A/N: I'm terribly sorry for the long wait! Life just got in the way. Thank you for taking the time to read this chapter. I hope you enjoy it. I don't think it's my best work. I would appreciate if you could let me know what you think or what you would like to see. Love you all and happy holidays!


"Are you ready, Wolfram?" Conrart asked, his hand outstretched.

He smiled and nodded, taking his brother's hand. Together, they made their way to the dining room, where Gwendal, Mother, Anissina, Günter, his Eminence, and the King were already seated.

Gwendal stood, a smile spreading across his face, and pulled out the chair next to him. "Here, baby brother," he said. "Please accept my apologies for not accompanying you to dinner."

Joy blossomed in his heart, and he beamed up at his brother. "Thank you," he said before taking his seat. "But you don't have to. I know you're busy."

Gwendal moved to push his chair in, and he felt the gentle press of a kiss to the top of his head.

"Nonsense," Gwendal told him. "I will never be too busy for you."

He couldn't contain the giggles seeping past his lips as his brother's words filled him with happiness, from the tips of his ears to the soles of his feet. He really missed his brothers and never wanted to be apart from them ever again!

He felt an urge to be playful. He tried to mask his delight by appearing earnest, but his siblings' fond smiles made it obvious that he wasn't convincing anyone. Unable to suppress his euphoria any more, he erupted into a fit of giggles again.

The moment was cut short when he heard a loud throat clearing and saw his mother glaring at him. His jubilation evaporated as a chill ran down his spine. He could tell from her expression that she was not pleased.

"There you go again, spoiling him," she said, shaking her head in disgust.

"Stop." Conrart spoke sternly, conveying his upset just as powerfully as if he had shouted.

Mother firmly slammed her hand down. "No! He should look for a suitable partner and make his mother proud. It would be a shame for him to turn out like you and Gwendal, who are both single and without any prospects!"

"Lady Cäcilie, this is highly inappr- "

The loud, startling laughter that Anissina let out effectively silenced Günter and caused everyone in the room to jolt, all eyes suddenly turning towards her.

"You're just jealous, Cäcilie, because you're not the center of attention." Anissina smirked.

Anger contorted Mother's face as she opened her mouth to speak, but her words were silenced before she could utter them.

"Enough!" The king's intense gaze and authoritative demeanor filled the room, leaving no doubt that he would not tolerate the continuance of this line of conversation. His presence commanded respect and obedience.

He closed his eyes and savored the feeling of the warmth that surrounded him, sending delightful sensations to his most pleasurable spots. All he wanted for dinner was chocolate and to be in the king's embrace.

"Yes!" Günter exclaimed, "Oh your Majesty, how- "

"Eat your food Günter!" Mother snapped at him.

A warm hand touched his arm, and he looked up into Conrart's concerned eyes. "Are you alright, little brother?"

Embarrassed, he melted into the soft touch. "Yes," he murmured, his heart longing for something sweet. He asked, "Do you think I could have some chocolate?"

Gwendal kissed his cheek and said, "Whatever you desire, it's yours." He then reached out and tenderly ran his fingers through his hair.

The King offered gently, "Would you like some of Effe's renowned chocolate cake? I can have her bring it to you right away." His eyes were filled with warmth and kindness.

With flushed cheeks, he shyly glanced down at his hands, which were resting on his lap. "P-please? If it's not too much trouble?"

The king let out a hearty laugh. "It's no trouble at all. In fact, I'll join you."

He was taken aback with amazement. "Y-you like sweets?" he asked, his eyes widening in wonder.

The King gave a sly smirk and declared, "Not 'like', 'love'! I'm a sweet lover." He winked playfully.

His heart raced, and his hands trembled. He was overcome with a feeling of dizziness and warmth radiating through his body. It was like he was in an ethereal, dream-like state. Staring at his majesty, the air was filled with a hazy mist, as if he was in a fairytale.

He took a deep breath and quickly glanced around the room to ensure no one was watching. His eyes fell upon the mouthwatering slice of chocolate cake and the tall glass of milk that Effe was placing in front of him. "Thank you." He whispered. His saliva glands worked overtime at the sight.

Beaming with delight, he grabbed his fork and ate.

