Consequences of the Maou\'s Heart

Chapter 6

Wolfram briskly strode down the now bright corridors towards the royal bedchambers internally cursing that he’d moved all of his clothing there. It would have been much easier to simply retrieve a new uniform from his old room; of course Celi had turned that room into a sewing room for the castle seamstresses shortly after he moved out. Luckily it was just about time for breakfast; Yuri never seemed to miss it. He usually mumbled something about it being the most important meal of the day. What a silly idea, as far as Wolfram was concerned as long as you consumed enough food to sustain you what did it matter when you ate. As he approached the doors to the bedroom he noted the lack of guards, it seemed Yuri had already left for the day. Gently opening the door he glanced about the room to see if anything was out of the ordinary. Yuri’s nightclothes were strewn across the bed and half the bed was rumpled. Surely Yuri realized his messy nature in the mornings only fueled the rumors of their intimacy. Changing clothing in the middle of the room was uncouth, the only reason one should have for removing clothing outside of a closet or changing screen would be if it was removed in preparation for more intimate activities.

Shaking his head the blond picked up Yuri’s pajamas and hung them over the changing screen in the corner of the room. He didn’t notice any of the princess’s things about the room, so it was unlikely that she’d spent the night there. Not that she had done so in quite some time, she was growing up far too soon for Wolfram’s liking. It was one of the pitfalls of caring for humans, most of the time they grew old and died in the blink of an eye. At least he wouldn’t have to watch his daughter die before him. Of course that means he also won’t get to see her become the beautiful lady he knew she would, get see her marry the person lucky enough to capture her heart, nor perhaps see the children she might one day give birth too. Wolfram quickly cut off that line of thought as he felt his eyes start to burn. She would still have Yuri to take care of her and love her and if the Maou dared to fall short in his duties as a father Wolfram would have to see if Shinou Heika was the only blond able to effect the world of the living after death. He moved toward the wardrobe and pulled out one of his uniforms. After laying the familiar blue fabric on a chair behind the changing screen, he began to remove his own clothing. Each garment was carefully folded and placed in a pile for the maids to pick up later. As much as he would have liked to make a mess for them to clean up it would have raised their suspicions for him to behave so unusually. Once he’d striped down completely he caught a glance of himself in the mirror mounted to the wall. He stopped to stare a moment. It still unnerved him that despite the outward physical health of his body there was something inside him waiting for the chance to destroy him and soon it would have that chance. Shivering slightly he turned from the mirror to pull on his undergarments they were the only bit of black he was allowed to wear until the wedding that would never happen. He thought about changing in to some of the one’s he’d worn before the engagement, but again the maids would take note of it and it was best that no one knew that he was aware of Yuri’s decision already. It wouldn’t be prudent considering the plan he was preparing to propose to Geika. That in mind Wolfram finished dressing and checked the mirror once more. He looked the picture of a bratty, spoiled prince; shrugging he decided that it was best to play the hand one was dealt and strode out of the room proudly. It was time to find Murata Ken.

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Despite the fact that Murata technically lived at the former temple of the great one he was often found hanging around Covenant Castle for several days if not weeks after returning from Earth with the Maou. It really was the best place to catch up on the latest gossip, the women who still lived at the temple weren’t much for rumors. One of the guestrooms that were usually reserved for visiting nobles had become his home away from home when he stayed at the castle. That was the room Wolfram knocked lightly on the door of as he began his search for Murata. It would have been easier to simply ask one of the maids, but he dreaded the rumor that would spring out of his request. If he wasn’t already dieing those women would be the death of him. The things they came up with were simply outlandish, who would believe Gwendal lead Gunter around the gardens with a leash. His big brother had more sense than to do something like that in public, now behind closed doors who knew what those two did. A brief shudder went through Wolfram’s body as he waited to see if the door would open, thoughts of his big brother’s sex life were best left unfinished. After a few moments Wolfram resigned himself to searching the castle grounds to find the sage, it would make things more difficult as he intended to avoid Yuri as much as possible and wandering around was hardly productive towards that goal. Turning from the door he began mapping out the grounds in his mind to determine the best search pattern, he nearly missed the door creaking open and a tousled black haired head poking out of the doorway.

