Obligatory Author's note: Seems like I drop you guys a line with every chapter lately. Oh, well. No harm in that. So, this is kind of a long one. Meanders a little. But it's got fluff and excitement and danger. And the best part-it's following the last in a reasonable amount of time! I should really be studying, but that's… that's another consideration entirely, no, isn't it? Enjoy.
It was a nasty day. It couldn't decide if it was properly rainy or not and the whole world seemed slightly damp. It didn't feel that cold, but what cold there was somehow got into your bones and led to shivering. It was too slippery for doing anything much outside, baseball or fencing or even just walking. So Yuuri was having tea and some cookies with Conrad, Wolfram, and Arianwyn, who had invited himself. They were trying to teach the maou an old Shin Makoku card game.
He couldn't even get his head around the cards. "The tall girl holding the spear—"
"That's a halberd, Yuuri," Conrad said gently.
"That thing. She's what I want to have?"
Arianwyn leaned over his shoulder, tapping the little curlicue thing drawn in the four corners of the card. "That's an okay one. But unless you have the rest of her suite, she doesn't do you a lot of good. That's a leading card."
"And that means?"
Wolfram rolled his eyes. "We'll try this again later. You should go up and see if Stoffel and Father are feeling at all mollified."
"I checked before lunch. They're both still sulking." Yuuri dropped his cards and they fluttered onto the table. "I don't know what to do about it. They're supposed to be two of the most powerful nobles in the land, and they're taunting each other like a couple of middle school girls."
"You're the maou." Arianwyn smiled. "They might be lords, but you still outrank them. Just order them to kiss and make up."
Yuuri was about to make a disdainful answer when Wolfram shocked him by laughing so hard he ended up tipping forward onto the table and almost falling out of his chair. Even Conrad stared at him. He took over a minute to recover himself.
"I… I apologize. I just couldn't help picturing…" He dissolved once more into giggles. Yuuri ended up snickering next, and Arianwyn joined them with a charming, bell-like laugh Yuuri didn't have the attention to hate at the moment. Even Conrad couldn't help laughing a bit. Wolfram finally sat up, actually wiping his eyes. "Yuuri, if you order my uncle and my father to kiss and make up, I… promise not to call you a wimp for at least three days."
"Hmm." Intriguing prospect. And why not? He did outrank them. No one even seemed to question that anymore, which was nice. Yuuri generally held that a soft hand and courtesy were his best weapons in getting people to get along and behave, but in the case of the two stubborn combatants currently locked in their rooms with bad headaches… "Fine. I'll do it."
"Oh." Wolfram looked a bit horrified. "I didn't mean for you to…"
"Nope. I'm going to do it. And maybe I'll have a whole crowd assemble and… It's a stupid idea, isn't it?" He looked sheepish and Wolfram bopped him with a spoon.
"Hey. All my ideas are good ones." Arianwyn stuck out his tongue at them all. "I still think you can just tell them to get over themselves. They may not like it, but they do have to listen."
"I don't want to be a tyrant. I want…"
Conrad smiled gently. "You want peace for the world and goodwill toward all. It's admirable, but even you'll admit it doesn't always work."
"Says you. I'm not admitting everything. Candide's almost been civil since he stabbed me with that fork, and—"
Wolfram jumped to his feet. "He did what?"
Oh. Oh, right, he'd never gotten around to explaining that. Yuuri inched back a bit. "Well, under the circumstances… I mean, he'd still half convinced we're going to eat him…"
"I am going to lop that little vermin's head off an inch at a time!" Wolfram was seething. Literally. His whole body was moving with the deep, furious breaths he took. Yuuri was a bit worried for his health as well as the integrity of Candide's appendages. Wolfram was still under Giesela's edict to avoid strenuous activity, technically speaking.
"Wolfram!" Yuuri stood to shove him back into his seat. Unfortunately, a still slightly ill and underweight Wolfram was still rather stronger than he was. Didn't work. "The whole point of what I'm trying to do with him and with Stoffel and Evert is to make them not resort to violence! You're setting a terrible example."
"Oh, I'll show you violence. I'll show you little pieces of scrawny human bits piled up… in a bucket. And then I'll dump that bucket in a shallow grave in acidic soil, and bury the bucket in refuse with a sign that says 'Here lies exactly what happens to anyone who dares lay a hand on my fiancé!'"
"Wolfram!" Among other things, Yuuri felt rather inadequate. The kid had almost killed his fiancé. Wolfram was getting far more worked up over… a fork attack. "Please try and calm down. It's nothing. Giesela fixed it so it doesn't even hurt anymore. He's scared and alone and he's been told his whole life we're evil and vicious. Remember how long it took you to come around about humans?"
"He can be as stupid as he wants. That doesn't mean he's allowed to hurt you."
