Breakfast would have been much nicer, if not for the fact that Conrad's entire family was in attendance. Now don't get him wrong. He loved his everyone in his family very dearly. Truly.

However.

It was one thing for Ichigo to meet Gwendal and his mother. They could at least be pleasant company. His younger brother, Wolfram however...was not very pleasant at all. Especially given his absolute hatred of humans and all things human related.

So when they were both ambushed by his not so nice younger brother in the dining room, Conrad felt the bottom drop out of his stomach in anxiety and his eyes automatically went to Ichigo's face. Idly wondering if she would let it slide if he suddenly tossed her over his shoulder and ran like hell out of the room.

But once his eyes went back to his younger brother and he saw the cruel smile curving his lips, he knew with absolute certainty that if he did that- Wolfram would chase them down and likely harm Ichigo.

Even though he didn't like it- it was probably best for them to stand their ground now. At least Gwendal and his mother were both present at the moment.

So, Conrad had some hope that Ichigo would be protected from Wolfram's nasty temper as the boy walked over to them and gave their Queen a once over before ramming his shoulder into her hard enough to nearly knock her over.

He reacted automatically and grabbed her to prevent her from falling but quickly realized that it was Wolfram who had actually fallen over from the little stunt.

What the? He wondered as he glanced down at Ichigo and noticed that she didn't look particularly bothered by being bumped into. Much less bothered by the fact that Wolfram was trying to bully her.

Conrad felt his anxiety spike.

But quickly smiled and led Ichigo over to the chair that his mother usually sat in. It was located to the right of Gwendal and was far enough away from his younger brother that hopefully the boy wouldn't make any attempts at throwing fire balls at her from across the table during their meal.

He had just seated Ichigo when his mother ran up and pressed herself against him in much the same manner she had in the bath earlier.

"Oh Conrart, you're looking more and more handsome by the day. Just like your father." She giggled.

He gave her a genuine smile and replied affectionately. "And you get lovelier by the day, my dear."

She grinned up at him and gave him a playful little smack on the chest, "I bet you say that to all the ladies." She said teasingly before going on to plaster herself against Gwendal.

Conrad took a second to check on Ichigo and saw her frowning at the exchange between his older brother and his mother. Probably because they were speaking the demon language, and she didn't understand what was being said just yet.

Though he doubted that he really needed to tell her what was being said during the exchange between his mother and Wolfram. Especially when his ornery younger brother was squished into their mother's bosom while she cooed over him.

Moving to stand between both of his siblings, he took the time to introduce Gwendal, Wolfram, and his mother to her so that she wouldn't be confused any longer. And couldn't help the stab of hurt he felt when Wolfram reacted as he always did whenever he tried to be affectionate with him and slapped his hand away from him and called him a filthy human.

Ichigo didn't miss the hurt in his expression, fleeting as it was. And she stood up and walked over to him and then grabbed his hand and gently started to herd him away from his younger brother so that he could hang out with her on her side of the table.

He pointed out that there weren't enough chairs for him to sit there. But she merely told him that he could sit in her lap if he really wanted to. Conrad knew that she was obviously very upset by Wolfram's behavior towards him and simply wanted him to feel loved and appreciated. Which he thought was very sweet of her.

Really it was.

But it was also totally unnecessary since such things could be seen as a form of courtship and he very much doubted that she realized that. Not only that but if he dared to do as she suggested his mother- who was very much a romantic at heart- would see it as a way to have Ichigo marry into their family.

And while he didn't doubt that his mother would eventually offer, he and his brothers up for marriage to their Queen. He wanted to avoid such a situation for just a bit longer. At least until Ichigo was settled a bit more into her role since that would make things easier on everyone.

"Here, you can use this chair." Ichigo said as he dragged the chair that she'd originally been using over so that he could use it.

"But if I use this chair...where will you sit?" He asked wondering what was going on in her mind for the moment.

"I can stand. I've eaten while standing before, so it doesn't bother me any." She said with a warm smile.

