Kyou Kara Maou – The Disaster Up North
Summary: Greta's marriage ball brings another round of Maou Wedding Curse, only worse. The family is torn apart by the worst disaster in Shin Makoku history. Will Greta marry after all? This chapter: Candidate Conrad.
AN: Thanks to DemiDaemon and methos21 for the reviews!
Chapter 11 – Weller
May 28th - the following evening
"Not exactly the peaceful horseback ride to Lutenberg I promised you," Conrad said gallantly, bowing Greta into his office. Conrad kept a simple wood frame house in Lutenberg, just off the market square, for the Weller domain offices. His eyes narrowed as Shibbel reluctantly followed her in.
"Want I should entertain the spare, M'Lord?" Yozak offered, openly appraising Shibbel.
Shibbel stared back in alarm. Yozak was dressed as Miss Biceps the Secretary now, though he hadn't been down at the river wharf. Don't see much o' men like that in the back forty, no sir!
Conrad looked tempted, but said, "Shibbel, isn't it? You've already been assigned a bunk, yes? Good! No thank you, Yozak. That will be all for the moment."
Conrad bade them sit, and took his own. "So. Welcome to Lutenberg, Shibbel. I hope Greta has said good things about us."
Not really. Greta bit her lip. It had become clear along the way that Shibbel caught the jist of Greta and Adelbert's outburst back at Big Tam's. All the refugees were apprehensive about being sent off to the landless human pseudo-domain of Weller. And as Guya had warned them, Greta and Adelbert had made things worse. And from Uncle Conrad's – Lord Weller's, dammit! – closed look, she surmised, He already knows that.
"Mn," grunted Shibbel.
"I want to bring Shibbel back to Blood Pledge with me," announced Greta.
Shibbel frowned.
Conrad frowned. "Well. Perhaps when things are more settled," Conrad allowed. "Just now, the priority is to get Shibbel settled here, isn't it. Shibbel?"
Shibbel scowled. "I dunno. Thinking about leaving Shin Makoku."
Greta looked at him, stunned. Well, OK, maybe she'd been a bit too high-handed, unilaterally suggesting she take him home with her to Blood Pledge, but… leave Shin Makoku?
"Thinking it's better in a human country?" Conrad suggested in understanding. He nodded thoughtfully, "It might be, for a full human like you. If you can find a place you fit in." He paused to let the hint sink in.
Shibbel completed the thought bitterly. "I don't fit in anywhere."
"I'm biased," said Conrad, "but I think you'll find you're in the right place. Here you're accepted, as you are. Weller and the Maou's hands are over you in protection. No one's going to chase you away, treat you worse, because you're different. Humans are in the minority, and the Mazoku rule in Shin Makoku. That's a fact, and no getting around it. But in the Weller domain towns, life is good for us.
"I know what it's like to be different, Shibbel. My mother's a demon Queen, so I'm privileged. To a point. But when I was your age, I traveled the human world with my father. We found outcast half-Mazoku, like me, and like Yozak, and brought them back here to safety. Most of them stayed. That picnic feast you just enjoyed down by the wharf - all potluck, brought by people just like you. Humans, half-Mazoku - refugees who found safe haven here in Lutenberg. They made their best party food to welcome you newcomers."
Greta'd wondered about that, how much money Conrad had put out for that astonishing spread. None. Wow!
"Was he somebody?" Shibbel asked. "Your human father?"
You're somebody, Shibbel! Greta's heart protested. Everybody's somebody! In this, Greta was very much Yuuri's daughter.
"Yes," Conrad supplied, "Sir Dan Hiri Weller, of Dai Cimarron. Hell of a swordsman. You? What are you good at, Shibbel?"
"Herding goats," Shibbel said glumly.
"Animal handler's an important skill," Conrad returned. "Can you manage a pack train?"
Shibbel looked more hopeful. "Easy."
"I hear you did well with some bandits on the way. How about joining the military?"
"Conrad!" Greta broke in. "He shouldn't have to fight!"
"Greta," Conrad warned. "Shibbel?"
"Thought about it. Army don't take people younger than sixty, though. No humans," he said bitterly.
