Kyou Kara Maou – Yuuri's Hot Date
Summary: Wolfram challenges Yuuri to have a date with a girl. Loosely part of my Epilogue story arc.
Disclaimer: I have no rights to Kyou Kara Maou of course.
Chapter 7 – Shall We Dance?
Manfred and Cecilie finally arrived at the end of breakfast on the day of Kieran's debutante ball. Much to Manfred's digust, Cecilie was delighted that Wolfram and Yuuri were 'taking others for a little test spin' before committing, and considered it long overdue. She called Manfred a flaming hypocrite – and worse – for suggesting there was anything wrong with her baby doing a little sexual exploration.
In short, it had been a long night. Fortunately Manfred had the sense to let her sail her own damned boat while he got some bunk time. Which she also held against him, but he didn't bloody well care. Self-infatuated narcissistic pervert…
"Hello, hello!" Cheri cried, beaming, sailing into the breakfast room and kissing all three of her sons plus their sidekicks and the children in turn, skipping Yuuri. She latched onto Wolfram last, with a starfish cling. "Oh, have you missed me, Wolfie? Oh, Hahaue's heard about your little troubles and we must talk before Kieran arrives! We would have been here sooner, but there was the strangest delay in our mail! Come along, dear. Manfred can deal with Yuuri."
Manfred relaxed a quick hug with Efram. He and Yuuri eyed each other dourly. "Wanna trade?" he asked Wolfram hopefully.
"I… really would like to visit with Hahaue before Kieran arrives," said Wolfram, awkwardly excusing himself to leave with her. "We'll talk later, I hope, Chichiue?" He hoped no such thing. We've never spoken of Kieran. Today would be a bad day to start, for both of us, I imagine…
Manfred inclined his head. "Of course, pretty vixen." He selected a Maou bun from the basket on the table as Wolfram departed. "So. Yuuri. You don't want any advice from me. Do you." It wasn't a question. Manfred bit the head off the Maou bun.
"Ah, not especially. No," agreed Yuuri.
"Mm, well-if-you-need-anything-be-sure-to-ask. So, hey – does anyone know where Aldrich is?"
"Down on the lawn exercising with the Tronds, I think," offered Conrad.
Manfred waved thanks, and left.
"That was… invigorating," Gwendal grumbled.
"Almost like being an orphan sometimes, isn't it?" Greta teased Efram. She'd caught Wolfram's – and Efram's – habit of goading people out of feeling sorry for themselves.
Efram shrugged. "I'm too old to be babysat. He's just worried about Wolfram." Though he did hope his father would remember him, today, too. This was his first formal ball.
-oOo-
"But Hahaue! I don't want anyone else!"
Cheri continued inspecting his wardrobe for the best uniform, ruffles, and jewelry for the evening, and setting out her picks of the crop. "Well, of course not, dear – it's just how the game is played. If you cling too tightly, men get claustrophobic. If you run away, they run after you. It's a dance, darling, a game of tag, all in good fun."
"I don't play games with people's feelings, Hahaue! Yuuri isn't a toy. And Chichiue isn't either." Wolfram winced, noting yet again, that somehow he'd never gotten between his parents and their vicious attacks, until after they got married. Since then… Great-uncle Friedrich was right - they really are a match made in hell. He sighed. "Never mind. That's none of my business."
Cheri shot him a knowing dark green look. "We can never judge our insides by other people's outsides, Wolfie. That goes for relationships as well as individuals. Come sit by Hahaue." She patted the bed, and held his hand as he sat next to her. "Wolfie… oh, sweet Wolfie… I know you're worried. But what the caterpillar calls the end of the world, turns out to be a butterfly. You're just growing up, darling, and that can be scary sometimes. But one hopes a marriage will last a very long time. It needs flexibility, darling, room to grow. You're being too inflexible. If you were this stiff taking a fall to dodge a blade, you'd break an arm! In a fight, you know you have to relax and roll with the punches. But it's the same with relationships, darling. If you're brittle, you shatter."
"I guess you're right."
"Of course I am, Wolfie. Now the best way to be strong, is to know that you'll be alright, no matter what happens. Now I want you to be brave darling, and hear me when I say this. To keep Yuuri, to have a happy life with Yuuri, you need to know, deep down in your heart, that you don't need him, you just choose him."
Wolfram shook his head vigorously. "No –"
"Yes, darling," said Cheri. Her voice and hands were velvet soft, but her green eyes flashed the strength of diamonds. "The best gift you can give either of you, is to show both of you tonight, that you're free to choose. Then, only then, can you really give yourself as a gift to your husband, and not a burden."
