Wolfram let him go on a date. With a girl. Why? Nobody knows. And it wasn't said out of spite, like when couples were arguing and yelling, „Then go and date her!" He said this calmly and still stated the same after multiple questions to make sure.
This was genuine permission, but Yuuri still felt anxious. What if that was a trap? A strange plot set by Wolfram to accomplish… what? He didn't know, but definitely, something was behind this.
Because of those thoughts, he spent all the ride in the carriage looking around, trying to find anything suspicious. But the girl sitting in front of him seemed to not care. She was chirping happily about something, and Yuuri also should be happy in this situation, but he wasn't.
He saw Wolfram talking with the girl, Charlotte if he remembered correctly, so maybe they were in this together. They wanted him to…
His head hit the carriage wall, scaring his today's date.
„Are you all right?"
„Yes. Don't worry."
This was his date. His very first date with a girl. Even if this was set up for something, he should just stop to worry about it and enjoy it. That's why he wanted to go after all.
Charlotte started again talking about something, and Yuuri looked at her, taking on her beauty. She was the sweet type, with a small round face and big eyes. They had a pretty blue color but seemed a little dull to him. Without any energy or sparks like Wolfram's eyes have, even though she acted excited. And she also had thick make-up, which somehow was putting him off. Her light skin seemed greasy and grainy because of it. And her pale blonde hair reflected the light in a completely different way than Wolfram's golden locks, in the one that didn't catch his eyes in opposition to the prince's.
She was beautiful, but nothing in her made him want to look at her more than necessary. Maybe she just wasn't his type? Expect she was. Maybe he didn't like her personality? But she was nice and cheerful. At last, that was what he got from their carriage ride. But their date didn't even start. He might come to like her after they spend more time together.
Their ride ended, and they came out of the carriage in the town. Yuuri didn't know yet what they going to do, but Charlotte soon enlightened him. The shopping.
This was strange. Yuuri didn't know that nobles still go buy things on their own. When he asked Wolfram, he told him that he just summoning a merchant when he needed anything. But maybe other people do things differently. Some girls might enjoy going from shop to shop no matter the world.
But he didn't enjoy it at all. Guy, it was boring. And Charlotte asked for his opinion on clothes all the time. How was he supposed he knew anything? Wolfram was the one interested in those things. Go ask him.
The only time something piqued his interest was when he spotted a nice for Greta, but his companion didn't let him even consider buying this because it was their date, so he should be concerned about picking dresses for her. So, Yuuri decided to go to this shop again later with Wolfram to buy something for their daughter.
„Look what they are selling there. I have not seen anything like that yet." Yuuri pointed at the food vendor stall. He was starting to feel hungry, and it was a good idea to change the subject to anything even a little interesting.
"Oh, I don't know about it too."
„Really? Then, let's go try it!"
„What? You want to eat the food from the street?" She looked at him with surprise.
„What do you mean from the street? It's from the stall."
„But they eat it with their hands. And it's made by commoners."
Aren't the cooks in the castle commoners too? Her attitude resembled the one of Wolfram when they first met. But it wasn't a thing now. The prince would probably go eat with him whatever they were selling in that stall without any complaint. If the spoiled prince could change, then Charlotte might too.
He grabbed the girl's hand and pulled her with him to the vendor. The things on the stall looked like fritters with meat and some vegetables.
„Two portions, please!" Yuuri gestured with his two fingers and then pulled out the money to pay the man.
The food they got was wrapped in old paper, and Yuuri looked around for someplace to sit and eat. After finding a bench, he dug in. It had a strange texture but tasted good. Taking another bite, he turned to Charlotte to ask her opinion, but she was staring at him with disgust, her food untouched.
„What is it?"
„I can't believe you're eating this. You are the king. Eating stuff like this is disgraceful."
„But it's good."
She sighed and threw the fritter on the ground while standing and going away. After taking some steps, she turned away and sighed again, placing hands on her hips. But Yuuri didn't bother by her urgent gaze and ate peacefully, then took the thing she trowed on the ground and put it in the garbage bin. He ordered to place those for the sole purpose of making the city clean, so he would not tolerate anybody throwing trash whenever they wanted.
„Have some complain?" He asked while passing Charlotte, heading down the alley.
She had, but Yuuri didn't listen. Looking through the shops' displays, he spotted a reflection of someone familiar walking right past them.
He looked around, finally certain that he would be able to catch Wolfram and prove that this date was a plot made by him. But the prince was nowhere to be seen. There was someone with similar hair and posture, but it wasn't Wolfram. One more look around, just to be sure, but still nothing.
Resigned, Yuuri focused again on the girl next to him, thinking about what they should do next. If it were Earth, he could come up with some date ideas, but in the Demon Kingdom, his head was empty. What're people living here even do for entertaining?
Cheers come from the crowd gathered ahead of them. Something interesting must be over there, so Yuuri headed in its direction.
A street performance. Several men were doing tricks, throwing knives and shooting from a bow to small targets. The crowd cheered again when the arrow hit thrown in the air apple, and Yuuri joined them.
