KKM - For The Greater Good
Title: For The Greater Good
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: WolframxYuuri, ConradxYozak
Genre: Humor
Lenght: 3492 words. One-shot.
Summary: There's a rebellion in Blood Pledge Castle, and it was Günther's fault.
Notes: To allira_dream, because she introduced me to the fandom via pushing.
A
Günther was feeling tired. He had been working until late the past few days, and now he had spent the whole night with Gwendal looking for a thief that never existed -the lady's very expensive ring had been under the bed all that time. The fair-haired demon stifled a yawn; he debated with himself whether he should sleep a couple of hours when they get back to the castle or continue with his important work. That was a tough choice; Günther was aware he wouldn't be able to do an acceptable service to the Maou if he wasn't rested. Nevertheless, what he was doing was a milestone in New Makoku's History.
He decided on taking a nap; not more than an hour should do the trick. Günther sighed contentedly; he thought of the Maou's bright smile when he, His Majesty's humble servant, would report him the great success this idea was having. Because happy people was the foundation for a happy country, and that was that. Günther raised his noble head to look at Blood Pledge Castle, the magnificent residence from which the Maou's would rule that happy country, with its tall and ancient walls, its artistically shaped turrets, its rising dark smoke...
Smoke?
"Gwendal!"
"I see it!" was all Sir von Voltaire answered. Both of them hurried their horses to get back into the castle. What they found there was a revolt.
Soldiers were running all over, some carrying torches and fighting each other, others pillaging the warehouse.
Gwendal drew his sword.
"Your Majesty!" Günther screamed over the noise.
"Yuuri's fine," said someone on his right. Günther turned his head: it was Wolfram. He was dirty and breathing heavily. "I locked him up in the basement. Basically to know where he is when I gather enough food and money."
"What? Wolfram, what is going on here?" Günther asked.
"You're finally going to do it?" Gwendal said. He dismounted and ruffled his little brother's head when Wolfram nodded. "Those are great news! Even if we won't get an invitation."
"Yes, I'm sorry about that."
"Gwendal, Wolfram, what are you talking about?"
"Perhaps I should try too," Gwendal said.
"Try what? Gwendal, we have a situation here!" Günther said. "Conrad! Where's Conrad?"
"He was at the barn with Yozak last time I saw him," Wolfram said.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go for him!"
Wolfram blushed and coughed. "I wouldn't advice it; by the way they were laughing, I doubt they'd be kind with an intruder."
Günther felt the blood rising to his cheeks. He stumbled backwards until his back found balance against one of the horses. "I... I don't understand... What is going on?"
"You can't tell?" Wolfram took out a small book from a pocket, opened it on a certain page and offered it to Günther. "We're doing what you told us to do."
B
The One Thing Yuuri didn't need -or, rather, The One Thing Yuuri didn't need that had climbed up scaringly fast on his master list of One Things he didn't need- was Günther finding those books Jen had asked him to buy for her while rummaging in his backpack. He had stated that His Majesty's belongings should be inventoried and placed under -his- safekeeping, although Wolfram had been skeptic about this for some reason.
Of course, it wouldn't have been so bad if Yuuri had thought about the consequences and hadn't gone into the fine details. But Günther had asked so nicely! ("I'd be honored to know what such a fine lady as His Majesty's mother chooses as reading material!" he had said, blinking huge puppy eyes, the same ones he used when he asked Gwendal for a big favor.) At least, Yuuri now understood why Conrad had made those weird faces at him before he began the explanation and why Wolfram, who had been confused all along, excused himself out of the room as soon as Günther's eyes started to shine -more than they usually did.
At the time, Yuuri had been oblivious to what he was doing. He didn't notice at all, not even when, after he had read aloud a few pages, the long-haired demon improvised an overenthusiastical speech on how much the Mazoku needed that kind of inspiring literature, and how blessed they were for having as their king such a thoughtful person, who had gone into the trouble of bringing it from another world. Nor when Günther left the room prancing and mumbling to himself while a deep sigh escaped Conrad's lips.
It wasn't until a couple of days later that the young Maou began to feel guilty for losing step and falling into that fountain before getting home to deliver those books to his mom; because of that, a gruesome horror had been unleashed upon his kingdom. Perhaps 'gruesome' and 'horror' were harsh words, but they were the ones used by Wolfram to describe the situation and Yuuri didn't feel like adjectivizing.
From the moment he got the Maou's explanation, Günther had excused himself from supporting Yuuri with his paperwork in order to craft the words that would illuminate the Mazoku. Therefore, Conrad was the one helping him with his work, for which Yuuri was really glad, if only because, that fated morning, Wolfram appeared into the office in a very bad mood.
