FIC: 1 Up - Chapter 7: Word Games
Title: 1 Up - Chapter 7: Word Games
Author: batty_gal a.k.a Tetra26
Rating: T
Fandom: Kyou Kara Maou
Pairing: Wolfram and Saralegui
Word Count: 2801
Fic Type: Chaptered
Fic Summary: Wolfram and Saralegui play games with each other, with unexpected results and fallout. Shinou tactics, chemical provocation, passive-aggressiveness, manipulation and other dirty tricks are used to bring each other down. Wolfram and Saralegui.
Chapter Summary: Wolfram plays word games with Gwendal and the others.
All Chapters (Fic is Completed): 1 Up: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
1 Up - Chapter 7: Word Games
The night that Yozak presented the “proof” of the letters, Gwendal called Wolfram down to his office where he, Conrart, Yozak, Günter and even Yuuri were waiting.
Gwendal had decided to play hardball, which was why he included the Maou and Conrart in on the meeting as well. He figured that whatever reason Wolfram had to do what he was doing, it couldn't be good - and that intervention might be necessary.
He waited, his face neutral, as his little brother entered his office and closed the door behind him.
“You wanted to see me, Gwendal?” Wolfram asked, politely.
“Yes, please. Sit down.”
Wolfram sat, and looked patiently at his brother.
Gwendal cleared his throat, and started to speak. “It has been brought to my attention that you have been sending letters and gifts to King Saralegui.” he said, his voice even.
“I was sending gifts. I'm just sending letters, now.”
“Is there a reason why you're doing this?” Gwendal asked.
“Yes.”
“Care to share?”
Wolfram sighed, and looked down and away from Gwendal. A light blush started to form on his cheeks. “Well...”
Gwendal was slightly bothered by the way his brother looked. “I was under the impression that you didn't like King Saralegui - as evidenced when you attacked him and humiliated yourself and the Maou several months ago.”
“I didn't... then.”
“What do you mean 'then'?”
“Meaning, things are fine between us now. If they weren't, I wouldn't have danced with him at the last ball,” Wolfram said, his blush deepening.
“And that's the reason why you're sending him these things?”
“Yes.”
“If things are simply fine between you now, surely a letter every now and then would do. You have been sending him letters frequently, according to my source,” Gwendal gritted out, barely containing his impatience.
Wolfram knew that his “source” was Yozak, mainly. He mentally sent his thanks to him once again for helping him set all of this up, as well as being his lone confidant throughout it all.
After he had marched away after punching Yuuri out the night of that disastrous ball, he had been startled when he was pulled into a room by some blond nobleman that he had never seen before.
That nobleman had turned out to be Yozak, who admitted that he liked to attend those kinds of events disguised as a way to test his costumes. Yozak had also admitted that he had seen everything that happened, things that Wolfram himself hadn't seen. When he told Wolfram about the bottle he saw Saralegui put away, it had enraged him something fierce once he realized what it probably had contained.
Yozak had then offered to reveal himself and tell all to the others, but by then, the wheels of vengeance had been spinning in Wolfram's mind, and he told Yozak to keep it to himself.
Wolfram had been pleasantly surprised when Yozak had offered his help, and had happily taken him up on the matter after he came clean about the wall incident. From costuming, to acting lessons, to pointing out potential flaws in his plans, Yozak had become a highly beneficial ally. And, Wolfram was grateful to have such a person on his side.
“Wolfram! Are you listening to me?” Gwendal said loudly, interrupting Wolfram's thoughts. “I asked you why you won't send a letter every now and then instead of so often.”
“Well, a letter every now and then would suffice if I were just sending them solely because things are settled. However, I send them frequently for another reason,” Wolfram said.
“And that reason is?”
“Since I'm no longer engaged to the Maou, I've decided to romantically pursue King Saralegui.”
Several people in the room gasped, and Gwendal looked at Wolfram like he had never seen such a creature before.
“Romantically... pursue...”
“Yes.”
“Wolfram, you can't be serious?!” Yuuri spoke up. Wolfram noted that it didn't look like he liked the idea.
At.
All.
“I'm dead serious.”
“Why?” Conrad asked.
“Because he... interests me.”
“And you couldn't have found someone else other than him interesting?” Gwendal snapped.
