Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Kyo Kara Maoh, this is purely fan-made!
Chapter 5: Forgotten Side of the World
"...his wounds appear to already be at least a few weeks old My Lord," was the very first thing I heard when I finally regained consciousness.
As I listened, the voice continued, "The most prominent wound he has is conspicuously large half-healed bruise that we found stretching across His Majesty's entire right side. Not to mention there is the noticeable gash on his forehead. Doubtlessly he must have suffered some sort of incident in the other world. Furthermore-"
"Ha! I knew it!" another man shouted gleefully, "I knew those nephews of mine were unfit to effectively protect King Yuri from all peril. That must be why he came to me! Raven, this is a splendid turn of events. We can use this..."
The other man, or Raven as he seemed to be called, appeared unconvinced and reasoned, "I wouldn't get your hopes up too high Lord Stoffel. We still do not know all the details behind King Yuri's wounds nor why he deigned to appear here in Castle Spitzbeg. It could have been an error on his part or an attempt to return to Covenant Castle. Remember, he has been away for several months now in the other world. And if these wounds are anything to judge by, His Highness must have been too badly hurt to return right away. But knowing his character, King Yuri must have wanted to return the moment his health would allow. Or at least, when he THOUGHT it would allow," He glanced down at me and continued with a note of genuine concern, "Judging from what I have seen, I do not think he WAS prepared to return. He was going into shock when I found him."
Dramatically, Stoffel proclaimed, "Well either way, I do not intend to let this rare opportunity go to waste! Let me know the instant that His Highness-" Just then though, I groaned and sat up on the couch I was laid on, cutting off his next words.
I still felt dizzy so I focused my attention on the palms of my upturned hands. Once the spinning stopped I asked aloud in a small voice, "Where...am I...?" Then, I clenched my head again as it throbbed with a sharp gasp and reflected, "The last thing I remember was..." I began but then, I realized that I couldn't remember WHAT had happened, so I cursed bitterly and shook my head, "Darn it, I just can't remember!"
Stoffel then rushed over to the sofa and smiled ridiculously bright as he exclaimed, "Your Highness! I'm so glad that you're awake!"
Why do they keep calling me Your Highness? I wanted to ask. But instead, I glanced from him to Raven and asked, "Uh, yeah...I guess so, but, how did I get here?" Then without waiting for them to answer, I pinched myself on the arm.
I was checking to see if this was real and winced at the pain before laughing nervously, "Well, I'm not dreaming so I really must be here."
The two of them exchanged glances before Raven knelt down next to me and started to answer my question, "To be honest, we're not entirely sure yet how you came to be here. All we know is that you appeared in the bath chamber here at Castle Spitzbeg..." then he gestured to the cut on my head and asked, "Perhaps you can help us fill the rest of the details. For instance, where did these wounds come from? They are not recent and so something must have befallen you. Now, won't you please tell us what has happened?"
"Yes, please do!" Stoffel nodded, acted like what appeared to me as an impatient child.
"I don't know..." I began suspiciously, "Can I really trust you two? Because for all I know, YOU could have been the ones who brought me here in the first place."
To be frank, I don't know why I said that then. After all, I had no memory of either of them or what had happened between us in the past. I didn't even know that I was in another world yet or why they kept acting like I was royalty. But, it was thanks to the way I answered their questions that they had no idea about my memory-loss, not yet anyway.
But they'd find out soon enough.
After a small grunt in response to my words, Stoffel relented and admitted begrudgingly, "A reasonable assumption given our last encounter like this, but I assure you Your Majesty, we did not summon you here."
"Then how did I get here?" I asked again.
"As of yet, I...couldn't say..." Stoffel frowned, looking disappointed.
Seeing this, Raven decided to change the subject and told me, "In any case, you're safe now. Feel free to rest here and together we'll decide what is to be done later on today. I'm sure that you are still tired from your long journey back to this world."
"This...world?" I asked only loud enough for him to hear, "You mean that...this is another world?"
Raven blinked, honestly surprised by the question and asked in turn, "Of course it is. Where else do you think-!" then, it hit him and Raven slowly stood up, staring down at me with disbelief.
He knew then.
Raven knew that I had completely lost my memories.
Meanwhile, back at Covenant Castle, Conrad came rushing back straight from the Tomb of the Great One on his proud stallion at a dead run. He had gone there for news about me and what he got was news of the worst kind.
News that not only was I here, but I was here alone, with complete amnesia, and not to mention smack dab in the middle of Stoffel's castle. The only worse case that he could have imagined was if I had been alone in human lands, where I would more than likely would have been killed.
At least his only fear with my being there in Castle Spitzbeg was that Stoffel would unquestionably take advantage of my condition. After all, I was still the Demon King, even if I still didn't realize it yet. Therefore, the instant he told Gwendal, the two of them prepared a small force to retrieve me just in case Stoffel was unwilling to hand me over voluntarily, much like the last time. Which they fervently hoped would not be necessary.