"Yuuri! Make him stop!" he yelled.
"Eh...?"
"Günther! Tell him to stop! You're the Maou! He has to listen to you!"
Yuuri's face twitched and showed a clumsy, tentative smile. "But he's not doing bad things, is he? He's just writing a book-"
"A book? A book? Try several! He not only writes them, but he also prints them and distributes them to everyone!" Wolfram smashed his fist on Yuuri's desk. "He's shoved a different one to every noble in the castle and he's SO ANNOYING!"
Taken aback by the blond's roar, Yuuri tried to hide in his chair. He took a peek to check if Conrad was still standing right next to him before daring to open his mouth. "A different one for each noble? He's written so many books already?"
"Yes!"
Yuuri looked at Conrad again, who came forward and placed before him a red, thin book -so thin it could pass as one of Jen's booklets from the Easy Cooking Series.
"He gave this to me early this morning," Conrad said.
Yuuri looked at the cover. He still had a long way ahead to fully understand that world's written language, but the words in front of him turned out to be easy enough. Still, he couldn't believe the book's title. "Maryoku Is Not All: You Can Be A Worthy Mazoku Even Without Magic. Don't Give Up! Ugh..." he added after a pause in which he leafed through the pages; they couldn't be more than fifty and had very... interesting and colorful drawings on them. "Have you read it, Conrad?"
"Not yet, but I promised to. Though..." Conrad stopped to scratch the side of his nose.
"What?"
"I was hoping Your Majesty wouldn't punish me and forbid me to get close to this..." Conrad coughed. "Masterpiece. Specially since I forgot to fill your ink bottle this morning."
Yuuri blinked for a few seconds before getting it. "Ah! Fine. I, uh, hereby ban you from reading Günther's book because I needed that ink."
Conrad bowed. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Hey!" Wolfram intervened, suddenly.
"Oh, yes," Conrad said. "Wolfram too needs a superior order to avoid fulfilling his word."
"What? I am always true to my word, sir Weller!"
"That's an excellent trait," Conrad said, shrugging.
"What's your book about, Wolf-?"
"How dare you ask me something private like that, you wimp?" Wolfram jumped over the desk, grabbed Yuuri by the front of his jacket and shook him violently.
"Wolfram!" Conrad dashed to save the Maou. He finally managed to pull the blond away from Yuuri. "How dare you to display such an inappropriate behavior toward His Majesty? You need to be disciplined harshly!" Then he turned to Yuuri; Conrad's face was stern, but his eyes showed amusement.
Yuuri held back a sigh and forbade his fiancé to read the book Günther had given to him. Wolfram scoffed and left, but he did look far more relaxed than when he entered the room minutes before.
Not much longer after that, Gwendal came in and tried to pick up a fight with Conrad. Thus, Yuuri had to punish him too, which led to a new pair of knitted socks on his desk the next day.
"Ah! They fit perfectly! And they're so soft!"
"Gwendal likes to put attention to the details," Conrad said.
"Well, time for work!" Yuuri reached for a sheet of paper from the pile. At the beginning of his reign, he just signed everything Günther placed before him because a) he couldn't read that language at all and b) he trusted Günther that much. Right then, he knew Conrad had already checked every document before presenting them to him, and that he wouldn't approve of something that could hurt the people. Still, Yuuri skimmed down through to the one he grabbed because it made him feel proud when he recognized a word or two. Or even a phrase, which was even better. And then, when he skimmed, he froze.
"Is there something wrong, Yuuri?"
"No..." Yuuri mumbled. He took the next sheet of paper. And the next one. And the three that followed. "Conrad, are these...?"
Conrad looked over the Maou's shoulder. "Ah! It seems the soldiers want to clean up their conscience; they all are reporting their faults and requesting punishment."
"How's that Günther writes this fast?" Yuuri moaned and applied pen to paper.
Hence, that night, Yuuri met a pleading Günther waiting for him at the place where he and Conrad used to play baseball.
"Your Majesty," he began. "I-I would like to... Well, I..."
"What is it, Günther?"
Günther breathed deeply; a gush of air played gently with his hair and his eyes glittered with the light of the nearby torches. "Your Majesty, I commend you for the strict discipline you've been showing lately, but..." He wibbled. "If I may, with all due respect, Your Majesty, I think you're going a little too far. I, eh, apologize for my bold words, but my sense of justice compelled me to speak up."
"You don't need to apologize, Günther," Yuuri said, waving his hands, both of which were suddenly held against Günther's chest.
"Your Majesty, if I could ask for some of this magnanimity to extend to all of your subjects!"
"Huh?"
