New Chapter!

Chapter 4

Yuuri quickly gulped some of the drink and thanked the servant girl who had handed it to him. It was lavender red, a bit tart, made from fruit, but despite the party and festive atmosphere, it was not wine. He may be king but his advisers still would not let him drink, whether because of his age or fear that he would make a bigger fool of himself probably just depended on who you asked. Yuuri normally would prefer the juice but after being introduced to so many diplomats, faces, and names he was sure to forget at the wrong time, he wished for a glass of wine.

The ball had been going on for a few hours now, but except for the dance, Yuuri had been unable to get out of this corner he found himself in afterward. The guests all seemed to be having a good time, dancers spun on the floor and swayed with the varying music. The food bar was constantly being restocked and drinks were flowing faster than the nearby river. If it was not for the constant stream of envoys to greet and being under constant scrutiny, he may have been able to enjoy himself.

He would've liked to have a dance with Greta sometime before her bed time, he thought. At least he should let her know that the new dress she had worn was very pretty on her. But if he got back on the dance floor, he would almost certainly have to dance with Wolfram again; he definitely wouldn't let him dance with anyone else. Would that be so bad? An unbidden thought crept up on him as he closed his eyes remember the peace and warmth he experienced at the end of the last dance. He wanted very badly to return to that haven right now.

What was he thinking? Wolfram was a boy! A boy. Shaking himself out of his thoughts, he finished the drink and placed the glass down on a nearby table stand that held a rather unique green and orange plant brought in just for this occasion.

"Your Majesty," Gwendal said, caching Yuuri's attention, and indicated the couple beside him. "May I introduce the ambassadors of New Glosiner, Lady Feildenline and her newest husband Sir Lyden."

The couple standing beside Gwendal were both tall at least a foot taller than Yuuri; the lady with long blonde hair, a fair face, and slender figure more akin to an elven princess than anyone Yuuri had ever seen. Her husband posed a similar figure, but with long brown hair and a muscular build. The lady joyfully turned to Gwendal addressing him amid a laugh that shown from her eyes.

"And last husband, Shinou willing," she joked, then turning again to Yuuri, she continued, "Your Majesty, it is a great honor to finally meet you. I bear official greeting from my home country, New Glosiner. We may be a small country but we hope the peace and unity you have spread throughout the region will continue to bring both of our great nations prosperity."

With that, Lady Feildenline placed a hand on either shoulder of the Maou and placed a chaste kiss on each of the stunned boy's cheeks.

Yuuri's face went deep red form both shock and embarrassments as he tried to stammer out a suitable rely, he was interrupted in his attempts by a very familiar voice yelling loudly from a crossed the room.

"Get your hands off of my fiancé!" yelled a very red-faced Wolfram, storming across the now stilling dance floor as guests and servants alike turned to watch the commotion. "Yuuri, you cheater! I walk away from you for a few moments and find you flirting with every woman in the room!"

Yuuri glanced around looking for an exit but found them all blocked by amused onlookers as the fiery blond continued his advance toward the stunned monarch. Looking back, Wolfram was getting closer now, breathing hard as he talked, but his voice—if anything—was getting even louder.

"I won't have you soiling my name as you go around to every harlot with your cheating ways, you Wimp!"

"W-Wolf," stammered Yuuri, his hand going to his forehead to hide his face while the other tried to fend off the ranging solder, "quiet down; everyone is watching"

"I don't care if they all go to—"

"Wolfram!" interrupted Gwendal sternly, a few more wrinkles than normal appearing on his forehead. "I will not have anymore of you outbursts here. You will conduct yourself as a proper soldier of the State."

"I won't be pushed around by you, Brother," replied Wolfram; but notably quieter than before as he stood beside Yuuri facing the envoy.

"Heika, you have now been formally greeted by the lady here, as is their custom," Günter informed him, butting in while moving behind Gwendal with his hand over his bleeding nose, "The formal greeting was meant to help establish a personal connection with ruling parties and form a sense of kinship. Starting with the...the kiss and ending, I believe, in a gift bestowed upon the host." Günter turned from Yuuri and addressed Lady Feildenline, "I hope our bratty prince here did not insult you with his sullen ways My Lady. I have tried to teach him manners but he is unreachable."