"Weller has its own regiment," clarified Conrad. "We take grown men and women, whatever age they are."
"That'd be good," Shibbel allowed.
"No, Shibbel!" Greta butted in again. "We can get you a good job!"
Conrad rose and went to the door. "Greta. Perhaps you could wait outside while I finish interviewing my new Weller citizen." His face was schooled to blandness, but his eye glittered.
He's furious at me, Greta realized. Well, fine! I'm furious with him! She rose and left with what grace she could muster. Only to find a hostile Yozak waiting for her, big arms crossed, sitting on the secretary desk and tapping a size 12 high-heeled pump.
"Well, well," drawled Yozak. "So pleased to hear you don't like Lutenberg. Guess you won't want to build a castle here, after all. Bit rough to dump your attitude problem on the homeless, though, wasn't it? Princess."
Greta hadn't yet fully considered how Yozak might take Conrad's marriage proposal. When Manfred warned her about Conrad's pre-existing relationship, she'd simply thought Conrad was too honorable to 'cheat' on her. Yozak's honor, and ingenuity, were a different kettle of fish.
Fortunately their little glare-fest didn't last long. Conrad soon escorted Shibbel out, both seeming well content with each other.
"Any problems, Shibbel, let me know. I'm your Lord now, and you've the right to my ear. Don't forget to put that money safe in the bank, tonight, will you? Before you go, though – we're understandably curious about that tattoo. Could you let Yozak take a look at it? Thanks."
Shibbel looked to Yozak in consternation. Yozak endeavored to look friendly. Conrad ushered Greta back into his office.
-oOo-
They sat. They stared at each other. They spoke simultaneously. "Greta –" "Conrad –"
"I'll go first," asserted Conrad. "So – how did it go with Adelbert? Have you considered his marriage proposal?"
Hey, that's right! Greta remembered. Conrad set me up! "Um, yes. It was very flattering. And… I love Chi – Adelbert, very much. But, I think… we decided against it. Actually, I think he's finally gotten together with Giesela."
Conrad's eyebrows rose, and he looked thoughtful. "Giesela's been interested in him a long time. Well, good for Adelbert. I trust you weren't hurt?"
"Mm-nn! I kind of… set them up. I mean, before I knew Adelbert, um, really felt romantic about me. And then…"
"I understand you also rejected Murata's proposal?"
"Y-yes." Greta had been distracted by Shibbel and the refugees. That means I'm down to one last Shin Makoku proposal. Conrad. Who just agreed to let Manfred split the human Wincotts from the Mazoku!
"I'm… concerned, about reports I've received about your opinion of Weller domain, Greta," said Conrad, seemingly changing the subject. "And just now, with Shibbel. You seemed very sure that he was being abused. I was welcoming him to my domain, and making sure he got off on the right foot."
He's angry at me. Well, I'm angry at him, too! Her heart quailed a bit, though - Uncle Conrad's wrath was a new experience. She stammered, "Manfred accepted all the Wincott Mazoku into Bielenfeld, but exiled the humans to Weller!"
" 'Exiled' ," Conrad echoed. "Greta. As humans and half-humans, they always belonged to Weller domain. Weller protects everyone of human ancestry in Shin Makoku. Including you, if anyone thought you needed protecting. As for Manfred, this was decided jointly with Aldrich, Erick, and myself, before I asked you to go to Gratz. Erick's taking in the rare races."
"Because Bielenfeld's racist!" Greta cried bitterly.
Conrad pursed his lips. "Partly. We were concerned for their safety in Bielenfeld."
"Safety?"
"Greta… Between Bielenfeld and Wincott, there are over a hundred thousand refugees. Most of whom used to produce food, for Shin Makoku and beyond. Did you think Manfred assumed Wincott as a power grab? Greta – he can't feed them. When food riots start, who do you think they'll scapegoat? Manfred can't protect them. Of course he asked me to take responsibility for my citizens! And if he hadn't asked first, I would have demanded it."
"But – humans should be free to live anywhere in Shin Makoku, in full safety and protection!"
"It's an imperfect world," answered Conrad. "I believe you ran into some of its imperfections on the road to the Pemunder. And ordered my man to execute them, without trial."