Of course, the ruckus on the castle grounds finally roused Wolfram's suspicion and he demanded to know what was going on. "I swear, when Yuri's not around you get so restless. Now tell me, has something happened? If you won't tell me, I'll have my own men look into it."
And the way Wolfram said it, it sounded more like more of a promise than a threat. It was also slightly amusing to Conrad that Wolfram called HIM the restless one when everyone knew that Wolfram was the fretful one.
"I agree, what is this all about?" Gunter asked, "Have the humans started stirring trouble again? Or have you perhaps heard the recent reports about the group of underground operatives we've been tracking?" he narrowed his gaze, "If His Highness is in any danger then I think you had better tell us."
"This isn't about those mercenaries," Gwendal said simply, "Although it is possible that Yuri might be in trouble. He has arrived in our world without His Eminence and he may or may not be injured..."
"Injured?" Both Gunter and Wolfram exclaimed in horror, "How?"
"There was an accident in the other world," Conrad confessed at last looking somewhat chest-fallen, "Yuri was hit by a car. Lady Ulrike only told me this several weeks ago but I had to promise not to tell any of you what had happened until he came back. Ulrike and the Great One hoped that Yuri would have recovered by then. Unfortunately, he hasn't..."
"So then, why all these men?" Gunter asked with his panic rising, "Is he in human domain?"
"Calm down Gunter," Gwendal stated, "He's not in human lands. However, given where he is, it might be just as bad if not worse given the circumstances."
"What's that supposed to mean? Tell me!" Wolfram snarled.
"Wolfram!" Conrad snapped harshly, "We can't. Not here. There are too many who might overhear us."
Wolfram scowled, "I don't care! Yuri is my fiancé' and if he's in danger then it is my sworn duty to go to his aid no matter where that might be or who I might face. So tell me right now!"
"No," Gwendal said coldly, "Not this time Lord Bielefeld; you'll only make things harder for Yuri if you come. The fewer of us he sees, the safer he'll be. And hearing you yelling at him will not make him feel any better! If there was anyone else I could send after him, I would. But in this delicate matter, it is safer if only Conrad and I go."
At that, Wolfram exploded again, "Why does it always have to be HIM? I'M the one engaged to Yuri yet it's always Lord Weller who gets to go retrieve Yuri whenever he wanders off!"
"I'm his Godfather Wolfram..." Conrad said coolly, "...make no mistake, I have no intention of getting between you two unless Yuri is the one who decides otherwise. But understand Wolfram, I was there before Yuri was born. Even before we met face to face, some part of him still knew and trusted me from our time together before. Therefore, even if nothing else is familiar to him, I have the best chance of gaining his trust."
Wolfram gaped, "'gaining his trust'...? What are you saying?"
Gunter's eyes widened at the revelation and he gently grasped Wolfram's shoulder, his eyes glittering with shock and horror, "Wolfram...His Majesty doesn't remember us. Any of us. He has-"
"That's right," Gwendal nodded grimly, "And that is why we don't have time to waste on this! Once we bring him back safely, you can see him then Wolfram. But it's too dangerous for you to see him before then, so bear with me and stay put. If for no one else's sake than for Gretta's." Wolfram flinched and Gwendal finished, "As much as this hurts us, imagine how hard Gretta will take it if she finds out? As one of her parents, it's also your duty to care for her as well. It's what Yuri would want."
Finally, Wolfram's ego deflated and he grumbled, "Alright," however, he snarled, "But if something happens, I'm coming in after you both. Got it?"
Conrad chuckled, "Got it."
"Now hold on..." Gunter interjected, "You still haven't told us where he is yet."
Gwendal and Conrad exchanged looks before Gwendal said forlornly, "He's somewhere in Lord Von Stoffel's lands; alone, and without any memories of who he is or, more importantly, who THEY are..."
Raven was still processing the startling revelation when Stoffel had finally begun to take notice of my strange behavior.
I kept looking around the room as if I still seemed to feel lost somehow-which I did-and the way that I began asking about things I should already know. Such as the exact location of Castle Spitzbeg on the map.
Despite their request for me to get some more rest, I refused to and began wandering the room. And in my wanderings, I found a gouged out portion of wall near the window and traced the rough edges. It looked so familiar.
Then, it hit me and I gasped, "Oh yeah! I remember now, I was trying to dig my way out of this room with a spoon! I did this!" So I HAVE been here before! I added to myself, unaware that Raven already knew about my amnesia.
"So you did..." Raven replied unsurely.
"Raven," Stoffel hissed sharply waving him over to the other side of the room, "Come over here for a moment."
Raven glanced at me briefly as I continued to explore the room with renewed zeal and strode over to Stoffel, replying, "Yes My Lord? What is it?"