Wolfram's head started to droop lower, but it stopped halfway and snapped back up, green eyes flashing diabolically. "Like hell I am! I am not a burden to that wimp, Hahaue!"
Cheri pulled back, and smiled a proud mama's evil green demon smile. "Exactly, Wolfie. Ah, you'll make Manfred and me proud of our prettiest little fire demon tonight, won't you? And do Yuuri proud as well, of course. Make every girl at the ball envy him if he gets you! And some of the men as well, hm?"
Wolfram's face faltered a little, thinking of those girls.
Cheri pursed her lips. "And Wolfie, I'd consider it a personal favor to me if you outshine the sun when you dance with Kieran. I'm afraid the poor little thing's been so sheltered in Donaghie. Help her see herself as the grand prize of the ball, as she really is! And give her confidence that she deserves every bit of it. Make those other boys try a little harder. You can do that, can't you?"
She smiled an evil green-eyed demon smile of challenge. Wolfram accepted the challenge with a perfectly matched green-eyed evil demon smile. "Now, that's my baby," Cheri purred.
-oOo-
"So – good to see you, Manfred! I was afraid you weren't coming," said Aldrich, when he returned to his room. He'd taken a solo detour to switch name plates on Kieran's room and tell her to stay put today, now that her cousin Cecilie was back. "Sorry to make you wait for me here, but…"
Manfred smiled and met him for a hug and a long kiss. "I know, it's a zoo. But I wanted to check in on you. How are you doing?"
"Me? Fine. Hectic." Aldrich started moving again. "I haven't said anything about you to Wolfram or Kieran. I think Efram's fine. Wolfram so-so –"
Manfred snagged him back and made him sit on the bed, and held his face. "Aldrich, I asked how you're doing. I haven't seen you for a couple months." He gave Aldrich a searching look, and kissed him tenderly again.
"I'm… fine." Manfred kissed him again. "Getting finer?" Again. "Would you believe, not half bad right now?" They both laughed. Aldrich sighed. "It's getting easier. I keep… busy."
"I can see that. Taking care of all my children for me... I'd like to take the sons back, so you can concentrate on Kieran. Is yours here yet?"
"No, Chichi has Dietrich for the week. They'll come down for the ball tonight, and I'll steal an hour or so with him tomorrow, but… Then Chichi will take him back home, so I can deal with all this. I don't think Diet's up to this kind of zoo yet. He's still pretty skittish."
"A quiet life is best then," Manfred murmured agreement. He'd worked around to Aldrich's exercise-sweaty back, to give him a neckrub. "It'll be good for you, too, to have Chichi here tonight as emotional backup. I wish I could be more help. So… what's Wolfram's situation?"
"Nah, I've got it, Manfred. I'm sure you're freaked about Kieran."
"Yes, and I'd rather worry about Wolfram than myself, thanks. And I don't think you should deal with Wolfram and Yuuri. Hits too close to home. So. You need a bath before getting dressed for the day, anyway. How about you tell me about pretty vixen's troubles while we're in the tub, hm?"
The bath took longer that way, but both men felt a whole lot more relaxed to face the day.
-oOo-
Greta barricaded the door with her back.
"Greta…" said Wolfram in warning.
"Wimpue's taking me to the ball, Chichiue Wolfram. I promised him." If Wolfram saw her dress at this point, she'd be back in knickers in a flash, and probably grounded to her bedroom for the night as well.
Manfred put his hand on Wolfram's shoulder. "We have to go, son. Save me a dance, Greta?"
"Of course, Chichiue Manfred!"
"And me?" demanded Efram. He was disappointed Greta didn't peek out to see him. He'd amazed himself how aristocratic he looked, glittering in his new ballroom finery, groomed and jeweled to his father and brother's gorgeous standards. But Manfred vetoed Wolfram's evening makeup for Efram, no matter how subtle. "Promise to dance with me?"
"I'll think about it," she teased, grinning. "Chichiue Wolfram? I have to dance with Wimpue first. But I want to dance with the most handsome man at the ball second. Will you save that dance for me?"
She got him. Wolfram placed his hand on the door in blessing and smiled, almost blushed. "The second dance it is, pretty princess. I'll see you at the ball."
