A note from the author: About the Chapter Three thing… uploading should probably be banned after three in the morning. There were just a lot of mistakes, technical, stylistic, and just general in my first posting of three. If you didn't read the new edition, you probably should. It's better, among other things, and it has Greta cuteness. Anyway, onto the actual story as it stretches into length and complexity well beyond my best-laid plans.

It had been a very rough few days for Yuuri. Sending out requests to all the nations in the alliance for rulings on the fate of the assassin had sounded like a good idea, but when he realized the number of letters to be written, with precise details and personal salutations, Yuuri was tempted to just issue a full pardon and hope the murderous human collective reformed.

And there had been no cessation to his usual workload. In fact, it had been increasing steadily as Gunter and Gwendal came to trust Yuuri more and more to manage his own kingdom. He was developing a constant cramp in his hand that made baseball and fencing practice very painful.

Yuuri was pretty sure he had finished for the day, but in case Gunter was waiting to track him down, he was tiptoeing through the halls toward Wolfram's room. His fiancé slept most of the time, and no one could fault his concern. Wolfram was the perfect cover for his escape.

And so pretty when he was napping.

Yuuri winced. In a purely aesthetic sense! Wolfram was decorative! On par with Gwendal's little creations.

He opened the door expecting to see Wolfram sprawled out and snoring. Maybe with braids in his hair, which both Greta and Giesela found very amusing. Yuuri could see why, though Wolfram didn't agree.

But rather than sleeping, Wolfram was sitting up and drinking tea while reading to Greta. "And so the brave ladies of Shinou's Pride were rewarded with the rulership of the ten provinces of Shin Makoku upon their triumphant return, every one of the Dread Pirate Crew's men held in cages pulled by dragons. The end."

Greta bounced on the side of the bed. "Yay! Read another one!"

Yuuri came in silently and sat on the end of the bed. He wouldn't interrupt story time. He was sufficiently pleased to see Wolfram looking better. Not entirely well, but better. He wasn't as deathly pale, the bandages weren't so heavy and constricting, and he didn't hold himself so rigidly. He was moving without pain. Somewhere deep within himself, Yuuri felt a warm stirring, something deeper than happiness at the wellbeing of a friend.

"Oh, don't even say hello, that's polite. I'm ashamed to take you out in public!" Wolfram tried to throw the book at Yuuri. It fell extremely short.

"At least your snottiness is all better," Yuuri returned lamely, picking up the book and handing it politely to Greta. "I hope you've been driving him crazy."

"Uh-uh! We read the story about how Anissina saved the dragon preserve from a massive army or poachers, and the one where Anissina battled the monster narwhal off the coast of Caloria to save the villagers, and then the one about defeating the pirates! They're so cool! Wolfram likes them too!"

"Wolfram also likes having his voice," the blonde muttered, a bit sullenly. Yuuri did detect a certain scratchiness to his tones that suggested reading three epic tales of Anissina's triumphs might have been a little much for his vocal cords.

"Maybe I should try reading the next one." He'd gotten much better at picking out the script of Shin Makoku, though his still wished Adelbert had been able to beam literacy into his head along with the language.

"Okay! The one I wanna read is about how Anissina drove man-eating monsters out of the guesthouse!" Somehow, that plot seemed familiar to Yuuri, but he didn't argue, accepting the book back. Greta climbed onto his lap, and Wolfram lay back on the pillows with a smile.

Giesela stepped into the room. "Oh, Your Majesty, good! Just who I wanted to see!" She flicked the end of Greta's nose, earning a giggle, as she spoke. "I think Wolfram is well enough to get some fresh air around the grounds. I don't trust him not to do anything blatantly imbecilic, though, and I don't have time to walk with him. Dorcas fell down a flight of stairs carrying four of Doria's cauldrons, your assailant needs the bandages on his nose changed, and Morgiff took a big chunk out of Josak's finger earlier. Do you think you could go out with him?"

"Sure." Yuuri would rather dodge his responsibilities out in the sun. Having Wolfram limping along wouldn't be so bad. "Greta, does that sound okay? If we all go for a walk?"

