The King's Consort.
Chapter two.
Conrad loves to watch his roses. They bloom quite nicely in his mother's garden. Conrad watched with a smile on his lips. His mother really knows how to take care of her garden well. Why… one of the flower that is name after him is intertwined with one of Yuri's roses.
"You really looked like a man in love Captain. Never have I come across a man who was so in love like you do." teased Yozak.
Conrad half turn and looked at Yozak, who has the melancholy look on his face. But his eyes said other wise and a small smile is tugging on his lips.
"I'm sure there are thousands out there, Yozak. And it is not a crime to be in love after all." Then he asked "Why are you here? I thought you went out scouting?"
Yozak shrugged. "Something else came up. And I rather take up spying then scouting. Scouting can be boring." The he cheekily said "At least with spying, I can try my new dress."
Conrad rolls his eyes heavenwards. Honestly… does he have to mention about his obsession in every communication they had?
"The King can't get his eyes off you, can he?"
Conrad blinked. "I'm sorry?"
Yozak tilt his head to the side and look up towards The King's study.
"I thought by now all the staring will cease a bit but apparently… watching you from afar seem to be popular with the King. His eyes never left you. Even when important people are talking to him right now."
Conrad turned and looked up at the window of Yuri's study. True to Yozak's word, Yuri was watching them from his window. Even from where he stands, he knows that a smile adored on Yuri's face. A sense of peace washed over the King every time he looked at his love ones. He has this feeling that watching him was like a distraction to the amount of paperwork. He hopes not. He really didn't want to have his brother or Gunter come after him.
"What the King does is in his own will and conscious. Let him do whatever he wants." said Conrad.
Yozak was silent. His eyes critically observing his captain. Then with a smug smile on his face, he said. "You are enjoying the attention he gave you. A little too much, if I may say so myself."
"That I do not deny. I shouldn't be saying this but I feel giddy like a school girl every time his attention is focus to me. It makes me feel… alive somehow."
"Giddy like a…? Is that an Earth phrase?"
Conrad cheek went red. Sometimes he forgot whom he was talking too. "Sorry. I got carried away."
Yozak just shrugged. "Well. Come, Captain. I dare say you have your own paperwork waiting for you. We best get you there before anything happens. You have distracted the King long enough."
"Indeed I have" said Conrad as he, get up and walk towards his study. Yozak in tow.
Yuri can't seem to distract himself away from some certain brunette that stole his heart and was currently enchanting him by sitting so serenely by in the garden. Yuri thank the gods time and time again for giving him this lovely view as well as the beautiful scenery the garden and his kingdom provided.
It is very important that he pay attention to the meeting at hand with his friend, and ruler of Calvacade, King Heatcrife. But he finds it damn hard when a certain brunette began to spend time in the garden. And Yuri often find himself walking towards the window and/or watching out the window.
A chuckle from directly behind him snapped him from his thoughts. "It's hard to do anything else when you are so in love."
Yuri smiled. But he didn't turn around and he answered King Heatrcrife while still watching Conrad talking with Yozak. "I agree. And the person responsible did not make it easy. Day or night, I feel like he is teasing me. He came near… so seductively. Yet when I want to reach for him, he is out of reach. This bantering with him is testing me."
King Heatcrife was amused, and it is shown in his voice. "Oh? Really King Yuri. A man will never be satisfied with what he has until he has them exactly where he wanted."
Yuri turn away from the window and seat at his chair after Conrad and Yozak have went inside the castle. "But Heatcrife, I already has everything I could ever wanted. And I am satisfied with I have now. I have a daughter and the man I love beside me. What more could I ask for?"
"With Lord Weller as your concubine?"
Yuri was about to dip his quill in the ink pot and he froze when he heard what King Heatcrife said. "Concubine?... but Heatcrife…. Where did you hear that? I haven't even taken a concubine?!"
"There are rumors flying around especially here in Shin Makoku that you've taken Lord Weller as your concubine. And that you have gone pass second base. Even Antoine of Francshire heard it and wish to know more about it."
Yuri groaned as he massages his forehead. Goodness, how did they come to this? How come the rumors about Conrad being his concubine didn't reach him? Were the other nobles aware of this or are they not aware of it?
"I'm afraid, there's been an understanding. I am courting him, yes. But I do not take Conrad as my concubine. I want him as my equal. As my consort if you will."
King Heatcrife tilts his head aside and his brows bend in confusion. "You haven't taken him to your bed?"
Yuri blushed. Was he supposed to answer such questions regarding his private matters? "I have make love to him. But like I said, I won't have him as my mistress. Even though the mistresses and concubines are common here, where I was raised, it is a taboo thing. And people looked down or mistresses as they looked down on a prostitutes."
"Are concubines standard's that bad? No wonder you paled when Lord Weller is looked upon such as that. Then what do you intend to have him as? And why haven't you done it already?"
Yuri smiled and he opened his drawers and took out a red velvet box in shape of a heart. "What is that, King Yuri?" asked King Heatcrife as he eyed the box with interest. Yuri opened the box and show King Heatcrife the ring inside.
"It is a custom where I was raised that a man will proposed to the one he loves with a ring," explained Yuri. "Much like how we nobles slap the one on the left cheek as a proposal. But to me, to present him with this ring is far more appropriate. I will still slap him on the left cheek in front of the audience, of course. But I would like to purpose in advance and in private. And to tell you the truth… this method is damn too nerve racking than slapping him on the cheek."
"Why is that?"
"Because there's a possibility he might say no. If I propose in advance and he say no, I don't have to slap him on the cheek in front of the audience. But if I slap him on the cheek first and he says no. That will bring us both shames. And I don't want that to happen. And the time between the proposing and his reply… my god! I'm certain it's going to be the most dreadful moment of my life."
"My lord! Yuri, you're rambling."
Yuri blinked stupidly for being interrupted before he laughs. "That I have," said Yuuri with a big grin on his face. "But what are you expecting from a man in love?"
"Not rambling, I assure you," said King Heatcrife, laughing, "Perhaps acting like a sentimental fool every now and then."
Yuri chuckled. "In your dreams!" then Yuri turned serious. "How far has it gone? This… speculation about Conrad being my concubine?"
"Nearly everyone knows…"
Yuri close his eyes. "Damn!" cursed Yuuri. "If everyone knows, that means Conrad might be aware of it as well."
"You are not pleased at all with this, are you?" asked King Heatcrife.
"Course I am not," said Yuri, with a hard edge in his voice. "I want him as my husband, not a concubine."
"Then purpose to him, and be done with It." said Heatcrife. "If you wait any longer, other things are bound to arise."
"I know…" said Yuri, letting his head fall on his desk with a loud thud. "Believe me, I know."
Hi everyone!
Well, here's the second chapter. I hope its okay as a sequel. I have plans for this sequel… and it will get there eventually. I'm not gonna rush doing this fics. I'm taking it slow. But it is not being abandoned whatsoever.
Trouble is brewing now… Yuri, HURRY UP AND PURPOSE ALREADY!!!
oh... and before I forgot, this particular chapter is unbetaed.
Read n Review.
Elvina P.