Taka looked at the clock and remembered the time that Gwendal told him at which they would serve the dinner. Still upset over disappointing his master, he was afraid to go over and talk to him. But he had to inform him of the meal.

Taka knocked and waited till his master allowed him to enter.

"Yes. What now?" Waltorna barked.

"Ah… Well sire, it's just that Lord von Voltaire had wanted me to make sure to inform you that the dinner was about to be served."

"Go and inform them that I will be having my dinner here in my room."

"Are you sure, sir?"

"Yes. That insolent wench of a maid that was here earlier seemed to indicate that the little whore's pet would be keeping him with him all day and night. So there's no real reason to go all the way down there anyway."

"I see. Then I shall go down there and inform them now." Taka bowed
slightly and left.

x-x-x-x-x

Gwendal was, by now, majorly pissed. It was time for dinner and still no sign of that damned Waltorana. His rage started to grow when he spotted Waltorana's aid yet no sign of the man himself.

Taka bowed, "I am sorry sir. I lost track of the time. Lord Waltorna requested for his meal to be brought to him in his room. Since the Maoh would not be present here, he does not wish to come down.

Gwendal so wanted to just kill that brat right then and there, however, it'd be really preferable to lay his hands on Waltorana.
'That bastard. So I'm not even worthy of having dinner with now, huh? I am seriously going to have my revenge before he even knows it and really soon.' Gwendal thought.

"Is there any chance that the Maoh will be around for dinner?" Taka asked, even though Waltorana had just said that he'd have the dinner in his room. Taka wanted to have a conformation for his master although he hadn't asked for one.

Gwendal had to desperately suppress a strong urge to kill this man before finding and killing Waltorana.

"No." Gwendal replied, keeping his voice cold and calm. "I'm afraid the Maoh won't be joining us till morning."

"I see. Then, I'm afraid I'm going to have to extend my apologies as my master wishes to have his dinner in his room itself."

"Fine. Dismissed."

Taka felt the hostility but ignored it, not caring. This man wasn't his master and therefore not his concern. He simply proceeded to the kitchen to have his and his master's dinner sent to their rooms.

x-x-x-x-x

The next morning after his daily morning routine, Conrad went to wake up Yuri. Staring down at the sleeping boy, he couldn't help but wonder why this young man chose him. Wolfram was, obviously, a much better match. Shaking his head after a moment's silence, he pushed the thought away. Whatever the reason he was glad of it. He gently shook the boy who had so easily become the center of his existence. As Yuri sat up slowly blinking his beautiful raven eyes open, still a bit dazed from the deep sleep, Conrad couldn't help himself but swoop in and steal a mind-numbing kiss.

Yuri blushed furiously, "Is this how you're going to wake me up every morning, now?"

Conrad smirked mischievously, "Is that a problem?"

"Ah, n-no, …just wondering." Yuri was blushing spectacularly.

"Well then, the answer is yes." Conrad replied with a hint a mischief in his beautiful silvery cinnamon eyes.

Yuri wasn't sure if he could blush any harder, but still remained enraptured by the charm of those powerful expressive eyes.

"I hate to spoil the mood, but Lord von Bielefeld is here."

Yuri just blinked in surprise, still a bit disoriented and started looking around for Wolfram. "Where? This is my room. He's not supposed to be here. We broke up ages…"

"No. Not Wolfram. Waltorana." Conrad supplied helpfully.

"Waltorana? Now?" Yuri was confused. "Why?"

"Yes, it seems he arrived sometime late last night."

"But why is he here?" Yuri was having a sense of foreboding.

"Apparently, he's somehow heard about your and Wolfram's broken engagement."

"Ah." Yuri knew where this was going. "You think he knows about us too?"

"That I don't know." Conrad confirmed. "But I would assume that if he came all the way here and confirmed your break-up with Wolfram then I'd say 'yes'. Besides, we weren't exactly discreet about us in that restaurant earlier. I'm sure he must have spies. I'd assume that whoever informed him about your break-up with Wolfram must have also learnt about us."

Yuri looked thoughtful.

