Disclaimer: I do not own Kyou Kara Maou
No profit made
Yes lilgurlanima, I intend to have Wolfram jealous too, for sure! That's canon after all! Of who? I keep that secret for the moment!
From yuuri's POV
Chapter slightly more angsty
XX
I really wonder how much the human being can retain in his memory when I see the stock of books set on my office table. Gunter even accepted to delay my signatures so that I could more focus on the books about Traditions, and learn them by heart. They hoped I'd finish the ten books in one month. That's humanly impossible.
I was still under the shock of what had happened in the theatre... I shouldn't have done that...but it wasn't out of a bad intention, I just couldn't repress my joy. Of course, everything had to turn against me. Now, my people think I'm interested in Wolfram THIS WAY! I have never had the chance yet to date a girl and court one properly...So why ,when it's the first time I have to court someone, does it have to be a boy?
I moaned with regret as I started to read page 22 of the book Different Meaning of Flowers. I sighed, a headache taking its root in my brain. Rubbing my temples delicately, I closed my eyes.
" Your majesty...?" I heard Gunter's concerned voice asked me. I slowly looked up at him as he leaned over me. He had two new books in his arms.
" Yes?"
" You seem tired," he glanced at the piles of books that were almost concealing me entirely from any visitors. " Do you want a break?"
" Can I?" I asked, feeling my smile along my relief coming to me. He nodded with a benevolent smile.
" Well, you've already finished two books and it's soon time for lunch. You may rest a little, or have a walk..."
" Yes, I'm going to do that," I said hurriedly. Raising to my feet, I thanked him. When Conrad started to trail up behind me, I shook my head and said: " It'll be okay...I-I need to be alone for while." I hoped I didn't upset him because there was almost nothing else than hurting my godfather which could make me ashamed. When I lifted my gaze, I only saw a bit of surprise quickly erased by a smile and gentle eyes on his face.
" Of course, your majesty," he said. " This is your castle after all. Do as you wish."
"...thank you, Conrad."
I turned away from him and left my office.
The gardens full with flowers of different species attracted me like magnets. I smelt the sweet refreshing perfumes that were invading the air, and soon, felt my lungs filled deliciously. My steps guided me towards the open hallways that were supported by white columns. To my enchantment, almost no one was there so I could enjoy a real solitude. Well, I have really felt alone since I'm here because I'm not like them, and my family isn't with me either.
I missed my mother. I truly, madly missed her. I hadn't realized that until I woke up in the morning with a strangled cry and a few tears in my eyes. Her quirks sometimes pissed me off...really...but when I needed advice, she was there to guide me. I refused to let that emotion overwhelming me, but my legs betrayed me as I felt their strength leaving me. I slid to the floor than found myself seated against one of the columns, back facing the garden.
" Aah, it's hot today! I wonder if Conrad is going to teach me to sword fight again after the dinner," I said.
Closing my eyes, I enjoyed the feeling of not being burdened by duties, homework, nobles's enquiries etc etc and like a baby, started to doze off a little. People could be scared to find their ruler half-sleeping in a middle of a hallway but I didn't care less, for once.
" Yes, let's talk here, there are so many people at the other side of the castle" I suddenly heard. Snapping my eyes open, I heard footsteps getting close. I got up and among the roses bushes, I caught sight of Wolfram.
" Wolf..." I precipitately hid myself again behind the column that I'd been sitting against when I saw Charles von Lewisson appearing in my sight, too! What are they doing here, alone? My breath became uneven; I didn't dare to make a move...Am I cursed to eavesdrop them? it felt like an extremely bad coincidence!
"What's going on, Charles?" Wolfram asked with uncertainty.
" No...I thought I saw someone in the hallway."
A silence, only a footstep. My heartbeat quickened sickly.
" You're dreaming," Wolfram ended up saying. " There's no one but us."
" Right, that's better." A short silence. " Even if I wish that demon king was there to witness us!"
Wow, did I catch nastiness in Charles' voice?
" Why so?"
" Because...you know my intention, Wolfram. I have always loved you...Always."