"Yay!" She bounced again. "We could have a picnic!"

"I guess we could." It was four in the afternoon, so he wasn't sure what they would be eating. A late lunch of an early dinner? Yuuri hadn't had anything since breakfast, and now that she mentioned it, he was starving.

Wolfram pushed himself up. "Ahem! Has anyone thought to ask how I feel about this?"

Yuuri looked away and rolled his eyes for a moment. "How do you feel about taking a walk, Wolfram?"

"Um... Good, I guess."

"Well, then." Yuuri tried not to look too exasperated. "Come on, Greta." She hopped onto his back and he resigned himself to being a piggyback ride. Yuuri got off the bed and held out a hand to Wolfram, who gripped it and pulled. A bit weakly. Yuuri threw his back into lifting and ended up stumbling backward when Wolfram let go. Greta giggled while her fathers glared at each other for a moment until Giesela helped Wolfram stand.

He was unsteady and his legs were still tied up in what Yuuri guessed was about an inch of bandages. Giesela gave him back the cane and Yuuri pointedly ignored it, as well as ignoring his daughter laughing somewhere right by his ear. Wolfram was definitely walking a little better, Yuuri noted, and that was a step in the right direction.

Greta reached out to tug Giesela's sleeve. "How long before he's all better?"

"Could be as much as a month before he'll be up to anything strenuous, but it shouldn't take more than a week for him to be walking again." She smiled gently and ruffled Greta's hair, then bowed slightly and left, presumably to deal with Dorcas. Greta jumped down from Yuuri's back and caught Wolfram's hand as well as Yuuri's, leading them both toward the door. She went as slowly as a child could force herself. If Wolfram got hurt again, it would be simply terrible!

Yuuri smiled down at her, then directed his attention at his fiancé. Wolfram's legs were steadier and he wasn't wobbling conspicuously, but he still winced with every step. Yuuri was struck by a sudden wave of guilt. That Wolfram had to go through pain just because Yuuri had been stupid had been making him sick for days. He hadn't realized, however, just how far-reaching the consequences would be. A month!

Most of Wolfram's joy in life (that which didn't tie in to annoying Yuuri, anyway) seemed to come from riding, fencing, producing magic fire to toss at things... All definitely in the category of "strenuous." He was happy enough reading to Greta for a few hours, but he'd soon be miserable if he were stuck that way.

Greta was chattering about a dollhouse Dorcas was apparently making for her and Wolfram nodding politely. Yuuri tried to listen, but his attention was called back again and again to Wolfram. He was holding up well, still slightly aglow about having saved Yuuri, enjoying the attention a bit. But Yuuri saw a tightness in his mouth that was usually associated with traveling by ship or a major faux pas by the Maou.

Yes, Wolfram was ready to be miserable and already sinking into it.

Yuuri balked as they reached the stairs. This was going to be awkward. If he offered to help, Wolfram would have a fit of pride and refuse all assistance. He'd hurt himself. If Greta offered, he'd behave, but she couldn't really do much toward his safety.

And Yuuri had to fall back on something he'd been hoping he'd never have to do again. Once more, his arm slid around Wolfram's middle, trying to keep his distance and still offer maximum support. Wolfram didn't euphorically sigh Yuuri's name this time, but his eyes distinctly did that glimmery thing that disconcerted the Maou so deeply. At least it kept him distracted enough for Yuuri to half-carry him down the stairs without incident.

"Greta, if you want a picnic, you'll have to go ask the girls to give us something, okay?" Yuuri made sure he sounded as grave and kingly as he knew how (not very). Greta preferred her errands to be of great import.

She snapped to attention and saluted. "I will!" The girl scampered off to the kitchen, and Yuuri once more was left standing, with nothing to occupy his thoughts but his very morose-looking fiancé.

"Wolfram, do you feel better?" Maybe it was a lame question, but he couldn't ask what he really wanted to know. Are you utterly miserable because of me, and about to get much worse?

"Mostly. Giesela must be overestimating recovery time a great deal. I'm sure I'll be back to myself within the week." Wolfram's nose was in the air, his voice was stilted, and he didn't meet Yuri's eyes.