"Well, what did he tell Gwendal he was here for?" Yuri asked.

"Actually…." Conrad looked a bit amused. "It seems that he sent his aid to inform Gwendal of his arrival rather than greet him personally."

Yuri just stared for a moment before snickering. "Gwendal couldn't have liked that." That one action on Waltorana's behalf spoke a lot and told Yuri what he could expect in the days to come. Even the spoken enemies in the court don't behave in that manner towards one of the ten nobles, especially if that noble was also the 'Chief Security Advisor of the Kingdom'. 'Waltorana must be really pissed.' Yuri thought, calculating.

Conrad smiled, still amused, "No, I doubt he was. In fact, I heard that he was really very upset. And if I know him well enough, I'd say that by now he's probably going mad and planning a discreet execution against him. He's been scaring the maids and guards since yesterday." Yuri snickered just as Conrad winked. Both were in a very good mood and it seemed that almost nothing will deter this moment of perfect happiness. Even this huge threat looming ahead was looking like a big joke to both of them. Love, I guess, does this sort of a thing to rational minds.

"Well. I guess, these next few days are going to be fun." Yuri smirked pulling Conrad down for a long deep kiss, before getting up to get dressed.

Conrad flopped down onto the bed. His upper torso was raised, supported by the powerful forearms and elbows, watching Yuri's progress in getting out of his clothes and into another, admiring the view discreetly.

"So, anything else I should know before we leave?" Yuri asked, approaching the mirror to comb his hair and remove the slight wrinkles from his uniform as the final touch.

"Well, as far as I know, Gwendal still hasn't spoken to him directly since his arrival." Conrad said, recalling what he'd overheard from one of the maids talking. "Despite his rude arrival, Gwendal had expected to see him for the dinner. But apparently, the man never showed up." Conrad said, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, that's pretty rude." Yuri commented, finally ready to leave. "No wonder Gwendal has been scaring all of the maids and guards alike."

"He went to the dining room hoping for an encounter, only to face that same servant from before once again. It seems he came to extend his apologies on behalf of Waltorana as he chose to have dinner in his room and not meet anyone. So, I guess, the two heated koalas still wouldn't have seen each other when we reach there."

Yuri felt a headache approaching. 'Oh dear. The situation's serious, then.' he thought. "I believe Gwendal will most likely be in a very bad mood today. And I even have a meeting with him later." Yuri grimaced.

Conrad sighed and flashed an apologetic smile to Yuri. It wasn't something he could do much about.

Yuri sighed, "Well then, I guess we'd better get to breakfast. Hopefully, they'll both be present and I can extend a formal greeting to Waltorana."

"Yes." Conrad agreed, even as Yuri started moving towards the door. "Yuri…." Conrad stopped him midway.

"Hmm?" Yuri turned to face his first, and hopefully his last, boyfriend. He blushed for regarding his beautiful soldier in that way. His eyes, however, widened with concern as he read Conrad's expression.

"There's one more thing that you should know." Conrad looked troubled. Yuri just arched one eyebrow questioningly. "Waltorana was very persistent in gaining an audience with you yesterday. He even tried to command and force one of the maids to tell our whereabouts, but thankfully failed. Apparently, he didn't meet or talk to anyone other than Wolfram yesterday because he wasn't able to find you. I believe he's got something important to say to you and I could guess regarding what."

Yuri let out a long wistful sigh. 'Great. This was exactly what I'd needed right now.' Raising his head towards the other man once again, he tried to read his expressions.

Conrad was somber. 'It looks like I am always causing more and more trouble for Yuri at the court.' Conrad thought, rapidly falling into the deep and dark abyss of gloom. He, however, was brought out of his musings by the soft palms rubbing his cheek lightly. A soft finger hooked under his chin forced him to look upwards from where he was sitting on the soft bed into the dark obsidian eyes of his partner. He couldn't even remember Yuri ever moving to reach him from where he was standing near the door.

