In the darkness of my dreaming...
[ 9:00am - Breakfast Room ]
Cheri is sitting at the breakfast table, chin in hand, staring into her tea. She didn't sleep particularly well last night. She did manage to nod off at a rather ungodly hour, but awakened very early when she sensed more maryoku waves -- presumably from Khrennikov.
Conrad...
Now she feels tired and rather listless. Not like herself. Well. That was to be expected, wasn't it, when so many people one loves so dearly go off to war. This was how it was when one's beloved husband returns from the dead only to go off on a homicidal mission to rescue a kidnapped son and grandchild from a predacious noble and a country full of Mazoku-hating citizens.
...where are you?
Oh, Gods. She really doesn't want to think about this, but it's been hovering at the edge of her mind for days now. She's heard so many gruesome rumors about the house of Belal over the years, heard terrible things from Dan Hiri and Fanfan and their spies...she's heard enough horrors to last a Mazoku lifetime. Knowing Conrad was operating in Dai Shimaron at the behest of the Shinou was bad enough. Now he and Greta were completely at the mercy of the humans. Belal wanted revenge, and the thought made her cold all over.
She closes her eyes. Conrad...I'm so sorry. I hate that I can't protect you anymore.
Cheri hears a creak and glances up to see two maids watching her in the doorway. They squeak in surprise and bump into each other in their haste to get away, and if Cheri had been in a better mood, she would have giggled at the sight. But she's not, and she doesn't.
They've been like this for a few days now, the servants. Treating her like she's made of glass. While Cheri truly appreciates the concern, she doesn't really find it necessary. She's been through worse times in her life. It wouldn't make sense to break down now.
She wouldn't. She won't.
Cheri sighs and picks up her teacup with nerveless fingers. It's still hot. She idly taps her wedding ring against the porcelain. I need to get out and do something, she thinks glumly, before I go crazy.
Perhaps she'd go out to the gardens later. It had rained quite a bit earlier that morning, but now, as she looks out the large windows of the breakfast room, she can see that the sky is beginning to clear. It might even be a brighter day than she thought...
"Cheri-sama?"
She looks away from the window to see Gerolf, one of her personal guards, standing a few feet away, looking unusually serious. She manages a wan smile in spite of herself; Gerolf has always been able to lift her spirits with his good nature and quick wit.
"Darling! Good morning!" Cheri gestures for him to come in and sit. "I didn't even hear you come in. Have you been keeping yourself out of trouble?"
Gerolf doesn't return the smile, instead he shifts and runs an absent-minded hand through his hair, then catches himself and bows. Cheri raises delicate brows at his tense demeanor -- something's wrong. She sets her teacup back down expectantly. What possibly could have happened now?
"Lord von Bielefeld has regained his memory and...uh, his normal body," Gerolf begins, looking a bit uncomfortable. "But he has threatened the life of the Maou. He is being kept under close surveillance as we speak --"
Cheri instantly brightens. Wolf is all right! "Is that all? Oh, darling, that's just silly. Wolf would never do such a thing. He loves Heika. And this is Wolf we're talking about. He's probably worried about Greta and wants to go rescue her or something equally ludicrous. Ah, so typical of my brave little boy. Ooh, has Gwen increased the guard in the west wing yet? He should, because Wolf likes to go out that one window, the one right above the terrace. Oh, wait, why I am I even telling you this when you already know? Ohhhh, he better not leave, Gwen will be furious."
"But...Cheri-sama, the situation is actually quite seri --"
"Darling," Cheri says flatly. "Don't look so worried. Everything will be fine. Just tell them not to let Wolf get away!"
"Heika has ordered him to remain here at the castle," Gerolf quickly answers. "His men will make sure he will acquiesce, as that is what Heika wishes."
Cheri smiles. "Good. Now really is not the time for such silliness. Thanks for telling me, darling. Oh, be sure to inform me as soon as Gunter writes. And check on Gwen for me, I don't want him dropping dead from exhaustion. Ahh, boys will be boys, won't they?"
Gerolf bows politely before excusing himself, and Cheri just shakes her head a bit, still smiling. She felt so relieved that Wolfram was back to normal and well enough to be arguing with Yuuri again. It was such a welcome change to hear of something so typical, so normal.
She glances back out the window to see the sun peek out from behind a cloud. Yes. It would be a brighter day.