"It's a couple of little cuts. You've done worse in a throttling mood." Yuuri sighed. "Please, Wolfram, let me keep trying?"
Reluctantly, Wolfram sank back into his seat, glowering. "Couldn't I just cut off his ear or something?"
"No." Yuuri smiled a little, hoping for a return, even in a grimace. Wolfram just kept scowling. Yuuri was distracted by a squeak and a tug at his pant leg. He looked down to see a small, brown rat with a collar around her neck. So apparently there was a fleet of them. He bent down and the rat dropped a rolled up piece of paper in his hand.
Josak's handwriting was a bit tricky to get sometimes. Yuuri read carefully. To the Honorable 27th Maou, etc, blah blah blah. Just testing them out on a small scale. If Petunia delivered this message promptly after 4 o'clock, please reply on the back. And if you have something, give her a treat for being a good rat. Oh, and listen for a girlish scream about now.
Yuuri was getting used to Mael's reaction to rodents, but it was still worth a chuckle. The screech came right on time. He flipped the paper over and wrote; She's a very good messenger. I've given her a cookie. He held out the message and a ginger snap for the rat and she ran off with both in her mouth.
"Only Josak would think of that." Wolfram rolled his eyes. "They're cute little things, though."
"And it's interesting to keep Mael on his toes." Conrad had that slightly savage smile on again. Yuuri could only imagine he was taking particular offense to Mael's (admittedly particularly offensive) stance against half-humans.
"Your Majesty!" Dorcas was at the door, looking frazzled. "There have been attacks reported in the city!"
Yuuri abandoned the conversation immediately. "Was anyone hurt?"
"There are no really serious injuries reported, but a healer is requested. No one seems to have seen their assailant or assailants, and…" He stopped to consider. "That's all the information we have so far."
Yuuri cursed. "Conrad, can you and Josak organize some extra guards to go on patrol? And people should be advised to stay at home until we've fully investigated what's going on." There were a few things he understood at least the basics of responding to. It was enough to make Gunter and Conrad rather proud, if leaving more sensible souls unimpressed. "And once we have a guard detail organized we can go out and question everyone who's been attacked."
In other ways, Yuuri really never would learn.
"You know perfectly well that's not wise and you should stay here where it's safe and we can keep an eye on you." Conrad wasn't even trying to persuade him. He got up and headed for the door. Yuuri followed him with a smile, and in turn didn't bother trying to dissuade Wolfram. He figured his fiancé would be safe with Conrad to watch over him.
But nothing turned up. Once they'd left the castle, the guards saw neither hide nor hair nor rapidly disappearing hem of cloack of their quarry. Yuuri personally interviewed everyone who'd been hit, a list that included Jaurah Augustine and his wife, Riya. Oddly, though they had been next to their unlocked store full of wondrously beautiful, precious jewelry, their attacker hadn't so much as touched the unlocked door. Riya's purse had been stolen, but that contained only a few coins.
It was well after dark when Yuuri consented to giving up for the day. He came into the castle to find dinner kept warm for him by Lazana and Greta waiting for him. She looked a bit nervous, and had Friend Rat on her lap. He was a large rat and she was a small girl, so he appeared about the size of a cat. Cute, but disconcerting.
"Hi, Greta." Yuuri smiled tiredly at her. "Sorry we were gone so long."
"It's okay." She smiled. Still looked a little off kilter, though. Yuuri was immediately worried. "Um… I was just a little scared. Everyone was talking about people being hurt and stuff." One hand was playing restlessly in her hair, twirling a curl around her fingertip.
"Oh. Well, don't be. There're plenty of people to keep us safe. And it seems like they've stopped. After I put the guards out in the city, no one else was attacked." He ruffled her hair. "Are you and Friend Rat getting along?"
"Uh-huh. I asked Josak if I could have him with me when he's not supposed to be delivering a message. He's really soft and nice to pet." She scratched the rat's ears and it squeaked softly. It occurred to Yuuri that Greta could probably use a pet of her own. He'd look into it. "And I asked and Josak said that he lost his tail in a fight with a giant spider when he was protecting a little boy that Josak knows. So he's a very brave rat."
"Apparently." Yuuri nodded, impressed by both the epic of heroism and the fact that there were apparently spiders big enough to lop off a rat's tail. Though that might be described better as horrified than impressed.
"I hope he's not sleeping in the bed with us." Wolfram thought they were cute, but he'd noticed they tended to crawl on people the same way they did furniture. It tickled.
"I think I'll make him a little bed out of a handkerchief and a basket, so he can sleep by himself and not have you roll over on him." Wolfram usually rolled over on someone, though Greta had noticed it tended to be Yuuri.
