Day 14, 2:30pm

[yuuri_maou]

After waking early, feeling a bit sore from trying to sleep on the couch, he grabs something quick for food and then heads back to work with all the signing he has left to do. For once he's actually pretty concentrated and by 1:00 he's acutally caught up. After hovering around Gwendal for about 10 minutes, waiting for new stuff to sign and

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[trustedadvisor]

Günter has just gotten back into the mindset of getting through mountains of paperwork when he is interrupted by yet another knock on the door. He looks up, preparing a sharp reprimand which quickly dies on his lips at the sight of the Maou.

"... Heika?"

What in Shinou's name is he doing here?

[yuuri_maou]

At the...greeting, he lets himself into the room, leaving the door slightly ajar when Jerey makes a sound of displeasure when he starts to close it.

"Hi," he shifts his weight a little and thinks for a second. "I don't think we've really met. I mean, I know the Gunter here, but I don't THINK I met you, or maybe I did, it's been a hectic two weeks. But I'm the Yuuri from this world, and it's nice to meet you, and Gwendal kicked me out of his office, and I was wondering if you had anything I need to sign?"

[trustedadvisor]

For a second Günter just blinks at the boy, unable to quite believe that he's asking for work. From what he has previously seen this Yuuri-Heika seemed very similar to the one from his world, but apparently appearances can be deceiving. Nevertheless, just because this one is willing it doesn't mean he is any more competant than the other.

However, all that aside, he would do well to ingratiate himself with the ruler of this world's Shin Makoku. He musters up a bright smile for the boy.

"I don't believe we have met, Heika. It is very nice to meet you finally too. As it happens, I do have some papers that I had not sent down to Gwendal yet that require your signature." He gestures to some slightly rumpled-looking papers arranged in a neat pile at one corner.

[yuuri_maou]

Dragging over a chair from along the wall, he places it at the end of Gunter's desk and picks up the first paper. "Let's seeeee...ses...ho..ho..hor...ses...ho.r..ses...hor..ses...hor.ses..horses, oh! horses! Okay, now how many? .....fo....r..teee...fooor...teeee..."

Still trying to read the paper, he pats about the table, looking for pen to sign it. "Foor...foor...for...ty.."

[trustedadvisor]

Günter cocks his head at the boy. "What do you suggest that couples who cannot produce their own heirs do, then? It is a time-honoured tradition where I come from, and the offer is taken up before the child is born, so it is always known that that child will be a part of another family. It helps to keep relations strong between the various noble families, as well.

"It also works out well for the child: Instead of being a fourth or fifth child, and being mostly ignored in favour of their siblings for the length of their life, they may become an heir."

[yuuri_maou]

..........."I guesss," he says slowly. "But here the position of Maou isn't always based on being passed down from parent to child. Shinou choses, like he chose me."

He shakes his head and then smiles. "Well, each to his own."

[trustedadvisor]

Günter fixes another smile on his face, in an attempt to keep the annoyance out of his voice. "Yes, Heika, it is the same in my world. I was speaking of the noble families. The child of the King Consort of my world is still the heir to the Bielefeld line, despite also being the child of the Maou."

As much as I sometimes wish the position was hereditary... Gwen would have made an excellent Maou.

He had been considering offering to tutor the Maou in his double's absence, as what better way could there be to get close to the boy? But if it is going to be this difficult to make him grasp every new concept, he is not sure if he could handle more than a few hours without doing something he'd regret.

[yuuri_maou]

"Ooooh." Yuuri grins sheepishly and ducks his head, signing a few more papers quickly. "I see. Sorry." He lays down his quill and folds his hands under his chin. "It's kinda like Gwendal says." He lowers his voice, trying to make it sound deeper and squinches his eyes, trying to make his forehead winkle.

"You're about to see the Maou. Speak clearly, don't stutter, and use small words, he's a little bit slow today." He grins and sticks out his tongue and switches back to his normal voice. "It was kinda funny at the time. REALLY."

[the_great_sage]

On the cook's instructions (and a little memory) he soon finds the room Gunter is meant to be working in and knocks politely on the door.

"Hello~ Anyone home?"

[yuuri_maou]

"Murata!" Yuuri bounces to his feet and smiles at Gunter. "It's Murata."

"Murata! You can come innn!"

[the_great_sage]

His eyebrows arch in surprise....Shibuya? Well, he hadn't expected Yuuri to be here, but he did need to talk to the Maou about Wolfram. Two birds with one stone~

He opens the door on a small office-type room, Hoka-Gunter is behind a desk piled high with documents and Yuuri is standing nearby, beaming the wide smile that is almost always present. He smiles back and dips his head to Gunter in greeting.

"Good afternoon, I don't believe we've met, von Christ-kyo. I am this world's Murata Ken. Though; you've probably met my double, so I guess you already knew that." He smiles disarmingly at the man; using the grinning, slightly silly facade he used when greeting and interacting with people whose reactions and demeanor were still unknown.

[trustedadvisor]

He is surprised at first by the boy's enthusiasm for someone who Gunter knows does not return the sentiment, but when this Murata introduces himself, it all clicks into place. It is clear that whatever the position of "Great Sage" entails, this boy is very close to the Maou, so he inclines his head in respect before addressing the Sage carefully.

"Good afternoon, Geika. It is a pleasure to finally meet you. To what do I owe the honour?"

Then he realises that he is showing this boy far more respect than he gave to the Maou when he was surprised earlier, and winces inwardly. Hopefully it will go unnoticed...