Conrad watched Yuri slowly sitting down at his feet on one knee, deep understanding being reflected in his eyes holding him captive. "Don't worry Conrad. We'll get over this like we always do and it'll all be fine. Don't blame yourself for this." It felt as if Yuri had read his mind. Conrad blushed slightly in embarrassment.

It was the most alluring sight that Yuri had ever seen. His Conrad was blushing so cutely. The mere appeal of it replenished Yuri's energy and courage and he felt like he could do anything.

"Besides my life's decisions are not for him to make." Yuri said this with such honesty and confidence that it made Conrad to raise his head and look at him in astonishment, startled by the sudden change in him. "And I am the Maoh. We're gonna kick some noble ass if he meddled too much." At Yuri's expression, Conrad couldn't help but laugh out loud, affectively coming out of his gloom.

"Y-Ye-Yes, we-we will." Conrad stuttered out between the laugh. Yuri's heart warmed up at hearing such honest laugh reverberating through Conrad. "Come let's go. We wouldn't want for the koalas to wait too much now, would we?" Yuri said with a weird accent, causing Conrad to dissolve into another fit of uncontrolled laughter.

After a few minutes of controlling themselves, they both stepped out of the door and into the corridor. "Oh Yuri, my love, what would I ever do without you?"

"Probably still sitting in a secluded corner moping and blaming yourself for everything bad that happens."

"I don't blame myself for everything bad that happens." Conrad replied, falsely sounding hurt. "Mother's precious vase that broke last week was your fault."

"What? How could you even say that when you…"

Hand in hand, both went on towards their destination in no hurry, keeping up with their light bantering that amused all of the castle inhabitants that passed by them.

Truly, they were an adorable couple meant only for each other. And in that one moment, even a blind could see that. And so did a pair of light sea-green eyes which had been watching them discreetly from a distance ever since they'd left the Royal Wing of the castle. Thankfully those eyes belonged to Waltorana's servant Taka and not the shrewd man himself.

x-x-x-x-x

Wolfram had risen earlier than normal and ordered the maids to fix a quick breakfast for him, and also to pack enough food to fill four saddlebags. He wasn't sure how far it was to the nearest town. And even if it wasn't too far, there was no way of knowing that it'd be safe for them to enter and eat there. So, he wanted enough supplies to last them till they could find a safe town where they can both eat and restock.

He still wished he could just do this alone with Ken, but he knew his big brother. Even if he tried to do that, Gwendal would surely find out and just send a small army of men after them. They'd end up causing a scene and unnecessarily draw attention. And since they would be Gwendal's men, they wouldn't leave easily without a confirmed withdrawal order from Gwendal himself. He just hoped his brother wouldn't change his mind about just taking two guards.

After breakfast, he recruited two of his best men. He told them little. Only that he and Geika were going on a special mission. He instructed them to get dressed and pack civilian clothes for a long journey. After that they were to get a quick breakfast and ready four horses for their trip.

After the briefing, Wolfram set out on a separate dangerous mission of his own - informing his mother.

-

He found her decorating one of the small ballrooms. "What you doing Hahaue?"

Cheri turned and smiled, "Ah, Wolfram. I'm just getting things ready for the party."

"What Party?" Wolfram was confused.

"Why…. a party to celebrate your marriage to Geika, of course!" Lady Cheri said dramatically.

Wolfram's mouth dropped open. 'She's saying 'Of course' so casually as if I even wanted to marry Ken. Like this was all planned.' "What?" he uttered.

"I know that the town's people will be really sad to hear that there wasn't any formal wedding to celebrate it but don't worry, we can give them a holiday and show the two of you off and the town can celebrate that way." She rattled on and on.

"I'm sorry Hahaue, but it's not happening. We're leaving today."

Cheri looked at him with wide eyes and a huge smile. Her eyes were shining with joy before she reached out and hugged him tightly. She looked as if she was about to cry. Wolfram was totally confused with her strange behavior and about to ask what had happened to her, when she suddenly answered herself.

"Oh, I knew it. The two of you are running off together. You're eloping finally." She squealed with joy.

At that Wolfram pulled away. "What?"