Manfred put his arms around his sons and led them to the ballroom. He was glad they'd done the grooming thing together. Sober one-on-ones waded into deep waters. The three of them playing dressup and trading flirting tips with Efram kept things in the right perspective. The real considerations of aristocratic marriages happened before and after, and none of the three of them were on auction tonight, really. So keep it light and fun. A dance is but a dance.
The first snag was receiving their dance cards. Wolfram's second dance had already been assigned to Kieran, though his first was empty. His next free slot was the tenth. Efram was already reserved from second to twelfth slots. Wolfram and Manfred hung onto him laughing as he tried to bolt. Manfred's card was empty – it had been almost 90 years since he'd last been able to dance at a ball, and he was married – so he offered to give Greta Wolfram and Efram's regrets. He tried to start a card for Greta, only to find she'd already been assigned one, though it was wide open. Grinning, they reserved their slots.
"Go on ahead," Wolfram told his father and brother. "Excuse me, I'd like to reserve a dance with the Maou?" He extended his card. A wide-eyed boy failed to take it, and excused himself to scurry off after someone more senior. Manfred grabbed Efram's arm and dragged him back to wait with Wolfram for moral support.
Günter arrived, wringing his hands, the matter apparently having been bumped to The Top by frightened protocol flunkies. "Ah, Lord Wolfram! A thousand apologies! But… it appears His Majesty's card was accidentally filled without reserving you a slot."
Wolfram twitched. "Could you. Fix that. Günter."
"Ah – !"
"Never mind, Günter," said Manfred. "Sorry to trouble you, we know you're busy. Come on, son. He may save his last dance for you." The last dance could never be reserved by signing up unilaterally – two people agreed to that verbally.
-oOo-
Eventually, the lights signalled the presentations, and Günter took the majutsu-enhanced announcement horn. They still hadn't seen Greta or Yuuri, which was a little worrisome. But his castle or no, he wasn't actually the host tonight – Aldrich was.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the heir, Lady Kieran von Donaghie, presented by Aldrich von Trondheim Lord Bielenfeld!"
Kieran stepped into the light at the top of the entry stairs, gracing Aldrich's right hand. She was stunning. Her dress was in the von Donaghie colors – grey and pink, or as the Donaghies called it, 'flesh and steel'. There were no flounces, no fiddly bits, no gimmicks, not even spaghetti straps – the visual interest lay in the cloth itself and the body it showcased. A fabric like quicksilver draped a flawless petite figure, showing every perfect curve, dripping from a top band of pink cresting the breasts. The arm length gloves were also pink-topped quicksilver. Diamonds and pink sapphires, set in silver, graced neck and ears. Her shining layered blond hair hung loose, a bed-tousled mane reaching just below her shoulders, cut shorter to flounce around in cowlicks and bangs around her face. Her green eyes gleamed huge.
She looked exactly like Wolfram. Writ female. Gorgeously so.
Efram stared at Manfred. The rest of the room stared back and forth between Kieran and Wolfram, who stood near the base of the entrance stairs. Kieran, who'd come in with head held high and a jaunty smile, stared back. She glanced sideways at Aldrich. The pause was getting remarkable. She started to look down at her dress to see if something horrifying was on it.
"Clap, dammit," Aldrich prompted Günter. Wolfram and Manfred were already clapping hard to get their corner of the room started. With Günter's added kickstart, eventually a huge round of applause was achieved. Kieran and Aldrich proceeded to the dance card station before taking the floor. There was significant buzz in the room. Aldrich assured Kieran they were simply stunned by her beauty. She shot him a true 'Emeraude von Bielenfeld' sideways green-eyed demon glare in return. I don't think so, Aldrich.
With the studied professionalism of a lifelong courtier, Wolfram ignored the stares headed their way, and clapped for each succeeding presentation. Since there were many, much of the room was conversing and simply clapping when everyone else did. It did get boring after a while.
Therefore it was the squeaky tone, and crack in Günter's voice, before the words registered, that made everyone look to the top of the stairs again. "And last, but certainly not least! Greta Shibuya, daughter of the Maou, presented by Yuuri Shibuya, the Maou!"
"Yuuri, you idiot!" cried Wolfram.
It wasn't especially loud. Not really.
However everyone else in the room happened to be speechless at that moment. So it rang through the room like a bell. For Yuuri had just announced to the room that he was offering his 15-year-old human daughter's hand in marriage to the assembled group, and that he, he personally, would be carrying out all negotiations for said marriage. Greta looked lovely. But she had brown skin and red-brown curly hair. This was a prospective marriage ball for only the highest Mazoku, the most gifted majutsu users, in Shin Makoku. Was the Maou demanding that one of them marry her?