"His Majesty is acting a bit strangely don't you think? I mean, wouldn't he already know about that hole in the wall? And anyway, didn't I tell you to fix that?" Stoffel frowned.
Raven bowed, "I was going to repair it but I thought it would make a good memento of the experience, although it did not go according to plan at that time. As for His Majesty," Raven inclined his head at me and instead of telling Stoffel about my condition, he did the most unexpected thing by saying, "It has been awhile since King Yuri visited the castle so it's understandable that it slipped his mind. And besides, he apparently has had other things to worry about."
Stoffel nodded grimly, "Ah, yes, his injuries..."
"I believe it would be best for us to leave His Majesty alone for a bit, perhaps give him something to help calm his nerves and get some proper rest," Raven then added sternly, "I don't like the looks of his complexion, it is far too pale, and all this excitement will make him ill again at this rate if he doesn't start to relax. And if anything happens to him, we will surely be blamed for it."
"You're right, as always Raven," Stoffel conceded, "Very well." Then, walking back over to me and placing a hand on my shoulder he insisted once again that I go back to sleep. Afterwards, he began leading me back to the couch and sitting me down on it firmly but gently.
The genuine note of concern in his eyes astounded Raven, who was sure that Stoffel would start proclaiming that he would personally attend to my every need, hire the best doctors to treat me, and first and foremost, try to make himself look like a hero in my eyes. But instead, for the first time, Raven saw a truly nurturing nature that he hadn't seen in Stoffel since his younger sister, Lady Celli, was a little girl.
Stoffel had never been that much of an uncle to his nephews when they were young. He had always been a bit awkward, self-centered, and clueless when it came to nurturing anyone but his younger sister, however, in that brief moment, Raven saw in Stoffel the first honest intention he had displayed since the battle with the Originators to prove that he was-deep down-a genuinely good person.
And Raven was even more shocked when I responded in kind to Stoffel's actions by saying, "Ok, you win, I guess I'll try and get some sleep now. You know, I was worried at first but you're a really good person," I smiled softly and admitted, "I don't really know you all that much yet but I'm sure that I'll remember more soon. Maybe...I might even remember...what...this place..." but before I finished my sentence, I trailed off and curled under my blanket, fast asleep.
Stoffel gasped in awe but didn't say a word as he watched me fall asleep. And like Raven, he was aghast to discover that I had no memory of him. However, UNLIKE Raven, a triumphant smile twisted on his lips and he began to laugh, "Of all the responses he could have given me, that was the least expected!" Stoffel turned on heel to face Raven and exclaimed joyously, "Raven, His Highness has lost his memories! This-this is wonderful! Finally, I might just get my wish after all, and once again be made regent! Ha ha ha ha ha!"
Raven didn't respond and continued to stare at me now lying asleep on the couch, appearing as innocent and vulnerable as the first time we met. To him, I was more of a child now than I had been when they abducted me the first time back when I had just barely become the Demon King. But, his feelings towards me had changed...
Like many others-whom I had yet to remember as of yet-he had begun to admire me as the Twenty-seventh King of the Great Demon Kingdom and had finally started to believe that I was capable of changing the country for the better. Even now, as defenseless as I was, Raven still believed in me and decided that he didn't want Stoffel to abuse my condition. Regardless of his loyalty to him.
And so, after leaving my chambers with Stoffel ranting about the possibilities regarding how he could use this situation, Raven excused himself to take care of other business. Stoffel didn't suspect a thing so he allowed Raven to go about his business without hesitation. Unaware of what Raven was about to do and how it would ruin all of his new plans for me.
In secret, Raven wrote a message to Covenant Castle telling them that I was there and unharmed. Raven proceeded to write the details about my arrival that he knew thus far and pleaded innocence to the whole situation. Claiming that they truly had nothing to do with it; which given their history, Raven doubted that anyone would believe. But Raven authentically cared about Stoffel's standing and so he added a personal account of his own changed feelings towards me ever since I last returned from Earth, hoping that his sincerity would come across...
If not though, most people say that actions speak louder than words. So if this letter failed, Raven would assume the responsibility himself of returning me to the castle personally if need be. Despite knowing full well that Stoffel would hate him for it, Raven knew this was the right thing to do.
Besides that, they could not afford another Civil War between themselves and the capital. Furthermore, the other nine noble families, Von Voltaire, Von Christ, and Von Bielefeld included, would not stand for such disgraceful actions from Stoffel again.
Much of Stoffel's honor actually depended on this. For whether he realized this or not, Lord Von Spitzbeg had come precariously close one before to being expelled not only from the royal court, but as a council member entirely. His standing was much better now but if word got out that he was openly manipulating me again when I was in such a delicate state, undermining the Great Demon Kingdom's authority again, Stoffel could very well lose everything.
While I, who in a way HAD lost everything, was only just starting to get it all back...