Conrad could tell that while she was trying to be helpful to him and protect him from Wolfram's nasty temper and opinions- she hadn't really thought things through. She had just...reacted.

Again, it was sweet of her. But also, still unnecessary.

Conrad couldn't help the fondness that he felt for her then. Especially since he likened Ichigo trying to protect him from his younger brother to that of a child trying to protect an adult. He knew deep down that that wasn't really the case. After all, she was an adult despite her youth.

But he also couldn't help but see parallels since the description fit the present situation.

Placing a hand on her head, he ruffled her hair as he would any other child. It probably wasn't the best thing for him to do given that it could offend her. But he wasn't really sure what else to do to convey his growing affection for her.

"Thank you, for trying to protect me. But I should be okay next to Gwendal." He said in a hushed tone. Ichigo looked as if she wanted to argue with him for a second or so but eventually sighed in defeat.

"Very well. But if the brat says or does anything hurtful towards you again...I'm tossing him out of the nearest window."

He blinked at her, his eyes going wide at the threat. It took him several seconds to picture her actually tossing Wolfram out of the nearest window to finally react with a small chuckle.

That would certainly be worth seeing. He thought in amusement as he went to take his place between his older and younger siblings while his mother quickly pounced on Ichigo and began firing questions at her.

"I heard that you were involved in an incident of some kind yesterday and were injured. How are you feeling, dear." She began, and Conrad opened his mouth to tell his mother that Ichigo hadn't learned their language yet when his Queen replied in flawless demon language. Surprising the hell out of him.

"I'm alright. Kind of restless. Maybe a bit on the tired side, but still okay." Ichigo replied and watched as Conrad's jaw dropped open for several moments in stunned disbelief.

His mother smiled kindly and reached out to gently place her hand on Ichigo's arm. "I'm so very glad to hear that. We wouldn't know what to do if anything terrible happened to you..."

Ichigo cocked her head at the woman as the blond then smiled brightly and announced as she clapped her hands together, "Now, then on to the other things. How old are you?"

"I'm eighteen, ma'am."

"Oh. And how many lovers have you had?"

"Lovers?"

"Yes, lovers. How many men have you had in your bed?"

"None."

"Aw, why not?" Cecilie whined.

"Because I'm saving myself for marriage." Ichigo replied with a frown.

"Oh! So, you're planning to marry then?"

"Eventually."

"Well, if you need any help finding someone special to fill the role of your husband and consort-" Cecilie started as she leaned in closer to Ichigo.

"Mother." Conrad hissed out, already knowing what the woman was going to say. And he did not want to be offered up for marriage just yet. What would the children- er, he meant Yozak and Gunter- think?

"I have three lovely sons who would just kill to be the object of your affections."

Conrad groaned and buried his face in his hands and prayed to the Great One that Ichigo would forget his mother's offer as Wolfram spat, "Like hell! I would never want a filthy human's affections. Much less work for one!"

Cecilie straightened her spine almost automatically and looked at her youngest son and asked him in a displeased tone. "Wolfram, do you intend to take the throne for yourself?"

"Wha- no! There is someone better suited. And that's my older brother Gwendal."

"I don't want the throne." Gwendal said as the doors to the kitchen finally opened and the maids began to pour into the room with various dishes carefully balanced on their fingertips. Everything went silent for a few minutes as the women placed the dishes onto the table and then severed everyone their food before finally bowing and retreating back to the kitchen.

Once they were gone, Cecilie asked in a tired tone, "Do you intend to continue with this tiresome tantrum Wolfie? After all, you could incur the wrath of the Great One if you don't stop."

Gwendal made a choking sound that had Conrad glancing his way as Wolfram recoiled as if he'd been bitten by a snake. "Wha? But why? Why should we have to listen to-"

"Because the Great One has deemed her worthy to rule us." Gwendal finally chimed in, seeming to have finally have enough of his younger brother's nonsense.

"Why though?" Wolfram demanded as he shot Ichigo a glare and then yelled. "What's so damned special about a pathetic human girl that she deserves the honor and esteem that comes from being our Queen?"