He paid little attention to the surrounding conversations, only looking up once he had devoured his meal, savoring every morsel and draining his cup to the very last drop.

His Eminence cleared his throat. "Lord von Bielefeld, if you don't desire more, I would be honored to walk you back to your room."

He felt a wave of unease wash over him as he noticed all the eyes in the room shifting between his Eminence and himself. "I'm finished."

His Eminence smiled. "Well, then- "

"Murata!"

His Eminence chuckled softly as a sly smile crept across his face. "Problem, Shibuya?" His Eminence inquired, his tone deceptively light.

Gwendal spoke, his voice clear and strong, slicing through the tense atmosphere that had filled the room. Thank you, but Conrart and I will escort our baby brother to his room.

"No, I will," Mother said firmly.

"Mother!" Both of his brothers exclaimed in unison, their faces displaying a combination of anxiety and determination. It was clear they were ready to argue.

Mother fixed them with a steely gaze. "What's the problem here? I'm just escorting my son to his room." Mother said, her lips curving into a smirk as she brushed her long, silky hair off her shoulder. "My meal is finished. Let's go, Wolfie."

He inhaled deeply, attempting to calm his jitters, and flashed his brothers a reassuring grin. He rose from the dining room table and trailed after his mom.


He felt a knot in his stomach as he returned to his room. His body was tense, and he was filled with dread. All he wanted was to be back with his siblings and the king. What was he thinking, agreeing to go with his mother? Stupid!

Rather than abandon him to his own devices as they arrived at his room, she followed him inside and shut the door firmly behind her.

Unable to help himself, he jumped slightly.

Mother looked at him with disdain. "Do you know how pathetic you are? Did I raise you to be a baby forever? You're a grown adult now. Why not take this opportunity to find someone to marry before it's too late? I didn't raise you to be a spinster, so don't let that be your fate!"

Tears welled up in his eyes as he nervously ran his hands up and down his arms.

"Cat got your tongue? Speak up crybaby!" He felt a sharp sting across his face as mother slapped him, sending him crashing to the floor. He was grateful that the soft carpet cushioned his fall.

His hand tremble as he brought it up to his damp cheek. "Why are you treating me like this?" he asked, his voice wavering.

"Your so foolish!" She screamed.

"Mother, you're scaring me."

Mother leaned in; her face filled with anger as she clutched his hair with her hand. Her blazing eyes stared into his with intensity. "Am I scaring you?" Mother asked, her voice shaking with rage as she shook him with each word. "I'm just trying to keep you from becoming old and alone, like your brothers. What is so frightening about that?"

Mother reluctantly let him go, and he lay there, curled up in the fetal position, his body trembling with silent sobs. Tears streamed down his cheeks, his face contorted in anguish as he desperately wished for his brothers to hold him and take away the pain.

"If anyone is frightened," Mother said, her voice trembling, "it's me. I'm the one who gave birth to such pathetic sons. Do you know how embarrassing it is to be the prime example of perfection when I have such a fatal flaw?" Mother spat out the last few words.

She raised her hand as though she was about to hit him again, when suddenly the door to his bedroom flew open with a loud bang, shocking them both.

"That's enough, Lady Cäcilie!" His Majesty commanded, striding into the room with an authoritative air. His arms were crossed across his broad chest, his stance so tense it seemed he was ready to lunge forward at any moment. His voice was firm and unwavering as he continued, "I won't have any more of this nonsense!"

His mother backed away, her face pale and her eyes wide with fear.

After an intense moment of the king and his mother staring at each other, the king shifted his gaze to him. His eyes were warm and inviting, and he offered his hand to help him up. Blushing, tears continuing to stream down his face, he reached out and grasped it. When he tried to pull away, the king held on, pulling him close and enveloping him in a warm, comforting embrace.

"I'm sorry for the pain you have endured," he whispered, his voice caressing his soul like a gentle breeze. "But I want you to know that you are safe here with me. I will never let anyone hurt you again - I promise."

The king leaned down and kissed his forehead tenderly, sending waves of warmth and love washing over him. His heart swelled with emotion and he felt truly safe and loved. He let out a sigh of contentment as the king's arms held him close and the sound of his beating heart filled him with warmth and peace.