A
Günther was so appalled that he forgot about the chaos going on around them. "What? I would have never-!"
"Of course you have," Gwendal said. He took out another book, similar to his brother's, only green instead of blue, and showed Günther an underlined paragraph. "See?"
"But- I-" Günther grabbed the book and read the whole page. "I've never meant this! You are being too literal!"
"Too literal?" said a voice behind him. "I don't know. We're having too much fun, and it's all thanks to you."
Günther turned slowly and saw both Conrad and Yozak on the same horse. They had straw all over them and Conrad's collar was not as neat as it used to be. Also, they were grinning broadly. Very broadly.
"So now, if Your Excellencies excuse us..." Yozak put his strong arms around Conrad's waist and hit the horse with his ankles. "See you next week!" he exclaimed as their mount began its race toward the horizon.
"Conrad! Yozak! What about His Majesty!" Günther yelled.
"Wolfram'll take good care of him!" Conrad answered from the distance.
"Of course I will," Wolfram said, placing his hands on his hips.
Günther cursed and grabbed Gwendal's arm. "Quick! Get to His Majesty and-! What are you doing?" he asked when Sir von Voltaire threw his sword away.
"I've seen the light," Gwendal said. "No more violence for me. I'll go to a town in the mountains and open a knitting shop for children."
"Brother, that's wonderful! Yuuri and I will go see you once you're settled!"
"Thank you, Wolfram. Please, let me know if you need me to help you with your wedding gown."
Günther thought he heard Wolfram say 'Don't push it' under his breath, but he had more important things to fret over. "Wedding? What do you mean by that? I mean, I know you two are engaged, but you're still too young!"
"I know we're too young," Wolfram said. "That's why, before thinking of actual marriage, we're going to live together for a while in a country across the sea."
Günther wanted to repeat the last part of Wolfram's statement, but found himself without air whatsoever. Nevertheless, it seemed that the blond heard him, because he explained: "Yuuri and I are really busy with all of our obligations here, in New Makoku, so we don't really know each other. And I won't be able to trust him until I truly know him. That's the key to overcome... my... je-jealousy problem. You said it, Günther."
"I-I did, but you can know each other here. You don't have to go..." Günther leaned on the horse again and sighed. "Does His Majesty want to go away too?"
Wolfram blinked. "I haven't asked him."
"You haven't? You took such an important decision for him without considering his feelings?"
"I was going to, when I gathered enough food and money."
Günther pulled his hair. "This is unbelievable! I'll talk to him immediately! Where is he?"
"Locked in the basement, I told you. Do you want the key?"
B
Conrad placed himself between Yuuri and Günther. "I'm sorry, Günther, His Majesty is tired."
"Weren't you going to engage on this ritual from His Majesty's world?" Günther asked.
"We were just passing by; I thought I'd left a glove around here," Conrad said.
"I haven't seen anything," Günther said.
"Then it isn't here." Conrad bowed slightly. "We're sorry for bothering you." He grabbed Yuuri's arm, startling him, and dragged him toward the castle.
"But, Your Majesty-!"
"Keep walking, Yuuri," Conrad whispered to the Maou's ear, moving faster since Günther was right behind them.
Yuuri could barely feel the pressure of Conrad's fingers on his skin, but the young king knew this grip would be a hard one to break.
They walked by the castle's huge corridors, leaving the maids gossiping softly as the trio passed by them.
"Your Majesty!" Günther claimed. "Please! I beg you! Reconsider! I don't doubt your justice, but the punishments might be too severe!"
Anyone would say I condemned them to death, Yuuri thought, frowning.
"Be ready to run when I tell you," Conrad whispered again.
Yuuri sighed. A couple of steps further, he noticed Conrad nodding to one of the columns. Two seconds later, he heard Gwendal's voice requesting Günther for a Very Important Mission That Couldn't Wait.
"Go!" Conrad said.
Yuuri ran as fast as he could, doing his best to match Conrad's pace. The Maou was led through passages and stairs whose existence he hadn't even dreamed of within the castle. Finally, they stopped in front of a humble wooden door. Conrad opened it and asked Yuuri to go inside.
"Wait here. I'll come back when it's safe for you to come out."
"But-"
"Get inside!" Wolfram's voice said; the blond's hand came from inside the room and pulled Yuuri in. Then, the door was shut silently and Yuuri was left alone with his fiancé in a not-so-dark room with seemingly comfortable yet dusty furniture.
"Wolfram, what's going on?"
"Weller's going to make sure Günther leaves the castle with Brother in a patrolling mission. I was appointed to be your bodyguard on the meantime."
Yuuri gulped. "What are you up to?"
