Chapter 10

His emerald eyes kept staring at the oversized pool of the royal bathroom. It was practically more like a swimming pool than a bathtub.

Still wearing his pure white knight uniform, Wolfram was sitting on the edge of the pool, watching the calm water surface. He could see his own reflection looking back at him. It looked tired, dim and lost in thoughts.

For the last five days, he was questioned by different people in the castle, about the reasons for the imperial order and when they could work as usual again. Since visits to the castle were forbidden, all the trades and agreements that required face-to-face negotiations were postponed. Gwendal was actually fuming once he was informed of the news.

Not to mention the rumours... They were spread like wildfire and there were various versions ranging from the conspiracy of Gwendal planned to isolate the current king so as to overthrow him, to Wolfram would soon be kept as the concubine of the king.

And there were also some more mild ones like the king had fallen in love with the knight so he didn't want anyone to lay their claws on him while he was away from the kingdom.

Wolfram shook his head and tried not to think about any of those problems. He forced himself to focus on the water. He didn't know why he kept coming here at night. Yuuri didn't tell them when he would come back or where he would arrive. Usually, if he left from the fountain, he would come back from the fountain. But somehow Wolfram thought, he should wait here.

He was really pissed with the king right now and he demanded some answers.

But then, Yuuri's exam lasted for a week. He wouldn't be back today.

The blonde let out a sigh and ran his fingertips through the warm water. It felt soothing and comfortable and he relaxed a little.

The water in the pool rippled. Then, the center of the pool started to swirl. It twisted faster and faster until there was a whirlpool forming. The king with raven hair emerged from the water, breathing in a mouthful of air.

"Wolfram?" he looked up and asked. Once he saw Wolfram, a smile appeared on his face. He stood and made his way to the blonde knight.

He wasn't wearing his black school uniform but a casual light green sweater, which enhanced his easygoing, boyish, sunshine-like charm.

Wolfram looked up at him and blinked while he was walking towards him. It took him a few moments before he remembered his manners. He quickly stood and handed his king a towel out of habit.

Although Yuuri could remove all the water on his body with a snap of his fingers, he took it anyways. "Thanks," Yuuri grinned and wiped his face briefly before evaporating all the water droplets clinging to him. "Are you waiting for me?"

There were a million things that Wolfram wanted to shout at him, like 'Do you know how much trouble you have got me into?', or 'Why didn't you tell me about the order, the letter, anything at all, before you left?'. But in the end, once Wolfram had seen the person in question, he just managed to nod without saying a word.

The letter…

He suddenly remembered what Yuuri had written in his letter to his mother. He felt his cheeks heating up and he lowered his gaze.

He didn't know how he should feel about it. It was practically a love confession. If it happened a few years back, he would have jumped with joy. However…

Whatever written in the letter mustn't be true. He wouldn't… and I shouldn't get any wrong ideas either! After all those years I have tried so hard to…

"What's wrong, Wolfram?" the king asked in a concerned tone when he saw the blonde lowering his head and avoiding his gaze. He was leaning in so that he could look at the knight from below. "Are you alright?"

Wolfram clenched his fists, he was so confused, frustrated and furious that he started trembling. After a few seconds, he looked straight into those obsidian eyes, "Yuuri, why did you write to my mother?"

Obviously surprised, Yuuri's eyes widened. Before he could open his mouth to answer, Wolfram asked another question, raising his voice slightly, 'And why did you issue such a ridiculous order before you left?'

"Wolfram, I know you would be mad if I…"

"Then why did you do that?" he demanded, hot, angry flames were burning in his eyes.

He knew he probably shouldn't, but Yuuri couldn't help but admire how beautiful Wolfram looked even when he was fuming.

Get a grip! This isn't the time.

Yuuri reminded himself. He made all his efforts to study and finish his exam days earlier so that he could come back sooner to see Wolfram, whom he spent days and nights thinking of while he was on Earth. And now he wouldn't want to anger Wolfram any further.

"Wolf, I need you to listen to me," Yuuri used his calmest tone, attempting to ease the tension just a little. He reached out to take the knight's hand but the blonde stepped away, avoiding his touch.

"Forgive me for my manners, your majesty," Wolfram said quietly, bowing his head slightly. "I think you need to rest."