“Eh?” Murata questioned at the blurry blue figure walking away from his door. Wolfram whirled around to gawk at Murata; Geika was rarely found in any other state than poised and perfect. The wrinkled bed clothes and lack of glasses made a rather remarkable picture.

“Oh so you are still here,” Wolfram spoke as he shook himself from his surprise at Murata’s appearance.

“…Wolfram?” Murata squinted at him, “What are you doing here so early?”

“Early? The sun has been up for quite a while now,” one blond eyebrow lifted sardonically.

“Has it? I suppose that would explain all the stupid birds making noises outside my windows. Some times I miss the sounds of traffic at least you could sleep though it,” Murata trailed off mumbling to himself.

“Um that’s nice Geika. Perhaps I should let you gather yourself for a bit.” The blond fought back a snicker at the sage’s sleep addled behavior.

“What? No I’ll be good, come in for a minute while I freshen up then you can tell me why you woke me up.” He shuffled back into his room gesturing for Wolfram to join him. With a quick glance down either side of the hall to make sure no one saw him Wolfram followed him in and closed the door behind him. He was greeted with the sight of Murata digging under the bed to retrieve his glasses. Sometimes it was hard to believe this man was the same one who had constructed the plan to defeat Soushu, double black or not. Wolfram continued to watch the sage putter about the room finding clothes to wear before he ducked behind his changing screen. Taking in the state of the room Wolfram had to wonder if all people from Earth were this messy. The few memories he had from his time on the other world didn’t give him much of an impression of how their culture worked. He was curious about the place where two of the most important people on his world had grown up, but getting Yuri to talk about anything other than baseball was difficult when it came to Earth and he’d never liked asking such personal questions of Murata.

“So what reason do I owe the honor of your presence this morning?” Murata spoke as he emerged from behind the screen. Gone was the sleepy young man, replaced by the confident sage with his glasses catching the light leaking in from a mostly closed curtain.

“Well I’ve got a bit of a philosophical problem and being as that you are considered the wisest person out there I hoped you might be able to help me solve it.” Despite his efforts a mildly teasing tone lingered in Wolfram’s voice.

“Ah I see, though I find it hard to believe you’d come to me for any problem not concerning our dear king,” Murata smiled wickedly, “Unless of course your problem does have something to do with Shibuya?” Despite what some people might think the sage was fond of Wolfram, few people in Shin Makoku would willingly challenge him other than the blond. It really was quite refreshing.

“You know it is utterly infuriating when I can’t tell if you really know what’s going on or if you’re just blowing smoke out your ass.” Wolfram smirked as he watched the double black try not to burst out laughing.

“Ahem. Well I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to, just this once, let you know that I really don’t know why you’re here. Though I’m sure that no one would believe you if you told them that. After all I am the Great Sage.”

“Who sleeps far too late into the day.” Wolfram had to admit Murata was strangely like-able, he could see why so many people trusted him past lives or not.

“Bah! I’m enjoying the peace now that Shibuya has finally gotten over the need to have his hand held through every little decision.” Murata flopped down on a chair as he spoke. “Now then I may not know why you are here but I can tell you’re stalling.” The light flashed over Murata’s glasses and Wolfram hoped that someday someone would steal the annoying lenses when the sage wasn’t looking.

“You really are annoying somedays,” shaking his head Wolfram continued, “I’ve overheard a bit of information that could have an impact on the lives of some people.”

“Go on.” Murata couldn’t help but wonder what could make the normally flippant blond so serious.

“Yuri has made a decision that I believe is in his best interest and the best interest of Shin Makoku as well. But there are certain consequences that he is unaware of.” Wolfram glanced at the dark haired man as he fought the urge to pace back and forth, “His choice will speed up the progress of certain occurrences. It would have happened anyway eventually, and it’s hardly a nation destroying kind of event. However, it’s not a happy occurrence and it will bring grief to a few of Shin Makoku’s residents. I’m left with the problem of deciding if I should tell him or not. I think he’s made the right choice, but you know him he’d rather be miserable than let even one of his people have a moment of unhappiness. Do you think I should tell him?” As he finished he looked toward Murata trying to look undecided despite the fact that he already knew what he planned to do.

