A/N: Thank you to everyone who reads and reviews this story. It means a lot to me and gives me motivation to write. I've been meaning to post this chapter before my birthday on the 8th. I can't believe that very soon, I'll be a year older. Anyway, please enjoy and tell me what you think or want to see in the coming chapters.
Btw: Happy early Easter. love you all!
The bedroom he was assigned reminded him of his bedroom before moving to Bielefeld. It is spacious and beautiful, and located between his brothers' bedrooms. It didn't surprise him, he was only grateful. It would be so easy to crawl into bed with one of them.
He unpacked his clothes and other belongings, though he preferred to skip this step.
His attention was caught by a knock at the door just as he finished putting away the last item.
"Come in."
The door slammed open startling him. "God, I missed you!" Gisela shouted before throwing herself at him. He barely stayed upright as she crushed him in a hug.
After returning the hug briefly, he had to pry her off him.
"Gisela." He breathed. "It's good to see you."
She laughed. "You too, Wolf. It feels like it's been forever." She smiled, twirling. "So how do I look?"
He knew she was joking but answered anyway. "You look great."
Her eyes twinkled. "So do you."
He couldn't keep a smile off his face even if he wanted to. "I missed you too."
Taking his hand, she led him over to his bed so they could sit down together. "Well of course you did." She replied, smiling.
"So, how are you?" She asked.
"I'm fine. How are you doing?" She still held his hand, so he gently massaged it. "I didn't receive a reply to my last letter."
She looked down sheepishly for a moment. "Yeah, sorry. I meant to. I… was distracted." She scoffed. "Not that it matters anymore. I'm glad you're here. I was worried you wouldn't come. It has been an absolute pain for me to only communicate with you through letters since you left."
He swallowed a lump in his throat, turning his eyes away from her. "I'm sorry."
She sighed. "You were very busy."
"I was. But…"
She held up her hand. "It's alright. Remember, I'm your childhood friend. No one knows you better than I do." She snorts. "Well, except for your brothers."
She fell silent for a moment before her eyes hardened. "But Wolf, you my friend are no burden. Because I hoped you would figure it out on your own, I didn't go to Bielefeld to talk sense into you or write you an angry letter. But looking at you now I regret not listening to my instincts."
Then, pointing a finger in his face, she glared. "And don't think for one second your brothers don't know the real reason you cut off face to face contact."
He knew she was right. He just preferred not to think about it and to pretend.
He cleared his throat. "Why were you distracted?"
She squinted tilting her head to one side with her lips parted slightly. "Huh?"
"You said you were distracted. Why?"
"Oh." A deep red flush colored her face as she swallowed. "My first love rejected me." She huffed and glared at the bed, as if she hadn't planned to answer. "My goodness, I can't withhold anything from you. It's not something that I've ever been able to do. Couldn't I have fallen in love with you? It would have been simpler."
Shaking his head, he waved his hand. "Wait, I thought you didn't intend to confess."
She sighed deeply. "I didn't. In a moment of weakness, I blurted it out."
She rubbed her face up and down with her hands, groaning. "As a result, I can't go anywhere without feeling paranoid. I have never understood the expression don't defecate where you eat as much as I do now. I don't just work here I live here."
Taking her hands off her face, she stretched them to the side and looked up, her eyes glistening. "What am I going to do?"
His arms wrapped around her waist before he reached up with one hand to play with her hair. "I'm so sorry. Though I am not sure why Effe turned you down, I know it was a huge error and she will regret it one day."
She sniffled, nuzzling his neck with her head. "You really think so?"
"I do. You are the best friend I ever had, and I definitely don't deserve you, nor can I imagine why anyone would reject you."
She sniffled again, punching his arm lightly without breaking the hug. "Come visit, let us visit." Her whisper sounded broken.
He hesitated. "Does this mean you forgive me?"
"Never again?"
"Never again." He agreed and meant it. Despite the fact that not seeing each other always felt wrong, he was scared and ultimately didn't do anything to change the status quo, until now, of course. Although he is still afraid, he is glad he found the courage to come, and he won't make the same mistake twice.
She pulled away from the hug after one last squeeze, wiping her eyes, laughing. "I forgive you."
He smiled, taking out his handkerchief and handing it to her. "Thank you."
Using the handkerchief she smiled sweetly. She had always been beautiful, but in that moment, her beauty nearly took his breath away. "You're amazing." He said.
A snort of laughter escaped her lips. "The same goes for you."
After composing herself, she placed his handkerchief in her pocket. "So, I noticed you traveled without guards, which isn't safe."
Her mouth twisted into a frown as she pointed at him. "Have your brothers scolded you yet?"
When he thought about it, he was surprised they hadn't scolded him. "No."
Her eyes widened as she gasped. "Really?"
"I am as surprised as you are."
Their eyes were wet with tears as they laughed historically. He loves laughing. Lying back on his bed, he felt her join him, their shoulders touching as they lay side-by-side. Upon claiming down, he wiped his eyes before reaching over to wipe hers when she stopped laughing.
"I love you." She whispered, breathing heavily.
He smiled. "I love you too."
Quiet fell into the room, a comfortable silence. The smile on his face could not be erased even if he tried. His stomach growled as he stared at the ceiling. He didn't want to move, but he knew he had to. Setting up he turned to look at her. "Food?" He asked.
