Sigh...Fanfiction isn't letting me create a new document, so I have to overwrite old ones. It took me an (embarrassing) amount of time to figure out I could do that, otherwise this would have been out sooner. I'm sorry.
Ignoring he had just spent days on a ship to and from Caloria a few weeks ago, Gwendal leaned against the railing with his eyes closed and inhaled the salt air as if he hadn't been on a ship in years. Unlike Wolfram who became intensely seasick at just the sight of a boat, the General and Admiral of Shin Makoku's Army and Navy enjoyed the ocean. The spray of the sea and the call of gulls was incredibly relaxing. Even the tilting of the ship as it plowed through the waves settled his mind. From where he stood now, he could hear the creak of wooden planks beneath his feet and the flapping of the masts above him and the wind tugged adamantly at his coat.
"You look different in that coat."
Gwendal turned, surprised, to see Yuuri was standing a few paces down the railing and staring at him with curiosity.
"It's formal," the General stated, peering down at the embellished embroidery.
"It looks..." the boy hesitated, glancing nervously at the railing his hand was resting on. "It looks good on you."
"It...does?"
"It's a nice change from your usual uniform," Yuuri continued, smiling softly without lifting his gaze. "You know, I was beginning to think you didn't have any other outfits besides your uniform and nightwear...oh, but you wore that one outfit when we went to retrieve Morgif."
"I actually have several outfits," Gwendal admitted. "But I feel most comfortable in my uniform."
"You don't have to wear it?" the youth asked in surprise, peeking over at the man.
"It is not required when I am not serving as General or Admiral," the demon answered. "So, no, I do not have to wear it."
"I see..." Yuuri mumbled.
"If you'd like," Gwendal dared. "I could wear other outfits for you."
"No, no, no!" The teenager waved his hands frantically. "That's really not necessary! You don't have to do that for me!"
"It would give me an excuse to wear them," the General said. "Sometimes I feel guilty because none of my clothing ever gets worn."
He jerked when he heard a small laugh coming from the boy.
"You feel bad for your clothes?"
Blushing at the accusation, Gwendal grumbled something incoherent and focused on the waves lapping at the sides of the ship.
After a moment, Yuuri walked up beside the man, placing his hands on the railing and leaning his head against the demon's shoulder.
Gwendal had half-expected to flinch or stiffen at the boy's actions, but instead he found he was incredibly relaxed. With ease, he slipped his arm around Yuuri's waist and pulled the youth flush against his side.
And it all felt perfectly normal.
The moment he was off of the ship, Gwendal pulled Gunter and Gegenhuber aside to speak with them about safety concerns. While he had been trying to train Wolfram to be levelheaded and take over the business of Yuuri's protector in place of Conrad, he had eventually given up and asked Gunter to substitute for the blond during this trip and Huber, having overheard, offered to be Yuuri's second protector. Considering Murata was about as useless in a fight as Yuuri, Gwendal had assigned Yozak to the Great Sage and ordered Wolfram to follow the spy's lead, much to the youngest brother's absolute disgust. He hadn't argued for long after the General had given him one of the glares he was known for and reminded his brother that the younger was still walking eggshells after his stunt in running off in search of the missing Maou. All-and-all, Gwendal was rather content with the team they had put together, but still anxious about letting the Maou waltz into Francia without a full army behind him, especially since there was a great chance of running into Big Shimaron's forces...and Conrad.
"Hey, Gwendal!"
The call caused the General to lift his head to where Yuuri stood a few paces away.
"Why Cavalcade of all places?" the young Maou questioned. "This isn't where the box is located, right?"
"Oh!" Gunter cut in before Gwendal could answer. "Francia, the country in question, is an extremely..."
Gwendal peered over at the royal aid when the man's voice trailed off and noticed Gunter was staring directly at the Great Sage. Murata was shaking his head with a disappointed look, causing the General's brow to lift slowly.