Cheri is sitting at the breakfast table, chin in hand, staring into her tea. She didn't sleep particularly well last night. She did manage to nod off at a rather ungodly hour, but awakened very early when she sensed more maryoku waves -- presumably from Khrennikov.
Conrad...
Now she feels tired and rather listless. Not like herself. Well. That was to be expected, wasn't it, when so many people one loves so dearly go off to war. This was how it was when one's beloved husband returns from the dead only to go off on a homicidal mission to rescue a kidnapped son and grandchild from a predacious noble and a country full of Mazoku-hating citizens.
...where are you?
Oh, Gods. She really doesn't want to think about this, but it's been hovering at the edge of her mind for days now. She's heard so many gruesome rumors about the house of Belal over the years, heard terrible things from Dan Hiri and Fanfan and their spies...she's heard enough horrors to last a Mazoku lifetime. Knowing Conrad was operating in Dai Shimaron at the behest of the Shinou was bad enough. Now he and Greta were completely at the mercy of the humans. Belal wanted revenge, and the thought made her cold all over.
She closes her eyes. Conrad...I'm so sorry. I hate that I can't protect you anymore.
Cheri hears a creak and glances up to see two maids watching her in the doorway. They squeak in surprise and bump into each other in their haste to get away, and if Cheri had been in a better mood, she would have giggled at the sight. But she's not, and she doesn't.
They've been like this for a few days now, the servants. Treating her like she's made of glass. While Cheri truly appreciates the concern, she doesn't really find it necessary. She's been through worse times in her life. It wouldn't make sense to break down now.
She wouldn't. She won't.
Cheri sighs and picks up her teacup with nerveless fingers. It's still hot. She idly taps her wedding ring against the porcelain. I need to get out and do something, she thinks glumly, before I go crazy.
Perhaps she'd go out to the gardens later. It had rained quite a bit earlier that morning, but now, as she looks out the large windows of the breakfast room, she can see that the sky is beginning to clear. It might even be a brighter day than she thought...
"Cheri-sama?"
She looks away from the window to see Gerolf, one of her personal guards, standing a few feet away, looking unusually serious. She manages a wan smile in spite of herself; Gerolf has always been able to lift her spirits with his good nature and quick wit.
"Darling! Good morning!" Cheri gestures for him to come in and sit. "I didn't even hear you come in. Have you been keeping yourself out of trouble?"
Gerolf doesn't return the smile, instead he shifts and runs an absent-minded hand through his hair, then catches himself and bows. Cheri raises delicate brows at his tense demeanor -- something's wrong. She sets her teacup back down expectantly. What possibly could have happened now?
"Lord von Bielefeld has regained his memory and...uh, his normal body," Gerolf begins, looking a bit uncomfortable. "But he has threatened the life of the Maou. He is being kept under close surveillance as we speak --"
Cheri instantly brightens. Wolf is all right! "Is that all? Oh, darling, that's just silly. Wolf would never do such a thing. He loves Heika. And this is Wolf we're talking about. He's probably worried about Greta and wants to go rescue her or something equally ludicrous. Ah, so typical of my brave little boy. Ooh, has Gwen increased the guard in the west wing yet? He should, because Wolf likes to go out that one window, the one right above the terrace. Oh, wait, why I am I even telling you this when you already know? Ohhhh, he better not leave, Gwen will be furious."
"But...Cheri-sama, the situation is actually quite seri --"
"Darling," Cheri says flatly. "Don't look so worried. Everything will be fine. Just tell them not to let Wolf get away!"
"Heika has ordered him to remain here at the castle," Gerolf quickly answers. "His men will make sure he will acquiesce, as that is what Heika wishes."
Cheri smiles. "Good. Now really is not the time for such silliness. Thanks for telling me, darling. Oh, be sure to inform me as soon as Gunter writes. And check on Gwen for me, I don't want him dropping dead from exhaustion. Ahh, boys will be boys, won't they?"
Gerolf bows politely before excusing himself, and Cheri just shakes her head a bit, still smiling. She felt so relieved that Wolfram was back to normal and well enough to be arguing with Yuuri again. It was such a welcome change to hear of something so typical, so normal.
She glances back out the window to see the sun peek out from behind a cloud. Yes. It would be a brighter day.