Day 13, Noon

[yuuri_maou]

[[from here*His clothes are damp from the light rain, and his face scratchy from the grass he fell asleep on, but he feels better than he has in a long time. For a moment he remains still, looking up at the sky, and offers a prayer for Conrad’s soul. Then he finally gives into the gentle prodding of Jerey to get him out of the wet

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[originalmaiden]

Ulrike is wandering down the halls, peeking into unlocked doors to see if the Shinou is inside. There are many, many doors. She could ask a guard to escort her to the Shinou's side, but then she would lose the opportunity to explore the castle!

The guards standing outside of one room aren't sure what to make of her presence in the castle, though they do know who she is. One of them tells her the Maou shouldn't be disturbed, but now she is excited to visit Yuuri-heika! Poking her head inside the room, she squeals happily to see him. "Yuuri-heika! Good afternoon!"

[yuuri_maou]

Looking up quickly when Yuuri hears his name, he breaks out into an honest smile and stands up from his desk, moving quickly to meet the short Shine Maiden. "Ulrike!" he calls warmly and takes one of her tiny hands in his own. "What a nice surprise!" He ushers her further into the room and then runs about looking for a chair.

"What brings you all the way up here? Was the weather okay? Did you ride or take a carriage. Greta just got a couple ponies the other day, I'm sure you could barrow one if you need a ride home. Or will you be staying with us awhile? Now that the guests from the party have mostly gone home, and the castle is being rebuilt, we have more room again."

[originalmaiden]

She clasps his hands in her little ones, beaming at the young king. "I came here with a sand bear! He dug into the Shrine and visited me." She listens to the rapid fire questions and offers and giggles.

"Yuuri-heika is very kind." Her eyes go all sparkly. "Ulrike would like very much to stay at the castle. Do you think Shinou-heika will say it's all right?"

[yuuri_maou]

He smiles back at her and nods. "I'm sure it would be fine with him. After all, if he gets to be out of the shrine for a bit, you should too. Ummmm," he paused for a moment, thinking, and then snaps his fingers. "There's a nice room over-looking the gardens that is free now. You'll like it."

He finally finds a good chair and sets it down for her and then folds his hands behind his back. "Can I get you anything? Something to drink? Or eat? A coat? Are you cold?"

[originalmaiden]

She climbs up into the chair, her feet swinging a little. "No, Yuuri-heika, I am very well, thank you." She looks the king over and admires his energy and bright smile. "How are you? Is everything going well?"

[yuuri_maou]

..........he pauses, wondering how he's supposed to even try to answer her question posed so innocently. She couldn't have heard about the fight this morning with Wolfram, and then here is...Conrad, and the war, and Greta, and just everything piling up that he doesn't want to allow himself to think about. Because if he allows himself to mourn for one, he'll fall and never stop. And he promised Conrad he'd keep trying

[originalmaiden]

"Thank you, Yuuri-heika, but I had pudding earlier." Ulrike replies. Her little stomach probably couldn't fit anymore sugar. Yuuri is a delight to listen to, as he rambles on. She is possibly breaking rules by doing this, but she hops down from her chair and gives the king a hug around his waist.

"If Yuuri-heika has a favorite picture book, would he share it with me?" ^---^

[yuuri_maou]

Yuuri is surprised when Ulrike springs from her chair and rushes to him, but he doesn't mind and hugs her in return, wrapping his arms around her back and holding her close. She's comforting and reminds him a little of a cross between his mother and his daughter. He clings to her for a moment, and then backs up, blushing softly.

"I've several favorites. When Gunter announced at dinner that my reading was still coming along slowly, a recieved lots of books the next day at breakfast. I don't have them here though."

He hesitates for a moment and then boldly takes her little hand, tugging gently. "Come. There are a lot of nice ones I was given. Greta gave me her favorite that Anissina had started her on, she was a little rusty on her Mazoku reading, though she speaks it really well. The other day I got a notice from Gwendal. Apparently the girls somehow won several ponies off him. I'm not sure how, though it sounds like blackmail to me." He winks at the little shine maiden and continues down the hall, his guards following.