“I can't help who I fall into interest with, Gwendal. And it's not like you will let anyone else get close enough for me to find them interesting. Besides - I think it would be good for both kingdoms if I eventually married him.”
“Married him?!” both Gwendal and Yuuri exclaimed.
“Listen, Wolfram - I don't trust him,” Gwendal said, while giving Yuuri a sideways look. “How would you know - if he seemed to return your affections - that he wasn't plotting something?”
“I wouldn't. I guess I'd have to be like His Majesty and simply put my blind trust in him,” Wolfram said, purposely digging at the Maou. “Besides, if he returned even a quarter of my affections for him, let's just say I'd be a lucky man.”
As expected, most of the people in the room took it an entirely different way than he intended.
“You... care about him that much?” Yuuri asked, hesitantly.
“If I didn't care about him, I wouldn't be doing this. I care about him a lot.”
They still didn't get it. He loved playing games with words.
“What brought on these feelings, Wolfram?” Conrad asked.
Wolfram looked at him, then turned away quickly from his studying glance. “It was remembering the details of the first incident with him against the wall,” he said, and blushed again.
Gwendal gritted his teeth. “Wolfram...”
“What can I say? I'm attracted to him. More attracted to him than anyone in a long time,” he said, stressing certain words, hoping that Yuuri would catch on. “Besides, he must hold some attraction for me since he did that to me,” he said, lying through his teeth. “Just to think, if you all hadn't showed up, we probably would have made lov-”
“Enough! Just stop!” Gwendal said as he pounded his desk, looking like he may lose it at any moment.
“Well, I for one think this is a good thing,” Yozak said, cheerfully.
“What?!” Gwendal said, and looked sharply at him.
“Well, I think Wolfram is happy. Happier than he has been in a long time. I think this new romance is doing him good.”
Yuuri gawked at Yozak, while Gwendal started to mentally count to twenty lest he dive across the desk and do the very same thing to Yozak that Wolfram did to Saralegui.
“And even if you don't agree with him dating King Saralegui, several people have shown interest in Wolfram ever since he ended his engagement with His Majesty. You can't turn them away forever,” Yozak said.
Gwendal, who was in the thirties, decided to go on up to a hundred upon remembering all the open leers and unworthy suitors his little brother had received in the past few months.
“I heard that the other guy he danced with last time is quite entranced with Wolfram. Also, Gwendal, your cousin has had his eye on Wolfram for quite some time,” Yozak said, continuing to instigate.
“I will not allow Wolfram to date that perverted cousin of mine!” Gwendal exclaimed.
“Aw, Gwen, everyone's a pervert according to you when it comes to Wolfram. Just look at how you ran off that noble when he tried to propose to Wolfram last week.”
“Last week?!” Yuuri exclaimed. “I wasn't aware that something like that happened!”
Gwendal glared at Yozak. “I hadn't planned on informing His Majesty of that situation yet, Gurrier.”
“What situation?” asked Yuuri.
“Well, Your Majes... Yuuri. Ever since your engagement to Wolfram ended, there have been several suitors that have come here to seek Wolfram's hand. Though Gwendal has managed to run each of them off, that still hasn't stopped others from coming,” Conrart explained.
“I see,” Yuuri said.
“However, I think Wolfram pursuing King Saralegui would be most beneficial.”
“Yozak-” Gwendal started.
“Gwendal, he has a point about the stronger alliance. The son of a former Maou married to King Saralegui has a lot of potential,” Günter added, inadvertently assisting Wolfram's plot.
“But I doubt that Saralegui is interested in Wolfram that way,” Yuuri said, hurriedly.
Wolfram gave him his best hurt look, and gleefully watched as he slid down into his seat in shame.
“I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way...” the Maou started.
Yozak raised his eyebrow. “Are you sure you can say he isn't interested? What about that time he coerced Wolfram into almost having sex with him? And while all of you simply believe that Wolfram was being hotheaded the night he attacked King Saralegui and ended his engagement, I suspect he got Wolfram upset in order to do so - out of jealousy of the feelings Wolfram had for you and not him back then.”
Yuuri stared at him, stunned.
“What do you think about all this?” Gwendal asked Conrart out of frustration.