"That sounds nice." There was a loud crash from the courtyard outside. Yuuri ran for the window, pushing Wolfram back into his chair as he hurried by. He'd been keeping up with the day's rushing around and needed a break.
One of the twins—Yuuri couldn't see which—had his sword out and was being set upon by two figures in black, graceful, precise fighters swathed entirely in the dark cloth that rendered them barely perceptible shadows in the night, even with the help of the lanterns in the courtyard. Whichever twin it was was pretty good, but he was outnumbered and his opponents were skilled.
Yuuri pushed open the window and hopped through, reaching for Morgiff. Not that he figured he'd be any great use, but he might be a distraction. Before he could even shout for their attention, the hapless man faltered just for a moment and got a sword in his side for his trouble. Bielefelds seemed to have awful luck with getting stabbed in that courtyard.
Yuuri shouted anyway, and got Conrad's attention as he left the stable, as well as the handful of guards left patrolling castle grounds. The two attackers fled as a half dozen warriors appeared, but as they left, Yuuri noted they were wearing exactly the uniforms he remembered of Stoffel's hired goons. Damn, he'd stooped low. And attacking innocent people in the streets? Yuuri had let himself believe Stoffel had learned a bit of a lesson.
"Should I get Giesela?"
"Yes." Conrad knelt next to the fallen twin. He wasn't wearing the crest, so unless it had been dropped, that was Maddox. Yuuri used the door this time, as hopping through the window was pretty uncomfortable.
"What happened?" Wolfram had been miffed about being pushed down, of course, but Greta had kept him from interfering by climbing into his lap, scared by the sound of crashing swords. More scared than usual. She ought to have been used to that sort of thing.
"Um, there were… looked an awful lot like Stoffel's ninja goons." He couldn't stop thinking of them as ninja, albeit inefficient, not very stealthy ones. (Seemed, though, they'd gotten better at that if they'd been getting clean away from their victims and straight into the middle of the castle.) "And, um, one of your brothers got stabbed."
Yuuri was surprised and rather touched at how concerned Wolfram was. Considering how nasty they both were to him, he had no obligation or natural inclination to care at all. But he stood and ran outside, looking pale. The maou took just a second to smile fondly on his fiancé's usually concealed filial piety and ran for Giesela. He found her with a rat on her shoulder, reading One Thousand and One Cavalcadian Nights.
"Giesela, there's been an attack inside the castle."
"Oh." She still surprised him with her innate efficiency, even after all this time. One moment her feet were up on the sofa and her hand languidly coiled around a steaming cup of tea while she enjoyed fairy tales. The next she was dashing past the king with her tidy black bag, demanding detailed descriptions. She had long legs, and Yuuri was hard pressed to keep up and tell her what had happened at the same time.
Had it not been for Conrad's field expertise, Maddox might have bled out, but with his attentions, the bleeding had slowed to a trickle by the time Giesela arrived. She knelt beside Wolfram, who was putting pressure on the wound as per Conrad's instructions and wrist deep in blood as a result. That surprised Yuuri even more than his concern. Letting himself get dirty just for his nasty, unlikable brother. Sweet.
Yuuri offered to help, but Giesela whispered to him to get Wolfram clear. He could see why that would be a more appropriate use of his talents.
"Wolfram, come on, Giesela will get him stabilized. He'll be fine." He didn't think Wolfram ought to be stressing himself out so much.
"I can help."
"Yeah, I'm sure you can, but why don't we let your father or someone know that Maddox has been hurt." He firmly steered Wolfram away a bit. To distract him a bit more, Yuuri wrapped his arm around Wolfram's waist and gave him a tight hug. "Don't worry. He'll be okay."
Wolfram seemed to forget about being subtle around an audience. He nuzzled Yuuri's shoulder, and the maou could feel him shaking a little. Yuuri wondered why Wolfram worked so hard to be such a brat when he was a real sweetheart at his core.
"Wolfram, he will be fine." Giesela sounded a little tired, but she smiled helpfully. "There was no permanent damage done. Why don't you go and let your father know?"
"I'm going. Honestly, you'd think I was still on constant, mandated bed rest." Wolfram sniffed and immediately strutted toward the house. Yuuri had felt him relax considerably when Giesela declared Maddox out of danger, though, and he doubted the act fooled anyone else.
Yuuri looked over his shoulder. "Do you need me, or…?"
"Go along with him." Conrad smiled and waved him on. Yuuri hurried to catch up with Wolfram. So apparently that secret was out. He caught Wolfram's hand and squeezed. He got an appreciative nod in return, and in silence they walked up to the room where Evert was under polite arrest.
It'd have to be considered how Stoffel might have gotten his goons dispatched despite being confined to his own room. Yuuri had agreed to let Raven come and go (only fair, as Evert's sons had free access to the castle). So not much of a mystery. But Raven generally struck him as sincere and had sworn to serve only as a manservant. Yuuri once again thought he might have to reassess his policy of trusting everyone.