Yuuri turned his head toward Wolfram, his hair rising slightly, a touch of blue fire playing in it. Wolfram buried his burning face in a gold satin gloved hand.
Manfred mounted the stairs, matching the blue fire in Yuuri's hair and raising it with bonus orange fire playing in his own – more in a sparks-flying sort of way, than a bishounen-halo sort of way. More quietly than Wolfram had done – and in a room significantly louder with consternation – he said, "Günter correct the damned announcement, Yuuri let go of her hand, Greta – Darling, you look gorgeous!" A surprised Yuuri, confronted by one of the few people in Shin Makoku who still intimidated him completely, lost his blue sparks and stepped back. Manfred grinned assurance at Greta, who grinned back, and he bowed and held her hand high.
Günter said, "Ah, correction! My apologies! Greta Shibuya, daughter of the Maou, presented by Lord Manfred von Bielenfeld!"
The applause was thunderous. Granted, most of that applause was for Manfred's sheer audacity, but Greta got applause, nonetheless. They proceeded to the dance card station and the dance floor.
Yuuri inquired with Günter if this meant he'd lost the pleasure of the first dance of the evening with his daughter. He was regretfully informed, with great hand-wringing, that yes, it did mean precisely that, among other things... And further, unless someone else was willing to give up a slot on Yuuri's dance card, he had exactly one dance free, to choose between Wolfram and Greta, but that he'd have to ask Wolfram or Greta for it directly.
Yuuri groaned.
Aldrich looked like he was consulting telepathically with his father Friedrich, who was better positioned to strangle their liege lord the Maou.
Wolfram mounted the stairs and took Günter's arm, "Günter, perhaps you could announce the Maou's entrance so that we might begin the ball? Yuuri, Sire, I apologize profusely, and stand ready to explain whatever you desire, at the foot of the stairs. Just get off the stairs. Quickly. Please." He strode back down to wait, arms crossed. Günter announced the Maou, to rather thin applause. He walked down to join Wolfram with vast reluctance.
Wolfram bowed and stayed bowed, "My apologies, Sire. My outburst was unseemly. I was – surprised. Please forgive me."
"Ah, get up, Wolfram," Yuuri said, and waited until Wolfram unbowed to continue. "Apology declined, on the grounds I owe you one. Apparently I have no idea what I just did, and you tried to warn me not to, and I did it anyway, so… Could you just… explain to me what just happened?"
Wolfram did so as the girls began to dance with their marriage brokers. "Sire, I… expected, when the time came to offer Greta's hand… Shinou, please not soon… well, in about five more years at the earliest… We might hold such a ball and invite human princes."
Yuuri was the one with his face in his glove now. And then he began to laugh. Finally he threw back his head and said, "Ah, no, I guess the apologies don't cancel out at all. I owe you one, far more, for being an idiot. As usual. I don't know why you should keep forgiving me for the same offense. Though I'm grateful that you do. Forgive me, again, my friend?"
Wolfram shot him an evil green-eyed demon smirk. "Forgiven. Idiot. It's who you are, after all."
Yuuri chuckled. "Oh! But I have another apology owed already, and I just made it into the room. But – I'm not sure who to give it to. Wolfram… I wanted to dance the first dance with Greta, and the last dance with you. I don't know what to do."
Wolfram's heart leapt. The offer is enough. He smiled shyly – a smile that had no professional polish on it whatsoever. A private bedroom smile of very very pleased. "Thank you, Yuuri. Offer Greta the last dance," he said. "It's her first ball. And I promised her the second dance, but I'm on Kieran's dance card for the second – there's no way to reshuffle Kieran's dance card. I am… happy beyond measure that you offered it to me. Thank you. But offer it to Greta."
Yuuri nodded his own private smile. "She might offer it back to you, you know."
Wolfram laughed. "Well, I leave you to her persuasive wiles, then. It doesn't matter who you choose then, Yuuri, for we'll all three have won, won't we? Dance with her. She'll grow up before we know it."
"True enough. Oh, say, Wolfram, they'd already finished half the line before Greta and I joined. Which one's this mystery girl Kieran von Donaghie? No one knew what she looked like?"
"Yuuri… Gwendal and Conrad and I knew all along what she looked like. She's our third cousin on our mother's side. Get your dance card quick, and line up with me on the side of the dance floor. She's my first dance."
