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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
- 6
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Chapter Six
Murata groaned as Yuuri shoved him down into the cushioned desk chair in front of the credenza, stacks of paper and inkwell waiting beside the cleared space on the protective pad.
“Gah, Shibuya!” he exclaimed, palms down on the hardwood surface. “I still don’t understand why you need my help.”
It was late afternoon, slowly falling sun shining down through the tall windows of the king’s bedchamber where the two young men gathered. Greta and the necessary members of Shin Makoku’s court were busy in their day-to-day, the conclusion of his morning meetings giving Yuuri time to escape. Finding Murata had been a stroke of luck he hadn’t planned on receiving and--knowing Shinou--was probably not entirely coincidental.
Yuuri picked up a fresh quill and held it out to his friend. “Because I need someone who can read and write their language.”
“Is this about Wolfram?” Murata asked, accepting the quill and brushing its feather absently against his chin. “Why do you need my help writing it? Why not ask Sir Weller?”
“Wolfram’s his little brother. It might be weird. I’m guessing you know what happened, right?”
The Great Sage reincarnate nodded. “Lord Voltaire is proving himself in both his strengths and weaknesses. I figured you might need someone to keep you from catching the first ship to Trebic but I didn’t expect this.” He tapped the tip of his quill into the black ink, blotting off the excess and tracing practice lines along his scrap for form and flow. “So, what are we writing? A confession?”
Yuuri sighed, leaning against the credenza. “Not the way you mean it. Just promise me you’ll help me with the correspondence, okay? Both the writing and reading parts until I can do it myself.”
“Alright, Shibuya. Whatever you feel is best.” Murata slid a fresh sheet of paper in front of himself, hand poised to begin with the address. “Ready when you are.”
With a long sigh and thoughts settled, Yuuri began to dictate.
-Wolfram,

-How are you? Things are fine here. Conrad told me what happened and Gwendal tried to explain why but it still feels wrong. It’s hard to sleep when I think about it. I could have prevented this if I had been here and we all know it. I’m not sure what I would have done instead but no matter what it would not have been this….
+Yuuri,

+When my mother made the mistake of listening to her advisors above her own sense, many people died. No one has died by your hand or decree so get some sleep already! I’m fine. I believe in your politics more than I do my brother’s but what we did seems to be doing everything we could have hoped for and more. As a king, you should be proud. It’s time you started to think and act like a king and consider the common good above the individual….
-I know you’re right, Wolfram, but I don’t think I can accept that. Everyone deserves the same rights to happiness and freedom whether they are a common person or a noble. I don’t want to make a world where peace is bought and sold this way. We should be nice to each other because we want to, not because we have something to gain….
+You can’t change the world until you have the world’s attention. I’m sorry I’ve failed you in your vision but perhaps it won’t be entirely in vain if I have at least increased your audience….
-I’m sorry. I don’t mean it like that. I should thank you but I don’t want you to think I want this for you. Did you see the ships we sent? There is a crate there full of stuff Greta and I put together for you. Back home it’s called a “care package”. …
+I’m fine, Yuuri. Stop apologizing so much. Anyone who found these letters would think we had a true wimp for a king.

+I received the crate. I don’t know why you sent me that stupid children’s book we were reading. If it was Greta, tell her thank you. If it was you, I hope you finished it before you sent it. I shouldn’t have to be the only one who has to read this ridiculous thing. When the next ship returns, I’ll see about sending something back. …
-Sorry for not writing back very soon. I went home. My mom says ‘hi’ and she sent me with a present since it’s Christmas. I hope it fits. Greta loved the chocolates you sent her and the dress. I guess that’s what people in Trebic wear? I want to visit but because of the Big Cimarron presence Gwendal says it has to wait. Probably until the wedding. I guess it’s none of my business but do you like your husband? Do you think you’ll love him someday?...
+No. I will never love him. My heart is made to love only one person and no one else. But he’ll be a good king someday. I will be able to tolerate him until his life is over, I think. And then, hopefully, I will be able to come home. Since humans live such short lives, I’ll still be quite young. Please leave a place for me to return to. And if you marry another man, I will kill you both.

+Alfie really liked that stupid children’s book you sent. The stuffed dragon I’m sending is from him to Greta. Why do you have to have such bad taste in books?....
-There will always be a place here for you, Wolfram, no matter what happens or how long it takes. But trust me, you don’t have to worry about me marrying a guy. Not now, not ever. ….

-Greta misses you a lot. She made a snowman family of you, me and her the other day. I was a very proud father. I wish there was a way to show you....

-You call him Alfie?...
+Most of his family call him Alfie. It’s just easier.