There was only one guard at the door. Yuuri was trying to be delicate about keeping two of the Ten Aristocrats locked in a state bedroom. He knocked.
"Enter." Evert was being just as stately about being under arrest, to give him credit.
"Um, hello." Yuuri opened the door slowly. Wolfram seemed suddenly very interested in the wall, and then took some time to tie his shoe. He was wearing slip-on boots. Deducing he'd rather not actually take part, the maou stepped into the room. "I'm not sure if you've heard, but there have been a lot of attacks by… someone mysterious." He didn't want to say Stoffel without proof, even if it was pretty darn obvious. That'd cause more trouble.
"I'm sorry to hear that, Your Highness." Evert bowed slightly. Mael was sitting in an armchair, scribbling in some book. "Would you like to use some of my troops to deal with the situation?"
"Oh, no, the castle guards are perfectly capable…" Yuuri realized belatedly Evert was purposefully suggesting otherwise. Like father, like son. Fortunately that wasn't always true. "Actually, I came to tell you Maddox was injured." He'd meant to soften the blow, but they were such a pair of bastards.
"What?" Evert leapt up, looking furious. "Have you caught the culprit?"
"Um, I'm afraid not." Of course that'd be the first thing he thought of. "Oh, he's going to be okay. Just so you know."
"Yes, yes. I wouldn't expect Maddox to be mortally wounded by some marauding scum. I simply expect prompt action and appropriate punishment."
"Don't push His Majesty, father. He's certainly under a great deal of stress." Mael didn't look up from whatever he was writing.
"Yes, well, we'll get right on investigating. I'm not sure why Maddox was wandering round alone when everyone's been talking all day about the attacks." Yuuri knew that wasn't fair. Who would have expected them to get inside the castle? Not that it hadn't happened before, but Maddox didn't know that.
"I think he was meeting someone," Mael said with a shrug. "Has he been moved to an infirmary, or is he well enough to just rejoin the family?"
"I don't know. I'll ask Giesela." He'd been about to release Evert for a while to see his son, but he hardly seemed to deserve it. Yuuri left the room, slamming the door. Wolfram sighed, leaning against the wall outside.
"Are you alright?"
"I'm just worried, Yuuri." Wolfram smiled sadly at him, reaching for his hand. Yuuri gave him a hug instead. "If it was Stoffel… He's sunk lower than ever before, and the implications for the kingdom are pretty dire."
"Yeah." Yuuri sighed. "I know. And… it definitely seems like it was. I mean, having been personally captured by his ninja pets before… They at least looked the part."
"We might have a war on our hands." Wolfram's hand tightened on Yuuri's shoulder. He'd made an effort to understand Yuuri's compassion, especially in the months when he'd believed Yuuri was lost to him forever. He could imagine the results of an ugly civil war much more vividly, without letting quite so many personal grudges get in the way. Besides… it was still his father. He had washed his hands of Stoffel and Evert, and for years he'd really believed himself done with them, but with both of them around, Wolfram was horrified to find part of himself was still a little boy who wanted his daddy's approval.
"Oh, Wolfram…" Yuuri kissed him. The whole castle knew. Whatever. He needed to make Wolfram smile. They might be in trouble, but there was no reason for so much moping. Not when he could be cheered up.
"Ahem." Mael had left the bedroom and was standing behind Yuuri. "Evening, Wolfram."
"Oh… are you going to see Maddox?" Wolfram was blushing to roughly the shade of a ripe pomegranate.
"Yes, I thought I would." He smirked. "You're welcome if you aren't too busy."
"I, um, of course not." He squeezed Yuuri's hand, apologizing for leaving. Yuuri wasn't offended. The whole point of the kiss had been to cheer him up. Maybe visiting Maddox would also serve, even if he had to put up with Mael the whole time. The brothers walked off together and Yuuri smiled. At least he couldn't really tease Wolfram about the engagement anymore. If that wasn't proof it was serious…
Well, he'd see Wolfram later. Hopefully in a better mood. For now, he had better do some kingly things as well as serve as a good fiancé. It occurred to him he should probably talk to Conrad. There should be security precautions taken. He had no idea what all of them were, of course. That was what Conrad was good for.
As he headed down, he realized he was behind Wolfram and Mael. He was about to catch up when their conversation reached him.
"Well, at least you've found a use for yourself."
"Hmm?" Wolfram sounded quite confused.
"Suits you well enough, since you did manage to come off with your mother's looks. Saves the maou keeping a concubine around."
"What? Yuuri wouldn't…" Wolfram sounded as angry as Yuuri had ever heard him.