“Hum that’s a tough one…” Murata truly wondered why it seemed that charismatic blonds thought he was the best person to help them make self destructive moves. At least Shibuya usually only wanted help picking out clothes for the latest ball. He wasn’t a fool, he’d seen a great many people make huge sacrifices for what they saw as the greater good and Wolfram seemed on the edge of making such a sacrifice. The question here was whether Wolfram was getting ready to do something for the greater good or just punishing himself for no good reason. “You know I’d be better able to advise you if I knew the particulars of this situation.”

“I’m sure you would, but then you’d be able to tell Yuri yourself, defeating my reason for asking you for help.” Wolfram seemed to know that Murata had at least partially guessed the reason for his visit beyond the superficial question.

“Hummmm quite a dilemma. Well then lets focus on the different aspects of the issue then. You say this occurrence you speak of was bound to happen any way but Shibuya is going to unwittingly speed it up, how exactly does that work?” Murata wasn’t surprised that the former prince was unwilling to be frank about everything, but every tidbit of information helped.

“That is correct, Yuri’s arrival haulted it but did not remove the source of the problem.” As the words left his mouth Wolfram cursed mentally, he really shouldn’t have said that.

“And you truly feel that it is in the country’s best interest for this to happen?” Murata’s interest grew, there were few things that had happened in the years leading up to Yuri’s arrival that had escaped Shinou’s notice. The old king had payed special attention to those entrusted with the keys.

“I… well I don’t suppose that it happening is good for Shin Makoku but the decision leading up to it is.”

“Wolfram… I don’t know about you but I’m getting tired of word games I’ve had enough of them to last more lives than I’ve lived. It sounds to me as though you’ve already made your choice. If I promise not to tell Shibuya will you just tell me what’s going on?” It wasn’t the smartest move Murata could have made, eventually he could have danced around the topic long enough for Wolfram to slip up. However, at that moment it seemed easier to eventually slip out of a promise than spend the entire morning crafting ridiculously thought out questions.

“If you swear not to speak to anyone about what I tell you, then I suppose I can let you in on the situation.” It was going better than Wolfram had hoped, apparently catching the sage while he was still sleepy was a good move. Murata might be a right sneaky bastard when he wanted to be but once he gave his word he didn’t go back on it.

“Fine, fine I swear I won’t repeat any of the information you give me. Now tell me what the heck is going on.”

“Well,” Wolfram took a calming breath, “have you ever heard of Mausetot?” At the sage’s wide eyed nod he continued, “A few months before Yuri’s arrival I had an unfortunate run in with a rouge sorcerer who had managed to make some of the poison on his own. By the end of that day I had inhaled a significant amount of the stuff. Once the man was no longer a direct threat to anyone those of us present decided it was best to keep certain facts of the incident to ourselves in order to keep the chance of war to a minimum. At this moment there are only three other individuals besides you and I who are aware of my condition.”

“Wait, wait, wait! You’re telling me that you are dieing and practically no one knows?! How the hell did you manage that?” Murata had expected something odd but this was just flat out crazy.

“I’m pretty good at extracting promises,” a ghost of his usual smirk crossed the blond’s face as he took in Murata’s expression. Groaning the sage tilled his head back and closed his eyes, this really wasn’t his morning.

“Ok so you big secret is you’re dieing, but how is anything Shibuya decides going to effect that. Mausetot is one hundred percent effective at killing Mazoku, no one has ever survived.” Glancing at Wolfram he wished he’d just played the stupid word games, now he was stuck as a co-conspirator once again.

“Funny, I’d have thought you would have figured that out already,” laughing inwardly at Murata’s disgruntled glare he continued, “I shouldn’t be dieing, I should be dead already. My health had already started to decline when Yuri entered our world. It wasn’t until after I woke up from the duel that I really noticed that I was hurting less than I had in months, I was able to call on my element in full. The exchange of Maryoku from the engagement was pumping healing energy into me at an amazing rate. I could still feel the poison in me but it had stopped damaging me. Theoretically I could have lived a full life after marrying Yuri. Yesterday I overheard him talking with Gunter. He’s planning on dissolving the engagement. I’ll be dead in less than a year.” As he finished Wolfram turned to glare towards the bed, he wasn’t sure he wanted to see the sage’s reaction. If Murata wasn’t willing to help him getting out of the castle would be next to impossible.