"Well, alright." Yuuri's bland tone made it clear he wasn't successfully bluffed. "Then, for the 'next few days,' I'll see if I can organize a few things to keep you entertained. ...It will keep me out of Gunter's history lessons." Explaining away the least kindness to Wolfram had become a reflex to him.

"If you're desperate for an excuse." Wolfram's expression was unreadable. Yuuri thought he saw the ghost of a smile, but he didn't know how a smile could coexist with a disdainful frown.

"Oh... I am." Wolfram wasn't an amazing liar, but Yuuri was transparent. "Maybe—" He'd been about to suggest a birthday party before he remembered what Conrad had told him. And he didn't even know exactly when that birthday was. It had already passed, for all he knew. Yuuri resolved to ask Conrad. "Um..." He grappled desperately for a suggestion to save himself. "A party for your friends, the elite squad of, um, really pretty magic users?"

Wolfram's eyes flashed, and for the next minute the Maou was very glad the injury kept him from throttling Yuuri very effectively. How dare he call a bunch of low-level noble scions pretty when his lovely fiancé was right before him, etc. Wolfram ran out of righteous fury very quickly, for him. Yuuri wasn't even bruised.

"That... wouldn't be entirely unpleasant. And it would be a good chance for you to practice your manners!"

Yuuri nodded. That was as close to a "yes" as he'd get from Wolfram. He apparently didn't hate the idea. So that was one night of thirty taken care of. Yuuri's mind spun, desperately searching for something else to keep Wolfram from wretchedness at his confinement. Before he came up with anything, Greta returned, lugging a packed picnic basket.

"Lasagna gave me bread and two kinds of cheese and little cucumbers all chopped up and cold turkey and a bottle of berry juice and cookies!" She held the basket up with a triumphant grin. "It's a good picnic, right?"

"Oh, the best!" Wolfram's face was once again a mask of cheer. Yuuri leaned down and took the basket from Greta.

"I'll carry that. You make sure that pretty cane serves Wolfram well." Yuuri was sweet, but not without his devious ways. On level ground, Greta would be sufficient to make sure Wolfram walked as comfortably as possible, and he could no more refuse help from his adorable daughter than his darling fiancé.

Yuuri opened the door and held it for the other two. Wolfram blinked owlishly when they stepped into the sun. He really had been cooped up too long. Yuuri glanced over the castle grounds. "Where should we head?"

"Ooh, by the flower gardens and the pond! That's the best place for picnics. Gunter sometimes takes me there." She started to pull Wolfram in the indicated direction, caught herself, and reduced the yanking to a very gentle tug. Yuuri smiled, just watching them for a moment before he caught up. He couldn't think of a sight he loved more.

Because his daughter was so cute and Wolfram's easy defeat by a ten-year-old was really funny, of course.

Greta was quite authoritative about the picnic itself. It seemed she was quite the expert, having extorted picturesque outdoor meals of sandwiches and cookies from just about everyone in the castle at one time or another. Including Wolfram, apparently, and Yuuri was suddenly quite annoyed with himself for having missed them all.

She spread out a checkered blanket and Yuuri helped Wolfram ease down on it. His appetite was much lessened, Yuuri noted with dismay. He only nibbled at his sandwich. He couldn't bring himself to say anything, so he let Greta do it.

"Wolfram, if you don't eat up all your food, you won't grow up big and strong like Yu—Oh, I guess you're taller than Yuuri already. Um, Condrad. You won't grow up big and strong like him. And I won't let you have any cookies!"

Under such fearsome admonishment, a stronger man than Wolfram would have quailed, and he did manage a few more bites. Yuuri looked closely and saw that he'd already lost some weight.

Yuuri had trouble saying anything that didn't come out awkward or much too affectionate for his own tastes. Or often both. Asking Wolfram if he was warm enough earned him the death glare of the century, and suggesting that maybe the whole family should sleep in the same room produced a shy smile that scared Yuuri a lot more than being glowered at. He eventually shut up and let Greta chatter the conversation onward. Wolfram seemed to be doing the same.