Yuuri felt a stab of sharp pain in his heart when he heard it. Somehow he had messed up again. He understood very well that when Wolfram didn't want to talk, he had better not try to push it. He lowered his hand and asked, "Promise to listen to me later?"

Still not looking at him, Wolfram slowly nodded.

"Goodnight, Wolfram."

"Goodnight."

Yuuri watched as he walked out of the royal bathroom. Grabbing his backpack from the pool, he sat on the edge and looked at the water.

He didn't think he could sleep tonight.

Yuuri sighed the twentieth time as he was doing his paperwork.

"Maybe you should take a break, your majesty," Conrad suggested.

"I don't think I should," he replied, reading the next document. "Or else Gwendal would be crossed with me again."

"Take a break for half an hour," a super deep voice said, from Gwendal, who was entering the office. "Your progress is getting slower."

Yuuri frowned. He was being hard-working. He thought the grey-hair chief adviser would be pleased.

"Gwendal is worried that you may be overworked," Conrad commented helpfully. "You came back from Earth and have started working straight for a week already."

Gwendal coughed loudly to hide his embarrassment. He wasn't good at showing his kindness to others.

"But I thought I need to make up for the mess I made."

"You have done that already," the stoic man said. "Just go and take your break."

"Why don't you go for a walk in the garden?" Conrad offered.

"Why would I want to go to the garden?" Yuuri muttered under his breath while scribbling on the parchment, emitting dark aura everywhere in the room. "Wolfram is not talking to me and now even Greta is not talking to me…"

There was a wrinkle forming on Gwendal's forehead.

Conrad smiled good-naturedly while he grabbed the king by his shoulders and threw him out of the office.

Another sigh left his lips when he walked towards the garden, dragging his feet, shoulders slumped. The maids and servants didn't dare bother him since it had been cloudy for seven days already. They didn't want any thunderstorms soon.

"Yuuri-heika~~" an unmistakably sweet voice chirped.

He looked around. The former queen was waving at him from the leisure chair in the garden, a cup of tea on her other hand.

"Good afternoon, Celi-sama," he greeted, gave her a weak smile and took a seat near her.

"Ala, why the long face?" she asked, sipping her tea. "Things didn't go well with Wolfie?"

He shook his head. "He's avoiding me."

The only time Yuuri had seen him was the reporting time in the morning and in the evening. He didn't want to talk about things other than formal matters.

"Maybe you should ambush him in his room tonight," she suggested with a wink.

"Wh-What are you saying? Celi-Sama?" his face turned scarlet as he stammered, jaw-dropped. "He's your son!"

"I don't see any problem with that," she said, touching the rim of the delicate teacup. "You're in love with each other."

Yuuri pursed his lips and averted his gaze, "That's true for me. But I think maybe it isn't the same for Wolfram." He kept wondering what he should do to fix things between them these days. But it was just getting worse. "Maybe he doesn't love me like he used to be anymore."

Celi giggled behind the back of her hand, "Do you know that he kept waiting for you at the pool once he was free from his duties?" she asked him fondly. "Every day, before you were back."

He felt his heart race and he flushed, "But then... why?"

"He was mad at you, but he couldn't stop missing you," she stated in a dreamy voice. "He wanted to see you again though he couldn't believe you really mean what you wrote in the letter."

Yuuri breathed in deep, "How can I make him believe then?"

"Just jump him."

"I'm serious!"

"Okay,okay…" she laughed, raising her hands slightly as surrender. "Talk to him at the ball."

A ball to celebrate his birthday was scheduled next week. Everyone was busy preparing for it at the moment and the guards were training extra intensively, getting ready to protect the guests from various kingdoms.

"Just tell him how you feel on that day."

Yuuri leaned back onto the chair, hesitance was shown on his face."Celi-Sama, you really think Wolfram is still in love with me?"

"Only a blind person like you can't see it." she crossed her arms. "Honestly, you just need to take off your…"

Yuuri stood from his seat and smiled. A ray of sunlight shining through the clouds. "Thanks for your advice, Celi-sama." Stretching his limbs, he told her, "I think I know what to do now."

The former queen beamed, picking up her teacup again.

It's just nice to see her future son-in-law to return to his optimistic self.

To be continued