+We had a minor scuffle recently with Big Cimarron. They took out one of our ships and pretty badly damaged one of the Shin Makoku fleet as well. As Chief Consult for Human-Mazoku relations, I’ve been pretty busy. Is Gwendal purposefully sending half-mazoku sailors?...
-Sometimes I forget how much you’ve changed. Chief Consult for Human-Mazoku is amazing, Wolf! I’m glad they’re letting you contribute and you’re not just a prisoner or something. I remember when we first met how proud and arrogant and discriminating you were. I guess I never think about how big a change it’s been since most of the time you’re with me you’re the same old Wolfram who calls me a cheater and bullies me around. I know it sounds dumb but I am really happy to know someone like you is looking out for our sailors out there. Thank you…..

-I received a letter from Flynn in Caloria. They’re holding some kind of party there in a couple months or so. I was wondering if maybe you received an invitation too?...
+You change everyone you meet, Yuuri, and even those you don’t just by being here. Being a positive presence can mean a great deal in the larger scheme of things. I’m trying to live by your example here but maybe it would have been best if you’d married Alfie instead. I’d have to kill you both, but at least Trebic would get to see the real bleeding heart of Shin Makoku. …

+We received the invitation from Lady Flynn too. We’re planning to attend….
-Wolfram, do you still want me to rescue you?....
+Someday. Like you did for all the others who wanted your help. But I have work I have to do here. As long as you write to me, I have something to look forward to….
-You’re stronger than me….
+You taught me what real strength was….
-I miss you. I can’t wait to see you again….
+…I’ll see you in Caloria.

+Love always,

+Wolfram
-…I’ll be waiting.

-Sincerely,

-Yuuri
“Sincerely?” Murata asked, tapping at the inkwell again. “So impersonal, Shibuya. You two have been so expressive over the past few months. You can do better than that.”
Yuuri sat in the armchair which had long before been moved to the right of the credenza, a comfortable place to hear Wolfram’s letters read and dictate his own. He frowned, sinking down into the plush red fabric, slippers on his cold feet. Murata had not been mistaken when he’d spoken about drafty castles in winter. “Well, what would you write then?”
“I don’t know. Something from the heart. Why not forever faithful or affectionately yours?”
The king bolted up from his seat, “You didn’t write any of those, did you? He’ll think you’re being serious!”
Murata sighed, feather quill tickling his nose. “I am being serious. Aren’t you?”
“Of course I am,” he said, lacing his fingers behind his back as he paced in thought. This had always been the worst part of the letter writing process. One could open with dear without anyone reading anything into it but the closing, chock full of choices all just waiting to spring new meaning into the entire letter, was a different matter. Sincerely was safe; he liked sincerely. He was being sincere so why should there be any problem with it? He paused over Murata’s shoulder, looking down at a page that was one of several, words he knew popping out here and there while still a majority he had either forgotten or did not know. “How about… sincerely yours?” he asked.
Murata smiled his please kitten grin and easily made the change. “I think that will do.”
Looking at his contentment, Yuuri couldn’t help but feel like the sagely man had conned him into something again. They waited for the ink to dry then folded and stuffed the papers, Yuuri’s seal stamped firmly into place over the flap of the large envelope. There was only a week until the ball in Caloria, just a week to prepare and travel, to be ready to see old friends and new. A week had never felt like so short an amount of time. Yuuri hoped that just maybe the letter would still get to Wolfram before they departed. He handed it off to a guard posted outside his room then returned, looking out his bedroom windows at his snowy kingdom with her frosted panes of glass and steeples of smoke rising out from the city streets.
Murata stood beside him, wiping ink from his fingers where the black was staining the skin. “Who all is going to be attending the party with you? Have you decided on who you will bring?”
“Well, Conrad will want to go. You know Flynn as well as I do so you should probably come too. You might find some pretty girls to dance with.”
“May I offer a suggestion?”
Yuuri nodded, always willing to know what his friends thought.
“Take Lord Voltaire as your primary retainer and leave the rest here. He can fill the other needs in your service with his own men.”
“Only Gwendal?” the king shook his head, looking curiously at his friend. “I can’t leave Conrad behind. He’s practically my bodyguard as far as these things go. He’s always at my side.”
“And he is also the only one to have actually met Prince Alfgeir Havard. When it comes time for the state wedding, it is likely Gwendal will be too busy with his duties to attend. This may be the only time he will be able to meet the man he married his brother to. I’m sure he’s just as worried if not more so about Wolfram than you are. And it would be a good gesture of forgiveness. ”
Yuuri’s face clouded slightly. “I don’t think I have forgiven him, Murata.”
“All the more reason to go with Lord Voltaire.” The sage walked back to the desk, tossing the dirty rag to the trash. “Whatever you decide, just don’t forget that the more people you bring, the more ways in which you have to share your time with Wolfram. There’s already Alfie. “
“Right… thanks, Murata.”
The sage nodded, leaving the room and its solitary inhabitant to the vacant landscape outside his window.
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A Marriage of State