"They were guilty! I saw them!"
"Yes, they were guilty of assault and attempted theft," Conrad observed. "We don't typically apply the death penalty for theft." He let that sink in. "The purpose of a trial is to give everyone the opportunity to cool off, before sentencing, with an impartial judge. The fact that you and your putative brother were attacked, disqualifies you as a judge, Greta." He sighed. "Summary execution is permitted in an emergency. However, I think you'll find that you've made Yuuri and Hahaue very sad."
Greta's mouth opened to respond, then fell closed. I did. I put thieves to death, who weren't guilty of murder. Yuuri and Cecilie wouldn't have done that. And… I did it with my authority as Marshall Cecilie's assistant. But I didn't go to Gratz as Cecilie's assistant. I went as Weller's representative.
Yozak knocked and stuck his head in. "I'd like to look over Greta's tattoo again," he explained. At Conrad's nod of acquiescence, he yanked Greta's shirt off her shoulder. He eyeballed. He squeezed. He prodded and pinched, more roughly than he might have before Conrad proposed to her.
Yozak shook his head. "They match, M'lord. Right down to the aging - probably both done in infancy, by one hell of an artist. It's hard to find one tattoo artist that good. Another good enough to counterfeit the first is damned unlikely. And the technique - really unusual. Like fine stitching, a continuous quilting thread rather than individual needle jabs. I've only seen that technique once before, on a seaman, on the -" Yozak's hand stroked above his pubic bone and down between his legs.
Too much information! "- Where was the seaman from?" Conrad cut him off.
"Right. Well, don't know. I picked - um, met him in Freeport. He had a strange accent. And brown skin, come to think of it. Long time ago. Figured it was just a tan. Though now I think on it, it'd be odd, a seaman having a tan there. No idea where he was from," Yozak concluded. "But Greta and Shibbel being connected - that could well be."
"Greta, do you have any memory of a baby brother?"
"Yes," Greta whispered. "The blonde girl took care of a baby. And I called her Lara. I thought I remembered her as my mother, but…" She relayed Shibbel's story.
"Interesting. Well, we'll look into it," said Conrad. "But in the meantime, Greta, it's important that you realize a couple things. First, we still don't know that Shibbel's your brother. The sure thing that connects the two of you is the Suberian Syndicate.
"Second, in case he is your brother, we have to keep an eye on him, in Shin Makoku. The last thing we need is the Syndicate kidnapping the brother of a Princess of Shin Makoku. And for that, the Lutenberg Legion is the best place for him. Or a factory workhouse here. Someplace he's under regular supervision, anyway."
"A sweatshop!" Greta burst out, in spite of herself.
"What's a 'sweatshop' ?" inquired Yozak. He was less exposed to Annissina's political activism.
"She means the workhouses," said Conrad, rolling his eyes a bit. "Greta – they're not sweatshops! Phoebe von Bielenfeld set them up -"
"Phoebe hates humans!"
"- at Hahaue's request," Conrad finished his sentence. In exasperation, he explained, "Greta… Phoebe was raised by Friedrich, who invented the concept of Public Health and Welfare. Phoebe married Wolfred and raised Manfred, Friedrich's successors as Lord PHeW." PH&W was pronounced 'phew' for short, because the alternative sounded like 'pfaugh'. "Phoebe is on the board of nearly every workers' guild in the country, as an honor. She latched onto industry as a way to uplift the common demon, provide a basic standard of living and education and training, and a way to work themselves out of poverty. The workhouses are communities, no more 'sweatshops' than any small town in Trondheim."
Conrad and Greta gazed at each other in dismay.
Yozak offered, "I could introduce Shibbel around the workhouse I grew up in, if you like. It's a nice place. Friendly. They make clothes." He eyed Greta's attire, and straightened the black seam running down the back of his hose. "Off the shelf stuff for working people. Nothing you'd wear. I think Shibbel's already taken with the army packtrain idea, though. Wasn't too happy taking a bunk indoors, in summer."
Greta couldn't resist asking. "What did you do? In the clothing factory."