Trembling like a leaf, I dared to steal a peek at them, tilting my head. Charles' hand was like a wind on Wolfram's heated the pale skin that was visible between the jaw and the collar. My adventures companion didn't push him away, and I wish I could do that for him. Wolfram crossed his arms. I hid again and perked up my ears.
" Don't you feel the same for me?" Charles asked softly.
"...I don't know...you're great...you've been a friend for so such a long time...and you do have a place in my heart..."
Another quiet moment where I feared people could hear my heard pounding madly inside my ribcage. All this scene, instead of disgusting me, was seriously starting to hurt, more than anything else and I wonder why. Smack.
My eyes widened at the dainty sound and I felt the urge to chance a glance at them. I could only see Charles' lips against Wolfram's exposed neck. I returned to my hiding spot, breathing with difficulty, that pain gnawing my heart cruelly. Why...? it was so weird to feel that. Nothing should make me feel this way.
" But?"
" But...it's not easy..." Wolfram answered. It was funny how it he seemed to have lost his hot-temper all of a sudden. Was it jealousy that was squeezing my heart to a point I couldn't take in deep, comforting breaths? " I prefer to wait. I told you I'd answer you in two years' time. I'm still too young...I have to do a lot of things before getting married." After a brief while he added on: " But you know you're the one I will choose if I have to get married now."
I felt something shock in my throat.
"...it makes me happy to hear you say that, Wolfram," Charles replied and I sensed a smile in his voice. " I love you so much...The other night, when you played...I really hoped you would give me the flowers, it would have meant so much to me...but that king" he sighed with irritation " he completely thwarted my plans! Tell me if I should start fearing him."
I heard Wolfram moan with annoyance.
" Yuuri isn't this kind of type. He's sometimes clueless and naïve but he's not a bad person." After a pause, he said: " I'm sure...he won't disappoint us. There's something in him that is too pure to be disappointing."
" See? You already talk about him in such affectionate and appreciative terms." Charles responded with susceptibility. I would have needed to be deaf not to notice his frustration and his ...own jealousy.
" It's not that, you're....you're wrong," I saw Wolf shake his head as I slightly tilted my head. " As a loyal soldier, I ought to respect and support him. He needs all of us. He's powerful...and I'm sure he's intelligent as well."
" Well, excuse me my reluctance, but I have seen so much better than him, he doesn't really seem quite clever in my eyes," you bastard! " You can tell I'm not very fond of him and I have no reason to. Just when I intended to show everyone that I would be the one to court you, he did so!" now anger boiled little by little in this man. Why did it seem no one told him I didn't know what I was doing that night, in the theatre? For the sake of my life, can people inform one another before assuming things that are wrong or that I have no intention to do! I felt so upset right now that I felt like bolting up to my feet and shouting at them I wasn't guilty of anything! Fortunately I kept my self-control, even if under my skin, my blood was as hot as lava.
" You're jealous?" Wolfram inquired, still annoyed. " I thought you had no reason to. He's not the handsomest, the cleverest, and he can be so wimpy..."
" But?" Charles wanted Wolf to speak his heart out.
"..What "but"? Right, I don't find him overly manly and regal, he does need much effort to pull off a king's demeanour...But yes, there's a "but". He's nice and open-minded, too much, maybe; and I think we can all trust him. Isn't it the most important?"
"Don't tell me you're reciprocating his courtship! He's...not even a good match for you! Forgive me my frivolity but he will never be as good-looking as you and...Can you imagine yourself prancing at his side while your beauty will totally eclipse him and his so-called great powers? It'd be such a waste, Wolfram! You told me one day looks really were important to you. He isn't even reaching your level in such a thing."
I was staring at some point before me without even being able to think clearly. Only his words were ringing inside my head like damned bells. The scene behind my back went on without me trying to steal peeks at them anymore.
" Why saying that, Charles? It does make you frivolous. Looks don't matter so much," Wolfram stated. " But yes, I hope to find someone that would fit my expectancies. Yes, it includes good looks and manliness if it has to be a man, don't forget that. It includes skills as well. But that will never be enough. I have- I have never taken interest in the king that way...I mean...We shared a lot in a such short time, but in all honesty, I had never considered Yuuri as a potential match."