„How barbaric," Charlotte muttered and walked away.
Yuuri ignored her. If she didn't want to have fun, then it's on her.
Of course, she had a problem that he didn't walk away with her after this.
„What do you want to do then?" He asked finally, not seeing the point in trying to come up with something to entertain her.
„Let's go shopping."
„We were already."
„Let's go back. It's a rare occurrence, so I want to take advantage of it."
„A rare occurrence?"
„I can buy whatever I want without worrying about money. Of course, I'm going to use it! Now, let's go. There were much more shops to visit." She explained happily, not paying attention to him.
Why she didn't need to worry about money?
His face dropped.
It was enough. He didn't want this date to continue anymore.
When coming back, Charlotte wasn't this happy and excited as when they were riding to the town. She didn't talk to him and refused to even look at Yuuri, with her arms crossed in front of her chest and face pouting.
Yuuri also didn't look at her, mentally exhausted. When they were back in the castle, he didn't even answer Conrad's question about the date and went straight to the bedroom. A warm bath and then sleep. It was what he needed now.
When he entered his room, he saw the presumed culprit of this whole situation. Wolfram was sitting relaxed on the armchair, reading a book, and unfazed by the mess Yuuri went through, caused – by the king's opinion - by him.
He clenched his fists and stormed through the room, standing before Wolfram and snatching the book from his hands.
„What are you doing?" Wolfram said calmly.
This made Yuuri's insides burn even more.
„What am I doing? What are you doing?! What all of this even mean!"
„All of what?"
„Charlotte! Date! What's this all for?!"
„You complained that you want to date the girl, so I did you a favor. How was it?"
„A favor? It was a disaster!"
„So your date went bad, and you're blaming me for this?" Wolfram placed his head on his palm and raised a brow.
„I know it was your doing! You plotted against me. You did…"
„I did what?"
Yuuri shut up, not knowing how to answer. He didn't have any evidence for the prince to mingle in it. But he just knew.
„You!" He pointed his finger at Wolfram. „I wasn't even able to focus on Charlotte because I was thinking about it all the time."
Wolfram smiled.
„And the part where it is my fault?"
Yuuri's cheeks started to burn. This didn't sound good. Admitting that he thought about Wolfram even when he was with a woman, it sounded too much like…
„That's what you wanted! I already told you that I want to date women!"
„You just did. How was it? Want to try date another one?"
„It's not my fault it was like that. It's because I was thinking about you."
Shit, again.
„If you like women, then shouldn't you think about them then?"
„It's because you look better than any woman."
„Well, thank you."
Yuuri groaned and grabbed his hair, walking away. This discussion was going in a bad direction.
„Listen, I don't like you."
„No, you listen." Wolfram stood up and came closer to him. „You like me. I know it. Everyone know it. You know it. But you are too much of a wimp to admit it. Just give up and say it already. You would feel better."
„I don't…" Their faces became too close, and Yuuri faltered. He turned around and started making circles around the room, feeling an intense gaze of emerald eyes on him.
This was stupid. He liked girls. He should like girls. Like every normal Japanese boy. But he wasn't a normal Japanese boy. He was a demon king. In a strange magical world, where he had a male fiance, and everyone was ok with it. Because it was ok. It was normal.
Yuuri stopped and looked at Wolfram again. The boy smiled softly, his eyes reflecting the sunlight, making them appear even bigger. His white skin and golden hair were even more beautiful in the gentle light of a sunset. He looked like an angel.
I like him.
Maybe he still was a brat sometimes, but he was nice and friendly. His presence always made him feel at ease. All the problems were gone when he showed up.
Yuuri took a couple of steps forward.
Wolfram always listened to him and told him what he thought, without roundabouts and lies. He's always there to offer help, and even if he calls him a wimp, he's trying to make a better king out of him.
He was standing right before the prince, his black eyes locked on the green ones. A warmth was beaming from the other person, pleasant and calming. Yuuri didn't want to go away. He wanted to stay by Wolfram, stay with him.
„You won."
„I won what?"
„I think I might like you," Yuuri whispered.
Wolfram leaned closer to him.
„I don't hear you."
„I like you!"
A heat overwhelmed his head, his chest, and then the whole body. He was breathing deeply, feeling embarrassed, but still keeping eye contact.
„Was it that bad?" Wolfram's smile deepened, and he leaned closer to his face, bumping their foreheads together.
Yuuri felt as if electricity shocked him in the place where their bodies were connected.
„It's terrible. Not liking you, but…"
„But you still a wimp." Wolfram chuckled.
God, what a beautiful sound.
„What now?" Yuuri awarded his eyes, feeling strange asking this question.
„Hmm?" Wolfram leaned back, increasing the distance between them. „I think now, you need a bath., You kinda stink." He laughed again.
Heat ran through his body again, but now he felt embarrassed for an entirely different reason. He snapped, got his bathing utensils, and sprinted into the bathroom, still hearing a laugh even when he closed the door.