To Turn the Other Cheek
part twentyThere had never been a more beautiful sight then the long winding path leading to Blood Pledge Castle. The streets were full of people hustling about their daily routines, but most stood still to wave to the carriage as it rode past them, despite their busy schedules. Their king was returning.
God save the king!
As they entered through the wide-swung doors of the castle barrier, it was clear their return had been noticed. Every necessary attendant stood waiting on the steps, including Gwendel with his face impassive and stern, and the excited Greta who clutched his hand in glee, hardly able to stand still.
The coachman stopped the carriage, the rolling motion as it halted its forward momentum making Wolfram’s stomach lurch just slightly. The attendants stepped forward, some disappearing to take the bags from the back while one came to hold open the door, through which they exited.
In one quick motion, Greta ran from Gwendel’s side and tackled her absent father, face buried in his stomach. Wolfram wrapped his arms around her and sank down to his knees to hold her better, petting her soft hair as it pressed against his face.
“Wolfram!” She gave a cheerful laugh to let escape the overwhelming happiness of the moment. “You’re home!”
Wolfram nodded, not sure he trusted himself to speak. He kissed her head and gave her a hard squeeze then got back to his feet
“Is everything okay?” She asked, looking between her two fathers. They both had the same sadness in their eyes and it worried her.
Yuri shook his head though and smiled with reassurance. “Everything is fine. Wolfram and I are just tired.”
“Do you want to watch me ride my pony?” Greta was practically bouncing with excitement.
Wolfram smiled wistfully. He’d have loved to. Yuri spoke for the both of them, though. “Can it wait a while? I’d like to nap for a bit and you know what bumpy trips do to your dad’s stomach.” He put his hand on her head. “I promise we’ll come watch you once we’ve had a minute to get adjusted.”
Whatever disappointment Greta felt was washed away by her father’s promise. “Alright. I, Greta, will practice until you’re ready and amaze you both!”
“Be careful,” Yuri called out as his daughter dashed away to prepare. He looked over his shoulder at Conrad with all the worry of a parent. “Watch over her, will you?”
Conrad nodded, smiling, and followed his princess to the stables.
With barely a nod to everyone else, Yuri took Wolfram’s hand and led him away. There were some whispers and knowing looks but neither cared. Without a word spoken, silently understanding the needs between then, they entered the king’s bed chamber and fell to the bed fully clothed, arms wrapped around each other, staving off the guilt of responsibility and satiating the need to simply be in the other's embrace, away from prying eyes.
They lay like that for hours, neither wanting to be the first to pull away from the comforting embrace. It was a more intimate expression than any sex had even been and it filled them with more desire and satisfaction than that act as well. This was what it felt like when everything in the world could be simplified into one moment in time, but could still contain all the sorrow and joy a million years could hold.
The nap was short-lived however; responsibilities weighing on them as their minds began to wander from the peace the bedroom offered. It had been enough, at least. The heartache seemed less prominent. Still, not having uttered a word to each other since their return, they rose from their bed and walked back down to the courtyard so as to not make their daughter wait any longer on their behalf.
She pranced along on her pony with Conrad’s ever-watchful eyes on her. Even before they had gotten within sight of them, they could hear the soldier’s kind words of praise and criticism as Greta tried to improve her handling of the animal. She did not disappoint him in her adherence to his words and there were no prouder parents than the king and his Wolfram as they leaned over the stone railing as they watched.
Yuri tensed and gasped as Greta’s pony reeled back on its hind legs and kicked wildly, which earned him a warm chuckle from his companion. He cast him a scowl but Wolfram simply shook his head at him in disapproval.
“You have good instincts, Yuri, but if you show such little faith in her safety when she has Conrad there to help her if she needs it, she will grow up weak and scared,” Wolfram pointed out haughtily. “There’s nothing I can do about you being a wimp, but I’d prefer it if my daughter was not one.”
“I can’t help it. It makes me nervous to see her riding on her own. I only started riding when I was fifteen.” Yuri rubbed his backside at the memory.
Wolfram smiled. “I was younger than her when I had my first pony. Conrad taught me how to ride her.”
“Conrad taught you, then me, and now Greta.” Yuri felt warmed by that in some way as he leaned back over the stone rail. “Greta! Do your best!”
The little girl waved an arm to them then grabbed the reins tighter, wanting nothing more than to make her fathers proud of her.
Wolfram's smile was content as he watched her run circles and keep excellent form all the while. With her back straight and her head held high, she was the perfect image of a princess, or would be once Conrad got around to teaching her side saddle.