Conrart, who was well-aware of some sort of conspiracy between Wolfram and Yozak, held his tongue. He looked over at Yuuri, and was amused to find that that he looked quite bothered about the whole thing. He supposed that perhaps the Maou wasn't as disinterested in Wolfram as he claimed to be. He decided not to interfere in his brother's game, yet. He figured Wolfram had a very good reason for what he was up to if Yozak was assisting him with it.
“Well, ultimately it's Wolfram's decision as to who he chooses to pursue,” he said, suppressing his amusement at the betrayed look Yuuri shot him.
“Even if it's that troublemaker King?” Gwendal practically roared.
“As long as my brother is happy, I'm fine with it,” Conrart said, and didn't miss Wolfram's surprised glance at him. He gave him a smile that he hoped conveyed that he was on to him.
Wolfram took the smile as it was intended, and mentally added another ally to his list. “Thanks, brother.”
“So you're just going to pursue King Saralegui? Just like that? Aren't you still in love with the Maou?” Gwendal asked, playing his last card. He mentally kicked himself when he saw his brother wince.
Conrart and Günter looked sharply at Gwendal, while both Yozak and Yuuri's mouths hung open at his bold remark, awaiting Wolfram's response.
Wolfram quickly recovered. “Did I not end my engagement? My feelings for the Maou no longer matter. I recognized that the Maou did not return them, and now he is free to pursue who he pleases. As am I,” Wolfram said, dismissively.
Gwendal noted that Wolfram avoided his main question, but refused to restate it. He simply stared at Wolfram, his mind trying to find another way to prevent his brother from making what he thought was a huge mistake.
“Aw Gwendal, at least let him try to pursue King Saralegui. I know! When the peacekeeping trip comes up next month, let him go along!” Yozak said, stating the main goal he and Wolfram had been trying to achieve for the past month.
“Absolutely not!” Gwendal cried out.
“Why not? I see no problem with it.” Conrart said.
“Wolfram attacked him! Can you imagine if something like that happened again?”
“That's old news. Nothing happened between them at the last ball. I heard they even danced together!” Yozak said, as if he weren't there to witness it.
“I forbid it!”
“Brother, please!” Wolfram pleaded. “I would never hurt him like that, again. I'm ashamed that I did so in the first place. That's why I started to send letters and gifts months ago, to apologize and make it up to him. However, when he started to write me back, I saw a side of him that people rarely see. I like that side of him, which is why I want to try this with him. Please, let me go with you.”
“No,” Gwendal gritted out.
“It's ultimately the Maou's decision whether or not Wolfram can go,” Yozak said innocently, earning him one of Gwendal's best death glares.
Wolfram turned to Yuuri. “Your Majesty, please... let me go on this trip.”
Yuuri, who was still reeling over Wolfram's reply to Gwendal's question, simply stared at him, wordlessly.
“Your Majesty, don't listen to him! Who knows what kind of trouble he could get into!”
“Your Majesty, I promise I'll be on my best behavior. Please, I want to see him again so very badly.”
After staring in Wolfram's eyes for a few moments, Yuuri's mouth betrayed his thoughts on the matter. “Alright.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Wolfram said, happily. “Now if you'll excuse me, I have a few things I need to discuss with Mother before she leaves for her next trip,” he said as he got up to leave.
He paused in his steps, and turned back around. “One more thing,” he said.
“What?” Gwendal asked.
“Promise me, all of you, that you won't interfere. That means, no asking him about his feelings for me, no commenting about my feelings for him, and don't embarrass him by bringing up our letter exchange. In fact, don't bring up anything about me and him, period. Please, let me handle this on my own. His heart is more delicate than you believe, and he is afraid to love. I must tread carefully, without interference.”
Yuuri was simply surprised by Wolfram's passionate plea about Saralegui, and nodded his head. Gwendal simply grunted, and crossed his arms while everyone else agreed.
“Thanks again,” Wolfram said with a smile, and left the room.
“Your Majesty, I sincerely hope you don't regret this decision,” Gwendal said, in defeat.
“So do I,” Yuuri mumbled as he stared out the window at the vultures that passed by.
Later on that night after his discussion with his mother, Wolfram once again pulled Yozak into his room to discuss the newest additions to his endgame plan.