He hurried. He joined Wolfram. He tried to catch a glimpse through the mass of dancers to pick out who was dancing with Aldrich, but apparently she was short, and Aldrich was tall, and they were on the far side. He did exchange wide smiles with Greta, though. Yuuri glanced at his card. Vedanya von Trondheim – he was fairly sure that was Franklin Lord Trondheim's daughter. And a blue-haired giantess, on the arm of a blue-haired giant, both with sporty sunglasses, were indeed headed his way. As Greta came off the dance floor, he whispered quickly, "Save the last dance for me?" She nodded emphatically and they grinned at each other.
He turned back, and stared, speechless. Everyone else in the vicinity was doing the same. Including Kieran von Donaghie, for it could be none other than her, as Wolfram stepped forward, bowed elegantly, and extended his hand.
Her hand rose dreamlike to meet his. Yes, she'd seen him, from a distance, over the past couple days. Yes, she'd known all her life they looked alike – her Spitzweg relatives had always remarked on it. But she was no longer a pudgy tweenager, he no longer a thin pre-adolescent. And they were two feet apart, staring straight into each other's faces. It was like staring into a mirror.
He crooked an evil green-eyed demon smile. Surprised and amused, she matched it. "Shall we dance, my lady?" he invited with graceful swoop of the arm.
"Yes, let's. My lord."
Vedanya von Trondheim cleared her throat. Yuuri realized his mouth was hanging open, and promptly shut it. He bowed, took her hand, and led her onto the dance floor. Dancing with a woman in sunglasses, who stood a foot taller than he, was only a slight distraction. Well, actually he ran into her time and again, because his gaze was riveted by the stunningly gorgeous blond matched pair. It's a girl Wolfram!
When the dance was over, Vedanya curtseyed her good-bye in poor humor. He'd barely spoken to her. Gulping, Yuuri firmly promised himself he'd do better. But every time Kieran swung by him on the dance floor, he landed on his dance partner's feet. One girl even suggested to him pointedly that he already had Donaghie as king, he didn't need to marry into it. He tried time and again to get interested in one of the other girls, but it just didn't work. Wolfram looked… glorious. He was having a good time, and the girls blossomed into their greatest beauty in his arms. And Kieran… he'd never experienced love at first sight like this before. Except… Wolfram, maybe, though he certainly wouldn't have called it that at the time.
-oOo-
As Wolfram led Kieran onto the dance floor, both with perfect grace, she continued to gaze at him. "It's been a long time, cousin," he said. "You've grown into a great beauty."
"As have you, cousin," she replied, as the music began. Wolfram gave her the sure lead of a superb dancer, and they floated in flawness synchrony across the floor. "The resemblance was remarkable when we were little. Now it's nothing short of stunning. Is that why everyone gaped instead of applauding, when I entered?"
"Maybe," said Wolfram. "More likely, they were simply struck speechless by your beauty. This ball was packed for the heir of Donaghie, not the greatest beauty of all Shin Makoku. For both in one person – the grand prize of the ball suddenly squared in value. May I ask if you're a fire user?" Not a fire healer – they only came in male.
"You're trying to change the subject," said Kieran with a smile.
"I am trying to help my kinswoman enjoy her vastly successful first ball. This is a night of glory for a beautiful woman, Kieran. Everyone here wants you, and you can take your pick. So enjoy it."
"Everyone, Wolfram?" she asked, eyebrow cocked.
He laughed. "Perhaps not everyone, but more than enough. Before the dance ends, might I give you a recommendation? There may be other men here as good, but none that I know of, and I know more than most. If you want a happy life, and a prosperous domain – marry Sylvain von Tarkenburg, Kieran."
"Not you, cousin?"
Wolfram smiled at her sadly. "In that case, my lady, you would be getting a second-hand broken heart mending project. Choose Sylvain, or better."
Kieran quirked a smile. "I shall take that under advisement. I very much enjoyed our dance. We will speak again, Wolfram."
He led her to the next man on her card, bowed, and proceeded to wait for the lady of dance slot number three.
-oOo-
Efram couldn't imagine what his name was doing on Kieran's packed dance card. Bad enough to be dancing with her at all, when the room was packed with men who'd give anything to marry her and couldn't, and he didn't want to. But she was Wolfram's twin! Other people might harbor doubts about a coincidence, but – empty basket, missing sister, promiscuous father, Wolfram inexplicably losing a gasket – no way in hell was this a coincidence! That girl's my long-lost sister! His palms were sweating as he waited for her to collect him on the sideline.
