Adult-FanFiction.org : Anime

A Marriage of State	By : Niko Category: +G to L > Kyou Kara Maou Views: 2727 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Kyou Kara Maou or any rights to its story, characters or plot. I make no money from this.

Chapter List
- 3
- 4
- 5
Chapter Three
Yuuri rose up from the waters of the temple fountain and breathed in with a contented sigh; he was home again. Thoroughly soaked with a lily pad draped over one shoulder, he turned his head, scanning the central yard for familiar faces of which he could see none. In the wings a handful of priestesses gigged and smiled towards them, heads bowing in respect as they continued on. The sight of their king as a dripping fountain decoration was too common to arouse any special attention. Yuuri sighed again, this time in longing. It would have been very nice to have been surrounded by the lovely priestesses in the absence of his retainers. He pulled himself from the shallow pool, careful of making too much more of a mess by slipping on the mossy cobblestones on the bottom. He took a seat at the fountain's edge, taking off whatever modesty would allow to wring dry. He poured the water out of his nearly ruined shoes as Murata sat patiently beside him.
"Ah, Murata, I envy you getting to stay here with all these pretty girls," Yuuri remarked, shaking water from his bangs with his fingers. "Most of the people I spend my time around are attractive looking men."
Murata shrugged with a cat's plotting grin. "I guess there are some perks to babysitting Shinou," he said, waving to Ulrike as the tiny woman approached, slow with grace. An entourage with towels and a change of clothes walked behind her, offering each their appropriate stack of black school uniforms and fluffy cotton cloth.
Yuuri thanked them. "Are the others on their way?"
Ulrike bowed her head slightly with hesitation. "Ah... you're highness, I'm afraid the Original King was slow to announce your imminent arrival. A messenger had been sent but it may still take some time."
"Well, it can't be helped." Yuuri smiled and stood as Murata wiped the droplets of water from his glasses.
They changed into their dry clothes and waited for the thunder of hooves up the hill, Murata keeping his friend company though he seemed eager to retire to his normal temple haunts. Above the sky was cloudless and sunny and on the air the smell of wood burning stoves from the peddler streets and homes made Yuuri hold his deep breath before loudly exhaling with satisfaction. There was a slight chill all around, catching on the damp of his hair with a feint shiver despite the sun having fallen only a few degrees below midday. There was something of change in the air.
"Feels like winter is on it's way. Ah, and the trees are still so green! I wonder how the seasons change here."
Murata shook his head with amusement. "Same as back home, Shibuya. Not everything is so different."
"I want to see my kingdom in every season." Yuuri leaned against a stone column, looking out over the town and countryside where chimneys breathed smoke and trees birthed tens of hundreds of birds at every scare. If he looked hard, he could make out the occasional orange branch among the forest's blanket of green leaves. He enjoyed the autumn but more for the anticipation of fun than the simple pleasantness of its beauty. Winter brought back good memories of being a boy, memories of Shori and his parents, cocoa and marshmallows, presents, everyone around the kotatsu after hours of limb chilling fun in the snow. "I can't wait for it to be winter," he said. "There will be so much to do and Greta will look so cute in a winter coat and hat and we can take her sledding and make snowmen. Winter is the best time to be a father."
"You've never had winter in a cold, drafty castle before." Murata warned, his own memories much more pertinent that those of America and Japan. "Besides, there's no baseball in winter, Shibuya."
"All the more reason to spend a lot of time here." Yuuri crossed his arms behind his head, crossing his legs at the ankles. "After this past season, I'm looking forward to a break."
Murata smiled, adjusting his glasses. "Still sore about Sawada missing that catch?"
"No," he lied with an indignant pout. "He did his best. We all did. Next season we'll see if we can find someone who plays a good shortstop and just maybe move him to right field or something." He'd really wanted to win a shot at the championship.
A wave of birds took to the air as a rumble of horse steps drew nearer. Yuuri smiled, guessing at which retainers would be sent to retrieve him. Conrad would be there without fail, probably Wolfram too unless the aggressive prince had missed the messenger's announcement. Gunter--sweet Gunter--would hopefully have been too busy to come and spare him the awkwardness of having two men fight for his immediate attention. It was embarrassing enough at home in the castle where Murata wasn't likely to see. He imagined as soon as he left, the priestesses which had mostly taken to hiding while he stood there would come back out and fawn over their Great Sage with all the sweetness and affection a guy could hope for. And who did Murata spend all this time with? The only other man genuinely allowed in the temple in the first place. Life wasn't fair sometimes and though Murata would never rub it in, his Cheshire grin made it obvious that he was pleased with his life's arrangement. With a head that full of memory, though, it was probably a small consolation.
There were only two horses that winded up the path towards them: the one on which Conrad road and Ao being lead behind him. Yuuri felt instantly encouraged by the sight. It would be a quiet homecoming after all. He waved his arms in the air, smile running from ear to ear. "Conrad!"
