Here's the Second chapter! Hope you enjoy! :)
Edited: 5/17/16
It was another beautiful day in the land of Shin Makoku. Still, it was very early in the morning. So early that it was still pitch black outside, and the sun had yet to rise for the day. However, that still didn't stop a blond little boy from being wide awake. At Blood Pledge Castle the young Prince was looking out the window with a huge smile on his face, and with excited green eyes. The young prince, Wolfram von Bielefeld, was now 38 years old. Of course, to any human, he appeared to be about eight. He was extremely excited for today because his father, King Shinou, promised him that he would show him the whole kingdom! He was old enough now. And it was tradition for the future rulers to be shown everything by their parent, who were also done the same by their parent previously. And this was because he is going to be King of Shin Makoku one day, and it will be necessary for him to know everything about the kingdom that will one day be his.
He couldn't wait. At all. He was literally jumping in his seat as he looked out the window and into the kingdom. He had literally waited years for this day. Of course, he has seen parts of the kingdom before, but now he gets to see everything. His parents would always tell him how dangerous it was to go too far away from home, especially without soldiers there to protect them. So Wolfram had spent most of his life cooped up inside the castle. Because he was too young, or so his parents would tell him. It obviously annoyed him a great deal, and he would find any way possible to sneak out. Half of the time it worked, the other half...not so much. And his parents have taken him into the marketplace a few times over the years, but that was it.
But today he gets to see everything. At least, Wolfram thought with an annoyed expression on his face, if his dad decided to ever wake up. Wolfram could care less if the sun wasn't even up yet. His dad promised.
He was constantly looking over his shoulder to his father's bedroom door. Oh, come on! Thought Wolfram. Is he going to sleep all day? He didn't care at all that the sun hasn't even risen yet. They were missing out on a very good day!
"Now, Wolfram. I know what you are thinking, but let your parents sleep," said one of the servants, Doria.
Wolfram glared at her and said angrily, "It is none of your concern what I am thinking! I can do as I please! I'm the prince, you're a servant, you have no place telling me what to do!" He scoffs at her.
Who is she to tell me what to do? Thought Wolfram. I do as I please!
Doria gave him a hard, cold look and continued with her duties. She didn't say anything, she didn't have to. Wolfram knew exactly what she was thinking. It was the same thing everyone thinks. Wolfram was well aware of what everyone in the castle referred to him as, but frankly- he did not care. They all called him the Little Prince Brat. He narrows his eyes as he glares at nothing.
I don't care what they think! Their opinion means nothing to me, thought Wolfram with a huff.
And just to prove how little he cared, he ran straight into his parents bed chambers. Just to prove a point of how little he cared about what she had to say to him. Like she had control over what he did. When he was royalty. He was the prince. And the boss of her, not the other way around.
"Dad!" Wolfram said as he tried to shake him awake. He was ignored. "Dad?" Wolfram said again with narrowed eyes.
Nothing. Shinou slept on.
"Dear, your sons awake," Queen Celi, his mother, said from the other side of the bed.
"Dad. Dad. Dad. Dad. Dad. Dad. Dad..." Wolfram's voice became a mantra.
Shinou groans tiredly and grumbles back to his wife, "No, he's not. Before sunrise he's your son."
"Oh, dad! Come on!" Wolfram whined, completely ignoring his parents comments about him. His dad was still refusing to get up. Wolfram's eyes narrowed, but then they light up again as a thought comes to him. He then proceeded to climb up onto his parents bed, and started jumping up and down. Shinou's blue eyes finally opened to look at him. A tired sigh making it's way out of his mouth as he looks up at him. Wolfram stopped jumping.
"You promised!" he stated as he crossed his arms over his chest and glared at his father.
Shinou groaned and banged the back of his head onto his pillow, "Alright! I'm up."
Wolfram's face broke into a huge smile, "Yes!" He shouted victoriously. Then he ran out of his parents bed chambers, too excited to wait for his father.