"I honestly don't know," Gwendal replied as he looked Ichigo over. Despite what the Great One had told him the previous night; he was having some trouble grasping whether or not the words were true. Though he wouldn't even say that he believed that the Great One would lie about such a thing, aloud. That would simply be stupid. Not to mention suicidal. And he was neither of those things. "But the Great One's word is law. Especially in this matter."

"I don't care. I won't take orders from her!" Wolfram yelled as he moved one of his hands and sent his silverware clattering to the floor. There were a few seconds of utter silence. No one moved at all.

Wolfram sent her a weird look. And so did Conrad now that Ichigo thought about it.

But she ignored them both and simply stayed seated in her chair as Wolfram growled like a literal dog and suddenly shouted at her. "You idiot! Pick up the knife, now!"

"Wolfram! Stop this behavior now. You're out of line!" Conrad ground out from between clenched teeth as he jumped to his feet and slammed his hands down on the table in anger.

He looked as if he were about to lose his temper with his younger brother. And while she felt bad about that, she also didn't really know what to do to defuse the situation that her mere presence had seemed to create.

Somehow, she doubted that treating the boy like her little sister, Karin, and getting up and hugging him would do anything but make more trouble for her in the long run.

Still... there at least had to be something that she could do. She was about to speak, when Gwendal distracted her by finally asking her. "So, you actually intend to take the throne then? Even given your current health?"

"Ah, yes. I do!" She replied, cringing a little bit as Conrad and Wolfram started shouting obscenities at each other.

Gwendal sighed and shot a glare at the two in aggravation and then raised his voice a bit just so that she could hear him over them and the noise that they were making.

"Being a Queen to a nation like ours can be tiring at best. And more difficult than necessary at times. Not to mention dangerous. Are you sure that you want to do it?"

"Yes, I'm sure!" Ichigo called out loudly. Though she was trying not to shout.

She felt like an idiot sitting beside Cecilie, nearly shouting over the others just to be heard as things escalated even more and she saw Wolfram start to wind one of his arms back to hit Conrad and reacted instantly.

Now, she wasn't usually someone who got violent with people unless they had it really coming. Especially not kids. However, there was a limit to what she was willing to allow at the moment given her present physical state. And being weaker than usual was really starting to grate on her nerves and make her jumpy.

Sure, if she had been in peak physical condition, then she wouldn't have bothered to do what she was about to do because she had the strength of a monster. And always had to temper her strength just to interact with others.

But she would not allow someone, anyone really, to hurt one of her friends. New as he may be, she protected her own. So there.

She grabbed a nearby pitcher of cold water that had been sitting on the table a few feet away and tossed it on both of them. The loud roar of outrage and anger that escaped the two was just horrible. Honestly, the loudness of the sounds was nearly enough to make Ichigo feel as if her ears were about to begin bleeding.

It was that bad.

Yet once the sound died down, everything went eerily silent and still again.

It was at that point that she finally decided to stand up and leave her chair to walk around the table, with the pitcher still in hand. And move over to stand next to both of the brothers as they slowly turned their heads to look at her wide eyed in surprise.

"The two of you need to stop arguing and sit down. You're embarrassing your mother and older brother," Two pairs of green and brown eyes blinked at her as if they didn't comprehend what was happening. "Not only that but this is neither the time or the place to tear into each other. If there's going to be bloodshed between you, then take that crap outside so that you don't make your poor mom cry!"

Wolfram opened his mouth as if to say something- probably to tell her to but out or curse at her, but she stopped him by leaning in and whispering in his ear that if he didn't want to clean every toilet in the castle with his tongue for the next year then he'd mind his manners and sit the fuck down.

He gaped at her like a fish while Conrad who had obviously heard her threat quickly seated himself and had the good sense to look ashamed of himself. Whereas Wolfram had to be shoved down into his seat by his shoulder.