“Ah, Gwendel!”
Wolfram turned to look over his shoulder at Yuri as he addressed his beloved older brother. Gwendel looked more worn that normal, his eyes narrow and face stern as though the light bothered him.
“I need to talk to you about spying on our allies,” Yuri demanded. “The trip was a complete disaster.”
“I have already been well informed about what happened. It is for that reason I have come to speak. Not to you, though.”
Yuri balked slightly at being dismissed as Wolfram stepped away from the rail and towards Gwendel. “Out here, brother?
Gwendel shook his head. “My office, if you prefer.”
He did. Wolfram turned back to Yuri. “Tell her she looked wonderful and then tell Conrad that a princess should ride side saddle, not with her legs splayed over the horse. I expect to see her riding with nobility next time, not like some common girl with no sense of propriety.”
“You can tell them both yourself later. Right?” Yuri looked worried, hands fidgeting at his side.
Wolfram nodded slightly then accompanied his brother to his study. It was not until the large doors were shut that the dark haired man began talking, perhaps out of the sensitive nature of his inquiry.
“Yozak and Gunter have written that whatever disaster they expected was already avoided. Lord Ackart still wishes to be known as an ally of Shin Makoku and sends an apology for causing his majesty and you to leave in duress.” Gwendel did not seem pleased with the good news, however. He took his seat and stared at his brother with interest. “I also have read that there was the matter of a proposal extended to you from Lord Ackart. Am I to assume by your presence here that you have refused or by Ackart’s request for a signed treaty that you have accepted?”
“I did not consent.”
“I am glad. I would have torn this treaty in an instant were that the case.” Gwendel laid the paper down on the stack of work left for Yuri to look through. “There is only the matter of your next assignment, then. Yozak has no qualms about working with you again, though I am not fond of the idea myself. Perhaps you would be of more use up north where there have been several bandit attacks along the main highway.”
Wolfram hesitated a moment, then laid his hand on his brother’s desk, earning his attention. “I’d like to be given work near the castle, if there is any available. Even if it’s just to patrol the city limits. It doesn’t matter. I’d just like to be able to spend more time at home.”
Gwendel eyed him in concern. “Did something else happen while you were away?”
Wolfram shook his head. “No. It’s nothing like that. I’m quite alright. I’d just...I’ve missed Greta and Yuri.”
Gwendel looked at his desk, still looking very uneasy. “You are aware that his majesty will still be entertaining marriage prospects?” He busied himself tidying his desk, though it was organized already. “Despite the inappropriate display the two of you showed upon your return, I take it his intentions remain the same.”
“He has not expressed a desire to marry me, if that’s what you’re asking. I don’t think it was inappropriate at all, however, for me to accompany him to his room. Whether he was in love with Lady Emily or not, that he was turned away by her and her family hurts him. I was there for him as a friend, not a lover, and I intend to remain at his side as such.”
Gwendel stopped sorting his pens and rubbed at his brow. “I thought you said it would be too painful to be here while he courted other prospects.”
“It will be.” Wolfram hung his head but smiled to himself just a little. “If I stay, I still get to watch Greta grow up and see my brothers and be there for Yuri, though. But if I leave, I lose everything. I’d rather suffer through the pain of losing Yuri to someone else right before my eyes than be alone and not be able to make any more precious memories with him as a friend. That is what is most important to me.”
The older brother sat in his chair, looking across at Wolfram with an unreadable expression. “If that is what you want. I will contact you, then, when something arises.”
Wolfram nodded and bowed slightly before turning to leave.
“I am very proud to be related to a man such as you.”
His feet stopped moving forward and Wolfram found his heart in his throat. He looked back over his shoulder at his brother, but the man was already pretending to be very busy with something else. He was not a man who found it comfortable to put words to something he felt that could not be shown and found it less comfortable to show through actions what could not be expressed otherwise.
Wolfram had spent his whole life in the presence of the secretive man and there were only a handful of times he could think of when he had said anything to the affect that he was loved by him other than through the devotion and care he gave him. Seldom did he feel his own actions made the older mazoku proud and never had he heard him say so.
Wolfram stood a little taller and puffed out his chest a little further before exiting the room and leaving his brother to rest comfortably in his absence. There was no further reason to speak of it. Its significance was well understood.
As the large doors fell shut behind him, he felt a small hand grab onto his and looked down at his daughter’s large, worried eyes. “What are you doing over here?” he asked. “I thought you would still be riding.”