“If you manage to pull this off, it will be spectacular,” Yozak said, upon hearing the details.
Wolfram smiled. “I know.”
“I had His Majesty overhear your gossip session today,” Yozak said. “You should have seen his face when Hedda and the maids were discussing the 'sexual tension' between you and Gwendal, and betting on how long before you two let it out on his desk,” he chuckled.
“Serves him right,” Wolfram snickered, imagining the expression Yuuri had probably made. “Now, perhaps, he understands how I felt all those years putting up with gossip about him.”
“I still say he's jealous.”
“Yuuri? Jealous? Yeah, right!” Wolfram scoffed. “He simply misses me a little, that's all.”
He sighed upon thinking about his engagement being over, and suppressed the small amount of sadness it still brought him. He begrudgingly admitted to himself that it didn't hurt as much anymore, that he actually felt a little better now that it was over.
Well, relieved was more like the feeling he felt. He didn't feel on edge anymore, like he was waiting for the moment when Yuuri would finally end it all and run off with some woman.
Besides, he was enjoying playing with Yuuri a little bit.
Alright, a lot.
He knew he was running Yuuri up the wall with his refusal to call him by his name, and he also knew that the Maou was upset over the new distance between them. Wolfram knew it wasn't very nice of him to do it, but the bratty part of him enjoyed it. He saw it as a small way of venting his frustrations over three years of unrequited love.
“He didn't look very pleased about your desire to pursue that King,” Yozak said, interrupting his thoughts.
“Perhaps he finally sees through that facade of his, and doesn't trust him?”
“Or maybe he's simply jealous?”
“Right.”
Yozak rolled his eyes and sighed. “Since you refuse to consider that His Majesty is jealous, I'll drop it. Still, I feel slightly guilty assisting you with the last part of this plan, especially considering the potential fallout.”
“I'm counting on that fallout. If you want to stop though, I understand.”
“Are you kidding? I said I feel slightly guilty, I didn't say I wanted to stop. This has been one hell of a fun ride, there's no way I'd miss the finale!”
Author's note: This is the revised edition. Next chapter: Wolfram visits Saralegui's lair.
Author: batty_gal a.k.a Tetra26
Rating: T
Fandom: Kyou Kara Maou
Pairing: Wolfram and Saralegui
Word Count: 2801
Fic Type: Chaptered
Fic Summary: Wolfram and Saralegui play games with each other, with unexpected results and fallout. Shinou tactics, chemical provocation, passive-aggressiveness, manipulation and other dirty tricks are used to bring each other down. Wolfram and Saralegui.
Chapter Summary: Wolfram plays word games with Gwendal and the others.
All Chapters (Fic is Completed): 1 Up: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
1 Up - Chapter 7: Word Games
The night that Yozak presented the “proof” of the letters, Gwendal called Wolfram down to his office where he, Conrart, Yozak, Günter and even Yuuri were waiting.
Gwendal had decided to play hardball, which was why he included the Maou and Conrart in on the meeting as well. He figured that whatever reason Wolfram had to do what he was doing, it couldn't be good - and that intervention might be necessary.
He waited, his face neutral, as his little brother entered his office and closed the door behind him.
“You wanted to see me, Gwendal?” Wolfram asked, politely.
“Yes, please. Sit down.”
Wolfram sat, and looked patiently at his brother.
Gwendal cleared his throat, and started to speak. “It has been brought to my attention that you have been sending letters and gifts to King Saralegui.” he said, his voice even.
“I was sending gifts. I'm just sending letters, now.”
“Is there a reason why you're doing this?” Gwendal asked.
“Yes.”
“Care to share?”
Wolfram sighed, and looked down and away from Gwendal. A light blush started to form on his cheeks. “Well...”
Gwendal was slightly bothered by the way his brother looked. “I was under the impression that you didn't like King Saralegui - as evidenced when you attacked him and humiliated yourself and the Maou several months ago.”
“I didn't... then.”
“What do you mean 'then'?”
“Meaning, things are fine between us now. If they weren't, I wouldn't have danced with him at the last ball,” Wolfram said, his blush deepening.
“And that's the reason why you're sending him these things?”
“Yes.”