The king ran his hand soothingly down his hair as he addressed his mother. "You cannot make your children's decisions for them," he said sternly. "They must choose their own path in life."

"Your Majesty, I apologize for my disrespect. But as their mother, I'm sure you can understand why I feel the way I do. After all, if I can't make them obey me, what is the purpose of having children in the first place?"

The king stiffened. "Retire to your own room now, lady Cäcilie."

"But your Majesty," his mother said, her voice sounding alarmed. "My son and I are not finished."

"Now!" The king demanded.

The gentle click of the door closing filled him with a deep sadness as he buried his face further into the king's shoulder.

A peaceful stillness enveloped them as the king softly asked, his warm breath caressing his skin, sending shivers down his spine. "Are you alright?"

"Yes," he whispered softly, before lifting his gaze to see the king's face lit up with a beautiful smile.

You are so beautiful," the king said, leaning in closer.

"I…"

"I've been looking for someone like you my whole life."

He inhaled sharply, his eyes widening in surprise. "What?"

The King studied him intently, his eyes shifting with a gentle rhythm that made him feel like the king was looking at his soul. "Would you like to have dinner just the two of us tomorrow?"

He beamed with delight. "Yes, absolutely! I'd be honored, Your Majesty."

The king wipes at his cheeks with one hand, making him feel fuzzy. "Call me Yuuri."

"Ok." He spoke softly, his body trembled with desire.

His heart raced as Yuuri's eyes softened, touching their foreheads together. "You are so precious to me," he breathed.

He clung to Yuuri desperately, wanting to stay in this moment forever. But Yuuri pulled away, and he felt a painful longing in his chest.

"I'm afraid I must go."

"Why must you go?" He pleaded.

"Paperwork." Yuuri laughed, leaning in to kiss his cheeks, nose, forehead, chin and finally the corner of his mouth. "Goodnight, sweetheart," Yuuri whispered before leaving.

He felt the ghost of Yuuri's lips on his skin, and he wished he could have stayed in his embrace forever.


He crept into Gwendal's room that night, singing a soft lullaby to choose between his elder brother and Conrart.

Gwendal smiled and opened his arms, silently inviting him in. Sinking into the comforting embrace, he started to cry, and Gwendal pulled him even closer, his warmth enveloping him.

"Why are you crying, little one?" Gwendal asked.

"I'm so happy," he sobbed.

"Ah, I'm glad you're happy," Gwendal said, stroking his back.

"Thank you," he said, closing his eyes and basking in the safety of his brother's arms.

"Did she hurt you?"

"Who?"

"Mother."

He shook his head, nestling even deeper into Gwendal's embrace.

"I don't want you to ever be scared, little one," Gwendal said, kissing the top of his head.

"I'm not scared," he said, a small smile forming on his lips.

Gwendal shifted him in his arms and kissed his forehead. "You should always come to me or Conrart if you need help or protection," Gwendal said, his voice low and soothing.

"I will," he whispered, feeling safe and secure in his brother's arms.

They both heard the door creak open a second later and saw Conrart slip under the covers next to them.

"Hey there," Conrart said, smiling brightly.

"I'm glad you're here," Gwendal said, his eyes connecting with Conrart's.

"I'm glad I'm here too," Conrart said, his voice gentle and kind.

He looked between them, feeling the love and security they both radiated.

Gwendal and Conrart looked down at him, both wearing identical expressions of love and understanding.

"We both love you," Conrart said, his voice filled with emotion.

He smiled, and he felt a warmth spread through his chest. He knew they both truly cared for him and that he could always count on them.

"I love you too," he said, his voice soft but full of emotion.

Gwendal and Conrart both pulled him closer.

He melted into their arms, feeling the unconditional love they had for him.

Gwendal kissed the top of his head, and Conrart ran his fingers through his hair.

He felt his heart swell with joy, and he closed his eyes, savoring the moment.

Conrart smiled and whispered, "You are so special, Wolfram. We are so lucky to have you as our little one."

Gwendal nodded in agreement, and he felt a tear roll down his cheek.

He knew he was safe in their arms, and no matter what happened, he could always count on them to be there for him and to love him unconditionally.


A/N: I apologize if this chapter doesn't make much sense. Please provide feedback on what you would like to see in this story by writing a review or sending me a personal message.