"Is he still in the market for a proper queen, by the way? I talked to Elizabeth's father the other week and that didn't go well, I heard, but it's clear the market is open."
"That whole thing was just Stoffel's… stupid plan. Yuuri fought for me."
"The same way he proposed to you, the way I heard it. Through ignorance of etiquette." There was a pause during which Yuuri tried to get his head around just what nastiness Mael was causing this time. "Oh, Rammy. You're my baby brother and I worry. I just don't want you getting your hopes up."
"I don't need to get my hopes up. He told me he loves me. Yuuri doesn't lie!" And Yuuri wanted to rush to him. He began to hurry. Forget gathering intelligence on his adversary. He was trying to make Wolfram cry, the bastard!
"Wolfram, consider that Shinou is no longer naming the proper heir to the throne. Succession will pass into the bloodline. Why would the king chose any companion who couldn't produce an heir? Don't rest your hopes on that human child. The kingdom would never accept her as a ruler."
"Even… even if they didn't… Yuuri won't abandon me!"
"Ram, I thought you'd surely know you were being used. I just assumed you were taking the perks and prepared to deal with your reputation when—"
"Shut up! Shut up, Mael. You don't know anything! Yuuri loves me!" Yuuri was only around the corner when he heard Wolfram bolt. His steps had taken on a very distinctive rhythm since his legs had healed. Hell, he might fall again. He wasn't nearly as surefooted as he thought. Yuuri ran past Mael, ignoring him completely. He doubted Wolfram would be watching where he was going. He'd hurt himself for sure.
He was healing, though, and before he caught up with Wolfram, Yuuri ran straight into Gwendal, bouncing off him and landing on the floor. Gwendal seemed unconcerned. He also seemed willing to ignore Yuuri slamming into him (excluding a very slight eyebrow raise). "Your Highness's help is requested in putting together a complete picture of the assault on Maddox Bielefeld."
"I, um… I need to go talk to Wolfram. Can it wait?" Wolfram had been crying. He knew it. Yuuri absolutely refused to allow that.
"No. Not as such. The only contribution you're expected to make is a clear picture of the attack as you saw it, and that impression will quickly fade with time." The only contribution. Yuuri found he welcomed Gwendal's comfortable old stabs at his competence. Next to Mael he was the very soul of generosity.
"Alright. But quickly." Yuuri swallowed and stood up, grabbing the hand Gwendal extended. "I…"
"Need to talk to Wolfram. Yes." Gwendal almost smiled. But it didn't resemble those rare little grins of his at all. It was sort of a mournful twitch. "Mael?"
"Yes. Is he always like that? He said some horrible things… And he knows just how to get to Wolfram."
"It is exactly the effect he has on everyone, if he can." Gwendal began walking downstairs, letting Yuuri follow. "Give that man any hold over you and he will find a way to dig into old wounds and fresh alike. It's his way of manipulating adversaries and allies, and Wolfram has always been his favorite place to practice."
"It's his fault, isn't it?" Yuuri swallowed. He wasn't sure if Gwendal would approve of him knowing what Conrad had said about Wolfram's history. "He convinced Wolfram he was a failure."
Gwendal gave him a rather sharp look, but then nodded slowly. "Mainly for his own amusement once. Now he's jealous."
"Jealous of Wolfram?" Everything Yuuri had ever heard about Mael suggested quite the contrary.
"What Mael wouldn't give to have a future as Prince Consort," Gwendal said in a rather oddly soft voice, shooting Yuuri another look that unnerved him a bit for a rather different reason. Ah. Gwendal knew as well. And Yuuri could see in that look exactly what would happen to anyone who toyed with the heart of Gwendal Von Voltaire's baby brother.
It was scary.
Gwendal serenely opened the double doors to the study, where Conrad and Gunter were waiting. "I've found His Majesty." He walked to his seat behind the desk and sat, nodding to Gunter.
"Your Majesty, I was hoping you could help confirm what Conrad reported seeing in the courtyard an hour ago." Gunter was scowling. He didn't like any of this. He so sincerely emulated the peace-loving maou that he'd completely lost his stomach for conflict. Not that he'd had an overabundance of bloodlust to begin with, despite a general wish for less humans cluttering up the place.
"I heard a lot of noise and looked out the window," Yuuri answered slowly, trying to get it all right. If he did it properly the first time, he'd be able to get back to Wolfram faster. "And I saw Maddox fighting with two… men all dressed in black. With masks. He was losing, so I tried to help him. I went out the window—"
"How brave of Your Majesty!"
"Yes, Gunter, sure." He didn't have the patience for being sighed at. "But before I got out very far, one of them stabbed him. And then Conrad came running, so the men in black disappeared." That was really the gist of it.