“If things are simply fine between you now, surely a letter every now and then would do. You have been sending him letters frequently, according to my source,” Gwendal gritted out, barely containing his impatience.
Wolfram knew that his “source” was Yozak, mainly. He mentally sent his thanks to him once again for helping him set all of this up, as well as being his lone confidant throughout it all.
After he had marched away after punching Yuuri out the night of that disastrous ball, he had been startled when he was pulled into a room by some blond nobleman that he had never seen before.
That nobleman had turned out to be Yozak, who admitted that he liked to attend those kinds of events disguised as a way to test his costumes. Yozak had also admitted that he had seen everything that happened, things that Wolfram himself hadn't seen. When he told Wolfram about the bottle he saw Saralegui put away, it had enraged him something fierce once he realized what it probably had contained.
Yozak had then offered to reveal himself and tell all to the others, but by then, the wheels of vengeance had been spinning in Wolfram's mind, and he told Yozak to keep it to himself.
Wolfram had been pleasantly surprised when Yozak had offered his help, and had happily taken him up on the matter after he came clean about the wall incident. From costuming, to acting lessons, to pointing out potential flaws in his plans, Yozak had become a highly beneficial ally. And, Wolfram was grateful to have such a person on his side.
“Wolfram! Are you listening to me?” Gwendal said loudly, interrupting Wolfram's thoughts. “I asked you why you won't send a letter every now and then instead of so often.”
“Well, a letter every now and then would suffice if I were just sending them solely because things are settled. However, I send them frequently for another reason,” Wolfram said.
“And that reason is?”
“Since I'm no longer engaged to the Maou, I've decided to romantically pursue King Saralegui.”
Several people in the room gasped, and Gwendal looked at Wolfram like he had never seen such a creature before.
“Romantically... pursue...”
“Yes.”
“Wolfram, you can't be serious?!” Yuuri spoke up. Wolfram noted that it didn't look like he liked the idea.
At.
All.
“I'm dead serious.”
“Why?” Conrad asked.
“Because he... interests me.”
“And you couldn't have found someone else other than him interesting?” Gwendal snapped.
“I can't help who I fall into interest with, Gwendal. And it's not like you will let anyone else get close enough for me to find them interesting. Besides - I think it would be good for both kingdoms if I eventually married him.”
“Married him?!” both Gwendal and Yuuri exclaimed.
“Listen, Wolfram - I don't trust him,” Gwendal said, while giving Yuuri a sideways look. “How would you know - if he seemed to return your affections - that he wasn't plotting something?”
“I wouldn't. I guess I'd have to be like His Majesty and simply put my blind trust in him,” Wolfram said, purposely digging at the Maou. “Besides, if he returned even a quarter of my affections for him, let's just say I'd be a lucky man.”
As expected, most of the people in the room took it an entirely different way than he intended.
“You... care about him that much?” Yuuri asked, hesitantly.
“If I didn't care about him, I wouldn't be doing this. I care about him a lot.”
They still didn't get it. He loved playing games with words.
“What brought on these feelings, Wolfram?” Conrad asked.
Wolfram looked at him, then turned away quickly from his studying glance. “It was remembering the details of the first incident with him against the wall,” he said, and blushed again.
Gwendal gritted his teeth. “Wolfram...”
“What can I say? I'm attracted to him. More attracted to him than anyone in a long time,” he said, stressing certain words, hoping that Yuuri would catch on. “Besides, he must hold some attraction for me since he did that to me,” he said, lying through his teeth. “Just to think, if you all hadn't showed up, we probably would have made lov-”
“Enough! Just stop!” Gwendal said as he pounded his desk, looking like he may lose it at any moment.
“Well, I for one think this is a good thing,” Yozak said, cheerfully.
“What?!” Gwendal said, and looked sharply at him.
“Well, I think Wolfram is happy. Happier than he has been in a long time. I think this new romance is doing him good.”
Yuuri gawked at Yozak, while Gwendal started to mentally count to twenty lest he dive across the desk and do the very same thing to Yozak that Wolfram did to Saralegui.
“And even if you don't agree with him dating King Saralegui, several people have shown interest in Wolfram ever since he ended his engagement with His Majesty. You can't turn them away forever,” Yozak said.
