A/N: Guest: Yes I've considered posting to AO3 but in the end I decided not to. Maybe I'll change my mind someday. Your reviews made me very happy, thank you.

Please enjoy chapter two!!!

On the day of his departure, after getting dressed, washing his face, and brushing his teeth, he pulled his hair into a messy ponytail and ran outside with his bags, skipping breakfast.

As he approached his horse Luna, he abruptly stopped to avoid hitting Max, the stable boy.

"Your horse awaits you, sir."

"Thank you, Max."

Luna was patted and kissed as he climbed atop her. He is reminded of the moon and night sky with her white coat, blonde mane and tail, and black eyes. Having been his horse for quite some time, he's very fond of her and loves her very much.

A last look at his castle before leaving filled his eyes with trepidation. It will be the first time he has seen his brothers since moving here. He knows he has a long journey ahead of him and should get moving, but he's nervous.

He didn't lie when he said he was busy. However, he feared being a burden to his brothers, which is why he never visited or allowed them to visit him. Instead, every spare moment he had, he spent being lazy.

Luna started walking, capturing his attention. Laughing, he wondered if she could read his mind.

"Alright, let's go."

It is high in the sky, but he feels comfortable rather than scorched by the sun. Nature is truly magnificent. The longer he travels, the more at peace he feels. He would nap if he wasn't riding Luna.

Eventually, he stops to rest. Providing Luna with water, apples, and watching her eat grass while he sits on a log eating chocolate.

His eyes began to droop. Perhaps he could sleep for a short while, now that he's safely on the ground.

"Bad omen! Bad omen! Bad omen!"

Startled, he nearly gave himself whiplash in his haste to stand up. Taking a quick look from one side to the other before gazing at the sky, three beautiful blue birds flew past. As soon as he saw them, he felt a sense of relief wash over him.

"Oh, my gosh!" His heart was racing as he placed his hand on his chest. "You scared me."

"Wolfie."

"Aaaaah!"

Doubled over, with his hands on his knees, he looked up once his heart rate had returned to normal. "Mother! Why are you here?" He noticed her black and gold carriage, which is truly magnificent and fit for an ex-queen.

She quickly wrapped her arms around him and held on briefly. "I am on my way to Covenant Castle, just like you." She studied him closely, holding him at arm's length. "Look at you! I bet all the men are lusting after you."

Straightening his body, he moved out of her reach. "Mother, please. Do you have to say this every time you see me?" Sighing, he removed his ponytail and ran his fingers through his hair, styling it into a messy bun.

The way she frowned at him made him nervous. "It's true, Wolfie. If only you would join me on my adventures in the pursuit of free love. We would be the envy of all the maidens and handsome men."

Huffing, she glared at him. "Instead, you choose to break your mother's heart by acting like your brothers and putting your job above all else."

She stomped her foot before taking a deep breath, letting it out slowly, moving her hair off her shoulders. "Tell me, do you intend to stay a bachelor forever like your siblings?"

"I-"

"What a miserable way to live!" She screamed, reaching out her hands towards him, but he backed away before she could touch him, trembling in fear.

Her face scrunched up in disgust, shaking her head at him. He turns away from her as his eyes water. "Our lives may be longer than humans', but we won't live forever," she continues. "So why waste it working?"

"I-"

"Enough!"

The fury in her eyes is palpable. He swallowed past the lump in his throat and walked backwards until his back hit a tree, sliding down to the ground and wrapping his arms around his knees. Hiding his face.

"Don't be a prude. You can still have fun even if you don't want to get married. For example, I have no shortage of lovers. Sex before marriage could ruin one's reputation, but that is only the case if one is caught. Not that I would care even if I got caught." She chirped. "Have I told you about Fanfan?"

"No." He was surprised she allowed him to answer and thrown off by the random question. He tightened his arms around himself, keeping his face hidden.

"Fanbarl Van Buren is a shimaron merchant. I met him five months ago at one of the parties I host on my boat. Everyone is welcome, of course. I don't discriminate. Anyway, he's a wonderful lover. Very adventurous. In fact, he's the first man I've had a threesome with. It was on my to-do list, so you can imagine how thrilled I was to finally cross it-"

"Please stop." He winced looking up at her. "Do you have a point?"

She smirked. "Fanfan is getting married."

His eyebrows shot up. "To you?"