"Helped Mama design women's clothes. Sewed her mockups," Yozak answered coolly. He fingered his dress collar. Today's little number featured a large squarish sailor's collar over a knee-length dark purple straight woolen sheath. Puffy-topped cuffed elbow-length sleeves added a padded shoulder effect, rather redundant on Yozak's physique. "Comes in handy," he drawled.
Greta blinked. This shed a whole new light on Yozak's transvestitism. It's just like Guya spying under elf glamor! Or, well, maybe not entirely…
"Oh, Conrad," said Yozak, "Yuuri'll be at the dock in 15 minutes or so."
"Right, we'll be out in a minute," said Conrad. Yozak left. Conrad ran his hand through his hair, tiredly.
He's turning grey, thought Greta. Half-Mazoku kept better than humans, though not so well as full Mazoku. He looks 45 now, but he's more like a 65-year-old man already. Her uncles were like the furniture of her life. She couldn't recall when it was, that Conrad grew older than Gwendal. He may be older than his mother, now.
As though in response to her thoughts, Conrad said, "Greta… with all that's going on, with the disaster up north, I… feel I need to withdraw my proposal. I don't feel able to consider marriage at this time. With respect. I'm sorry." He bowed to her. "I'll let Yuuri know." Not Wolfram, no – it would be far easier for Conrad to tell Yuuri.
In a way, Greta felt relieved. She'd rarely felt so thoroughly chewed out in her life, the more so because she was kicking herself for her foolish gaffes. And Conrad had found such a polite way of turning her down. Face it, Greta, she told herself. He just turned you down because he realized you were too young for him. And… he's right.
She wanted to ask why he'd asked her to marry him. Where he'd planned to build Castle Weller. Whether he believed Shibbel was her brother.
But instead she stood, and humbly curtseyed. "I understand," she said softly. "Lord Weller – I apologize. You trusted me with a mission, and I botched it, badly. I see that now. I thank you for the opportunity. I learned a lot, I promise you. And I will not make those mistakes again."
He smiled sadly, crow's feet wrinkles showing at eyes, lines around his mouth. "I know, Greta. Apology accepted."
"And – Uncle Conrad?" Yes, that was a relief, simply calling him Uncle Conrad again. "Please – you will look after Shibbel? I understand, he may not be my real brother, but… He's the closest I may ever get to a real brother, and… I care about him."
"I understand. I promise, Greta. And – Greta? I hope you realize… you can wait, too, you know. Even if you have no more suitors now in Shin Makoku. The human world, in my lifetime… they've come a long way. And in Yuuri's world, I've seen their potential. But still, Shin Makoku is my home. For all its flaws, and even as a half-Mazoku. You're always free to stay here, and marry or not, as you please."
And she saw in his eyes, and in the life he'd led, that it was true. Despite Shin Makoku's racism, Conrad was a true patriot.
-oOo-
Yozak held Conrad back for a word, while Greta rushed down to the river quay, yearning to see Yuuri again.
"Got some birds while you were chatting," Yozak said, and handed him the notes. "Günter and Lord Krist are in charge at Blood Pledge now. Gorham von Gratz took over Adelbert's refugee sector. Ted's still running the Wincott evac. But Alana took Erick, Adelbert, Gwendal – all the earth majutsu heavy-hitters who could be spared. Adelbert and Brendan are holding Gratz Pass. Gwendal and Erick and Hasgrud have the Escarpment. Alana's back in Trond Hall. She's relaxed the borders with the troll reservation – they're helping with the rest of Trondheim. Seems like the new epicenter's near Twinhall." The major Trond lumbermill city of Twinhall – Lord Erick's childhood home – was near the top of Gratz Pass.
"Any rumors flying yet?" asked Conrad.
"No. The few that notice the temblors, figure they're still aftershocks from Wincott."
"How bad?"
Yozak handed him a notice from Alana, addressed to all the Marshalls and Lords. Nothing serious – yet. Conrad crumpled the note and burned it, with his little bit of Bic lighter majutsu, picked up at the rebirth of the phoenix. "We'll keep it quiet as long as we can. And keep those launches moving. And swap the order – next load to Abercrombie, not Bruscella."