She approached. He bowed, gulped, held out his hand to take hers, and gazed at her.
Then he really looked. And cracked into a broad grin, throwing his arms wide.
"Tomas! Buddy! How ya doing, man?" He mock-punched her on the arm. There were a number of gasps and snickers nearby.
Kieran laughed and threw her arms wide as well. "Hey, look," she swaggered around, "can I do drag or what, huh? Huh?"
"Nah, I can still tell you're a guy. Next time, man, shave off the mustache."
She grabbed him in a headlock and dragged him out onto the dance floor, both howling in laughter, others laughing nervously in their wake.
Manfred had his hand over his mouth, watching this, not knowing why on earth… Friedrich leaned an elbow on his shoulder and said, "Six, only two were mine, but six of you I raised, and every day I cursed you, you see. 'May you grow up to –'"
"'- have have children Just Like You,'" Manfred completed the quote, both of them laughing.
"The least embarassing of you monsters was Miss Ricky the Social Troll over there, known throughout the Shin Makoku military as the 'duck-fucker of the baths', and if anyone ever asks me to explain that again, I shall have to scream. Do you know in Trondheim, men have to present their children in public and be judged on their quality? The humiliation is too horrifying to contemplate."
"Oh…" Manfred wiped laughter tears from his eyes. He whispered, "Oh, Shinou, Uncle. Please, tell me it's just my imagination, and not everyone in this room is staring at me, thinking that she's my daughter."
"Well, I don't know if it'll make you feel any better, but I believe opinion is divided between you, me, and Stoeffel. I find it flattering myself. Well, except for the Stoeffel bit. That's kind of insulting, really."
Manfred laughed. "Oh… does anyone think Dougal, though?"
"Yes. He does. And it's brought him the greatest joy of his life. And who would tell a dying man otherwise, who doesn't want to believe it? You done good, Manfred. And done no harm. She's a fine young lady, and no one would hold it against her if they knew. But nephew, on to more important matters – I'm concerned about your pitch black sense of humor. A young man like you should be chipper and gay. I don't know where you get that wicked humor from."
Manfred fell laughing into his shoulder. "And of those six – only two of them yours – you got stuck raising, which one actually turned out Just Like You?"
"Why, that would be you, Neffie. The horror, like looking in a mirror." They both hugged each other laughing deep dark demon laughter. "That one, though, your little green fire pixie, you know who he reminds me of, don't you? That would be your father, the most wicked little monster of them all…"
"You two are having way too much fun," said Aldrich, as he and his best friend Franklin Lord Trondheim joined them. "You know, Manfred, the intent here was to start marketing Efram as a desirable top-notch aristocrat."
"Yeah, he may need a few more rough corners… beaten off," said Manfred.
"We were discussing that very thing," offered Friedrich. "Manfred's prospects for accomplishing that, a child who isn't a complete embarrassment."
"'Just Like You'," said Aldrich, laughing.
"Revenge is sweet," agreed Friedrich.
"So, Manfred, is she?" asked Franklin.
"A she? Yeah, I think Efram may be wrong on that one."
"Oh, I dunno," opined Friedrich. "He could be in drag. Though it's Wolfram I've always suspected was the cross-dresser."
Franklin laughed. "O. K. And Greta? Manfred, what are you looking for in a husband for Greta?"
"Hm. Human male, prince or higher, I'm thinking a southern kingdom with great beaches and a large orange crop. Anybody who wants to dance with her can simply sign up, though."
"Yuuri screwed up," Franklin summarized.
"To paraphrase," Manfred agreed. "She does look happy, though – great dress, and she's getting to dance. No harm done. Or – is anybody seriously thinking we're trying to marry her off to a Mazoku aristocrat?"
Franklin grinned. "A human? To an aristocrat? Not with a von Bielenfeld acting as marriage broker."
"Well, then, I was the perfect choice. Somehow. Accidentally," said Manfred. "Funny how these accidents pile up around Yuuri."
"Hey, Manfred, how's your dance card?" asked Aldrich.
"Blank as the virgin snow. Why, you want to dance with me?"
"Yes, please."
-oOo-
Ooh, last chapter I forgot to mention - there's a new Christmas Yuuram picture from bananam00n on my homepage link. I'm working on coloring an illustration for Epilogue from one of her sketches (the Fully Justified Kick.) Well, actually I'm writing now, but I'll get back to it soon.
Please review?