Wolfram gave Günter such a stare that Yuuri wasn't sure how his tutor avoided bursting into flames. If Wolfram ever directed such a stare at him, he would be out the door, guests or no guests, but if Günter noticed he didn't show it.

Letting out a laugh, her smile not fading an inch though the whole exchange, Feildenline addressed the newcomer, "Not at all." Turning to Wolfram, she resumed after a pause, "After all, it is well-known that the intense types are the best ones to hook, and I would say Your Majesty is very lucky in his choice of companion," she turned once again to Yuuri, "and you are quite right about the greeting, it is my honor to present this token of our esteem to you, the 27th Maou of Shin Makoku."

She gracefully handed Yuuri a small, wrapped box with a yellow bow that seemed a little out of place in the blue and orange room. "Perhaps His Highness will forgive the imposed affront to his fiancé after he sees the offering we bring," smiling what could only be a described as a smile that reminded Yuuri of Murata when he was up to his usual tricks.

Yuuri, holding the box, a little afraid to open it after such a presentation, slowly and carefully undid the yellow bow and flipped the lid of what he could now see was a carved box with intricate designs on the surface. Inside the box was filled with black velvet like material cushioning in the center a single clear blue vial.

Yuuri looked down at the crystal vial, then at Lady Feildenline curiously. He noticed Gwendal was scrutinizing the crowd now, while Günter left quickly holding his nose even tighter, saying something that sounded a bit like "young love."

"Thank you, Lady," he said slowly not really wanting to show his ignorance here and a little afraid of what he was holding. "Ahh what is it?"

"No need to stand on formality Your Majesty, call me Field, everyone does. As for what's in the vile, it's five doses of Ausdauer, which I trust your majesty will find good use for." Then addressing Wolfram warmly she continued, "and I hope that such a gift meets with your approval Your Highness?"

"Ahmm, Field, I don't mean to sound rude, but what is Ausdauer?"

"Ausdauer renews the spirit and refreshes the body, or so I have been told. Refreshing any used Maryoku and making the drinker feel like he has had a full nights rest."

"Oh, that sounds great," smiling, Yuuri turned to Wolfram who was looking intensely at the stone floor "Why would Field seek you approval?"

"Idiot," Wolfram mumbled. Yuuri noticed his face seemed redder than normal as Wolfram purposely put his back to the crowed room. "It's also known as Passion Fruit," lifting his head up, he stubbornly continued, refusing to show any emotion in his face but worry evident in his eyes. "Usually used by lovers on their wedding night to continue their activities uninterrupted by sleep or tiredness. It can also be used as an aphrodisiac for the male partner."

"Lovers, wed…, aphro…" mumbled Yuuri, "...It's a love potion...?" he asked, wide-eyed and much too loudly for ether his or Wolfram's comfort, almost dropping the box in the process. "Me, … Wolf..."

Wolfram just looked at Yuuri as if to dare him to say anything more, but also with hurt in his eyes.

"That's right Your Majesty, but I do have to warn you it does come with side effects; after all, you can't deprive the body of that much sleep, not to mention the extra exertion, and expect nothing to happen in return. They recommend you never take more than two doses at a time because when it wears off the drinker will be twice as tired than as if he had not taken it. So after three doses there's a chance you could die of exhaustion. So please be careful."

"Die of exhaustion?" Yuuri repeated after her still looking unbelievably at Wolfram who just stared back at him.

"Thank you for your generous gift, My Lady," Gwendal broke in stoically after a silent pause, "Have you had a chance to view the gardens from the balcony at this time of day?"

"Why no, I don't think I have had the pleasure," Field replied happily as she allowed herself to be lead away. Sir Lyden followed silently behind them with one last look at the royal couple.

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A/N Hope everyone likes the New Chapter, just for your info Ausdauer is german for Perserverance ( at least thats what Bablefish says)