After that she gave the smiled two a sugary sweet smile and said cheerfully. "We are all going to sit here and eat our breakfasts and have a nice time. Aren't we?"

Conrad nodded his head mutely while Wolfram continued to gape at her as if she were crazy. And maybe she was, just a bit. But she wasn't going to let their behavior towards one another continue. Especially if it was going to spiral into actual violence.

It was one thing for brothers to argue. But it was another entirely for things to escalate into a brawl.

And it stopped here.

After that, breakfast was a much nicer affair. Wolfram's behavior did an entire one-eighty, and he behaved himself for the rest of breakfast. While Conrad apologized for upsetting her and asked her if she were overly upset with him.

She wasn't.

But she didn't exactly say that aloud because she wanted him to squirm a bit after his behavior earlier. She felt that she had to impress upon him the severity of what could have happened if things had continued to spiral out of control. And she honestly felt like he understood that even if he didn't voice his thoughts on the subject.

Aside from the difference in Wolfram's behavior, Ichigo also managed to ask questions about the Demon Tribe and its people as well as the tribe's politics, history, and other things. All of which appeared to startle Gwendal a bit since no other King or Queen tended to ask such questions.

Apparently, the past rulers of the Demon Tribe simply took the throne and did as they pleased with the power and money that came with it. Leaving the people to more or less fend for themselves for better or worse.

Ichigo found that more than a little bit appalling. After all, if you're going to rule a nation of people, then you should put some actual work into it. Not just do as you please.

That was a terrible disservice to the people that you ruled over and was a poor reflection on the one sitting on the throne. No wonder Gwendal had asked her if she actually intended to be their Queen. They'd been left to govern themselves too many times and were a bit gun-shy.

Poor things. She thought, idly wondering about what needed the most attention right then.

"Gwendal, do you think that you can give me a few ideas about what needs my attention the most? I mean, I understand that you're having issues with humans. But aside from that- is there anything else that needs my immediate attention?"

The grey-haired man set his cup of tea down quietly and stared at her intensely. His dark blue eyes boring into her as if he were trying to stare right into her soul.

"There are some things. But for the most part they are very small."

"What are they?"

"Well, there's a serious lack of moral among the soldiers that needs to be fixed. We've been having issues with some soldiers deserting."

Ichigo hummed in understanding and already had an idea of how to stop that. "What else?"

"There's also a matter of better weapons and armor. The monthly budget for the castle and any repairs it may need, food, fabrics for clothing, payments for the soldiers, the maids, and other staff residing here, etc."

Ichigo was quiet for a moment before asking, "Why haven't those been taken care of already?"

"To be honest, and this is a bit embarrassing to admit. But it's because we need your signature to sign off on those things. Without it, everything stalls and causes no end of trouble for us." Gwendal said.

She blinked and then frowned, her expression darkening a bit at the implications. "You mean that there is no one to act as my proxy for something like that?"

"There isn't." The man admitted.

"You would need to choose someone from among your retainers to be your proxy when it comes to paperwork." Ceilie explained.

"Who does the paperwork now?" She asked curiously. Her frown still in place.

"I do." Gwendal admitted, his face a little bit flushed from embarrassment. Though his expression stayed the same.

"Very well," Ichigo said and then turned her eyes to Conrad. "I think that exploring will have to wait a while."

"I understand, your majesty." Conrad said as he nodded his head.

Turning her attention back to Gwendal she ordered. "Alright. When everyone is finished up here, you will take me to take care of those papers as well as any others that need my approval. We'll have to separate those from the ones that can wait for now. And those that can't. I'll look them over and sign them so that we can get those things taken care of effective immediately."

Whatever the older man had been expecting her to say, that wasn't it. She could tell from the way that his expression changed. It was subtle, but she could tell that she had his approval by the way that a ghost of a smile curved his lips as he said, "Of course, your highness. We'll do that right away if your finished eating."

"I am."

"Conrad? What about you?" She asked, already knowing that he wanted to stay close to her.

"I finished several minutes ago." He said with a smile.

"Alright then. Let's go."