"Shibuya."
Yuuri turned his head, looking over his shoulder at his friend. "What is it?"
The glare on his glasses obscured Murata's eyes completely, making his expression unreadable. "Look," he said.
Yuuri quirked his head in confusion, turning his attention back to his approaching retainer where he saw--as had been intended--the slightly sullen smile the soldier wore that paled in comparison to Conrad's usual sunny grin. He waited until the man was close, running up to his horse almost before he'd given him time to dismount.
"Your Highness, I'm sorry to keep you waiting."
"It's Yuuri, Conrad," Yuuri corrected automatically. He frowned in worry. "Is something wrong?"
Conrad's face faltered further.
They left the temple at not much more than a trot, horses side by side on the path that lead to Blood Pledge Castle through the busy streets of Shin Makoku. There was no hurry, not in their travel or in Conrad's readiness to speak. It filled Yuuri with cold dread. Waiting was hard. He fiddled with the strap of his reins, metal clinking idly as he fidgeted uncomfortably. The leather felt soft with polish and slightly oily in his hands. Ao was an excellent horse, especially for one as inexperienced as him. He gave his neck and mane a brief stroke, careful not to accidentally make a move that would send his horse dashing down the path ahead. He looked for changing leaves around them, anything to keep his mind from inventing miseries. Every time he heard Conrad's breathing change he sat up straighter, waiting expectantly for him to speak. Conrad coughed into his fist and continue riding. After the third time Yuuri's patience was at it's limit.
"Are you sick?"
Conrad smiled softly at the concern. "Allergies, Your Highness. I'll be fine."
Yuuri was thankful for that but unsatisfied. "Is everyone else okay? What about Greta?"
"Greta has a touch of the sniffles. Probably something is in the air," The soldier explained.
"I guess it's a good thing I'm back, then. I'm not sure how much I'd trust Wolfram's bedside manner."
Conrad flinched, face a mask of seriousness that Yuuri had learned to fear. It was the Bearer-of-Bad-News expression, the worn out frown that would rather express happy tidings than necessary issues. It was Gwendal's face, kill-joy and resigned. It was worn better by the serious man; Yuuri had become too accustomed to the soldier's smile. Conrad kept his eyes forward, voice deep. "Wolfram's not there, Yuuri," he said simply. His words seemed to imply something more than simple absence.
Yuuri's heart felt like it had stopped mid beat, hollow of blood and yet fit to burst. "Conrad?... Is.. Wolfram..?"
He shook his head, though his expression remained grim. "No. He's not dead."
Yuuri's heart fell back in pace, bringing color back to the sudden pale of his cheeks. He breathed a long sigh of relief, leaning heavily against the Ao's neck. "Ah, you scared me! Don't look so serious when you say things like that. Is it Waltrana again?"
"Wolfram is married and living with his husband in Trebic."
The king looked at his retainer, sure he'd misheard. Conrad would not meet his eye. "How long have I been gone?"
"Six weeks, four days." Conrad's simple answer was a little more precise than Yuuri had expected.
The king shook his head, confused thoughts too jumbled together to make any sense of what he was hearing. "Wait, Trebic... those are the guys with the angry navy in the south, right? The ones Gwendal was trying to settle with?"
"Did settle," he corrected. "We have had peaceful waters for the past two weeks."
"Really? That's fantastic! So.. did Wolfram fall in love with some kind of diplomat?" He imagined a beautiful man the likes of Sara coming to call on Blood Pledge Castle, regal and refined. Someone like Wolfram would definitely marry someone beautiful and rich and a diplomat would know just how to handle his jealous rage and bossy attitude. Maybe him living so far away was hard on the middle brother. Maybe it was a human he'd married. Yuuri thought Conrad of all people would feel differently, though. "Still, to get married so soon... and all this time he's called me the cheater."
"Had he a choice, Yuuri, I'm sure he would have remained faithful to you forever." Conrad's bitterness was painful to hear. "As it stands, his loyalty to your ideals is all he may keep."
Yuuri had had enough. He pulled his horse to stop, Ao obeying with a toss of his head. "Conrad, what are you talking about? I don't understand."
The older man stopped as well, looking older by the second as he gazed at his king with eyes muddied by inaction. The smell of lit hearths and baked goods were even more evident in the air as they stood only a minute outside the busy streets. The castle itself loomed over them in the sky, silent save for the occasional rattling of bones on the rooftops. The reins felt harsh against his palms as Yuuri squeeze them hard in fists against his thighs. His eyes would not leave Conrad's no matter how painful the look in them became.
"Wolfram was married into the Trebic royal family as part of the peace treaty. He is there as a symbolic gesture and to obligate our alliance with blood."
Yuuri waited for the punchline or some sign that such an archaic thing was all just a practical joke. Seeing none he jerked on the reins and dashed up towards the castle. He could hear Conrad call for him, hear his horse gallop behind to catch up or overtake. Yuuri needed to see Gwendal. Something had to be done. Sensing his riders determination, Ao ran as fast as his legs would allow, tearing down the main street like a true demon's steed. It could be undone, Yuuri told himself as he held on tight. Somehow he could make it alright.
- 3
- 4
- 5
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

A Marriage of State