Her eyes shifted nervously. "I… Effe."
"Right. Hold on." He searched his pockets and pulled out two chocolate bars. Handing her one.
"Thank you." She smiled.
His lips remained silent as he savored every last bite until he finished the chocolate. "Do you really think you can avoid her forever?" He asked cleaning his hands. "Effe is a maid. She's in the kitchen, doing laundry, cleaning the castle-"
"Okay, okay." She stopped him, rubbing her eyes and nose, groaning. "You're right, I'm bound to run into her at some point. However, it does not have to be today."
He laughed. "Whatever you say."
"Wolf!" She tickled him.
He laughed uncontrollably, trying to wiggle away from her. "S-stop! Please!"
"Am I interrupting?" asked a familiar voice, sounding amused.
"Father!" Gisela let him go, standing up and moving towards Günter von Christ, her adopted father since she was a baby, who stood near the door.
Standing up, he watched Günter hug his only child as he walked over to them. "Hi." He smiled and waved.
Günter beams with a smile that could rival the sun, bouncing up and down before throwing his arms around him and lifting him up and spinning him around. "Wolfram! I'm so happy to see you."
Laughing, he loved being held and spun around. He was disappointed when Günter let him go and put him back on his feet.
"Günter, you look just as you did when I saw you last."
Günter was his mother's advisor and moved into Covenant Castle when his mother did, and he is now the king's advisor.
"It's wonderful to see you, Wolfram. I kept all your letters but there's nothing like being together in person. Don't you agree?" He asked giving him a look.
"Ah, yeah." He laughed awkwardly. Sadness threatened to consume him. "I'm sorry."
Günter patted his head gently. "It's alright child."
"Father, we are not children." Gisela pouted, crossing her arms.
Günter smiled at her indulgently. "Of course not, my love."
A knock on the door drew their attention. Günter opened the door shortly thereafter, bowing slightly. "Your Eminence."
"Lord von Christ." His Eminence nodded in greeting. "Your presence is requested in the king's office."
Günter started bouncing again radiating happiness. "By Yuuri?"
"No. Lady Cäcilie von Spitzweg."
Günter stopped abruptly, lowering his head. "I see."
A sense of being watched swept over him but when he looked around no one was watching him. Shaking his head slightly, he examined his Eminence.
It is truly an honor to meet his Eminence. His black hair and black eyes are wonderful. He feels at peace with his Eminence and has this strange feeling like they've met before.
In an instant, Günter straightens, a serious look in his eyes and a frown on his face.
Startled by Günter he bent down to retrieve another chocolate bar from inside his sock. Popping a piece into his mouth.
"Please excuse me." His Eminence moves out of the way as Günter walks out the door without a backward glance.
Gisela laughed. "You didn't fool me. I'm glad your sweet tooth hasn't changed, Wolf."
He stuck his tongue out at her. "I wasn't trying to fool you."
Gisela smiled and rolled her eyes. "I want to follow my father, so come on, let's go."
She grabbed his hand and dragged him out the door, ignoring his protest. Once again, his Eminence moved out of the way. But unlike with Günter he followed us.
He wanted to grab his Eminence's hand, but he resisted.
"It's an honor to meet you, your Eminence." He said looking over his shoulder at his Eminence, bowing his head.
His Eminence smiled. "The honor is mine, Lord von Bielefeld."
He stumbled multiple times. If Gisela hadn't held his hand, he would have hit the ground before reaching the king's office.
Outside the king's office his Eminence opened the door and walked in without knocking. A tiny bit of the door is left open making it easier for eavesdropping.
His Eminence is fascinating. He thought, smiling.
"You are absolutely useless!" His mother shouted, startling them. "I don't know why I bother asking you, Günter."
Conrart sighed. "Mother it isn't Günter fault he doesn't remember."
"Well of course, he doesn't remember because he's already decided you boys are right and I am wrong."
"You are wrong!" Gwendal yelled.
"How dare you! I am your mother!" Mother yelled back.
Anissina von Karbelnikoff scoffed. "I feel sorry for your sons having to call someone like yourself their mother."
"Excuse me!"
"Did I stutter?"
"Now, now, lady Cäcilie hitting is wrong." Josak sing-songed.
"Lady Cäcilie hit Anissina?" Gisela whispered, sounding scandalized.
"Josak stopped her." He whispered back. He could see into the office better than Gisela but not by much.
"Let go of me! Her punishment is well deserved, no matter what I do to her."
"Enough!" He felt his heart skip a beat when His Majesty's eyes looked directly at him. "Everyone needs to calm down. Leave my office separately and cool off. Right now!"
Gisela grabbed his hand. "Wolf, let's get out of here."
Nodding his agreement the two of them retreated the way they had come.
"Gosh that was intense. What do you think that was all about?" Gisela asked.
"I don't know." They were safely back in his room sitting on his bed eating chocolate. Or he was. Gisela smiled and said no thank you when he offered her a chocolate bar.
"Will you ask your brothers?"
He snorted. "No. Will you ask your father?"
She looked at him like he was crazy. "No."
"Alright then."
A/N: I hope you enjoyed!!! Review!!!