"Uh..." Gunter hesitated and then turned to Gwendal. "Why don't you explain, your excellency?"
Giving the royal aid what Gwendal knew was a look of confusion and irritation, the General took a deep breath.
"Cavalcade is one of the few countries Francia will do business with because Francia is closed off, unwilling to deal with most other human countries. They wouldn't ever allow demon tribe in as that would be unthinkable. We're going to infiltrate Francia and we've already contacted an envoy of Cavalcade."
"Envoy?" Yuuri questioned.
"He should be here shortly," Gwendal grumbled.
After a quick reintroduction to Hyscliff and his daughter Beatrice, a memory the General was willing to forget quickly, they all finally filled the carriages waiting to take them to the castle.
"The Shin Makoku Alliance?" Yuuri asked in surprise. "What's that about, Mr. Hyscliff?"
The man didn't even hesitate, Gwendal noticed.
"It may be hard to believe under the circumstances," the Cavalcade noble informed the boy. "But there are many human countries that oppose Big Shimaron. However, the smaller countries realized they don't stand a chance faced with the enormous power and influence of Big Shimaron."
Gwendal glanced at Gunter, who was squirming, looking every bit like he wanted to answer the Maou's questions.
"You're saying they want to team up with us?"
The teenager sounded shocked and Gwendal couldn't blame him. All Yuuri had been told since he arrived in Shin Makoku was that the humans wanted nothing to do with the demons.
"We're on our way to meet with the King of Cavalcade," Gwendal stated when Gunter didn't speak.
"What?" Yuuri gasped, fear sparking in his eyes. "Now, wait a second! Nobody told me about this!"
"Relax," the General growled. "The arrangements are already made. All you have to do is enjoy the ride."
"I don't want to just 'enjoy the ride'!" Yuuri objected. "I want to be actively involved, otherwise who is actually running the king..."
He gave a weak glare at the grey-haired demon.
"Ah...you."
"You have a problem with that, your majesty?" Gwendal teased as he lightly pushed the boy's foot with the toe of his boot, smirking when this made the youth blush.
Gunter cleared his throat, flushing profusely as he reached for the window.
"Is it stuffy in here?" the royal aid asked in a feeble attempt to change the atmosphere.
"You know better than to open that window when we're discussing politics," Gwendal snapped, watching as the royal aid flailed a second in his attempt to make sure the window remained shut. "Really, you must be getting senile in your age."
"More importantly," Hyscliff said, tugging at his collar. "Your highness, several of the small countries are already united. Today's meeting, if it is successful, will have the affect of helping the alliance grow even larger."
"I guess," Yuuri mumbled. "But are you sure that these guys are serious?"
"Serious?" Gwendal asked, both of his brows shooting up.
"Think about it," the Maou encouraged. "If they're afraid of us and are only joining forces to fight Big Shimaron, where's the trust?"
The General instantly thought of an answer, but knew better than to share it. Of course, Yuuri would struggle with concepts like this being the norm. Sometimes, the enemy of the enemy was the friend and sometimes it was best to just go with the flow, taking allies as they came and dropping them the moment they pulled out a knife.
"Please," Hyscliff clarified. "You must understand. Word of your highness's many exploits has traveled deep into human country."
"What?" Yuuri frowned. "What are you talking about?"
"They've heard how you freed the captives in Svelera," Hyscliff elaborated. "How you helped the overworked populace of Hildyard, and are aiding in the reconstruction of Caloria. They are all claiming that, with Shin Makoku under your rule, it is now possible to unite as one. That's proof of how much they trust you."
The General had expected the young Maou to be overjoyed at this news, but instead Yuuri stared out the window at the shops they were passing by with a forlorn look on his face.
Irritated by this, Gwendal gave the youth a soft kick.
"Isn't that what you've wanted, your majesty?" the General demanded while Gunter began berating him for treating the Maou in such a manner while Hyscliff made some comment about lovers. "Why don't you try at least acting happy to hear that?"
