers to be signed, and that she was to have lesson with him after lunch. She began to discuss with him about her schedule as Conrad and Wolfram stood aside.

At least everything is sorted out, or so they thought...

Next morning...

Yuri's scream was heard from the royal chambers.

Conrad and Gwendal hurried in to find Wolfram getting beaten most unmercifully by Yuri.

"YOU BLOCKHEAD! YOU PEVERTED ARSE!" she was yelling as she kicked a certain familiar blond out of the bed, "YOU SCANDALOUS SCUM!" Conrad and Gwendal winced at the scene before them. As far as they knew, no one had beaten Wolfram like that before, give or take the few spankings. When she calmed down, Yuri observed her artwork and asked if there was a first aid kit. As Doria, the maid, scurried to get the kit Yuri guided a rather battered and bruised Wolfram to the bed.

It was that morning as well that Conrad found, while his god-daughter was gentle and rather timid. She can be rather cold and harsh as he was. He began to wonder if carrying that little canister containing her soul was a side effect of the boyishness, or something she inherited from her mother. Either way, it was better not to get on the wrong side of Yuri.

She even treated Wolfram on her own. Saying he was her fiancé and all.

"Ow!" he moaned, "Ow!"

"Hold still will you?" said Yuri, "Or do I have to bring Conrad in?"

"You caused me this pain so you do it," Wolfram snapped, "Besides we're engaged."

Yuri frowned in annoyance. "Where I come from, engaged couples wait for their wedding night to be in bed together."

"By the sound of things, I would have thought she was torturing him," said Gwendal as he waited outside the royal chambers with Conrad.

"OW!" came Wolfram's voice.

"THAT'S WHY I SAID HOLD STILL!" Yuri yelled.

Conrad chuckled.

"For some reason," said Gwendal, shuddering, "That sounds very familiar."

Conrad nodded. The only other person who gave Wolfram a similar treatment was his teacher, Julian. In fact Julian had been the only person Wolfram feared and loved with every beat of his heart.

"You could have prevented much of this pain if you hadn't sneaked in you know," she said, "You almost violated what I had to protect."

There was a new look in his eyes, one of loneliness and insecurity. Yuri sighed. She now knew why he was a spoilt brat, and why he acted in such a way. "Look," she conceded, "if it's that important to you, we can share the room or have an adjacent room."

"Until we marry?"

Yuri just looked at him. She had never planned of being married. If Miko wanted either of her children to be married, she ought to bother Shori about it, not her. Besides, sixteen in her world was too young.

"I'd like to get to know you better first," "and through school."

"Then?"

"Then maybe..." she said, "Just maybe..."

She was walking towards the dining hall when she passed Gwendal's office.

"He loves her already," Conrad was saying.

"Conrart," Gwendal grumbled, "How can you be sure?"

"Gwen," said Conrad in a teasing type of voice, "Have you ever seen a girl beat up Wolfram like that? Didn't you see his eyes?"

"About time someone hit him," Gwendal said, "I'm just sorry it had to be the Maoh."

There was a pause.

"Any way," said Gwendal, "She's just a kid, how can she lead a country she never heard of? Let alone handle our brat of a brother?"

Conrad remained silent before answering. "It's not completely Wolfram's fault Gwen," he answered quietly, "you know that as well I do. As for handling him, I'm pretty sure I'm not talking to a ghost.

"Besides," he continued, "I'm certain Yuri is going to be just fine. You saw her maryoku."

"It's going to take a lot more than power to convince me," said Gwendal.

Yuri walked on wondering if she did the right thing. She took out her pendant and looked into the blue jewel.

She smiled, glad that Conrad believed in her, even if they known each other for only two days. Gunter was easy enough to please, she just needed to spend more time with him. Gwendal had said it was going to take more than her maryoku to impress him. She wondered what it may be.

Wolfram was beautiful, but she could not imagine herself marrying him. She was the last thing a girl could be for him. If she felt this way... why, then, did her heart beat so fast when they first met?

Yuri pushed the thought to the back of her mind as there were other things she had to focus on. Her inauguration as Maoh was one of them. Through questions and a bit of adventure, in which she had to be saved, Yuri could see that this country needed a peaceful leader and Shinou had chosen her. She still had doubts about the matter, but if she did not do it, who will?

Shin Makoku had a history of warlords and tyranny. And she knew it was up to her to clean up their mess, however gruelling it was.

She was to show no fear as she put an arm into the waterfall of the main hall. She did so, and felt herself pulled into. Thinking this was part of the inauguration, Yuri tried to stand firm until she panicked and felt Conrad's hand trying to catch her arm before she fell into the waterfall.

She found herself sitting the water of the river. "Are you all right?" a familiar voice asked. Yuri looked up to find Murata extending his hand to her.

As she stood with his help, Yuri felt a weight around her neck, she look to find the blue pendant. So it was not a dream after all!

She really was the Queen of Shin Makoku!