Greta shook her head. “Greta heard Wolfram was going to leave again,” she explained, holding his hand tighter.
Wolfram knelt down and placed a hand on her head. “I’m not going away, I promise.”
The little girl gave a triumphant shout and wrapped her arms around his neck in a quick hug.
Wolfram kissed her forehead then stood. “I’m sorry about Emily. I know how much you were looking forward to getting a mother and I heard you liked her.”
Greta shook her head again. “I would like a mother, but I want to have Wolfram too.”
“Then I suppose you’re very lucky, because that’s what you’ll get.”
She jumped around in excitement, barely able to contain herself at the prospect of being together again with her parents. “Does this mean I can sleep in your room tonight?”
It was clear that she meant his and Yuri’s shared room. He’d have to explain to her later that they were to have separate rooms from now on but for now the prospect of ending an already wonderful day with his daughter and king slumbering alongside him was too much to pass up. Perhaps that same warm, wonderful feeling he’d experienced with Yuri earlier could be shared with her as well.
He gave a curt nod and her smile grew till her whole face was lit up. He was sure Yuri would have no complaints once he saw Greta’s happiness at the fact.
“Yuri, Yuri, he said yes!” she shouted, still jumping for joy.
Wolfram blinked then looked around the hallway.
Peeking his head out from around a corner, Yuri gave an embarrassed laugh. “Greta, you were supposed to wait till he was gone to say anything.”
“What is this?” Wolfram asked.
“Yuri said Wolfram might leave again and that Greta should ask you to stay!” the little girl explained.
Yuri came out from hiding and rubbed the back of his neck nervously as he came closer. “I thought maybe coming from her, you’d listen.”
Wolfram shook his head and turned his nose up at them both. “Only a wimp like you would send a little girl to do your dirty work.”
“I know, I’m sorry.” Yuri bowed apologetically. “You’re not backing out though, right? You’ll still spend the night with us?”
“Perhaps I should demonstrate a man’s integrity to Greta instead and not sleep in another man’s bed while unwed.”
“Wolfram.” Yuri frowned. “If anyone in this castle thinks I’d do anything with you while our daughter was in the room, there is more wrong with them than can be dealt with.”
Wolfram shrugged. It was all for show anyway. He couldn’t let Yuri think he’d won with his dirty ploy too quickly. “Fine. But we keep the door open. I’ve had enough people impugn my honor for one day.”
Yuri’s frown deepened. “Who?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Yes it does. I won’t allow it.” Yuri’s frown was more a scowl now. “Did Gwendel say something to you?”
Wolfram looked at Yuri in surprise then shook his head. “I’ve already spoken with him. It really wasn’t that big an issue.”
“What’s going on?” Greta asked, not sure what it was they were talking about.
Yuri gave her head a gentle pat. “We’re not fighting, Greta. You do me a favor though, alright? You hear anyone saying anything bad about Wolfram or me, you leave the room and don’t listen, okay? Just come tell me who was talking and I’ll make sure it stops.”
Greta gave a nod and Wolfram stared at Yuri in light of his concern. The king gave him half a smile. “Don’t look at me like that. It’s mostly my fault, anyway. You were right; people talk. And it’s up to me to make sure what they say isn’t wrong or unjustly said.”
Wolfram turned his face away from him. “About time you start taking responsibility.”
“I know. I’m sorry.” Yuri touched his shoulder gently, making Wolfram look back at him. The king’s eyes said he was sincere and his smile said he was optimistic. Things would get much better.
“After dinner then,” Wolfram said. “I’ll meet you and Greta in your room after I’ve changed.”
Yuri’s smile grew and, though they were not related, it was easy to tell Greta belonged to him. “Great. I’m sure Gwendel’s got a whole cart full of documents for me to sign, but I’ll see you both at dinner.”
Wolfram nodded and Greta waved as her father stepped inside the room behind the large doors.
“What do you want to do until dinner, Wolfram?”
Wolfram thought about it for a moment then smiled at Greta, taking her hand in his. “How about we go down into the town and I buy you the first thing you want to make it up to you for being gone so much the past few months?”
Greta’s eyes grew wide with excitement. “You mean like a kite?”
The mazoku laughed. “If that’s what you want. It doesn’t have to be anything so cheap as a kite though.”
“Greta wants a kite so she can fly it with Wolfram!”
Wolfram smiled at her and nodded. “Alright. Let’s hurry then.”
She grasped his hand in hers and pulled him along, humming to herself merrily. As far as either was concerned, this truly was a candidate for the best day ever.