Yozak nodded. Then he eyed Conrad, waiting.
Conrad sighed. "I assume you heard all that? Of course you did. So. It's over with Greta. Are we OK now?"
Yozak sidled up facing him, one leg extended next to Conrad's, silky-hosed calf rubbed alongside his. In his heels, Yozak was a couple inches taller. He traced Conrad's cheek with a finger. He smiled an aggressive bedroom smile.
And he hauled off and backhanded Conrad across the face. A backhanded slap did not count as a marriage proposal. "No, we're not 'OK now'! Royal ASS."And he turned on his pump heel and left to send the kohi.
-oOo-
"Ah…!" Yuuri voiced dismay, as Greta unburdened her self-flagellation at all the many things Conrad had chewed her out over. It was late. She'd clung to him through much glad-handing amongst the refugees, and introduced him to Shibbel. She'd let go while Conrad took him aside for a quiet word. But she'd watched anxiously through the parlor doorway, where they were housed at the Lutenberg Mayor's mansion. Yuuri's grim and alarmed face during that interchange prompted her to finally get her father alone to tell him her troubles.
"So what did Conrad say?" she… wailed. Yes, it was mortifying – she was twenty years old, a grown woman seeking a royal marriage, and she… wailed.
"Ah, we mostly talked about the evacuation," Yuuri dissembled. They'd actually discussed the new earthquakes in Trondheim. "Status of refugees, food stocks and stuff. About you, just what you'd already told me. It's too chaotic right now for him to consider marriage."
"Yes, but didn't you ask?" Wolfram would have understood! Yuuri was maddening!
"Ask… what?" The way her face crumpled made clear that wasn't the right response. "Ah, Greta-chan! Don't worry! You're beating yourself up way too much, honey! So, you made a few mistakes. Everyone does."
"I m-m-murdered –"
"Shh, now! No! No. That wasn't murder, Greta-chan. That was… It was what it was. You'd never thought it through before. You were called on to make a decision you weren't trained to make, and you made it. Next time, if there is a next time, you'll be more prepared. Ah, maybe that sounds callous, men died, but… It's not as though they were concerned about your health and well-being. And if they'd gone to Brendan for judgment, he might have executed them, too. Conrad would have killed them in the first place, without taking prisoners. As a king… I've had a lot of decisions like that thrust on me, when I was too young and untrained. You do the best you can, and learn.
"Ah, I'm making a hash of this," Yuuri continued, rubbing his head. "Greta-chan… You made mistakes. Some were bad ones, OK. But Conrad was too rough on you. But then again, Conrad's got stuff on his mind, too, you know? We're all… really stressed. But also… 'judge not lest ye be judged', 'what goes around comes around', and like that, you know?"
She shook her head no. Yuuri, you're not making sense.
"Ah, Conrad… There's Yozak, you know? Conrad… he's embarrassed, by Yozak. So he asked you to be Lady Weller, to increase his prestige and respectability. And then… he got embarrassed, by you. But it's like he was really taking out his frustrations with Yozak, on you… It's worse than dating someone on the rebound. Because he hasn't reached the rebound yet. He's… Just let Conrad go, and realize… That wasn't all directed at you. OK?"
Greta's eyes were wide. "Yuuri, you are… You're so wise sometimes!" She flung her arms around him for a hug.
When they let go, Greta said sadly, "Now I've no suitors left in Shin Makoku."
Yuuri rubbed his head again, and said, tentatively, "Ah, I didn't really understand why you kept considering your 'uncles', anyway, Greta-chan. Weren't you sweet on Robichaud?"
Greta's face crumpled again. "Yes," she whispered. "But what would he think of me now?"
"Greta… Do you think I love Wolfram because he's perfect? Do you think Wolfram thinks I'm perfect? 'Wimpue'? Love's not like that, honey. If you still think Robichaud is 'perfect', well, you're not seeing him as a man, yet."
Greta chuckled in spite of herself. "I thought he was arrogant and obnoxious. And his scar is kinda off-putting. And that nasty virgin-eating god of his, Shadrach of the volcano."
