Disclaimer: I don't own Kyou Kara Maou or any of its characters but the OC and plot are mine… xD silver lining…

Author's Note: HELLOOOO Peoples! Valentinemenitis was currently hibernating for the last few months. Why? Well… a myriad of things happened in last few months. I got hooked up to a few animes, got accepted into the University of my choice BOOYAH!

Let's see, what else happened? Oh yes, I sprained my ankle and it's impossible to get anywhere. I got obsessed over Aragorn from the lord of the rings… again! And cupping that off with the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (I absolutely hate Dumbledore!)? How could a simple book workmish girl like me hold up to all those powers of seduction?

Okay, so good news? I got a new laptop!

Bad news? Now that I'm in Uni, my dad 'asked' me to help in his office. And between homework and real work, I haven't really the time to write. I know… bummer…

I swear I really didn't mean to lag until my story was ranking #248 (last I checked). And I know this chapter is quite pointless as well… but I swear! Next chapter will really contribute to the plot.

To everyone who cares about who writes this fic: It is to my greatest regret that I must announce the disbanding of the Val team. As my (older) sister has 'bigger and better' things to move on to now, she will no longer be contributing to fanfic. So join me in saying goodbye and wishing her good luck in whatever she attempts. (Her name is Bernice, by the way.)

So from now on, Valentinemenitis is a solo act. (sob) Well… not that she's been contributing in the last year or so…

Anyway… end of my author's note, enjoy this new chapter.

Chapter 10

Ysabel felt, in a single simple word, uncomfortable…

She sat in a small room with Julia sitting between her and Cecile. On the table in the middle of the room which they crowded around was the largest selection of dress materials Ysabel had ever seen.

"We're going to make the most beautiful wedding gown for you, Julia," Celi said with glee. "Adalbert is so lucky."

Julia picked one up and said, "I still like my uniform because it's comfortable and easy to move around in."

"Nonsense," Celi said. "You can't wear your uniform as a wedding gown."

Ysabel could only smile. Celi had insisted that she joined the 'important discussion'. She felt out of place here but she was careful in hiding that fact. She had neither opinions to voice nor any experience in bridal wear… Personally, she'd rather be in the drilling yard or assuming her family's responsibility as Head of Intelligence of the Demon Tribe.

Ysabel had found out many things since coming to Shin Makoku a week ago, mostly about her duchy in the west and her parents. Apparently, her mother had practically died from heartbreak not long after her own 'death'.

Her father was assassinated in a raid of Edel a few months ago as the humans' first sign of retaliation. Though hard to belief, she had accepted these facts, slowly that is. Only by Shinou's orders to remain in the capital stopped her from travelling to her duchy.

Ysabel had seen little of the three brothers. They always seemed to busy with either this thing or that. With the war coming, she supposed it was only natural.

"What do you think, Ysabel?" Celi asked all of a sudden. The question Ysabel feared throughout the whole time she was in this room had finally popped up.

Impromptu time… Just as Ysabel was about to say something, there was a knock on the door. Ysabel sighed with relief.

"Come in," Celi called out.

The door opened and Conrad, dressed in his blue uniform, came in. He bowed slightly to the ladies in the room.

"I asked Conrad to come here so that we could have a man's point of view," Celi explained. Her voice turned dramatic. "He visits the castle so rarely. He's always making excuses like he's too busy with training."

Conrad couldn't help but chuckle a little. "I'm sorry, Mother," he apologized. He turned to the two other present in the room. "Julia, Ysabel," he acknowledged.

"Thank you for coming, Sir Weller," Julia smiled.

Just then, Doria appeared outside. She was clearly out of breath. "Your… Majesty," she said between gasps. "Lord… von Christ… sent me to… look for you."

Celi's eyes widened. "Oh…" she said. "I forgot that Günter wanted to talk to me."

"That's alright, Your Majesty," Julia said. "We can do this some other time."

Celi nodded and she and Doria left. "I have to go as well," Julia said. "Gisela is waiting for me." She turned to Ysabel. "I'd like it very much if you were to stop by my room this evening." Ysabel nodded and with that, she went out the door, leaving the room empty save for Conrad and Ysabel.

"Should I assume that you have some place to go too?" Conrad asked Ysabel with an amused tone.

Ysabel smiled in amusement and shook her head. "No."

"Anywhere in particular you wanted to go to?" Conrad said as they both emptied the room. "I could escort you."

Ysabel thought as she walked beside him. "Not really."

Conrad smiled. "Great," he said.

Ysabel turned a questioning glance in Conrad's direction at the unexpected response.

"It's about time you picked a horse."

"It wasn't exactly the wisest thing to travel here in Big Simaron's military uniform," Conrad was saying.

"Well," Ysabel said as she tried getting used to her new horse. "I didn't exactly have much of a choice either. Between the choice of getting into a few fights and freezing to death, I picked the obvious."

Ysabel sat on top of a grey mare quite alike the one she had when she was a little girl back in Edel. Conrad rode on his brown stallion beside her. They were riding around the grounds near the marshalling yard.

"So I've heard," Conrad chuckled. "We should be training your swordsmanship, you know."

"You… Train me?" Ysabel asked in mock surprise. "Last I checked it was I who won all the sword duels we ever had."

Conrad smiled. "Only because you cheated."

"I have you know, I never cheat," Ysabel said matter-of-factly. "It was you who fell for the same trick twice in a row."

"I have no excuse then," Conrad said, even though both he and Ysabel knew he had a perfectly good excuse as to why he did so.

"Commander!" a voice cut through the air causing both Aristocrats to turn. A company of soldiers stood not far away.

Conrad smiled sheepishly. "I guess I forgot I had training this morning."

Ysabel shook her head. "That's unlike you, Conrad." Suddenly, her face lit up. I wonder how different the standards are here… She turned to her childhood friend. "Hey Conrad…"

"Yes?"

Her face twisted into a smirk. "I was wondering…"

Three hours later, a company of soldiers struggled towards their barracks. Some of them held their backs in pain while some supported fellow comrades with various injuries.

While they all had different areas in need of medical care (which they would see Lady Gisela about later), in all their head rang a common question: Why did I sign up for the army again?

a/n:

Okay, so I haven't much to say. I hoped you all like this chapter. This was actually just some YsabelXConrad bonding.

To i love athrun: Thanks so much for sticking with me till now!

To Erisabeisuu: Ahhaha, you reviewed! Tear… I'm so, so glad you liked the playful chapter!

To TwilightVixen: I'm so glad you liked the story. I just want to say I have no intentions on giving up on this story. Just between you and me… (leans closer to TwilightVixen) This is my most successful story.

Additional thanks to: TwilightVixen, magicalbrat, terriestal-angell and hu3long2 for seeing my story is worthy enough to add to their list(s).

To All my readers: Thanks for reading, means a lot to me. I hope I sill continue to keep up to your expectations. Reviews are welcomed as always and I hope to hear your opinions.

Kay… so… yea… I'm hoping to reach 2k hits on the story and maybe 20 reviews after this upload?

Stay tuned for the next chapter which will prolly come sooner than this upload. And if you want to thank anyone for my coming back to life? You guys can thank TwilightVixen. Her review … sent me a jolt back to non-reality, so to speak!

Until my next upload,

Forever,

Val.