"Absolutely not! As I already told you, I have no plans to remarry." She huffed, waving her hand in a circular motion. "He fell in love with a commoner and promised never to have sex with anyone else again."

She leaned in unexpectedly, causing his heart rate to spike. A serious expression crossed her face as she raised her index finger. "Love transformed this man. His sexual preferences changed from having sex with anyone to being monogamous. I know falling in love isn't for everyone, but at least allow yourself to feel the touch of another. You won't regret it. Trust your mother."

His back was slightly bent, his hands raised in a placating manner. "Ah…. Mother?"

She stared at him. "Yes?" She asked, her breath hitting his cheek.

He gulped, swaying slightly. "We should leave. There are another four hours before we reach the capital."

A big sigh escaped her lips as she hung her head. "If only I had daughters."

Fearing the journey would never end, he could have cried as they finally reached the capital.

He heard his mother telling her men to hurry to the castle. However, he wanted to pause and take it all in for a moment.

From his vantage point, everything appeared the same. As if time had frozen.

The decision to take his father's last name and lead Bielefeld was not a mistake, but he would be lying if he said it didn't feel like coming home.

His heart was filled with excitement, happiness, nervousness, and fear, but he didn't waste another moment and followed his mother.

Arriving at the castle, he immediately spotted his brothers conversing with their mother in the courtyard.

He couldn't contain himself. He handed Luna off to a nearby soldier and ran towards them.

His brothers spotted him and met him halfway, leaving their mother behind and wrapping their arms around him.

They filled him with peace and overwhelming feelings of love while also struggling not to bawl his eyes out.

He barely noticed when they sank to the ground, still holding on to each other.

"You boys weren't acting like this with me. Yet here you are, smothering each other in love. Am I not your mother?"

All three of them ignored her as he lifted his head and saw silent tears running down his brothers' faces.

This was the first time he had seen them cry, and it broke his heart. Gently, he began to wipe them away.

In response, his brothers stopped him and removed his hands, then wiped his tears from his face and then kissed him on the cheek.

Conrart smiled. "We missed you so much, baby brother."

"You do not know how much," Gwendal added. "Now that you're here, I can't imagine letting you go."

"I missed you as well. It's been so long, I-"

"You can't ignore me! Hey! Don't ignore me!" Mother cut him off, stomping her foot. She's been doing that a lot today. While his brothers remained calm, he jumped slightly.

Conrart winked at him, and his heart filled with warmth. He smiled happily. "It's been a long time since we've seen Wolfram, mother."

And just like that, his smile vanished. He felt awful hearing those words. "I'm so sorry."

Gwendal gently touched his face. "Don't apologize." He glanced over his shoulder at her. "Leave him alone, mother."

She laughed maniacally, scaring him to death. "Well, I see where your loyalties lie, Gwendal. Both of you need to stop treating him like a child. He is an adult."

Conrart sighed. "That may be true, but he will always be our baby brother."

"Always." Gwendal agreed.

"You both love your brother, but if you hold on too tightly, he will rebel." She sings-songed.

"It won't happen."

"Oh Gwendal you're so naïve. I almost feel sorry for you."

"Excuse me. My apologies for interrupting, but it is a pleasure to finally meet you, Lord Von Bielefeld."

The most handsome man he had ever seen appeared before him. His heart beat faster, his body felt warm, sweat was dripping from his face, and he felt dizzy. He knew instantly that this man was the king.

A smile spread across the king's face as he extended a hand towards him.

Despite his desire to grasp the king's hand, he could not do so.

Like a daydream, the wind blew through their hair as imaginary sparkles shone brightly in their eyes. He was sure he was imagining things.

"It's okay," Conrart said encouragingly.

"Oh, for Shinou's sake." His mother grabbed his hand tightly before letting go. "Stop acting like a baby."

"Mother!" Gwendal barked, glaring at her.

"You can't protect him forever."

While holding back tears, he closed his eyes briefly before opening them again to stare at the ground. He desperately wanted to disappear and hide in Bielefeld castle.

He was afraid he would lose the fight at any moment and tears would start streaming down his cheeks when suddenly, a hand landed on his head.

He looked up, expecting one of his brothers as warm feelings filled his heart. Instead he came face-to-face with his Majesty's smiling face leaning towards him.

He barely felt his mouth gap open in shock as he stared at the king with a mixture of emotions. Hopefully, none of them are visible.

"I'm glad I got to meet you, Wolf."

A/N: Please review.