When all the cookies were eaten, mostly by Greta, Wolfram helped her clean up the mess they'd made. As he knelt to fold the blanket, he leaned down and whispered in her ear.

"Look over in the flower bed. Do you see that pretty yellow flower with the long petals? It's one of Lady Celi's. She named it 'Beautiful Wolfram.' I think if you ran and picked one for him, Wolfram would cheer up a little."

The truth was, Yuuri had been about to do that himself and his stomach had turned when he realized it. He was pleased when Greta nodded, grinned, and scampered toward the flowers. Yuuri finished packing away the plates.

He looked over his shoulder at Wolfram, who was staring glumly into space. When he thought no one was looking, Yuuri realized, his expression dipped a lot deeper into gloom. Yuuri stood, hefting the basket with him.

"You know, if we're going to have that party anyway, you can invite some extra people. Is there anyone else you don't get to see enough of? More friends?" He had what seemed to Yuuri like the cleverest of clever ideas. "Or maybe your father?"

He was never clear on what befell Lady Celi's assorted husbands. Conrad's father must be long dead, with a human's lifespan. But it seemed unlikely that Gwendal's and Wolfram's fathers would be outlived by such a relatively young wife.

Unless both had fallen in those hideous wars that had wracked Shin Makoku. Yuuri felt his heart freeze again, knowing that must be the case, because when he said the word "father," Wolfram's face fell like a stone.

"I'm sorry, Wolfram, I should have realized—!"

"I haven't spoken to him in fifty years." Wolfram's voice had been unnaturally stiff before, but now each fell from his mouth, solid and structured as ice, to shatter on the ground between them. Yuuri actually shivered.

So it wasn't what he'd thought. So what was it? ...Not his place to ask. Yuuri bit his lip to keep from blurting out an inappropriate question.

Wolfram went on, though, frozen words streaming hatefully from his mouth, like he was trying to expel poison. "Marrying my mother was an afterthought for him. He had two sons already." Yuuri started at the thought that Wolfram had yet more older half brothers. "He only wanted to control Shin Makoku toward his own gain. He's a greedy fool. The one good thing Stoffel ever did was keep him out of power." Wolfram was seething with anger, fire flashing in those pretty eyes. Yuuri was too flustered to stop himself admiring the look on Wolfram's face. But he was much more afraid. This was a poisonous anger, nothing like Wolfram's usual petulant spite or fits of righteous fury.

Wolfram turned awkwardly away. "Once I was old enough to make it clear I wouldn't promote his interests over the kingdom's, he lost interest in me and in Mother and left court. Not that he was around very much before that. I tried to keep in contact, but he and my brothers ignored all my letters. They would be 'away' whenever I visited, even with a month's advance warning. As far as I know, he and Mother are still legally married, but I haven't considered him my father since I was a child."

Yuuri swallowed, a heavy silence settling between them. He reached out tremblingly and set his hand on Wolfram's shoulder. "I'm sorry."

"You didn't know," Wolfram said shortly, looking over his shoulder.

"No. I mean, I'm sorry about what happened."

Wolfram's eyes softened, the fire retreating and the ice melting all at once. He turned back toward Yuuri, a lordly eyebrow arched haughtily. "In fact, it's utterly disgraceful that you didn't know. We're engaged, and I know all about your family. We'll have to see about your education immediately!"

Yuuri was still trying to think of a way out of that one when Greta returned, running up between them and holding her flower aloft. "Here! Beautiful Wolfram!"

Wolfram blinked, taken aback. He tried to kneel, winced, and bent at the waist instead. His fingers closed almost hesitantly around the stem. "How sweet, Greta. But how did you know the ridiculous names Mother gives her flowers?" Wolfram, once flattered, had gotten to be embarrassed by the name over the years, as had "Secret Gwendal" and "Conrad Stands Upon the Earth." None of them had mentioned it in a long time.

"Yuuri told me," Greta said cheerfully.

Yuuri winced and looked away, blushing slightly and scowling. If he'd realized she'd be such a tattle-tale, he wouldn't have brought it up. But in a way it was worth it...

To see Wolfram smile like that again.