"Getting revenge, of course."
Somehow, Yuuri felt that statement would've been better with thunder and lightning as background. "But-"
"We have practically everyone in this, except for Anissina. It seems she's the one who helps Günther to print the books."
"Really?"
"Yes. She's not going to be easy to take down, but Gisela-"
"Gisela too?"
Wolfram chuckled. "You wouldn't believe what she had to read."
Yuuri shuddered.
"Anyway," Wolfram continued. "Everything will be set up in a few hours. Because, at dawn, we strike!"
All of this just for a few books?, Yuuri wanted to ask, but instead he lowered his head and rubbed his face with a hand. "What if I apologize?" he said.
"What?"
"It was my fault after all. I was the one who brought-"
"Hoe!" Wolfram smashed his fist against Yuuri's head. "You want to compromise your practically nonexistent dignity because you don't want us to pull a well-deserved prank on Günther?"
"Prank?" Yuuri stopped rubbing the sore spot.
"Did you think we plan to hurt him?" Wolfram crossed his arms. "Listen, I don't entirely agree with all of this, but the soldiers are demanding us to stop Günther. We have to do something radical because-"
"Because I didn't say anything to him?"
Wolfram growled. "Let me finish, you wimp! Because words won't work and because guaranteeing our men's comfort is one of the many little ways to ensure their loyalty."
"Whoa! I hadn't thought of that!"
"Of course not. Yet, you've been doing fine so far, but we knew Günther was going to pressure you to pardon everyone; that's why we've prepared an entire course of action."
"Are you sure you can't fix this problem by talking to him?"
"We've tried. The only answer we've got is that we shouldn't let our fears boycott New Makoku's progress."
Yuuri sighed again. "There's no way to change your mind, then? You have to promise not to hurt Günther. Do I have a part in this plan?" he asked after a pause.
"Yes: sit back and pretend you don't know a thing."
"What? Why?"
"Because if Günther thinks you have anything to do with what's going to happen, he'd be devastated." Wolfram said this as if Yuuri were an infant, and then added as if he himself was five years old: "Those are Weller's words."
C
Yuuri yawned and tapped the chair's arm with his fingers. "I wonder what are they doing with poor Günther..." he mumbled. His question was answered almost immediately, when the room's door opened and Günther threw himself at the Maou's feet.
"Your Majesty! Please, stop this madness!"
"Günther! Are you all right?"
Günther jumped to hug Yuuri. "You are worried about me when you've been locked in this filthy place? What did I do to deserve you as my king?"
"Easy, easy." Yuuri managed to calm down Günther, who then proceeded to get all excited again when he explained to the Maou what he had witnessed. "They did what?" Yuuri felt his eyebrow twitching. He bit his tongue to avoid confessing and forced himself to act as he was told; he didn't want to risk Wolfram's wrath. "I'll take care of this lunacy," he recited while he stood up as gracefully as he could, just as Wolfram had made him practice.
Günther was beaming. He straightened up and placed himself behind Yuuri. "Let us go, Your Majesty."
"You wait here; you seem too distressed. I'm able to handle this by myself."
It took nearly five minutes to convince Günther to remain in the room. Yuuri closed the door with an 'I'm not worthy!' sounding in his ears.
"How was it?" Conrad asked as soon as Yuuri appeared in the yard. The men were already cleaning up their mess.
"I feel guilty," Yuuri said, scratching his nape.
"I apologize for causing you discomfort, but it was for a greater good."
"Yeah... But I still think this was too much."
"I'd say," Wolfram blurted.
"Wolfram, did you settle the matter with Gwendal?" Conrad asked.
Wolfram scoffed and blushed. He didn't answer much further than that.
"Can I let Günther out now?" Yuuri asked.
"Please, wait until we're done," Conrad said, smiling.
"Now we have a precedent that will prevent writings as incendiary as these," Gwendal said.
"Let us hope," Conrad and Wolfram said, both nodding.
Yuuri let his eyes wander from one brother to the next, thinking he absolutely never would want to be their enemy.
"It's a shame you couldn't see our little number, kiddo," Yozak said.
"Was it just an act to you?" Conrad asked, winking.
Yozak winked back. "Of course not, captain."
"OHNO!" Wolfram buried his face on his hands. "I didn't need to know that!"
Yuuri blinked. Before he could ask if he wanted to know, Gwendal spoke.
"Sir von Bielefield, follow me. I need to take your measurements."
"I've already asked you not to meddle, Brother!" Wolfram said, so angry he was trembling.
Yuuri blinked again. "I think I'm going to let Günther out." The last thing he heard before going down to the basement was Anissina saying how unusual it was for her to sleep until so late and Gisela's giggle.