Shinou yawned loudly, and quickly got dressed in something that was presentable for him to go out into his kingdom with, and then quickly went to meet his son before he got into any trouble. Queen Celi followed her husband, a content and happy smile on her face as she watched him. Though she was worried about her son going off into the kingdom, she also knew it was necessary if he was to be king one day. So, she went with them to see them off.
Once the King and Queen walked out of the doors to the front of the castle, they saw Wolfram already there. He was literally bursting in excitement. Celi smiled down at her son. He was growing up way too fast for her liking, but she knew she couldn't stop it anymore than he could. Even if it made her want to cry. Especially in moments like this.
Celi walked towards her son and hugged him tightly, "Now Wolfram, you stay close to your father at all times, and no running of, alright?" Celi warned him, calmly. It was no secret that Wolfram will usually go and find bad situations to get caught up in. Even if it was on accident. His curiosity is always known to cause trouble. And she didn't think she could take anymore of that gut retching fear. The kind only child can give their parents. Especially a mother.
"Yeah, yeah. I know," Wolfram answered, trying to pull away from her. She always hugged him way too tightly to her chest. Really! He could suffocate in there. He loved his mother, really. But she worried way too much. Wolfram could take care of himself. He was old enough to see the whole kingdom now, wasn't he?
Celi smiles warmly at her son and let him go, then pushed him lightly towards his father. Shinou started walking toward the stable, where he would get his horse. Wolfram ran to catch up with him.
Finally!
WolfYuu WolfYuu WolfYuu
As of now, Wolfram and his father were at the highest point of the kingdom. Were they could see just about everything. They were right on top of the wall around their village near the castle. This is where soldiers came to make sure there was no threats to the castle or the village being taken. Usually, the threat would come from humans, since there is no greater war going on then the one between mazoku and humans. However, there are still times when different territories will fight against each other. Nevertheless, when it comes to humans, mazoku will always stick together.
Shin Makoku is a really amazing place, thought Wolfram as he looked out towards the villages center. A content smile was on his face. Everyone who lives here think of it as a paradise, Wolfram thoughts continued as he looked out into the distance. And I agree. It's beautiful here, I don't think anything could ever compare to it.
"Now, Wolfram. Shin Makoku is split into eleven different sections, or territories. The center of Shin Makoku, right here, is under the direct rule of Shin Makoku's King. While the other ten sections, are each ruled over by the ten aristocrats. Does that make sense?" Shinou tried to explain to his son.
Wolfram frowned in confusion as he asked, "But...I thought...if you're king, then wouldn't you rule over all of Shin Makoku?"
Shinou nods, "In a way...I do. I just don't have direct control over them. Decisions I make also have to be approved by the other aristocrats before my decisions can follow through. It's better this way, because then a king wouldn't have complete control over everything, that would be a dictatorship. Also, if each territory didn't have an aristocrat in charge of all the little decisions, then I would have to go back and forth between all of the territories all the time- and nothing would ever get done. This set up makes it simpler and much more efficient."
"Well, I suppose that does makes sense," responded Wolfram, still slightly confused by the whole thing.
I thought being King meant...well, whatever you say goes, thought Wolfram. Does it not?
Shinou chuckles, "Don't worry, when you're older it will make more sense. Anyways, everything you see here, the heart of Shin Makoku, everything the light touches from this point, is our territory. Once my time has come, you will then take my place, as Shin Makoku's King."
Wolfram walks along the top of the wall and looks down at the village-and beyond that. Surprise and excitement in his features. Just thinking that all of this is going to be his...
"And this will all be mine?" Wolfram asks as he glances up at his father.
"Everything," Shinou responds, a small smile on his own face as he watches him.
Wolfram runs to the other side of the wall to look. Everything the light touches..., thought Wolfram. He frowns as he spots a place his father had not mentioned. It was was a place not touched by light at all. What did that mean? Wolfram's as narrowed in thought, then he glanced up towards his father.
"What about that place? The dark and shadowy one?" Wolfram asked as he pointed over to it.
Shinou walks over to him. He slowly frowns as he sees what Wolfram is referring to. Wolfram watches as seriousness takes over his father's expression and he tells him sternly, "That's beyond our borders, Wolfram. Don't ever go there."