" Until he officially started to court you?" There was a bite in that voice that sounded so ugly in my ears, now. I easily imagined him staring at Wolf with an irresistible intensity.
The silence that followed this question began to arouse my curiosity. I wonder why Wolfram was so long to answer. He took deep breaths, then said:
" I don't know..."
What? Wolf...do you consider that accidental courtship...? er, what?
" I don't understand," Charles said cynically.
" I don't know...I mean...I'm not even sure Yuuri knew what he was doing. He's not accustomed to our world perfectly. Not yet...Still, I wonder what was behind his motives when he stood up and applauded me louder than all the others. Was he intending to show me how much...how much he..."
" He loves you?" Charles cut again. I swore if he ever dared to interrupt Wolfram like this again, I would scold him!
At that comment, Wolfram made a small "mph", and the image of his smirk made way to my mind.
" Does he love me only?" I heard a soft footstep. " I don't know if you know what you're talking about. Yuuri is cute and may have already been with someone. But he's still too young and innocent to think about this kind of feelings. He wouldn't even know the meaning of that word if you ever mentioned it to him."
Great, Wolf. Just remind me of how self-conscious I could feel about such a topic! I growled lowly but remained quiet. It's the first time I heard Wolfram speak so openly. Anyone longing for his friendship would feel envious towards Charles to have such a privilege.
" He does," Charles said, trying to sound calm, " he does love you," who told you that, sir? " I saw the way he looks at you. The way he wants to speak with and you and spend some time with you. It doesn't require more eyes to see that. He may be clueless, yes, but you've stirred some feelings in him, Wolf. There's no doubt about that and I don't like that." He ended up in a firm edge.
" But..."
" And I can see, now, myself how your own appreciation of him is increasing with each minute spend by his side. I want to separate both of you. Wolf...when people take interest in you, and openly show it, you never notice it. Never! Or else, you just ignore the flatteries and the flirts that go your way. You blow everything away without caring about it. You remain cold with those people. But as for him, that demon king, you lost your countenance and you became all nervous when he applauded you. You turned around and forgot the flowers to give. You have never reacted like this before. To me, it only means one thing. He's immature and yet, he succeeded in troubling you more than anything else. More than war itself. And you're even calling him by his name. You're infatuated with him."
" Don't exaggerate," Wolfram tried to answer flatly but I sensed his uneasiness.
" Don't lie to yourself, Wolfram, my love. That kid may have created some sparks within you...but I have already a fire burning here."
When he said that, I felt the need to watch again. He was pointing his finger against Wolf's chest where Wolfram's heart must be throbbing so hard.
" And I will take advantage of that..." SLLLAAAAAAAAAP!
My jaw felt somewhere at my feet. My eyes nearly went out of my orbits.
He had just slapped Wolfram so hard that I wondered if he hadn't damaged his face. Wolfram remained still, eyes wide like plates, and his cheeks red like blood. Well, I totally understood his shock, fight back Wolf! Before I could even move out of my hiding spot to make that man arrested, Charles stated solemnly:
" Marry me, Wolfram."
What? YOU BIG JUNK! how dare he speak like that? He's just beaten Wolf and now he asks him to marry him! He's so absurd that it hurts my head. No, I won't let Wolfram get married to someone who will beat him!
To my growing shock, Wolfram looked back at Charles and asked, with a febrile voice:
" Y-you really want to..."
" Yes, I really want to take you as a spouse. I'll make you happy," who does he pulling a leg of? " I love you!"
"...Please, leave me some time."
" I've been waiting for so long. This waiting tortures me Wolfram. I won't even wait more, when that king is courting you."
" I told you we don't know what his motiv..."
" Let us a chance, Wolfram."
He suddenly pulled Wolfram into his arms and kissed his lips. To me, that act- that stupefied me in so many ways...seemed like a big error from his part. I just wanted to send him back to his lands. I averted my eyes, not feeling well as the kiss lingered. But all at once, I heard Wolfram say:
" Stop it! Not here! I don't want people to see us, even less my brothers! We're not properly engaged!"