"I am," Yuuri admitted and then gave a nervous laugh. "I'm probably just stressing about this meeting. I mean, I had no warning whatsoever until now. You had the entire trip to Cavalcade to tell me. Why'd you keep it a secret?"
"We weren't exactly trying to, your majesty," Gwendal huffed. "We talked openly about it. Perhaps, instead of pointing fingers at us for failing to inform you, you should be more concerned with your obliviousness to the obvious."
Yuuri exhaled hotly, crossing his arms as anger ignited on his face.
"Well, excuse me for being distracted in your presence, your excellency."
As if realizing what he had just admitted, the young Maou turned his face, which was quickly becoming red, at the window and made some comment about Gwendal setting him up.
Gunter wasn't looking at anyone anymore, his eyes focused instead on the ceiling of the carriage, while Hyscliff was again smiling the situation away.
Wishing they would just arrive at the castle already, Gwendal dejectedly gave up on trying to get anymore reactions from the youth and settled into a grumpy disposition.
Gwendal hadn't wanted the meeting to end, knowing what would happen once it had.
Though the young Maou had been practically shaking with anxiety before entering the chamber with the other King, he had been surprisingly eloquent once he was settled in his chair. The General attributed this to the boy's mass of supporters directing weighty problems to themselves for solutions and only passing on the ones Yuuri definitely could handle alone. Then again, Gwendal realized as they made their way back down to the harbor in the amber glow of the setting sun, Yuuri had even known some things.
His thoughts strayed to discussing something with the Great Sage while they sailed to Cavalcade. Murata had admitted the young Maou had been increasingly interested in the history of not just Shin Makoku, but also the human countries. While Murata hadn't been able to answer much, he'd been able to answer some things while they remained on earth.
"I think he's taking his duties as Maou seriously," Murata had said. "Very seriously. I think you're to blame."
Blame.
Of course, Gwendal would be accused rather than thanked for helping the young Maou get interested in politics. Even Gunter had accused him of "igniting his highness's passion for laws" many many months ago when Conrad had been on their side still.
"He should focus on history and etiquette!" Gunter had argued with the General. "The laws can come later!"
Gwendal jerked when the carriage came to a halt and he internally cursed himself for not focusing on Yuuri instead.
He felt a bit dazed as they finished their discussion of the new treaty and the group began to divide itself between those staying in Cavalcade and those leaving for Francia.
"You're not coming with me?" Yuuri faced Gwendal with pinched brows as his feature twisted between anger, concern, and being upset. "Again?"
"I am needed here, your majesty," the General reminded the youth. "To continue negotiations..."
"Gunter can do that," the youth argued, causing the royal aid to whimper at being replaced so easily. "You should come with me this time."
"Your majesty..."
"It's Yuuri."
Seeing the youth had gotten tired of their game over the day, Gwendal gave a sigh.
"We should speak in private," the General stated as he walked away from the group.
He didn't even need to look to know Yuuri was following him.
Once he felt as if they were a safe enough distance from the others, Gwendal faced the youth, only to find Yuuri was red in the face.
"Yuuri," Gwendal began, glad when the boy seemed to relax at his name being used. "You are going to have to accept this as a normal occurrence."
"Why does it have to be?" the Maou demanded. "Why can't you..."
"It is my duty as General and Admiral to..."
"Forget about all of that!"
"I can't."
"But...you've come with me before! Why is this different? Why is this..."
Gwendal frowned at seeing a strange emotion developing in the Maou's eyes. He couldn't place it and decided to simply try his hardest to explain to the best of his ability and hope for the best.
"I don't always ride with the others," Gwendal admitted. "When I do, it is because I am required to."
"You went with me to collect Morgif."
"You requested I..."
"I am requesting now."
"I could at the time, but things are different in this situation," Gwendal argued. "I am needed here, your majesty."
"But Gunter..."
"Gunter is not the General."