"But...it's still a part of Shin Makoku, isn't it?" Wolfram asked, curiously.
"Yes, but that territory isn't a part of mine or the aristocrats, it isn't safe there. It isn't just you, no one is allowed to go there. It's forbidden," Shinou answered, giving him a pointed look.
Wolfram blinked up at him and said, "...Alright. But I still thought a King could do whatever he wanted."
Shinou just chuckled at him, the seriousness leaving his expression, and becoming a much more relaxed one. "Oh, Wolfram. There's more to being King than...getting your way all the time," Shinuo answered, as he started to walk away from him.
Wolfram's eyes brighten considerably as he quickly follows him. "Really? There's more?" He asks in surprise.
Shinou laughs, shaking his head in amusement, before sighing in pleasant disbelief at his son, "Wolfram..."
That's the last thing he said before they walked back down the wall to go out into the village. Smiles on both of their faces. All the while, Wolfram was secretly thinking back to that place the light didn't touch. A place that was forbidden...
Wolfram loved a good challenge.
WolfYuu WolfYuu WolfYuu
Shinou showed Wolfram all around the village. He showed him different shops- things Wolfram would personally never wear or use, and would be disgusted if even offered- and he met a lot of different people, also. Commoners, Wolfram thought in distaste. He supposed they weren't so bad, but still completely different then the people he grew up with. Nevertheless, he would speak to them politely, just as he was taught to. Though, it would start to get annoying when people would go on and on about how oh-so-cute their little prince was. He wanted to snap at them, or maybe, even, burn their hair off, or something. Then see if they still thought he was oh-so-cute. He smirked at the thought. But, of course, he couldn't do any of that. His parents may be very easy on him, but if he was ever intentionally rude or mean to someone...
Wolfram could almost guarantee he would never see the light of day again. So he obviously couldn't do anything when his parents were around.
They finally made it out of the village, the castle not too far from them. What a relief, thought Wolfram. No need to deal with those annoying people anymore.
Wolfram looked ahead of his place on the horse, right in front of his father, to see Gunter waiting for them. Perfect, Wolfram thought in annoyance. Another annoying person.
"Ah, Your Majesty," Gunter exclaimed, excitedly.
Shinou chuckles, "Good morning, Gunter."
"And to you to, Your Majesty," he says as his eyes brighten. Then he spots Wolfram next to his king. "Oh! And you, too, Little Pri- I mean Prince Wolfram."
Wolfram just rolls his eyes at him, "Yeah, yeah."
"Anyways, Your Majesty, I'm checking in with the morning report," Gunter says, fixing his eyes back on his king.
"Ok, let's hear it," Shinuo responds, used to this part of his morning routine.
"Well, the word is, is that Shou Cimarron is having a disagreement with..." Gunter was saying. At that point, Wolfram started to tune him out completely. Why does he even bother, thought Wolfram. It's not like anyone really cares what he's saying. He does the same thing when he's teaching me. It's so annoying! Worst. Teacher. Ever.
Wolfram looked up and saw a tall man with long, black hair coming towards them. Wolfram remembers seeing him in the castle quite a bit. Gwendal, Wolfram remembers. I think he's the head of the Voltaire House... And also one of the few people Wolfram actually doesn't mind. Maybe even likes.
"Your Majesty!" Gwendal calls, walking his way towards him, voice urgent.
"Gwendal," Shinou replied. "Is something the matter?"
"Humans, Sire!" He answers, "With strong houjutsu, in Shin Makoku!"
Shinou's eyes widened and then he takes Wolfram and sets him on the ground next to him. He states in his kingly voice, as Wolfram likes to call it, "Gunter! Take Wolfram home!" He commands.
"Dad! Come on! Let me go with you!" Wolfram pleaded.
"No, Wolfram!" Shinou said sternly and takes off quickly on his horse.
Wolfram scoffs, and crossed his arms across his chest as he watches his father ride away. He then turned around, a glare permanently etched onto his face, and started walking back to the castle. Like always.
"I never get to go anywhere." Wolfram complains, annoyed.