"Would you describe them as fitting the description of the same trained attack force Stoffel has used in the past on multiple occasions?" Gunter asked, back to businesslike and ignoring Yuuri's attempt to avoid that subject until he had the time to deal with it.
"Yes…" Yuuri sighed dejectedly. "Yes, they were… exactly like."
"I did tell you already, Gunter. I'm afraid there's no avoiding this situation."
"That that scum would stoop so low as to take out his petty vengeance on the innocent son—"
Gwendal coughed circumspectly. "You are likely the only one in a century to describe Maddox as innocent."
"Blameless in this instance, if you insist. Stoffel gave us every impression of his having learned his place and the value of right behavior. His dishonesty stings as much as anything else."
"I'm sure Maddox stings a lot more." Yuuri sighed. "I know I should be more help, but I really have to go and see Wolfram. So I hope you'll all excuse me. I'm taking my royal leave." He turned and hurried away before Gunter could catch him. He would be a good, attentive, decisive leader in the morning.
When he got to his room, planning to ask Wolfram for a private concert and to give him a long, soothing massage for his trouble, Yuuri found his fiancé asleep instead, curled up on the edge of the bed and still in his clothes. The pillow was damp and Wolfram looked pale. Yuuri climbed in beside him, running his hand down Wolfram's arm. There was a slight twitch in response, no more.
Yuuri tugged off Wolfram's boots and pushed the hair out of his face a bit. No trouble worries about disturbing him. Wolfram would sleep through anything short of Greta landing on him. He draped a blanket over him and kissed his forehead.
Yuuri took a deep breath and moved close, wrapping his arm around Wolfram's waist. If he could find any peace in sleep, Yuuri would be glad to leave him there. But still, something… something had to begin to undo the damage Mael might have done. Yuuri put his mouth right against Wolfram's ear.
He had a strange, sudden urge to bite and ignored it only with difficulty.
"Yuuri loves you very much." He'd found the simplest sentiments rang truest. Yuuri nuzzled Wolfram's hair a bit and got a sleepy, contented sigh in return. At least something had gotten through. He lay back, cuddling close but letting Wolfram rest. Greta came in about half an hour later and tucked herself in.
"Yuuri?" She poked him gently, not sure if he was asleep.
"Hmm?" He pulled away from Wolfram a little to answer.
"Do you think Mael's a horrible, mean person? And his father, too?"
"Yes." He nodded very emphatically. "Why? Did he say something to you?" If that bastard had been terrorizing his daughter…
"Um… I just wanted to know if you hate him too. He's scary."
"No. No, he's just a spiteful, nasty…" Yuuri practically growled. "And I bet he learned it from Lord Evert. You shouldn't be scared of him, though. If he says something mean to you, you say something back. And… and kick him in the shins."
Greta giggled, but she looked nervous and didn't say anything else except goodnight.
The next morning, Yuuri rose quite early. His arm was fast asleep from being under Wolfram all night, and Wolfram himself was stirring. Well, they'd gone to bed right after dinnertime. No surprise. He got up and dressed automatically, horrified at the prospect of the day he was surely about to face. Wolfram rolled out of bed about five minutes after Yuuri got up, groggily walking to the vanity and running a comb through his curls.
Yuuri walked up behind him and hugged him. "Morning."
"Yuuri…" Wolfram looked at him a bit puzzledly, but he smiled. "Morning…"
"I was thinking, um, well…" Yuuri swallowed. It was a big step just to make Wolfram feel better, but worth it. He was pretty sure. "Once this thing with Maddox is sorted out, do you think we should see about setting a wedding date?"
Wolfram squeaked. And it was his mother's squeak, too. Yuuri made himself a note to not encourage that. "Yuuri, I'd have thought we were going to wait. I mean, you're not even sixteen quite yet. It can't be before then. And there are a huge number of preparations to get underway. Mother can handle most of those and I'm sure your mother would want to be in on the proceedings too, since it's sort of a mother thing, but—"
"I, um, I meant start thinking…" Yuuri was a little surprised by the strength of Wolfram's reaction. He was blushing like a fresh rose and actually fluttering his eyelashes. Wow. "It'd be a tentative date. A while from now. But just so we have something to look forward too." And on a whim, he picked up the comb Wolfram had dropped in mid-squeak and ran it through Wolfram's hair. It was really soft. Yuuri felt this was a very important fact he should dwell on for a while.
Before he could even begin to get properly started on the extreme softness of Wolfram's hair as an important topic of contemplation for the next little while, there was a timid knock on the door. "Your Majesty?" Gunter. "I apologize for the early hour, but I'm afraid your presence is necessary…"
Yuuri sighed. "I'm awake. It's okay." He left Wolfram staring into the mirror in paroxysm of shock and opened the door. He was still in his pajamas, but he was awake. "What is it?"
