Chapter 10: I'm Sorry
The guests started arriving a few hours later that day, and Yuuri was stuck spending most of his time standing by the castle doors waiting. Wolfram, Conrad, and Gwendal would walk by now and then to provide extra eyes and ears, but Yuuri was tired of just standing around while everyone else was already in the ballroom having fun.
"Hey Conrad? How much longer do I have to stand here?" Yuuri asked. The taller brunet smiled.
"Not much longer now Heika. We are waiting for Sir Jacoby and his family at the moment." Yuuri gulped. The young king had already rejected hundreds of beautifully carved sea stones and caused about thirty girls to have mild panic attacks. Wolfram had stopped coming to see him about halfway through the greeting process because he was tired of watching the swooning hormonal females. Yuuri was not sure he was ready to see the man who would be changing the state of his kingdom so soon in the night.
"Do I accept his stone as soon as he arrives or wait?" Yuuri asked nervously. Conrad debated this for a minute in his head.
"I would wait until you are in front of Wolfram and everyone else. If it comes as a surprise in front of everyone he is less likely to explode or become violent." Conrad stated. Yuuri nodded. He didn't want to humiliate Wolfram publicly, but doing so could help him get away from the raging blond without too much of a fight. The prince always conducted himself in a proper manner in front of large crowds, but Yuuri was still unsure as to whether this would hold true with news such as what was coming.
"He is going to be so pissed…I really don't want to do this Conrad…" Yuuri said sadly.
"Is it not better for the long run though Yuuri? This political move will be perfect for both you and the kingdom in years to come. My mother was smart to get in touch with Sir Jacoby." Conrad reasoned. Yuuri knew that the other man was correct. Choosing to accept this newcomer's stone, and leaving Shin Makoku for a few days would be best, even if it meant breaking his relationship off with Wolfram for the time.
"So…all I have do is to accept Jacoby's stone stating that it was something along the lines of 'love at first sight,' act all starry eyed as I dodge Wolfram and dash out of the castle, come back after this Jacoby guy fixes me, then come back saying that it 'didn't work out between us,' and pray that when I slap Wolfram that he accepts?" Yuuri said unsurely.
"Yes." was Conrad's reply. "Wolfram loves you more than anything. He would forgive any slight.
"Sounds…ridiculously difficult…" Yuuri sighed.
"You will be fine. When I left the kingdom years ago during the war, I met Sir Jacoby and can attest to how well versed he is in the magical arts. He has done so much for me, and I am eternally grateful." Just as Conrad finished up his sentence, a carriage pulled into the area and a few servants went to open the door.
"This is him Yuuri. Be calm, do not give anything away yet. Just act enamored." Conrad calmly stated. The man that stepped out of the carriage was not anything like what he had been expecting. Instead of an old gray-haired man cloaked in sorcerer's robes, a young dark brown haired boy wearing a normal looking gray suit stood before him with quite a charming smile.
"Your Highness." The boy greeted politely. Yuuri stood star struck for a moment before offering his hand in greeting as well.
"Sir Jacoby I presume. A pleasure to make your acquaintance." Yuuri said almost calmly.
"Please Heika, call me Dorian." The boy said in a melodic tone. Yuuri nodded and held out his arm for the other to take.
"Dorian then, won't you come and join me in the ballroom?" The boy inclined his head and looped his arm through the kings and walked with him down the hallway.
When they reached the ballroom they were greeted by about a thousand people dancing and maintaining conversations. Lady Cecillie was flirting with about twenty men off near the food table. Gwendal was speaking with a few dignitaries. Wolfram was sitting at a table obviously waiting for Yuuri and being stared at by a few girls off to one side.
As soon as Wolfram found the king's eyes, he lit up, but his gaze quickly darkened when he noticed the person accompanying him. The blond rose quickly and strode towards them. Yuuri felt Jacoby stiffen as Wolfram came nearer.