Gwendal, who was in the thirties, decided to go on up to a hundred upon remembering all the open leers and unworthy suitors his little brother had received in the past few months.
“I heard that the other guy he danced with last time is quite entranced with Wolfram. Also, Gwendal, your cousin has had his eye on Wolfram for quite some time,” Yozak said, continuing to instigate.
“I will not allow Wolfram to date that perverted cousin of mine!” Gwendal exclaimed.
“Aw, Gwen, everyone's a pervert according to you when it comes to Wolfram. Just look at how you ran off that noble when he tried to propose to Wolfram last week.”
“Last week?!” Yuuri exclaimed. “I wasn't aware that something like that happened!”
Gwendal glared at Yozak. “I hadn't planned on informing His Majesty of that situation yet, Gurrier.”
“What situation?” asked Yuuri.
“Well, Your Majes... Yuuri. Ever since your engagement to Wolfram ended, there have been several suitors that have come here to seek Wolfram's hand. Though Gwendal has managed to run each of them off, that still hasn't stopped others from coming,” Conrart explained.
“I see,” Yuuri said.
“However, I think Wolfram pursuing King Saralegui would be most beneficial.”
“Yozak-” Gwendal started.
“Gwendal, he has a point about the stronger alliance. The son of a former Maou married to King Saralegui has a lot of potential,” Günter added, inadvertently assisting Wolfram's plot.
“But I doubt that Saralegui is interested in Wolfram that way,” Yuuri said, hurriedly.
Wolfram gave him his best hurt look, and gleefully watched as he slid down into his seat in shame.
“I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way...” the Maou started.
Yozak raised his eyebrow. “Are you sure you can say he isn't interested? What about that time he coerced Wolfram into almost having sex with him? And while all of you simply believe that Wolfram was being hotheaded the night he attacked King Saralegui and ended his engagement, I suspect he got Wolfram upset in order to do so - out of jealousy of the feelings Wolfram had for you and not him back then.”
Yuuri stared at him, stunned.
“What do you think about all this?” Gwendal asked Conrart out of frustration.
Conrart, who was well-aware of some sort of conspiracy between Wolfram and Yozak, held his tongue. He looked over at Yuuri, and was amused to find that that he looked quite bothered about the whole thing. He supposed that perhaps the Maou wasn't as disinterested in Wolfram as he claimed to be. He decided not to interfere in his brother's game, yet. He figured Wolfram had a very good reason for what he was up to if Yozak was assisting him with it.
“Well, ultimately it's Wolfram's decision as to who he chooses to pursue,” he said, suppressing his amusement at the betrayed look Yuuri shot him.
“Even if it's that troublemaker King?” Gwendal practically roared.
“As long as my brother is happy, I'm fine with it,” Conrart said, and didn't miss Wolfram's surprised glance at him. He gave him a smile that he hoped conveyed that he was on to him.
Wolfram took the smile as it was intended, and mentally added another ally to his list. “Thanks, brother.”
“So you're just going to pursue King Saralegui? Just like that? Aren't you still in love with the Maou?” Gwendal asked, playing his last card. He mentally kicked himself when he saw his brother wince.
Conrart and Günter looked sharply at Gwendal, while both Yozak and Yuuri's mouths hung open at his bold remark, awaiting Wolfram's response.
Wolfram quickly recovered. “Did I not end my engagement? My feelings for the Maou no longer matter. I recognized that the Maou did not return them, and now he is free to pursue who he pleases. As am I,” Wolfram said, dismissively.
Gwendal noted that Wolfram avoided his main question, but refused to restate it. He simply stared at Wolfram, his mind trying to find another way to prevent his brother from making what he thought was a huge mistake.
“Aw Gwendal, at least let him try to pursue King Saralegui. I know! When the peacekeeping trip comes up next month, let him go along!” Yozak said, stating the main goal he and Wolfram had been trying to achieve for the past month.
“Absolutely not!” Gwendal cried out.
“Why not? I see no problem with it.” Conrart said.
“Wolfram attacked him! Can you imagine if something like that happened again?”
“That's old news. Nothing happened between them at the last ball. I heard they even danced together!” Yozak said, as if he weren't there to witness it.
“I forbid it!”
