A sniffling sound could be heard in one of the closets adjacent to the kitchen and Gisella stopped in her stroll down the corridor. She raised an eyebrow upwards and opened the door in curiosity. It wasn't every day that a closet door cried.
The blizzard that had raged still had not abated. It was bitterly cold and everyone was doing what they could to keep warm and busy. Opening the door, Gisella was surprised to find Greta within. The little girl was huddled into a ball on the floor, sobbing.
"Greta, what's wrong? Why are you hiding?" Gisella asked, holding out her arms. The little girl sobbed and flung herself bodily into Gisella's arms.
"Be…because Yuuri and Wolfram don't want me anymore!"
"They don't…want you?" Now Gisella was really confused. From all she'd seen and heard, Wolfram and Yuuri doted on the little girl as if they were here fathers.
And in a sense, they were. Yuuri had insisted on adopting the little human girl and as Yuuri's fiancé, Wolfram had taken the responsibility for caring for her when Yuuri was away. But she also knew that neither king or fiancé felt it was an obligation, but genuinely loved and adored the little girl.
Which was why it seemed wrong that they would treat her that way. But why would she have cause to lie about such a thing? She didn't and thus, Gisella lifted Greta into her arms and searched out her father.
At the moment, Gunter was in the study with his lover, Gwendal. They'd tried to hide their love from the others, but when even Cherie commented on it, they just gave up. It was much easier on them, and neither felt the overwhelming stress of trying to keep their relationship a secret.
Thus, Gisella found the two in the study, reading together. Or rather, Gwendal was reading and Gunter was lying down, his head pillowed on Gwendal's lap. Gunter turned around and yawned, snuggling into Gwendal's lap.
Gwendal felt his face burn at what his lover was doing. And in front of Gisella and Greta no less! Gisella found it highly amusing, however. She smirked at her father's lover, giving him a wink before clearing her throat, waking her father. "Gentlemen, I have something to discuss with you."
"Oh?" Gunter asked, sitting up and giving a huge yawn. Greta giggled at this, some of her sadness leaving her.
"Yes," Gisella then told them of what Greta had told her and watched when the two stood up, enraged.
"No! Heika would never do such a thing!" Gunter defended his king adamantly, and then flinched when Gwendal rolled his eyes.
"Of course he would. He's still young, even if he is kind. I doubt he wants a little child under foot all the time," Gwendal replied, not even aware of how his words would be taken.
Greta sniffled and then sobbed anew. "See? He hates me!! Yuuri hates me!"
"He doesn't hate you, little one," Gunter said soothingly, lifting her out of Gisella's arms and holding her gently. "He loves you very much, just as we all do. Come, let us sit by the fire and I shall tell you a story."
"A story?" Greta perked up at that. She loved Gunter's stories! She smiled and nodded, letting him put her down. She went over to the fireplace and laid down on her stomach in front of it, hands propping her head up.
Gunter smiled and sat down in front of her, and then grinned when Gisella joined Greta in the same position. He began to spin his tale of a boy and his dog during the Winter Festival.
On the other side of the room, Gwendal watched with fascinated eyes. He'd never seen Gunter like this and he seemed to take this whole fatherhood thing seriously. Not only that, he was good at it.
Getting up, he went over to sit next to them, watching all three quietly. He'd never had a family setting like this and it was most intriguing. Especially how warm and comforting Greta obviously felt at Gunter's kind words and demeanor.
He was going to kill Yuuri and Wolfram later for hurting the poor little girl. Slowly and painfully.