"I'm afraid that while visiting his brother, Mael overheard Giesela and I discussing the probability of Stoffel's involvement and brought the matter straight to his father. Evert is raving about executions and wars and general blood and destruction." Gunter sighed. "We were unguarded, Your Majesty. I apologize."
"It would have happened sooner or later. I'll get dressed." He ducked back in and pulled his clothes from the closet. Wolfram was still at the vanity. Yuuri smiled at him fondly and then dressed hurriedly. In the closet. Amazing how shy he'd gotten just out of empathy. Essentially, the sight of any part of Wolfram that was usually covered by clothing made his head a little light, and he could only imagine it was the same for his fiancé. Maybe when he was feeling more adventurous that would be okay, but as it was… He just blushed and hurried out to try and calm things down.
Gunter led him to the throne room, where most of the yelling seemed to be. Yuuri was still yawning a little as he stepped into the hall, where two guards had spears crossed in front of Stoffel, which was keeping Evert from attempting to gut him as much as keeping him from escaping. Raven was hovering nearby, looking very strained. Mael looked downright vicious. Amused vicious, which was even scarier. And there were no spears between the two of them.
And all of Stoffel's men and all of Evert's and a few extras who were just hovering around the castle were also around to join in the screeching. Yuuri couldn't even see where to begin. "Everyone, please be quiet?"
Well, no response. What a surprise. He tried being a bit louder, and found himself still ignored. They didn't even notice the scrawny boy in their midst. Yuuri thought maybe he should have dug out his section of carpet that marked his office as maou. This early in the morning, though? Yuuri sighed and hopped up the steps to the throne. At least people looked. It was a matter of habit. Movement in that bit of the room meant something was going on.
"Will you all please calm down? Or I'll… have all of you arrested." He really hoped that wasn't an empty threat. Both of them had brought an awful lot of guards with them, and it would be just Yuuri's luck if the castle got stormed from the inside as a result of a couple of nobles' spat.
The noise died down, though Evert was still moving subtly back and forth like a snake looking to strike and Mael had his sword half-pulled on Raven. "Well, that's better… Might as well get on with it. Lord Stoffel Von Spitzberg, you stand pretty much accused of arranging an attack on Maddox Bielefeld…" This didn't strike Yuuri as appropriate due process. Not that civics had ever held any more fascination than Gunter's other lectures, but he was fairly certain this wasn't much of a fair trial.
"Your Majesty, I protest." Stoffel straightened, drawing his cloak over his shoulder to look statelier. Unfortunately, he hadn't had time to lose the pajamas, and the effect was absolutely silly. His pajamas had polka-dots. At least Raven's were a more dignified black.
"I'm not surprised. Um… Well, I saw what happened to Maddox, and the guys who stabbed him looked pretty much like the ones that, you know, you had kidnap me." This did not look good for Stoffel. Though Yuuri could see where it served him right. If it weren't for the massive implications of this mess, he might be happy to let Stoffel get his just desserts for once.
"The fact that similar tactics have been used in the past, Your Majesty, is only circumstantial evidence!" Which was completely true, and for which Yuuri didn't have much of an answer.
"My son is unconscious and under the constant care of a healing witch, you worthless pile of dragon dung!" Evert looked a bit surprised at his own crudeness, but under the circumstances, it seemed reasonable. Though Yuuri noticed Giesela was actually in the room, frowning, so Maddox's need couldn't be that great.
"And the boy has my sympathies. He's no great loss, but certainly more of one than you would be. But—"
"Be quiet!" Yuuri was so tired of them. "I want this sorted out, but if it's just going to turn into you two trading insults all the time, what' s even the point?"
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Evert bowed in his direction. Yuuri's eye was caught to one side o him, following a small shape moving through the crowd. Greta? She shouldn't even be awake. Wolfram ought to have been able to handle her. Though Wolfram was coming through the door now, too. Most of the castle had arrived at this point.
"If we could all just stay calm, maybe…" He wanted to get off the throne and go pick up Greta. She shouldn't be wandering around in a room full of swords. But he didn't want to call attention to her either. If Stoffel had really lost even his little remnant of decency, then she might not be safe if he realized she was in the room. He could only hope someone would catch her. She should know better, anyway.
"I would try, Your Majesty, for the sake of your sensibilities, but while my younger son lies in a strange bed with his blood on this man's hands, I can't be silent." Evert did look like he was restraining himself. Yuuri checked Greta again. To be sure. She seemed to be talking to… Raven. Odd. And maybe dangerous. But Wolfram was headed in their direction.
"I understand. But you should still show restraint." Yuuri sighed. "I think it's very probable that Lord Spitzberg was the one who had Maddox attacked… and those other people." Poor, innocent townsfolk. That had been his style in the past, too. Yuuri was getting angry.