"Oh, it's all right dear. You don't have to explain to me. It's fine I totally understand."

"Hahaue, we're not eloping. We're going to hunt for special crystals to perform a safe 'Blood and Fire ceremony' and get out of this stupid marriage." Wolfram huffed.

Cheri pouted, "Oh, but you haven't even given Geika a chance. You stayed engaged to Yuri-Heika for more than a year. The least you could do is giving this marriage more than a week at least. Besides with him always staying at Shinou's temple, how much time could you have really
spent with him?"

"It has already been more than a week mother. Besides, I don't want to give it a chance. I want to get out of this marriage. Everything's being readied now. I only came here to inform you that we are leaving and why."

"So, Geika also approves of this?"

"Of course he does. He's the one who told me of the crystals to begin with."

"Are you sure he's okay with this?" Cheri looked skeptical. "I heard that he was the one who suggested that ceremony to Yuri-Heika. Even after knowing that he'd end up engaged to you. It seems awful strange to me that he'd want to throw all that away now." Cheri suspected that even if Murata didn't want to do this, Wolfram must have been barreling his way through it, regardless of what someone else may or may not want. Alas, she knew her son pretty well.

"He only suggested it because it was the only way that he could have thought of to get Yuri out our engagement, and keep me from reinstating it."

Somehow Cheri doubted that. Being a former Maoh herself, she had read all about the switching ceremonies in case its need ever arised. She knew that since only a few she found was that old, there had to be ones even older. She never needed one though, so she never really researched them too deeply. Now she kind of wished that she had. Knowing Geika, she was sure that he himself had set this up. She was sure that there had to be a thousand other ways with which he could have gone about doing this. Instead, he chose the one where he would be permanently bonded to Wolfram. She couldn't believe that was a mere coincidence.

But by the time she finished her musings and looked up, Wolfram was already gone. She sighed, 'Perhaps this trip will be good for Wolfram after all. Perhaps, he will learn to appreciate Geika as he did with Heika.'

She had wanted to ask a question but sighed seeing that he'd already left. "So much like his father. Always rushing away. Never wanting to stay and talk."

Given the circumstances, she stopped decorating and started to prepare for another free love trip. She'd return to hopefully to throw an impromptu wedding for show and a reception. She didn't know what kind of crystals Wolfram was searching for, but she didn't know of anything to break a switching ceremony marriage. As a mother, she wanted her children to succeed, but as a love agent she didn't want them to break up or find a way out of their engagement. So she was slightly conflicted.

x-x-x-x-x

Wolfram took his cue to slip away while his mother seemed to be lost in her own world. He found his guards ready with the horses. So, together, they headed off to Shinou's temple ready to depart for their long journey.

The temple guards knew that Wolfram was now married to Geika. So, he'd no trouble at all in gaining entry.

Wolfram burst into Murata's room and found him slowly eating. "Ken, why are you still eating? Why aren't you ready to go? You still haven't dyed your hair or put the contacts I gave you in and you're in your uniform." Wolfram accused him, disoriented by his behavior. His mother's words echoed in his ears. 'What if Ken had planned your wedding?'

Murata blinked, "Is that a problem?"

"Of course it's a problem. You should have been ready the moment I got here. I see you're going to be a bigger problem than Yuri ever was." Then he walked over and grabbed his shirt, pulled him up and said, "Let's get you ready."

Shinou watched this interaction discreetly from a distance with amusement glinting in his eyes.

After fixing Murata with brown hair and brown contacts, he demanded that he change his clothes, which he did rather gladly in front of Wolfram causing him to sweat drop. And Shinou looked too pleased for his own good.

"Now, where's your bag?" Wolfram demanded trying to clear his mind.

"My bag?" Ken looked confused.

"Your clothes for the trip. You did pack, didn't you?" Wolfram raised an eyebrow, trying to look dominating.

"Um, actually no."

"WHAT?" Murata had to sit and listen to Wolfram constantly complain and scold him as he packed the very few normal clothes Murata had, much to Shinou's amusement. "Is this really all the normal clothes you have?"