[originalmaiden]

Oh! Is very pleased to walk alongside Yuuri-heika. She holds onto his hand tightly. "I think Princess Greta must be very happy to have the ponies. She's very lucky."

She waves to some of the maids as they pass, looking behind them once in a while to see if Yuuri-heika's guard is still with them. Mr. Jerey is a very good guard and she's glad Yuuri-heika has such a capable man at his back.

[yuuri_maou]

Yuuri smiles at Ulrike again and leads her to the sitting room that connects with his room. Really, he has more space in the rooms that are his that he knows what to do with. His whole HOUSE could fit in them. Usually he doesn't bother with them, Wolfram's rooms are attatched to the left (did he REALLY hear someone call them the 'Queen's Quarters'?) and occasionally they go there when Greta stops by to play.

But with Wolfram still angry at him, he doesn't dare and opens the door to his little used living room instread, propping the door open for properitie's sake and sits her down by the low seat and table near the window before excusing himself for a moment and running into the next room.

He comes back quickly, skidding on the carpet before plopping down on the couch next to her. "Here we go!" he announces, placing a small stack of books on the table and picking up the top one with a green dragon on the cover. "This one is Greta's."

[originalmaiden]

"Oh! I remember reading this one to my Maidens when they were little!" She flips through the brightly colored pages, pointing out favorite parts to Yuuri-heika.

She smiles up at the young king. "Are there any books that Yuuri-heika likes best?" Before he can answer, she realizes that he's still standing and scoots over on her seat. "Yuuri-heika, please sit! I don't want you to be tired out!"

[yuuri_maou]

"All of these," he says, gesturing to the small pile as he takes a seat next to the tiny shine maiden, smiling at her enthusiasm. "This one," he pulls over a very pink book with a bear bee on the front, "Wolfram gave me this one."

His smile grows sad as he takes the next. "This one was from Conrad." He runs his fingertips over the well read cover. "They all mean a lot to me."

[originalmaiden]

She gives him a big smile. "Sir von Bielefeld and Sir Weller both think very highly of you, Yuuri-heika." She looks at the two books very carefully, and then the others. "Yuuri-heika is very well-loved." Ulrike nods firmly to punctuate her declaration.

Turning away from the books she clasps her hands in his. "You will be a very good Maou, like Shinou-heika." ♥

[yuuri_maou]

^___^ "I met Shinou....was it twice I think? He seems nice to me. Though a bit uptight. You know, kinda like-" he pauses and looks around and then leans closer, whispering, "He's got a stick up his-" before suddenly cutting himself off. His mother could KILL him if he said something like that to a lady.

"Uh," he tries to think quickly and then finished lamely, "Like he wouldn't be a lot of fun. I'm not quite so sure why Murata likes him...you know....as a friend"

[originalmaiden]

Ulrike giggles, the familiar sparkly haze descending over her eyes. "Oh, but Shinou-heika is wonderful and kind. He takes care of Geika and Ulrike and all of Shin Makoku so diligently.

"And Geika loves him so. I worried for him while they were apart. But Geika is like a strong wall that stands before the rushing river. The Shinou-heika is very strong and vibrant and Geika is the one who can temper him." She sighs, pressing her hands to her heart. "And in return, Shinou-heika takes good care of Geika."

*^________^*

[yuuri_maou]

Ahhhh, he realizes, so she DOES know about Shinou and......Murata. [Eww eww eww-no], no he shouldn't say that. It's Murata, and Murata's choice, and who is he to say anything about it if Murata is happy? Afterall, Murata is still talking to Shinou, which is more than he can say right now about his relationship...thing.

"Shinou also makes it rain a lot," he says lamely. "Uh, and it's wet."