Chapter 25
Gwendal closed the door and joined me when I put the mirror flat on my desk. Thanks to my learned magic I could project the image of the mirror up and out so that you could see it bigger and better, but you had to put the mirror on a flat surface. I whispered my command to the mirror, both my hands flat on the desk as I concentrated on the mirror.
"Show clearly the visions in my dreams and my waking premonitions." The mirror blurred with blues blacks and whites before clearing into and projecting a vision of us and the others seeing Yuri off as he's getting ready to step into the pool in front of him in order to return to Earth. Suddenly Wolfram shows up right after Yuri opens the portal and tries to make him stay. As the other try to placate Wolfram, the portal shows Earth and a girl that happened upon the portal. While the others argued she watched in shocked fascination at these odd people she's seeing in a lake's reflection. Then when the girl reaches out to touch the image she sees she gets sucked in by Yuri's portal and straight into Yuri's arms. The vision then blurs and begins to shift every few moments to visions of only Yuri and this girl spending time together, their relationship obviously getting more intimate until it gets the last vision I saw in my dream, the one of Yuri putting a crown on the girl's head. Finally the mirror blurred and turned reflective once more. When I finally turned to see Gwendal, he was surprisingly calm, almost relieved. When he noticed me staring he spoke.
"Well, I'm honestly not very surprised. From what I've heard of and learned in Yuri's world has shown me that his proposal to Wolfram was a mistake and I've known for a while that though Wolfram believes himself in love with Yuri, he's simply acting like a spoiled child with an expensive toy. The only reason he's had jealous fits is because he doesn't like sharing and others touching and dirtying his toy." I bit the inside of my tongue to hold back laughter at Gwendal's serious explanation as he continued. "I'm sure Wolfram knows this as well, but refuses to acknowledge it because of misplaced pride. He feels that if Yuri breaks off the engagement that it will sully his name and it would, but Wolfram can break off the engagement anytime leaving with his pride in tact and most likely even more honorifics attached to his name for refusing to marry the demon king." I nodded in agreement to what he said.
"We'll have to talk to Wolfram and Yuri separately and at the same time if we want this to succeed with both of them unharmed, Yuri physically and Wolfram emotionally." Gwendal nodded and stood, all business.
"I can see now why you need my help. I'll need to use firm words in order for Wolfram to understand. The fool even gave up his true fiancé for the novelty of his demon king toy." This time I nodded grave severity in my voice that mildly surprised Gwendal.
"Not only that, but his and Yuri's personalities were never compatible to begin with. At first Wolfram's spoiled attitude may have helped his majesty ease into his role of Demon King, but he no longer needs to tolerate Wolfram's harsh criticism nor should Yuri take it." I stood up sharply slapping my hands against the desk as I rose. "In fact I'm going to have a very serious talk with Yuri about true Demon King Behavior. It seems Gunter's obsessive infatuation has made him go too softly on Yuri." Gwendal looked at me reproachfully.
"I hope your education doesn't bring any harm to his majesty." Though he said it jokingly I could see he was concerned I would go too far. I returned his gaze for a few more seconds before smiling, sighing and lowering onto my chair once more.
"Don't worry too much, Gwendal love. I'm not one to overstep my boundaries like Wolfram, besides I won't be doing anything too differently from how you taught his majesty in the beginning." He looked away hiding his embarrassment with a cough as he recalled our conversations of what I knew of him before I came to this world. Once again my voice turned serious. "You and I know very well how great a king Yuri could be if he only learned to use the assets he already has. He already has the characteristics of a king. The most evident is an air of charisma that draws good allies and a solid and sound judgment, but his surety is still clouded by the fact that this is a foreign world despite the fact that he's learned everything he needs to run it. Wolfram also isn't helping anymore by criticizing and making Yuri second guess everything he does." Gwendal nodded gravely.
"Another reason to make Wolfram break off the engagement." That's when Aguile chirruped a warning.
"It seems like Yuri and Conrad are about to pass my office. What ideal timing." Gwendal was about to head out to talk to Wolfram anyway.
"Would you mind calling them in for me?" I walked around the desk as I spoke and into Gwendal's waiting arms. He smiled at me and gave me a gentle kiss on the lips. I smiled at the short sweetness of it.
"Of course, my angel." I flushed a little, still not fully accustomed to the name as he exited my office. It was as I was heading to my chair that Yuri and Conrad came in.
"You wanted to see us Lady Mina?" I smiled at the hopeless Conrad as I motioned for them to sit.
"How many times do I have to tell you to call me Mina? It's odd to have my brother-in-law call me 'Lady'." He gave me a friendly smile.
"I'm sorry. I guess it is becoming a habit." I gave one more quick smile before I turned to Yuri. I sat as I addressed him. My serious tone of voice caught both their attentions.
"Your Majesty," Yuri returned my steady gaze effortlessly, good, "after today you will no longer be engaged to Wolfram." Both of them were shocked into silence. "Arrangements are going to be made for Wolfram to uncancel his first engagement since he was never meant to cancel it in the first place. This will certainly help in repairing the tensions between the demon powers since allying with the humans." Conrad broke out of the shock first, interrupting my political babble.
"Wolfram...agreed to this?" I smiled at Conrad, amused at his shock.
"That is what Gwendal is doing right now. Wolfram will be the one to break off the engagement. Gwendal and I talked about it and we decided that we'd spent enough time watching Wolfram have his fun. We need Wolfram to let go of his toy. He's being much to selfish for the kingdom's own good." After I said that only Yuri seemed shocked anymore.
"Ah, I guess Gwendal finally thought enough was enough." I let Conrad explain what we were talking about and politely waited for them to finish.
"Well if that's all-"I cut Yuri short with my serious stare.
"Sit." He sat obediently I looked to Conrad who hadn't made a move to leave. "You understand, yes?" I waited for Conrad to nod before turning to the confused Yuri. "Your majesty, it has come to my attention, in fact it's been on my mind for the longest time, that you are not taking your role as seriously as you should." I saw Yuri's eyes flare in slight anger and saw him visibly bristle at the remark. I stopped his words by raising my palm towards him in a stopping motion. "No. Before you get too offended. I understand that you take the hard task of uniting humans and demons very seriously," I saw as he calmed down and my frowned deepened at this, "but I'm deathly afraid that you don't realize that is all that there is to your role as the demon king." Again I stopped whatever protest he was about to say. "I said no. Just listen. I understand that you do involve yourself in politics, but I've been concerned to observe that you do these tasks half-heartedly and when you are second-guessed you turn to your lessers, no offense to you Conrad," He nodded in understanding and I continued, "so that they can finish what you didn't want to. Now I know that this isn't how you see it and the way I'm putting it is harsh, but this is how others will view it if they observe you more closely. Believe me Yuri, if they were not still awed by your actions involving the Great One and the four boxes, as they well should be, you would already have more than half the political powers questioning and criticizing you which would put the Demon Kingdom in a very dire situation." I paused on signal from Conrad because Yuri needed a little time to think about what I've already said. At first his expression was helpless, but then it turned serious and determined. He looked me straight in the eyes.