Day 95

[commandergwen]

Gwendal had left the castle when his powers had mysteriously returned, after they had mysteriously disappeared. He had returned to his family's castle in Voltaire/Walde (depending on the translation). The culprit behind so many terrorist activities was dead and he needed a break

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[theheatinside]

He rode into the capitol alone, with a hood drawn over his hair and concealing his face. He wondered if he should have come sooner, or waited longer. There had been a plan, and his double was in the castle now, playing his part. A surge of jealousy made his hands clench on the reigns. Wolf had better not extend that act to the king’s bedroom

[commandergwen]

Gwendal felt a lightness in his heart upon hearing his baby brother's voice. If there was one person in his family whom Gwendal loved, it was Wolfram--even when he was a brat. (It could be that Gwendal was reminded of his own personality when he was in one of his moods in his younger years)

Coupling fire nature and being a teenager without doubt with lead to a short temper, and he was impressed with his brother's ability to keep it in check, most of the time.

"Wolfram!" he called out and raised his hand in a welcoming gesture. "How fairs your travels?"

[theheatinside]

Wolfram frowned and looked distractedly at the castle, then back at Gwendal with a faint nod. "Well enough. I didn't run into any trouble." Not on the road, anyway. Back at his uncle's was another matter. And he didn't know what was going on here.

"Is everything alright here?" He noticed Gwendal's horse, and that it seemed he had been traveling as well. "Or would you know? Are you just arriving?"

[commandergwen]

Gwendal was curious about where Wolfram had been. He hasn't been aware of him having plans to leave the castle when last he saw him.

"I spent the past few days taking care of some family business in Voltaire. Things had briefly become calm when I took my leave."

Gwendal gaged the distance to Blood Pledge.

"Would you join me for lunch? I would like to hear of your latest news."

[amazing_am_i]

Bert shifted from leg to leg while the brothers spoke. He hadn't really had a lot of interaction with either of the blond kids, though he knew there had been two of them. It made him even more curious to what the guy whom he looked like was like. He doubted anyone would introduce them.

But it was increasingly clear that he didn't need to dawdle around any longer. "Hey, uh, I gotta go get cleaned up. I got a date later." Or something like that. Gisela did promise to take him somewhere else.

[theheatinside]

Wolfram gave Bert another glance, laced with annoyance, but said nothing to the man. He drew his attention back to Gwendal. There was a brief flash of uncertainty, as he wasn't sure if now was the right time to wander back into the castle. The moment passed, however, and he nodded. "I would like that, Brother." He drew his hood back over his head. "If we could retire to somewhere private?" Not only so he could avoid being noticed, but he also wanted their conversation to be private.

[commandergwen]

"I have the perfect place," Gwendal said not really wanting to deal with a big crowd.

He planned to lead the way to a section of the castle rarely used. He made a detour and had one of his most trusted servants take his and Wolfram's orders on a meal to be brought to the private room he intended to utilize for their meal. The servant was a little confused by the location of the delivery because that room usually was utilized only in war time.

"My office is still in repairs," Gwendal explained to the man.

[theheatinside]

Wolfram followed his oldest brother into the castle, and was not surprised or disappointed in the location he chose. It was a good place to converse privately. Though the explanation given to the servant put a question in his head. "Repairs? Has something happened?"

[commandergwen]

"Unfortunately, there was a day where those with powers lost them and regular mortals gained powers. That Bert we ran across in the field a short while ago woke up with the power of waters. He flooded my office. I knocked him unconscious to stop the damage and his lover was upset with me. It seemed a good time to take a break from the castle while repairs were made."

He pulled out a pair of chairs and set them around a small table. They could eat there, but in the mean time it was a good place to rest one's elbows. "What of your adventures? You've been gone a long while."

[theheatinside]

“So things around the castle haven’t changed much. Weird things still keep happening.” He didn’t have to physically be here to get news of the strange goings-on. One of his men kept him informed. And he’d learned a bit from Wolf as well, while he was in Bielefeld.

He sat at the table and crossed his arms over his chest, crossed his legs, and leaned back in his seat. “I can’t say I’ve done anything adventurous. I spent most of my time away with my uncle. It’s was dull, and bothersome, but…” He grimaced. “I needed to be away from the castle for a bit.”

[commandergwen]

"Ah, yes, your uncle. Did he try to convince you to take your rightful place as Maou?"

Gwendal wasn't a fan of Wolfram's uncle, but given how pretentious his father's side of the family was he couldn't blame the man. "My father's relations still have difficulty accepting Yuuri as the Maou. Sometimes I wonder if they recognize him is only out of fear of me."

[theheatinside]

"Among other things," Wolfram grumbled. "He tried introducing me to other suitors. As if marrying someone else would change my mind about Yuuri." And not just over his right to rule. There was a crazy notion that he would "get over" the king if he found someone else to love - something he was quite offended by.

His smile was tight, strained. "It's a good thing we're here to defend him, then. They may change their minds given enough time. He has a way of bringing people to his side."

[commandergwen]

"He is rather cute," Gwendal agreed. "And when he's in Maou form he's quite terrifying. It gives a glimpse of what he will be like upon reaching maturity--he is still quite young and mortal."

The knock came on the door indicating their meal had arrived. Gwendal allowed the servant to settle the foods on the main table and then dismissed the servant with a grateful nod.

"Dig in, little brother. It is good to have you back. Now, tell me of these possible suitors. I wonder what your uncle views as appropriate and I could use a good laugh."

[theheatinside]

Wolfram felt a flare of indignation and jealously. What right did Gwendal have to say Yuuri was cute?! But that was interrupted by the servant. He bit his tongue - literally - and waited for the servant to depart. By then, his red face had cooled some. He stabbed at his food morosely.

“Ladies from affluent families, mostly. Boys of the same. They were all selfish and spoiled.” And Wolfram, being selfish and spoiled himself, found them all rather repellant. “Dominating men. Some credible soldiers. They must have been twice my age.” He sighed. “I don’t think my uncle even knows what I prefer.” Though if none of were Yuuri, then none were preferable.

[commandergwen]

"You are no longer a boy," Gwendal said quietly. "The decision upon whom you choose to marry is your own. And mother adores Yuuri so if you must pit your family against one another to marry whom you want you will have the former Maou, current Maou, and your big brother on your side."

Gwendal fought to hold his grin when Wolfram described the suitors as selfish and spoiled. "It is unusual for a noble to not be selfish and spoiled. That is why its so important that we do not fit that bill. And that we find a life partner that is also not selfish and spoiled. What good could come of children of selfish and spoiled parents? Surely, it would lead to revolt and rebellion. I would not serve under such rulers," he confided.

[theheatinside]

Wolfram felt the current Maou would be supportive in that regard only as long as what he wanted was not the Maou himself. But he knew, despite that, Yuuri cared. He smiled gratefully. "Thank you. I know I can count on you."

Wolfram had been called selfish enough in his life that he wasn't unaware of his own flaws. And though he spoiled Greta rotten, he was pleased that she seemed anything but. She took Yuuri's cue and remained giving and sweet. He hoped that never changed. "You're right. I've seen how my uncle runs things, and how he expects me to run things. I can't get behind that."

"What of you? Has anything of note happened since I've been away?"