"And why does it have to be the General?" Yuuri questioned, scowling. "Why does it always have to be you?"
"It is my duty," the man repeated and watched as this seemed to only irritate the boy. "Yuuri..."
Seeing that using the teenager's name again had a calming affect, Gwendal decided to use this to his advantage.
"Yuuri, please," the General said as he placed both of his hands on the young Maou's shoulders. "As General and Admiral and Lord of Voltaire and eldest of the former Maou's children and brother of Wolfram and Conrart and your fiance..."
This caused all annoyance to melt from the boy's face, causing a pleasant pink to infiltrate his cheeks.
"My list of duties seems endless some days," Gwendal admitted. "But I enjoy my work and I would have it no other way."
"Then you choose to..."
"I truly wish I could accompany you, Yuuri," the demon mumbled, feeling his own cheeks warming. "Though I trust in the skills of Gunter, Gegenhuber, Yozak, and Wolfram, I still worry they will not be enough to keep you safe..."
He didn't add his fear of Conrad being the biggest reason why he was concerned.
"In the end, I must deal with trusting others with your safety," Gwendal continued. "And you must deal with me being forced to remain behind."
"But..."
"The negotiations in this case will require delicacy and, though I trust Gunter especially with these kinds of matters, I know I will not feel as satisfied with his work as I would with my own."
"Arrogant much?" Yuuri tossed out in a slightly frustrated tone.
"I have often had to rely on my own strength and knowledge to solve such situations," Gwendal argued. "I simply feel more comfortable knowing I did the job, therefore it is as thoroughly done as possible."
The Maou gave an aggravated sigh, crossing his arms and turning away from the demon.
"I know I can tolerate this," Yuuri groaned. "But I actually do want you to come with me."
"Yuuri." Gwendal admitted to himself he secretly did love the way the boy appeared to instantly relax at hearing his name. "Believe me, there is no one else better qualified than myself to stay behind in the negotiations and I am also better suited to deal with my mother."
After a moment, he decided to add, "Besides, she's been wanting some time to discuss some...things with me."
"Things?" Yuuri asked in surprise, turning back around.
Gwendal fidgeted uncomfortably.
"About the engagement," he answered. "And our eventual marriage and what it entails."
"M-m-marriage?" Yuuri stuttered, bringing the General's surprised look to him. "Oh! Marriage! There's marriage! There's marriage?"
"Yes," Gwendal spoke slowly. "Normally engagements lead to marriages. At least, that is their intent."
"Oh." The boy nodded furiously. "Yes, I know. Of course, I know that...it's just...I've been trying not to think about it."
"Trying?" the General inquired, his eyes going wide for a moment. "Why 'trying', your...uh...Yuuri."
The teenager didn't answer, just rubbed the back of his neck nervously before throwing his arms around the demon and giving him a fervent kiss. For the time being, Gwendal allowed Yuuri to use this as a distraction and even pretended it had worked. They said their farewells shortly afterwards and Gwendal stood by his mother as she waved at the ship until it was no longer visible in the quickly disappearing sunlight. Then he had traveled to the castle in silence while his mother went on and on to Hyscliff about...something. He wasn't sure.
He had thought when they had arrived in Cavalcade he would be overjoyed to sleep in a real bed after enduring the almost cot-sized bunks of the ship, but instead he flopped down on the mattress and stared at the ceiling as an uneasiness settled over him.
Though Gwendal knew without a doubt Yuuri was a child in too many aspects to even name, the General knew he kept slipping into hope the youth was growing up. The kisses in the dark, sneaking into the demon's quarters in the middle of the night, and the eloquence with which the Maou had performed during the meeting. Sometimes, Gwendal simply forgot Yuuri was a child still.
Or...as he feared was more likely true...he ignored Yuuri was a child for his own benefit.
Feeling sick, he rolled onto his side and brought his legs up as he wrapped his arms around his midsection, hoping to quell his nauseated stomach.
Sleep did not come easy that night.