How can Wolfram be so lenient with him when he was so distant with nicer people-who wouldn't slap him? When he was so cold with myself, too? For the first time, a strong feeling of injustice overcame me, stronger than when one of my former baseball trainers had dismissed me in all unfairness.
" Cancel this courtship, Wolfram," Charles said seriously " reject it. My lips are burning for yours and I desire to kiss them again and again, and this time, in all priorities. I want to lock my life with yours and never let a third part do us apart. Reject it, please, Wolf...I love you so much."
He breathed loudly. I turned around to look at them again.
Wolf was still in his arms, motionless but obviously moved by what that man had said. Charles had his mouth against Wolfram's forehead...and it kissed it so tenderly that it became embarrassing to watch them.
" Don't be so afraid," Wolfram whispered.
" Yes, I am afraid of losing you...I'm afraid of that demon king."
They abruptly pulled apart as a soldier arrived in the garden with a letter. He handed it to Charles von Lewisson who read it then nodded. He smiled warmly, yet hopefully at Wolfram before walking away to whatever duty that letter had assigned him to do.
Frozen to my spot, I hesitated between going away myself too or trying to speak heart-to-heart with Wolfram. Wolfram nonetheless was quicker than me as he climbed the few steps leading from the garden to the open hallway.
We encountered each other and his eyes grew larger at my sight.
" Yuuri!"
It felt weird to be so close when for the past few days, he had avoided me. His distance made me feel a void I wish to never touch again.
" Wolf..." I found myself dropping my gaze on the marble floor.
" Your majesty, aren't you studying with Lord Gunter?" he said sternly enough.
" I have a break."
" Mph. You should go on with your studies right now. It will save you from committing such careless errors or..."
I looked at him again, my eyes wide:
" Does it bother you so much that I-I did that at the theatre?"
He became red from the roots of his hair to the tip of his chin, and crossed his arms.
" Of course, not, your majesty! Anyone would feel flattered to be courted by a king!"
" So my title is all that interests you?" I could barely hid my disappointment. And my pain.
To my question, blood left Wolfram's face. He paled considerably.
" How can you think..."
He glanced over my shoulder than suddenly whirled around, leaving me without answer. When I turned around to see who was there, I caught sight of Conrad. He didn't look pleased.
xx
Here I was, in front the league of nobles who were all perking their ears up, each of those men and women seated in long gilded chairs. As for me, I was standing in front of them, uneasy with all those stares. I swallowed the lump that was blocked in my dry throat.
Gwendal sighed and repeated, for the third time, with patience:
" Do you still intend, you highness, to court Wolfram for a future betrothal?"
As for Wolfram, he was seated at my right, hands on lap, face lowered. Our feelings are perfect twins. Uneasiness, embarrassment, fear, shame maybe too...
" I..."
Why was the answer so difficult to come out? However, I already knew what I wanted! Wolfram is probably in love with Charles von Lewisson! They are engaged, though oddly. They've met each other so long ago, way before I was acquainted with this world, and they certainly didn't expect to have a disagreeable third part (me) to separate them.
" Well, I did take a decision...I..."
" Your majesty! My lords!" a soldier, bleeding profusely, his uniform stained with blood, burst the doors of my office " Majesty, there are intruders! Human people have just entered the castle, with wizards and even mazoku people! They've attacked us and they said they came to kill the king!"
My heart nearly came to a halt. Already, all the nobles, Gwendal and Gunter included, were on feet. Some of them surrounded me as a shield, and Gwendal took the lead, unsheathing his sword:
" Protect the king. Conrad," my god father was near me too, his sword in hand " you're in charge of him! Wolfram, too!"
" Let's go down now," Gunter ordered, his weapon in hand, too " we have to stop them! Conrad, Wolfram, find a safe place for the king! Wizards have become extremely powerful these last times."
" All right!" Conrad said, resting a hand on my back. " Your majesty, follow me!"
" Y-yes."
Wolfram tagged along while all the nobles, headed by Gwendal, went out of my office to fight. From my place, as Conrad was leading me in an unknown place of the castle, I could hear screams and shouts, insults and threats, vases breaking and then, explosions.
My fear and my despair grew so big that I started to take in irregular breaths. My legs became weak and I staggered against a wall.