"If… If I may, Your Majesty, your prudence behooves you well, but this is a black and white matter. Maddox is grievously wounded and the henchmen of one who has before proved himself a traitor are the perpetrators of the grisly act. Furthermore—"
"Liar!" The voice was high, sharp, and piercing. It took Yuuri a moment to realize it was Greta who'd yelled. "You're lying. Yuuri, he's lying! I heard him! He wants you to kick Stoffel out of the castle so he got his own guards to dress up like Stoffel's and scare everyone! And he told them to hurt Maddie to make it so people would believe it! I bet he even sent Maddox out then to make sure! I heard him talking! I heard him and he said he'd have Mael hurt me and you and Wolfram if I told! But he's a liar!"
As she screamed, she ran toward her father, quite frightened despite the bravery she'd coaxed out of herself. She ran right past Evert, and his sword whipped out, fury contorting his features, the truth catching him before the flawless mask Mael had inherited so well could cover it. The sword was out and Greta was close. Yuuri was on his feet, but too far away. Wolfram was trying to run, but he was blinking sleep from his eyes and his legs tended to be stiffer in the mornings.
But Raven was there as well. He snatched the sword from Wolfram's belt. (Wolfram would never come down without his swordbelt. Amateurish.) He dove forward and managed to roll without injury even over the marble floor. The borrowed blade shot up and caught Evert's before it could descend, shooting it backward. Lord Von Bielefeld's sword fell on the floor behind him and snapped in two.
Conrad and Josak had swords on him before he could even turn and see the mess made of his blade. Raven, humble and dutiful as ever, handed Wolfram's sword back with a slight bow and patted Greta on the head on his way back to Stoffel's side.
Yuuri's eyes flashed. For a moment he felt a swell of the Maou's power. But that wasn't needed here. He was just angry. "You disgust me." He stood and glared, then raced down the steps, stopping only when Gwendal glared at him. "Using your own son as a pawn in a stupid game? He could have died!" He was seething. No. No, he didn't need the Maou. "And then you take it out on a little girl when your petty little plans go the wrong way?"
"What do you want done with him, Your Majesty?" Conrad smiled. He was enjoying this a little too much. Well, actually he was enjoying Mael's furious sputtering behind them.
"I…" He wanted him beheaded at the moment, but he swallowed his temper. "I would like him firmly escorted from the city. And I don't want to see him again."
"Don't you think that's a little lenient, Your Majesty?" Josak's eyebrows shot up as he looked at Greta, who was getting hugged by Wolfram and looked very shaken.
"Yes, but he didn't actually manage to commit any crimes. Except against Maddox." Yuuri sighed, covering his face in one hand for a moment. "So I guess he's kind of incompetent, huh? But if we try to strip him of his lands and titles we'll end up creating a lot of bad feeling among the nobles on his side, risk a war, and be divided from the inside." He could learn. A little. Gwendal, who had just walked up with a neatly disarmed and angrily cursing Mael in a headlock, nodded in surprised approval.
"So he's banished. For now. Maybe he'll see the error of his ways." Yuuri did believe everyone had some good in them and that someday, everyone really could get along. He was just increasingly prejudiced toward Evert. He had an unfortunate tendency to strike against the people Yuuri loved.
"Your Majesty! My father is a respected and powerful member of the Ten Aristocrats—"
"Shut up or I'll banish you, too, you mean-spirited jerk." Yuuri glared at him. "Oh, and one more thing." He turned around. "Raven?"
"Yes, Your Majesty?" He smiled blandly, turning from a conciliatory conversation with Stoffel.
"You saved my daughter. I just want to thank you."
"Yuuri!" Greta tugged on his shirt. "He… he also was the one who told me I should tell you the truth. He said that good is its own reward and that liars will never be able to cover up the truth if people are brave. I asked him because I guess he seemed smart and he was with Lord Stoffel a lot. And because he gave Wolfram his bass. I guess I just like that part."
Raven looked like he might have blushed if he'd actually possessed any blood that might rush to his cheeks. "I merely gave the princess some general advice, Your Majesty. She seemed troubled. I didn't know the context."
"Well, still." Yuuri smiled. "In that case… I'm going to knight you. For saving Greta and being very generally useful." And it seemed like a wonderful slap in the face to Evert. "But I think I'll do it after everyone's dressed and has had breakfast. And he's outside the city." Yuuri jabbed his thumb disgustedly at Evert. "So, um… why don't we all reconvene in an hour?"
There was a point at which the castle staff and retainers of every strata of Shin Makoku society and even the few ambassadors on hand got used to Yuuri. There wasn't anything else to do with him, after all. It had been quite a morning, but it wasn't even eight o' clock yet. The crowd dispersed. Josak and Conrad led Evert away with obvious satisfaction.