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: WolframxYuuri, ConradxYozak
Genre: Humor
Lenght: 3492 words. One-shot.
Summary: There's a rebellion in Blood Pledge Castle, and it was Günther's fault.
Notes: To allira_dream, because she introduced me to the fandom via pushing.
A
Günther was feeling tired. He had been working until late the past few days, and now he had spent the whole night with Gwendal looking for a thief that never existed -the lady's very expensive ring had been under the bed all that time. The fair-haired demon stifled a yawn; he debated with himself whether he should sleep a couple of hours when they get back to the castle or continue with his important work. That was a tough choice; Günther was aware he wouldn't be able to do an acceptable service to the Maou if he wasn't rested. Nevertheless, what he was doing was a milestone in New Makoku's History.
He decided on taking a nap; not more than an hour should do the trick. Günther sighed contentedly; he thought of the Maou's bright smile when he, His Majesty's humble servant, would report him the great success this idea was having. Because happy people was the foundation for a happy country, and that was that. Günther raised his noble head to look at Blood Pledge Castle, the magnificent residence from which the Maou's would rule that happy country, with its tall and ancient walls, its artistically shaped turrets, its rising dark smoke...
Smoke?
"Gwendal!"
"I see it!" was all Sir von Voltaire answered. Both of them hurried their horses to get back into the castle. What they found there was a revolt.
Soldiers were running all over, some carrying torches and fighting each other, others pillaging the warehouse.
Gwendal drew his sword.
"Your Majesty!" Günther screamed over the noise.
"Yuuri's fine," said someone on his right. Günther turned his head: it was Wolfram. He was dirty and breathing heavily. "I locked him up in the basement. Basically to know where he is when I gather enough food and money."
"What? Wolfram, what is going on here?" Günther asked.
"You're finally going to do it?" Gwendal said. He dismounted and ruffled his little brother's head when Wolfram nodded. "Those are great news! Even if we won't get an invitation."
"Yes, I'm sorry about that."
"Gwendal, Wolfram, what are you talking about?"
"Perhaps I should try too," Gwendal said.
"Try what? Gwendal, we have a situation here!" Günther said. "Conrad! Where's Conrad?"
"He was at the barn with Yozak last time I saw him," Wolfram said.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go for him!"
Wolfram blushed and coughed. "I wouldn't advice it; by the way they were laughing, I doubt they'd be kind with an intruder."
Günther felt the blood rising to his cheeks. He stumbled backwards until his back found balance against one of the horses. "I... I don't understand... What is going on?"
"You can't tell?" Wolfram took out a small book from a pocket, opened it on a certain page and offered it to Günther. "We're doing what you told us to do."
B
The One Thing Yuuri didn't need -or, rather, The One Thing Yuuri didn't need that had climbed up scaringly fast on his master list of One Things he didn't need- was Günther finding those books Jen had asked him to buy for her while rummaging in his backpack. He had stated that His Majesty's belongings should be inventoried and placed under -his- safekeeping, although Wolfram had been skeptic about this for some reason.
Of course, it wouldn't have been so bad if Yuuri had thought about the consequences and hadn't gone into the fine details. But Günther had asked so nicely! ("I'd be honored to know what such a fine lady as His Majesty's mother chooses as reading material!" he had said, blinking huge puppy eyes, the same ones he used when he asked Gwendal for a big favor.) At least, Yuuri now understood why Conrad had made those weird faces at him before he began the explanation and why Wolfram, who had been confused all along, excused himself out of the room as soon as Günther's eyes started to shine -more than they usually did.
At the time, Yuuri had been oblivious to what he was doing. He didn't notice at all, not even when, after he had read aloud a few pages, the long-haired demon improvised an overenthusiastical speech on how much the Mazoku needed that kind of inspiring literature, and how blessed they were for having as their king such a thoughtful person, who had gone into the trouble of bringing it from another world. Nor when Günther left the room prancing and mumbling to himself while a deep sigh escaped Conrad's lips.
It wasn't until a couple of days later that the young Maou began to feel guilty for losing step and falling into that fountain before getting home to deliver those books to his mom; because of that, a gruesome horror had been unleashed upon his kingdom. Perhaps 'gruesome' and 'horror' were harsh words, but they were the ones used by Wolfram to describe the situation and Yuuri didn't feel like adjectivizing.
From the moment he got the Maou's explanation, Günther had excused himself from supporting Yuuri with his paperwork in order to craft the words that would illuminate the Mazoku. Therefore, Conrad was the one helping him with his work, for which Yuuri was really glad, if only because, that fated morning, Wolfram appeared into the office in a very bad mood.
