One month ago...
Conrart smiled indulgently at his ruler. Earlier he had sent Gunter off to Anissina's lab for some ice cream even though it was a rainy day and the young king had, perhaps unknowingly, gravitated to the window from which one might look down to see Wolfram training his newest recruits. Conrad watched as Yuuri smiles a bit time and again every time Wolfram's voice boomed with a command or a rebuke or the rare compliment. From their vantage point they saw and heard Wolfram being sparing with praise and yet generous with encouragement. Mondays always saw the army training right underneath the Maou's study's window, and Yuuri always looked upon the men and boys below with pride and admiration even though he did all he can to make sure they see as little action as possible during his reign.
Conrart tapped Yuuri's shoulder. "You know, Your Majesty, I could cover for you for a while if you'd like to talk to my little brother," he said.
Yuuri snapped out of his reverie and mirrored back the all-disguising smile at the man he'd learnt it from. "Playing matchmaker?" the King replied, smirking a bit.
Conrad shrugged. "Like I said, my little brother. May I speak freely, Your Majesty?"
Yuuri sighed. Here they were again with the honorifics. You'd think one would learn after almost a decade, Yuuri thought. "I won't answer unless you call me by the name you gave me, godfather,"
"May I speak freely, Yuuri?"
Yuuri shook his head in amusement. After all these years, Conrad was still Conrad. "You may, and you always may, you know that," he said, smiling up at his guardian.
Conrad gave Yuuri a look that the younger man could not place. "It has been nine years, Your Majesty. Wolfram will need your decision some time,"
Yuuri looked away. "I don't want to hurt him,"
"I know. Still, you will need to let him know if his dream of being your spouse will go to naught or if he has any hope of winning your love," Conrad explained calmly.
Yuuri went back to his desk, seated himself, and buried his face in his hands.
Conrad bowed, murmured an excuse and left the sovereign to think. What he left out was that Yuuri didn't have a lot of time. Yuuri's relationship (or lack thereof) to Wolfram is all but pushing peaceful Shin Makoku to the brink of a second – and probably more terrible – civil war.
Sorry it's short, and a cliffhanger at that. I wanted to update this before I got lazy again; this is actually me already pushing it. Haha. This is turning into a multi-chapter fic, it seems, and so far as I have planned it, this fic will have not just one but two songs within. Wish me luck and perseverance! lol. Happy holidays, everyone!