"Well, I rarely leave the temple and go out. And when I do, I just wear my uniform, there's rarely any need for me to wear anything else." Ken replied honestly.

Wolfram was irritated. "Fine, we'll just have to pick you up more clothes on the road. Now get moving." He ordered. Shinou looked like he was about to burst of all the laughter.

"Really Lord von Bielefeld." Murata replied, irritated with Shinou's behavior. He knew that his old time friend was watching everything and enjoying in his suffering like a small child. "I doubt that with my hair and eyes changed, anyone will think twice about what I'm wearing."

"I'm not taking any chances." Wolfram said stoically.

Murata sighed, 'Alas! He's really never going to accept me.' "I'm surprised that Lord von Voltaire even agreed to allow us to go alone." He said trying to change the subject.

"He didn't." Wolfram replied. "We're taking two guards with us."

'Only two? I'm surprised Lord von Voltaire even allowed this trip and only demanded two guards.' Murata's thoughts were going haywire. He had hoped that Lord von Voltaire's decision would go in his favor and they wouldn't have to go on this trip. But it seems now that he'd no
other option.

After getting Murata fixed up and packed, which had angered Wolfram even more when he found that Murata hadn't even packed. He started to drag him so that they could get to the horses and be on their way.

They passed an unusually happy Shinou on the way who simply smirked mischievously, and said, "Have a nice trip."

While Murata gave him a'Go To Hell' look and commented sarcastically, "You're enjoying this way too much for your own good."

Shinou didn't say a word, only smiled. Yes, he was enjoying watching someone not only order his Great Sage but drag him around as well. A rare sight to behold. He sighed longingly. How much he wished that he could tag along and watch the fireworks that were sure to go off between them even more. But he couldn't stray from the temple for too long a period like their trip would entail. He really wished he could go, but what-the-hell, he'd just have to find some other way to spy on the two. He smiled deviously in anticipation.

x-x-x-x-x

Yuri really didn't want to deal with Waltorana right then. After the wonderful date he and Conrad had had the day before, he'd been hoping that they could spend at least a little time together today. They both were in a good mood and he hadn't wanted to let his mood be spoiled
now. But, alas, it was all wistful thinking for now it seemed. Besides, Conrad had decided that it was best for him to not come with him for breakfast today. Yuri sighed, 'Conrad, you traitor.' Putting on the best smile that he could, he opened the door to the dining room and walked in to find Waltorana and a quietly fuming Gwendal sitting there.

"It's so good of you to join us today, Maoh-Heika." Waltorana commented snidely. 'It's also nice to see that your little pet hadn't decided to keep you all to him again for the day, you little whore.'

"My apologizes." Yuri replied courteously. "I just learned that you were here."

With the best fake smile he could muster, Waltorana said, "No, it's quite alright." 'I understand perfectly.' he added silently. 'Your little pet wanted to keep you for himself and no one had wanted to disturb you while you screamed your lungs out as you sold your filthy body to that dog for free. Oh, I'd love to know how many filthy dogs you have acted like a bitch in heat, trembling, begging and screaming in their bed as they fucked you hard for their own pleasure. I swear, I'd love to expose you if I could, have you dethroned and thrown out of this castle to be used as a whore for thousands of rapists out there for their pleasure, you filthy slut. You're nothing more than that. Who knows, maybe they might even kill you in the process, saving all of us from the disgrace of your existence in our presence. And don't worry your dear pet can be taken care of, once you're out of the way, I myself can keep him to use for my own personal pleasure and treat him the way he was meant to be. That sure ought to show him his place.'

Oh how much he wanted to say all these things out loud. But he kept quiet for his plans to succeed. He knew that he couldn't show any outward disrespect towards the Maoh right now, without being thrown out of the city altogether. Although he doubted that the Maoh himself would have the balls to throw him out, he had no doubts though that the whore's pet or even Lord von Voltaire himself wouldn't hesitate in having him thrown out. So, for now he has to sit still as if nothing was wrong and fake like he still respects this disgrace of a Maoh sitting in front of him.