"Yuuri! Make him stop!" he yelled.
"Eh...?"
"Günther! Tell him to stop! You're the Maou! He has to listen to you!"
Yuuri's face twitched and showed a clumsy, tentative smile. "But he's not doing bad things, is he? He's just writing a book-"
"A book? A book? Try several! He not only writes them, but he also prints them and distributes them to everyone!" Wolfram smashed his fist on Yuuri's desk. "He's shoved a different one to every noble in the castle and he's SO ANNOYING!"
Taken aback by the blond's roar, Yuuri tried to hide in his chair. He took a peek to check if Conrad was still standing right next to him before daring to open his mouth. "A different one for each noble? He's written so many books already?"
"Yes!"
Yuuri looked at Conrad again, who came forward and placed before him a red, thin book -so thin it could pass as one of Jen's booklets from the Easy Cooking Series.
"He gave this to me early this morning," Conrad said.
Yuuri looked at the cover. He still had a long way ahead to fully understand that world's written language, but the words in front of him turned out to be easy enough. Still, he couldn't believe the book's title. "Maryoku Is Not All: You Can Be A Worthy Mazoku Even Without Magic. Don't Give Up! Ugh..." he added after a pause in which he leafed through the pages; they couldn't be more than fifty and had very... interesting and colorful drawings on them. "Have you read it, Conrad?"
"Not yet, but I promised to. Though..." Conrad stopped to scratch the side of his nose.
"What?"
"I was hoping Your Majesty wouldn't punish me and forbid me to get close to this..." Conrad coughed. "Masterpiece. Specially since I forgot to fill your ink bottle this morning."
Yuuri blinked for a few seconds before getting it. "Ah! Fine. I, uh, hereby ban you from reading Günther's book because I needed that ink."
Conrad bowed. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Hey!" Wolfram intervened, suddenly.
"Oh, yes," Conrad said. "Wolfram too needs a superior order to avoid fulfilling his word."
"What? I am always true to my word, sir Weller!"
"That's an excellent trait," Conrad said, shrugging.
"What's your book about, Wolf-?"
"How dare you ask me something private like that, you wimp?" Wolfram jumped over the desk, grabbed Yuuri by the front of his jacket and shook him violently.
"Wolfram!" Conrad dashed to save the Maou. He finally managed to pull the blond away from Yuuri. "How dare you to display such an inappropriate behavior toward His Majesty? You need to be disciplined harshly!" Then he turned to Yuuri; Conrad's face was stern, but his eyes showed amusement.
Yuuri held back a sigh and forbade his fiancé to read the book Günther had given to him. Wolfram scoffed and left, but he did look far more relaxed than when he entered the room minutes before.
Not much longer after that, Gwendal came in and tried to pick up a fight with Conrad. Thus, Yuuri had to punish him too, which led to a new pair of knitted socks on his desk the next day.
"Ah! They fit perfectly! And they're so soft!"
"Gwendal likes to put attention to the details," Conrad said.
"Well, time for work!" Yuuri reached for a sheet of paper from the pile. At the beginning of his reign, he just signed everything Günther placed before him because a) he couldn't read that language at all and b) he trusted Günther that much. Right then, he knew Conrad had already checked every document before presenting them to him, and that he wouldn't approve of something that could hurt the people. Still, Yuuri skimmed down through to the one he grabbed because it made him feel proud when he recognized a word or two. Or even a phrase, which was even better. And then, when he skimmed, he froze.
"Is there something wrong, Yuuri?"
"No..." Yuuri mumbled. He took the next sheet of paper. And the next one. And the three that followed. "Conrad, are these...?"
Conrad looked over the Maou's shoulder. "Ah! It seems the soldiers want to clean up their conscience; they all are reporting their faults and requesting punishment."
"How's that Günther writes this fast?" Yuuri moaned and applied pen to paper.
Hence, that night, Yuuri met a pleading Günther waiting for him at the place where he and Conrad used to play baseball.
"Your Majesty," he began. "I-I would like to... Well, I..."
"What is it, Günther?"
Günther breathed deeply; a gush of air played gently with his hair and his eyes glittered with the light of the nearby torches. "Your Majesty, I commend you for the strict discipline you've been showing lately, but..." He wibbled. "If I may, with all due respect, Your Majesty, I think you're going a little too far. I, eh, apologize for my bold words, but my sense of justice compelled me to speak up."
"You don't need to apologize, Günther," Yuuri said, waving his hands, both of which were suddenly held against Günther's chest.
"Your Majesty, if I could ask for some of this magnanimity to extend to all of your subjects!"
"Huh?"