"Oh, good! And, you like him anyway, right? That's fine, then. Have you… written to him? You know, get to know each other better. It's hard, a long distance relationship." Yuuri's relationship with Wolfram had gone nowhere until Yuuri settled down and stayed reliably in the same world. "Don't, ah, do the self-flagellation thing in a letter, though, right? That's a real turn-off for a guy. Just, tell him what you've been doing, what Liesel's been up to, some of the things you've learned, with dignity. And he'll be back soon."
"Write to him! Yuuri, you're a genius!" she cried, and flung her arms around him again.
Yuuri enjoyed the embrace fully. Yeah, I was right. This was one parenting job I could do better than Wolfram.
Though, I wish he were here. She'll be with us such a short time more.
-oOo-
May 30th, Blood Pledge Castle, Shin Makoku
Dear Robichaud,
I hope it's alright to address you 'Dear Robichaud'. I've torn up three letters trying to decide. But if it's not OK, I trust you'll tell me so. And I enjoy reading 'Dear Greta'.
Liesel is well. I was away for a few days in Gratz, and when I got back, Frieda was gone to visit Gratz, too. Adelbert's family has finally accepted her. One of those blessings of Shadrach in time of adversity, I guess you'd call it. It's so strange, though, to come home, to find half the family missing. I fear Liesel got a bit bored, with only Ekaterin and the boys to play with. But my grandmother Cecilie taught her to throw darts. Frieda was so mad, because Liesel's better at it! Liesel's sure you'll be so proud of her, learning to 'fight like Mommy', as she put it. Do try to act surprised and pleased?
I've remembered my promise to you, to 'become ready to decide'. I had a few other suitors, from Shin Makoku, including Adelbert and Conrad, whom you know. To stay in Shin Makoku is compelling, especially now in its time of need. Our people's plight pulls at my heart. Yet the more closely I work with the refugees, the more conscious I become, that much as I love Yuuri and his people – I am human, not one of them, not from around here. I considered putting aside this marriage search, until the national emergency was past. But, then there are the candidates beyond Shin Makoku – you, and no one else.
We have allies. In our time of greatest need, those allies have not offered significant aid. You, who are not our ally, who are indeed allied with Dai Cimarron, our sometime enemy, offer help. Our allies hoard their food, because we can't send them any. You offer food, and help, when you owe us nothing, except as a matter of honor with your god. I don't fault our allies for not sending marriage proposals, of course. They simply assume the matter is on hold, as it probably should be. But – would I entertain proposals of marriage later, from 'allies' who did not help us now? Probably. But not as happily as I once might have. Another of Shadrach's barbed blessings, perhaps – clarity.
I've decided that the decision is between you, and not marrying at this time. That's all the decision that can be made, until you return. In the meantime, I enjoy Liesel's company. She is so smart and sweet. You and Desirea must have loved her well, to raise such a beautiful person. I admire your parenting.
We have so little time to get to know each other. I hope that letters can make up for that, somewhat.
My trip to Gratz, to help rescue human refugees from the disaster in Wincott, was eventful.
…
Love, Greta
-oOo-
May 31st, Dai Cimarron Capital Harbor
Robichaud read and re-read the letter voraciously. The solemn ruler mistrusted the way his heart sang at frivolities, like being addressed 'Dear Robichaud'. Or Liesel learning to throw darts. Greta's compliments were well targeted, and struck home. And Robichaud missed Liesel more keenly than he'd expected. He schooled himself to consider the letter's content more cautiously. But his heart sang, nevertheless.
Shibbel, his head finally settled down to ponder. He'd asked Adelbert, of course, about Greta's birth parentage. Adelbert had told them of their dead end research, for a blonde mother and a presumably much darker skinned father. He'd forgotten to ask to see the tattoo. It didn't really occur to him at the time, that her complexion was rare on this continent.
On a thought, Robichaud noticed the date again. I received this in one day?! Greta, you need to learn what constitutes a state secret!
The more personal aspects of the letter could wait. But they were due to sail for Adreshulde on the tide in a few hours. I need to talk to Edvar. But first…
He sent for that replacement seaman they'd picked up at Blood Pledge, Tompierre.
"Have a seat, spy."
-oOo-
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