" Yuuri!" Wolfram shouted, pulling me upwards " no time for collapsing, you have to hide!"
" But how can I? They're all fighting while I have to hide like a COWARD!I can't act like that, I have to help!"
" You don't know your enemies well enough, Yuuri," Wolfram protested, his green eyes bright with something I couldn't decipher " You still can't fight them! Wait more!"
" But..."
" No but...!"
" Your majesty, come here!" Conrad took my hand and started dragging me along a very dark corridor. But suddenly, doors were flung open and unwelcoming faces met our eyes. Those unknown people began grinning at us, their hands bloody and holding weapons.
" Here's the demon king: eyes black like ebony, hair dark like ravens wings! We have our piece of meat, guys!"
They were three...and all enemies. They marched in our direction.
" Hey, what do you want?" I asked with despair. But Conrad pushed me backwards and lifted his sword.
" Wolfram, bring the king to a safe place, right now! I'll defeat them by myself!" he said with what I detected as much anger. But, no matter Conrad's chivalrous intentions, I couldn't agree with my godfather:
" Conrad! No, you can't..." not alone!
" Yuuri, shut up and come here!"
Wolfram caught my arm and taking into a sprint, obliged me to imitate his pace. We ran through a lot of corridors that I had never seen before, thus increasing my feeling of fear. Conrad, Gunter, Gwendal, all the others...be safe.
" They showed me where it was!" Wolfram said, panting.
" What?"
" A special hiding place, Gwendal and Gunter showed me where it was! If only I could remember where, exactly!"
My lungs were not filled enough with air, and a pain started to point at my ribs.
" A special hidi..."
" Yes, for our next demon king or queen! It was created to ensure your safety. It's quite difficult to find it for foes as well as for your protectors."
The situation became urgent as other loud breaking noises reached our ears. It scared me so much. And it did Wolfram, too, for he accelerated significantly. It only gave me an indication of the danger we were all undergoing.
All of a sudden, the ground opened beneath our feet and we slid along a long tunnel. It was so frighteningly fast that I felt like passing out. A door opened again, and we bumped into a big, soft mattress. Huh? We were in a very small greenish room, where the mattress was the only object of "furniture". Apparently...the fall is over. I sighed with relief though my body still ached .
" That-that's the hiding place?" I asked, trying to look at the walls visible from my point of view.
" I think so," Wolf answered, his breath stroking my face.
That was then I noticed our current positions: we were both laying, Wolfram atop me. My heat increased almost disagreeably. The same realisation must have gone into Wolfram's mind as well. He stared at me, his deep green eyes so close to my black eyes, and his pink face getting redder. Even his lips were only a few inches away from mine. This strange sensation churned into my stomach.
We couldn't even sit up properly.
" Wolf..."
" Yes?" he said, uncertain. " Sorry, it's not the most comfortable place..."
" Why do you apologize? You did nothing wrong! Those enemies! I hate them!"
" Yeah...I hope everything is fine..."
" Don't worry, my brothers and the nobles are strong enough to defend themselves and the castle. They'll neutralize those damned in less than one hour, I bet that!"
Let's keep our fingers crossed. Suddenly; I saw a very discreet button on my left.
Push on.
" Hey, Wolfram, look at that!"
Before he could stop me, I was already pressing the button. We felt an eerie sensation and then, PAAF! Our mattress collided with something.
As I looked around, I realized the green ground had opened. We were now in a very small bedroom. Small, but still more comfortable than this tiny room we'd first landed in.
" That's the hiding place," Wolfram commented. We stood up slowly, feeling both afraid and relieved. At least, we wouldn't crush each other like in this tiny greenish "dungeon." We inspected our new room: a thin window, a one-place bed, a desk, a rubbish can, a chair, a few books, even food on a rolling-tray, and...a door. When Wolfram and I checked it up, we found out it was toilets behind.
" At least, we do have some comfort until we can get out," Wolfram said. He sighed.
" Yes...I believe you...they're going to neutralize everything quickly."
Wolfram nodded at my words then sat on the bed.
What we hadn't expected though was to wait all night long.
TBC