A
Günther was so appalled that he forgot about the chaos going on around them. "What? I would have never-!"
"Of course you have," Gwendal said. He took out another book, similar to his brother's, only green instead of blue, and showed Günther an underlined paragraph. "See?"
"But- I-" Günther grabbed the book and read the whole page. "I've never meant this! You are being too literal!"
"Too literal?" said a voice behind him. "I don't know. We're having too much fun, and it's all thanks to you."
Günther turned slowly and saw both Conrad and Yozak on the same horse. They had straw all over them and Conrad's collar was not as neat as it used to be. Also, they were grinning broadly. Very broadly.
"So now, if Your Excellencies excuse us..." Yozak put his strong arms around Conrad's waist and hit the horse with his ankles. "See you next week!" he exclaimed as their mount began its race toward the horizon.
"Conrad! Yozak! What about His Majesty!" Günther yelled.
"Wolfram'll take good care of him!" Conrad answered from the distance.
"Of course I will," Wolfram said, placing his hands on his hips.
Günther cursed and grabbed Gwendal's arm. "Quick! Get to His Majesty and-! What are you doing?" he asked when Sir von Voltaire threw his sword away.
"I've seen the light," Gwendal said. "No more violence for me. I'll go to a town in the mountains and open a knitting shop for children."
"Brother, that's wonderful! Yuuri and I will go see you once you're settled!"
"Thank you, Wolfram. Please, let me know if you need me to help you with your wedding gown."
Günther thought he heard Wolfram say 'Don't push it' under his breath, but he had more important things to fret over. "Wedding? What do you mean by that? I mean, I know you two are engaged, but you're still too young!"
"I know we're too young," Wolfram said. "That's why, before thinking of actual marriage, we're going to live together for a while in a country across the sea."
Günther wanted to repeat the last part of Wolfram's statement, but found himself without air whatsoever. Nevertheless, it seemed that the blond heard him, because he explained: "Yuuri and I are really busy with all of our obligations here, in New Makoku, so we don't really know each other. And I won't be able to trust him until I truly know him. That's the key to overcome... my... je-jealousy problem. You said it, Günther."
"I-I did, but you can know each other here. You don't have to go..." Günther leaned on the horse again and sighed. "Does His Majesty want to go away too?"
Wolfram blinked. "I haven't asked him."
"You haven't? You took such an important decision for him without considering his feelings?"
"I was going to, when I gathered enough food and money."
Günther pulled his hair. "This is unbelievable! I'll talk to him immediately! Where is he?"
"Locked in the basement, I told you. Do you want the key?"
B
Conrad placed himself between Yuuri and Günther. "I'm sorry, Günther, His Majesty is tired."
"Weren't you going to engage on this ritual from His Majesty's world?" Günther asked.
"We were just passing by; I thought I'd left a glove around here," Conrad said.
"I haven't seen anything," Günther said.
"Then it isn't here." Conrad bowed slightly. "We're sorry for bothering you." He grabbed Yuuri's arm, startling him, and dragged him toward the castle.
"But, Your Majesty-!"
"Keep walking, Yuuri," Conrad whispered to the Maou's ear, moving faster since Günther was right behind them.
Yuuri could barely feel the pressure of Conrad's fingers on his skin, but the young king knew this grip would be a hard one to break.
They walked by the castle's huge corridors, leaving the maids gossiping softly as the trio passed by them.
"Your Majesty!" Günther claimed. "Please! I beg you! Reconsider! I don't doubt your justice, but the punishments might be too severe!"
Anyone would say I condemned them to death, Yuuri thought, frowning.
"Be ready to run when I tell you," Conrad whispered again.
Yuuri sighed. A couple of steps further, he noticed Conrad nodding to one of the columns. Two seconds later, he heard Gwendal's voice requesting Günther for a Very Important Mission That Couldn't Wait.
"Go!" Conrad said.
Yuuri ran as fast as he could, doing his best to match Conrad's pace. The Maou was led through passages and stairs whose existence he hadn't even dreamed of within the castle. Finally, they stopped in front of a humble wooden door. Conrad opened it and asked Yuuri to go inside.
"Wait here. I'll come back when it's safe for you to come out."
"But-"
"Get inside!" Wolfram's voice said; the blond's hand came from inside the room and pulled Yuuri in. Then, the door was shut silently and Yuuri was left alone with his fiancé in a not-so-dark room with seemingly comfortable yet dusty furniture.
"Wolfram, what's going on?"
"Weller's going to make sure Günther leaves the castle with Brother in a patrolling mission. I was appointed to be your bodyguard on the meantime."
Yuuri gulped. "What are you up to?"
"Getting revenge, of course."
