Disclaimer: Kyo Kara Maoh/God (?) Save Our King belongs to Tomo Takabayashi, Perfect Moment © Martine McCutcheon
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Sealed With A Slap!
Unknown Personality
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Formality
I felt very hot and sticky when I awoke the next morning. I turned around to see Gisela's peaceful face. She appeared to be in deep slumber wrought with pleasant dreams. Last night came back to me in little pieces. Who knew massaging could be so much work? But then again it could be one of those processes that get better with practice.
From what I remember she seemed have enjoyed it and it seemed to have eased her tension. I propped myself up on one elbow and stared down at her. She looked so calm in her sleep. I reached out slowly and brushed a strand of silky green hair off her cheek. Her skin felt soft to touch. Her eyelids fluttered. I retrieved my hand in time.
She looked up at me with clouded eyes that cleared. Then her face broke into a smile and she wished me a cheery "Good morning!". Then she leaned up and pressed her lips against my cheeks and then fell back against the pillows. "Thank you for the massage! I feel much better!" she said before flinging her legs off the side of the bed and running into the bathroom. The slam of the door brought me back to my senses. I placed my palm over my freshly kissed cheek and then the kiss finally sunk in. I blushed deeply as I stared at the door where she was, presumably undressing. I blushed even deeper if possible.
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We were well into breakfast when Mother interrupted, tapping her spoon on her glass to get our attention. People still eating were patting their mouths with their napkins while the rest just turned to her with their spoons and forks frozen midway to their mouth. I stopped eating and set down my fork gracefully and turn to Mother.
She smiled at all of us in turn before speaking.
"I have an important announcement to make. Tonight, as you all know, is the official engagement ceremony of my dear son Wolfram and his fiancée, Gisela von Christ…" she continued on but the only words I was concerned about currently were "official engagement ceremony". They were echoing in my head as a matter of fact. I glanced at Gisela to see how she was taking the news. She looked deathly pale which meant that she hadn't heard of it too. I decided to take things into my own hands and tapped my glass with my fork.
"Mother," I called to get her attention, "Why haven't we been informed of this event? Especially since it concerns us?" I asked.
"Not informed?" she looked genuinely puzzled. "You should have been expecting, no, anticipating this!"
"Anticipating, Mother?" I asked frostily. "I have just begun courting Gisela. A formal engagement now would completely destroy the courtship. I don't think you want that to happen now, do you Mother?"
"No," she said with some reluctance, "But who courts nowadays anyway? Look at me, I was never courted and yet I've had a wonderful life and you yourself are a fine example of that!" She said, trying to justify her whim.
"Mother," I said patiently, "You and Gisela are two different people. You should know better than to make a comparison." She at least had the sense to feel ashamed at this.
"But still!" she pouted, "It's only an engagement ceremony." She looked at me pleadingly.
"Only an engagement ceremony?!" I blew up, "How can you say that? In a courtship, the engagement comes only when both parties are a hundred percent sure that they are truly in love with each other! This "engagement" is based on a platonic relationship!" I had stood up mid-speech and now slammed my hands upon the table. The cutlery rattled but I made no heed. I was incensed.
Mother looked scared.
"But Wolfie dear," she began, "We must have an engagement ceremony," she said seeing that down toning the engagement party wasn't going to work. "People are saying things about you. That you're incapable of finding a hus-spouse." She corrected seeing the warning glare I sent her. "I don't want people putting you down. A formal engagement would put a stop to those horrible rumours." She said as if that was the most sensible thing possible.
"I don't care about what people say about me Mother. And you're one to talk considering the rumours going on about you." I said snidely and pushing my chair back, strode out of the room in angrily leaving her squawking behind me about "Rumours? What rumours? Why should there be any rumours about me?"
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I bit down on the stalk of grass in my mouth and spat it out. Why am I biting grass? I wondered angrily biting the rest of the stalk into little mangled pieces. I was sitting high up in a tree at the edge of the nearest forest. My horse was standing about chewing on the grass below.
"Wolfram?" I heard a tentative voice call my name. I craned my head and looked down. Gisela was tramping about in the bushes below.
"I'm here." I said and turned to look at the sky obscured by the leafy foliage overhead. I heard her scrambling up the tree and soon enough settled on the branch jutting out from the opposite side of the tree to the branch I was sitting on.
"I know I've asked you this before but do you want to break off the engagement?" she asked quietly.
"My previous answer still stands." I answered mutedly. Spots of sunlight broke through and fell on my face.
"Then what do you plan to do about the engagement party?" she asked. I wonder if she could feel the slight warmth the leaves offered.
"Do you want to be formally engaged to me?" I asked lifting my hand trying to catch those little streams of sunlight in my hand.
"I don't mind since it's just a formality." She answered after a pause. If I know anything about her, she would be blushing about now.
"Then I don't mind it either. But I want to make sure you know of the consequences." I inhaled the pleasantly wet air. "It will be harder to break off the engagement then and you will, very likely, be stuck with me for the rest of your life." I said lightly although I knew that the topic was anything but light. "And you will have to be the mother of my children. I'm sure Mother's expecting grandchildren now."
"I am well aware of the consequences and I assure you that being your wife and mother to our children aren't going to be burdens. You think too lowly of yourself." She answered as lightly as I did.
"Well then," I said turning around and letting my leg fall of the side of the tree. I scampered down the tree and dusted myself off. I stood and looked up at her crawling down the tree after me. She was just above my head when I got an idea. "Wait!" I called out. "Stop there!" I walked toward the tree and held my hand out. "Let go." I commanded.
"What?" she yelled. She turned around and saw me holding out my arms. She smiled and let go. She fell into my arms and I sank down into a squat holding her just above the forest floor. "Hey!" she swatted at my hand playfully. "I'm sure I'm not that heavy." I smiled at her and stood up. She yelped in surprise and reached out and looped her arms around my neck instinctively. She looked up slightly embarrassed. She began withdrawing her arms but I shook my head at her. She stopped and then tightened her hold on my neck. I smiled at her.
"Shall we ride off into the sunset my princess?" I asked in jest and she chuckled. I walked with her in my arms toward my horse and hoisted her up on it. I noticed her horse nearby and attached it to my horse. Then I climbed up behind Gisela and we rode off back to the castle under the hot noon sun.
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To be continued…
AN: My computer crashed. Again. Just warning you guys. ^_^"
