Blumen

Blumen - Part 2

Yuuri's POV

He looked over at the taller man, who stood by the window, looking down at the ground below with an unfocused, expressionless look on his face, as though he was lost in thought. Apparently noticing the king's gaze, Conrad closed his eyes briefly before opening them again, sounding somewhat annoyed as he looked over at the shortest and asked, "Your highness?"

Shibuya blushed that he'd been caught staring but didn't turn away. "It's Yuuri", he grumbled, swallowing his nerves as he worked up the courage to ask about the man's bad mood.

The soldier gave the same warm-hearted smile that he'd always given, though this time it seemed tainted with a hint of hurt as he said, "Sorry, Yuuri."

"What's wrong", the king asked, not breaking eye-contact with his suddenly tense guard.

A bead of sweat rolled down Conrad's temple as his smile broadened to a more genuine yet somewhat nervous grin. "Ah, nothing, really. Although, if I'm given permission to speak, I'd like to make a suggestion."

Yuuri froze a little with surprise, not knowing Conrad to hesitate in calling him out, often. Well, not that he ever did call him out. In the past, the man had mostly seemed to defend the king or politely mention on the spot what he'd done wrong. Is this what he's been upset about, this whole time? What could I have done so wrong that it actually angered him? Is it because I gave those flowers away? Does he think that I'm a bad king, because of it?

Apparently noticing the Maou's worry, Conrad held out an opened palm, as though to signal that he didn't mean to offend his master in any way, though Yuuri would've known that without the gesture. "Maybe it isn't such a good idea to flirt with every girl you meet."

The boy's face lit to fire as he stiffened in his seat and stuttered almost inaudibly, "F-flirt?!"

"After all", the soldier continued, slightly more relaxed, this time. "We wouldn't want them to get jealous of each other and fight over you. Maybe it would be better to wait for the right woman and, then, to focus all of your advances on her, alone."

Shibuya stood from his chair abruptly and slapped his hand onto the desk, yelling, "Wait – just hold on, one minute! Flirt?! I didn't flirt with anyone! Where did you get that crazy idea from?"

Conrad looked extremely confused yet somehow relieved, at the same time. He tilted his head slightly and raised an eyebrow as he asked innocently, "You mean to tell me you weren't flirting with those in the halls?"

Conrad's POV

The king stood up straight and clenched his hands into fists, closing his eyes with embarrassment as his face turned beat-red. "Of course not! And, in any case, if I had to, I'd only ever want to be with you, Conrad!"

It took him a moment to register just what his master had said to him before his own cheeks began to burn with embarrassment at the blunt statement. As usual, Yuuri wasn't holding back, laying all of his cards on the table. Even the ones that would normally remain hidden for good reason. "With me", he asked, nearly whispering his words with how shocked he was.

His highness looked down at his paperwork, apparently purposefully avoiding eye-contact. "Yeah, I mean.... not that I expect you to feel the same way about me or to return my feelings", he mumbled, seeming to ramble as though he was only speaking his mind and without purpose As he talked more and more, he became quieter and less audible. "But I don't want you to get the idea that I'm a bad person. I'm not a romantic person, anyway, how can I flirt with someone? And even if I could, it would only be for you. After all, you're the only one I have feelings for, so..." He trailed off, apparently unsure of how to finish off his sentence, seeming regretful that he even brought his feelings for his servant up.

Conrart's heart was warmed once again and it was as though a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He sighed a happy breath and surprising the king with a tight hug and a kiss on the top of the head. "C-Conrad", he asked, sounding overly flustered and embarrassed as he stiffened in the swordsman's arms.

Just as the king relaxed and he lifted his arms to wrap them around the man, the doors flung opened and in came the rest of the gang, a giant cake the height of Gwendal being rolled in on a low cart by an over-joyed Gunter. "Happy birthday, your highness", they all said in unison. Everyone but Gwendal, at least, who's frown seemed deeper than usual, though Conrart knew him well enough to know that he was only embarrassed at the idea of abnormally kind to anyone, especially the king who he once claimed didn't belong on the throne.

Yuuri and his guard stiffened before separating quickly at the sight of their friends entering the room. The others had a mixture of embarrassment and surprise on their faces, though Wolfram seemed to be steaming as he stood. Celi, on the other hand, clapped her hands together and giggled loudly. "Oh, so I was right! I knew there was something going on, between you two! A mother always knows!"

Everyone sweat-dropped simultaneously at Mother's weird.... passion.... for romance.