"Oh, Young Prince, soon you will be king, and then you can deal with those mongrels whenever you like," Gunter tells him as he follows him back to the castle.
WolfYuu WolfYuu WolfYuu
Afterwards, a bored Wolfram decided to go find his Uncle Adalbert. I can't wait to tell him about everything Father showed me today! Thought Wolfram, excitedly. He looked up to his Uncle a lot and spent a lot of time in his company. And besides that, he was just dying to tell someone all of the things he's learned. About what is one day going to be his.
He grinned when he found who he was looking for. And just as Wolfram predicted, Adelbert was in his own personal space on the outskirts of the castle. He goes there when he wants to be alone, Adalbert always tells him.
Wolfram frequently ignores him.
Adalbert is sitting in the sun, in peace, head back, eyes closed. Pretty much ignoring the world around him. That is, until Wolfram disturbs him, uncaringly. Like he has done many, many times before. He watches as Adelbert tenses when he hears a voice coming up behind him, and instantly knows who it is before they even speak. Because only one person ever interrupts his 'alone time'.
"Hey, Uncle Adalbert!" Wolfram greeted, happily. "Guess what?"
"I absolutely loathe guessing games," Adalbert says grumpily, keeping his eyes closed.
"My father showed me the whole kingdom! And I'm going to rule it all!" He said smiling smugly, while looking down into the kingdom.
"Oh, wonderful," Adalbert bites out.
Wolfram didn't notice as he runs up to him, tugging on his arm. He asks him curiously, "So what will that make you? When I'm king I mean," he clarifies as he gets up onto the chair, that currently had Adalbert's legs on it, and sits on them.
"A monkey's uncle," he spoke evenly and seriously, with a slight glare to the boy currently sitting on his lap.
Wolfram just laughs, "You're so weird!"
Adalbert smirks down at him, "Oh, really? You have no idea."
He takes him and sets him down next to the chair and stands up. Then he starts walking over to the edge to looks out to the kingdom, "So your father showed you the whole kingdom, huh?"
Wolfram walked over to stand next to him, "Yup! Everything."
"What about that place over there? He didn't show you passed the border that way, now did he?" Adalbert questioned him, pointing over to the 'dark, shadowy place' Wolfram noticed earlier.
He sighed, "Well, no. Dad says I can't go there."
Adalbert nods, "And he's absolutely right! It's far too dangerous, only strong, brave mazoku go there."
Wolfram's eyes narrow, "But I am strong! And brave! What's out-?"
Adalbert shakes his head, "I'm sorry, Wolfram, but I can't tell you. I have to protect my favorite nephew, after all, right?" He smiles down at him.
Wolfram rolls his eyes at him before he responds, "Yeah, right. I'm your only nephew."
"Which is all the more reason for me to protect you," Adalbert answers. "An abandoned territory, that's nothing but dust and bones, is no place for a- oops!" Adalbert gasps and puts a hand over his mouth.
Wolfram's eyes widened, "An abandoned what? Wow!" He said, completely excited about this new potential place to explore.
"Oh, well. I guess you would have found out eventually, anyway. You being so smart and sneaky and all," Adalbert says. Wolfram smirks at that. "Just promise me one little thing- that you'll never go to that terrible place, ok?" he asks kindly as he puts his arm around Wolfram and smiles at him.
Wolfram smiles back with false sincerity, that was believable to pretty much everyone, including his parents, "I promise!"
"That's a good boy," Adalbert tells him as he pats his head, and then pushes him away.
"Now, you go run off and have fun, but remember-" Wolfram pauses to look at him before he turns around the corner, "This is our little secret."
Wolfram smiles big and takes off. Adalbert turns away, with a sneaky smile on his face, and goes back to laying down in his chair.
Wolfram runs along to the back of the castle where all the gardens are. Woah! Thought Wolfram. An abandoned territory? That is nothing but bones and dust? How cool is that? Imagine the things that could be found in a place like that, Wolfram thought with a smirk. He headed into the garden, looking for the one thing he always had to do when finding something new and exciting to explore. Find and drag along his best friend to go with him- Yuuri Shibuya.