Somehow, Yuuri felt that statement would've been better with thunder and lightning as background. "But-"
"We have practically everyone in this, except for Anissina. It seems she's the one who helps Günther to print the books."
"Really?"
"Yes. She's not going to be easy to take down, but Gisela-"
"Gisela too?"
Wolfram chuckled. "You wouldn't believe what she had to read."
Yuuri shuddered.
"Anyway," Wolfram continued. "Everything will be set up in a few hours. Because, at dawn, we strike!"
All of this just for a few books?, Yuuri wanted to ask, but instead he lowered his head and rubbed his face with a hand. "What if I apologize?" he said.
"What?"
"It was my fault after all. I was the one who brought-"
"Hoe!" Wolfram smashed his fist against Yuuri's head. "You want to compromise your practically nonexistent dignity because you don't want us to pull a well-deserved prank on Günther?"
"Prank?" Yuuri stopped rubbing the sore spot.
"Did you think we plan to hurt him?" Wolfram crossed his arms. "Listen, I don't entirely agree with all of this, but the soldiers are demanding us to stop Günther. We have to do something radical because-"
"Because I didn't say anything to him?"
Wolfram growled. "Let me finish, you wimp! Because words won't work and because guaranteeing our men's comfort is one of the many little ways to ensure their loyalty."
"Whoa! I hadn't thought of that!"
"Of course not. Yet, you've been doing fine so far, but we knew Günther was going to pressure you to pardon everyone; that's why we've prepared an entire course of action."
"Are you sure you can't fix this problem by talking to him?"
"We've tried. The only answer we've got is that we shouldn't let our fears boycott New Makoku's progress."
Yuuri sighed again. "There's no way to change your mind, then? You have to promise not to hurt Günther. Do I have a part in this plan?" he asked after a pause.
"Yes: sit back and pretend you don't know a thing."
"What? Why?"
"Because if Günther thinks you have anything to do with what's going to happen, he'd be devastated." Wolfram said this as if Yuuri were an infant, and then added as if he himself was five years old: "Those are Weller's words."
C
Yuuri yawned and tapped the chair's arm with his fingers. "I wonder what are they doing with poor Günther..." he mumbled. His question was answered almost immediately, when the room's door opened and Günther threw himself at the Maou's feet.
"Your Majesty! Please, stop this madness!"
"Günther! Are you all right?"
Günther jumped to hug Yuuri. "You are worried about me when you've been locked in this filthy place? What did I do to deserve you as my king?"
"Easy, easy." Yuuri managed to calm down Günther, who then proceeded to get all excited again when he explained to the Maou what he had witnessed. "They did what?" Yuuri felt his eyebrow twitching. He bit his tongue to avoid confessing and forced himself to act as he was told; he didn't want to risk Wolfram's wrath. "I'll take care of this lunacy," he recited while he stood up as gracefully as he could, just as Wolfram had made him practice.
Günther was beaming. He straightened up and placed himself behind Yuuri. "Let us go, Your Majesty."
"You wait here; you seem too distressed. I'm able to handle this by myself."
It took nearly five minutes to convince Günther to remain in the room. Yuuri closed the door with an 'I'm not worthy!' sounding in his ears.
"How was it?" Conrad asked as soon as Yuuri appeared in the yard. The men were already cleaning up their mess.
"I feel guilty," Yuuri said, scratching his nape.
"I apologize for causing you discomfort, but it was for a greater good."
"Yeah... But I still think this was too much."
"I'd say," Wolfram blurted.
"Wolfram, did you settle the matter with Gwendal?" Conrad asked.
Wolfram scoffed and blushed. He didn't answer much further than that.
"Can I let Günther out now?" Yuuri asked.
"Please, wait until we're done," Conrad said, smiling.
"Now we have a precedent that will prevent writings as incendiary as these," Gwendal said.
"Let us hope," Conrad and Wolfram said, both nodding.
Yuuri let his eyes wander from one brother to the next, thinking he absolutely never would want to be their enemy.
"It's a shame you couldn't see our little number, kiddo," Yozak said.
"Was it just an act to you?" Conrad asked, winking.
Yozak winked back. "Of course not, captain."
"OHNO!" Wolfram buried his face on his hands. "I didn't need to know that!"
Yuuri blinked. Before he could ask if he wanted to know, Gwendal spoke.
"Sir von Bielefield, follow me. I need to take your measurements."
"I've already asked you not to meddle, Brother!" Wolfram said, so angry he was trembling.
Yuuri blinked again. "I think I'm going to let Günther out." The last thing he heard before going down to the basement was Anissina saying how unusual it was for her to sleep until so late and Gisela's giggle.