“Brother, please!” Wolfram pleaded. “I would never hurt him like that, again. I'm ashamed that I did so in the first place. That's why I started to send letters and gifts months ago, to apologize and make it up to him. However, when he started to write me back, I saw a side of him that people rarely see. I like that side of him, which is why I want to try this with him. Please, let me go with you.”
“No,” Gwendal gritted out.
“It's ultimately the Maou's decision whether or not Wolfram can go,” Yozak said innocently, earning him one of Gwendal's best death glares.
Wolfram turned to Yuuri. “Your Majesty, please... let me go on this trip.”
Yuuri, who was still reeling over Wolfram's reply to Gwendal's question, simply stared at him, wordlessly.
“Your Majesty, don't listen to him! Who knows what kind of trouble he could get into!”
“Your Majesty, I promise I'll be on my best behavior. Please, I want to see him again so very badly.”
After staring in Wolfram's eyes for a few moments, Yuuri's mouth betrayed his thoughts on the matter. “Alright.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Wolfram said, happily. “Now if you'll excuse me, I have a few things I need to discuss with Mother before she leaves for her next trip,” he said as he got up to leave.
He paused in his steps, and turned back around. “One more thing,” he said.
“What?” Gwendal asked.
“Promise me, all of you, that you won't interfere. That means, no asking him about his feelings for me, no commenting about my feelings for him, and don't embarrass him by bringing up our letter exchange. In fact, don't bring up anything about me and him, period. Please, let me handle this on my own. His heart is more delicate than you believe, and he is afraid to love. I must tread carefully, without interference.”
Yuuri was simply surprised by Wolfram's passionate plea about Saralegui, and nodded his head. Gwendal simply grunted, and crossed his arms while everyone else agreed.
“Thanks again,” Wolfram said with a smile, and left the room.
“Your Majesty, I sincerely hope you don't regret this decision,” Gwendal said, in defeat.
“So do I,” Yuuri mumbled as he stared out the window at the vultures that passed by.
Later on that night after his discussion with his mother, Wolfram once again pulled Yozak into his room to discuss the newest additions to his endgame plan.
“If you manage to pull this off, it will be spectacular,” Yozak said, upon hearing the details.
Wolfram smiled. “I know.”
“I had His Majesty overhear your gossip session today,” Yozak said. “You should have seen his face when Hedda and the maids were discussing the 'sexual tension' between you and Gwendal, and betting on how long before you two let it out on his desk,” he chuckled.
“Serves him right,” Wolfram snickered, imagining the expression Yuuri had probably made. “Now, perhaps, he understands how I felt all those years putting up with gossip about him.”
“I still say he's jealous.”
“Yuuri? Jealous? Yeah, right!” Wolfram scoffed. “He simply misses me a little, that's all.”
He sighed upon thinking about his engagement being over, and suppressed the small amount of sadness it still brought him. He begrudgingly admitted to himself that it didn't hurt as much anymore, that he actually felt a little better now that it was over.
Well, relieved was more like the feeling he felt. He didn't feel on edge anymore, like he was waiting for the moment when Yuuri would finally end it all and run off with some woman.
Besides, he was enjoying playing with Yuuri a little bit.
Alright, a lot.
He knew he was running Yuuri up the wall with his refusal to call him by his name, and he also knew that the Maou was upset over the new distance between them. Wolfram knew it wasn't very nice of him to do it, but the bratty part of him enjoyed it. He saw it as a small way of venting his frustrations over three years of unrequited love.
“He didn't look very pleased about your desire to pursue that King,” Yozak said, interrupting his thoughts.
“Perhaps he finally sees through that facade of his, and doesn't trust him?”
“Or maybe he's simply jealous?”
“Right.”
Yozak rolled his eyes and sighed. “Since you refuse to consider that His Majesty is jealous, I'll drop it. Still, I feel slightly guilty assisting you with the last part of this plan, especially considering the potential fallout.”
“I'm counting on that fallout. If you want to stop though, I understand.”
“Are you kidding? I said I feel slightly guilty, I didn't say I wanted to stop. This has been one hell of a fun ride, there's no way I'd miss the finale!”
Author's note: This is the revised edition. Next chapter: Wolfram visits Saralegui's lair.