"Yuuri. What are you doing here with this…person?" The blond covered a more inappropriate word gracefully.
"This is Sir Jacoby Wolfram. Do you know him?" Yuuri asked innocently, knowing already that Wolfram would have an extreme distaste for this person. The blond harrumphed in a superior tone.
"I was told that you were dead." Wolfram told Jacoby, who smiled.
"You were misinformed." He replied politely.
"Do not think that I have forgotten what you did here all those years ago. I will never forgive you for it." Wolfram threatened darkly. Dorian smirked.
"You have no idea what happened that night young prince. I saved your brother's life, and all you could do was fret over the condition in which he was presented to you."
"He was half dead!" Wolfram shouted loudly.
"Lord Weller stands before you now does he not?" Dorian challenged. Wolfram steeled.
"You should leave." Wolfram said stubbornly. "Yuuri belongs to me Jacoby. Do not be so informal with him." The blond continued possessively. Dorian raised an eyebrow and smiled darkly.
"I believe that is up to His Majesty, don't you Lord Wolfram?" Jacoby replied calmly pulling a stone out of his jacket pocket and turning towards Yuuri to offer it to him. Wolfram's fists were already beginning to ball up as he fought to regain his composure. The blond looked at Yuuri with pleading eyes and Yuuri's heart sank. Now was the time to throw the plan into action.
"I have only known you a short while Dorian…but I can tell that we get along very well."
"Yuuri!" Wolfram tried to interrupt, but Yuuri raised a hand to silence him. He continued rather robotically, but Wolfram believed it just the same.
"It was like love at first sight. I cannot stop myself from thinking that whatever this is must be right." The lines sounded rehearsed in Yuuri's mind, but it seemed that they were real to Wolfram as he had opened his mouth in disbelief and backed up a few steps. The rest of the hall had became silent as the guests realized what was going on.
"But Yuuri…you said just a while ago that-"
"Wolfram, I am sorry, but I cannot let an opportunity like this go to waste. Sir Jacoby has skills already that can make this country better, and can offer great allies to this kingdom… He has more to offer this kingdom than you do." Yuuri said coldly. Wolfram blinked in shock. Yuuri reached forward and took the stone from Dorian and placed it through his shirt pocket, near his heart. Wolfram was still standing speechless.
Yuuri took a few steps towards Wolfram and kissed his cheek, signalizing the finality of his choice. A tear streaked it's way down the blonde's cheek, but no sound was emitted. Yuuri's hand left Wolfram's side and he returned to Dorian, who took Yuuri's arm with a smile, before walking with Yuuri out of the ballroom.
Wolfram's face reddened with anger. The fire inside him threatening to spill over. As he looked around the ballroom, though he sobered himself. It would not do to make a scene in front of so many people. He ran from the room instead and stood on the balcony to watch them leave.
People would speak of this event for years. An entire ball being held to spread the word of Yuuri's decision. The news had to spread quickly, for if everyone knew about this change, then they would be waiting just as eagerly for the next news in development. The plan was truly in action now, and the whispers had already started.
The ball, however, was over before it had even began. No one felt like celebrating anything anymore and the castle was quiet as Yuuri and Sir Jacoby rode away in their carriage. Wolfram did not try to stop them, he only stood in silence as his world crumbled down around him.
"You acted well. I think he believed you…This is for the best you know." Dorian said to Yuuri in a trying-to-be-hopeful tone. The double black stared out the window of the carriage at his castle, which shrank as the distance between them grew.
"I know…I just hope when I return, that he can forgive me."
"He loves you. More deeply than I have ever seen someone love another person. Anger is a fleeting emotion, forgiveness hard to earn, but a love like that…I don't think it can ever be lost." Dorian said, placing a hand on Yuuri's shoulder in reassurance. The king nodded solemnly.
"Wolfram…I'm sorry…" Yuuri said softly to the wind, his words drowned out by the rattling of the carriage against the dirt road.
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