“Great just great. I’m guessing you have a reason you don’t just tell Shibuya. You know he’d marry you just to keep you alive.” Murata was fairly sure he knew the blond’s motivation but he wanted to be sure before saying it out loud. It was best not to give him more ideas than he already had.

“That’s the problem he would marry me but it would be against his desires. At best it would be a loveless marriage where in both of us would be miserable. He’s not really ready for the life of a married man especially to another man. I’m not sure he’d actually be able to consummate the marriage anyway. I hate to say it but if he had been just some random noble I might have pushed for the wedding. But Yuri isn’t some random noble man he’s the Maou, our king. If our leader is miserable our country will suffer.” Wolfram fought to keep his voice steady and at a normal tone, it wouldn’t do to start yelling at this point.

“Surely you don’t think all marriages are based on love and whatnot. A great many political marriages have worked out over the years. Some have actually blossomed with love.”

“I’m not an idiot. But usually both people in a political marriage are gaining something. Yuri would feel nothing but me as a burden to him. Sure he might be glad to see me alive for a few years but eventually he’s going to resent the fact that he can’t have the pretty lady he wants. Hell he couldn’t even turn to prostitutes if he wanted to keep me alive. As soon as he laid with another the Maryoku flow would stop and I’d start dieing again,” despite his conviction Wolfram started to loose himself in his emotions, “I’m so sick of this! Every time I see him looking at some women I wonder if I’ll feel the engagement break that night. Now he’s breaking it himself, and Shinou help me I can’t blame him.”

“Wolfram…” Murata watched amazed as a few tears slipped down the blond’s cheek, “I’m sorry, this is a bad situation.”

“No! No. Don’t say you’re sorry, it does no good. If you really feel bad about this help me.” Wolfram turned to the sage and to a step closer to him.

“What! How the devil do you expect me to help you?” Murata couldn’t help but wonder if blond Mazoku were born with a specific gene that made them able to confuse him more than any others.

“You’re the only one who I can trust that Yuri will listen to without over thinking it.” As he spoke Wolfram moved directly in front of the sage and kneeled before him, “Please you have to get him to let me leave the castle. You know as well as I do that even after he breaks the engagement he’s not going to let me leave. You don’t even have to make it seem like I’m going to be gone forever, tell him I just need some time to cool off, get over my broken heart whatever it takes. Please.”

“I… Wolfram,” the sage was shocked to see the normally proud man on the ground before him pleading, “If you go you’re going to be gone forever, do you plan to just disappear into the world. Yuri will get concerned after a while, especially if you don’t send the occasional letter to your family.”

“I know. I have a few men who know of my condition. I’ll take them with me and when I die they will return to the castle and report that I died in a natural disaster or in a skirmish with some criminals. That will give my family the closure they need without knowing the real cause of my death.” It went against his nature to show so much weakness but it was the best way to convince the sage to do this, so the blond stayed at the sage’s feet.

“Wolfram you don’t have to die. Why are you so set on doing this?” Murata couldn’t help but lean forward in is chair bringing his face close to stare at the blond head bowed before him.

“I know I could weasel a few more years out of my life but the costs aren’t worth it. I’m not supposed to be breathing right now; I should have been burned on my funeral pyre years ago. Please Murata… Ken help me leave before my death or life causes more hurt than necessary.” With his last words Wolfram turned his eyes up to look into the black eyes inches from his own trying to put as much pleading into them as he could.

“Oh Wolfram,” with a great sigh Murata looked away from Wolfram’s eyes, “Ok. I’ll do it. When the news of the engagement breaks I’ll talk to him. I can’t promise he’ll listen to me, in fact I almost hope he doesn’t.”

“Thank you.” Wolfram picked up the sage’s hand and raised it to touch his forehead. It was an old gesture and Murata was surprised anyone still used it, in that simple motion Wolfram accepted Murata’s help and made them partners of a sort. Shinou had done the same so many years ago as they made the plan to destroy Soushu along with the old king’s soul. He really hated that gesture. Murata watched as Wolfram stood somewhat gingerly and regained his composure. It was a striking transformation leaving behind a bratty young man poised and perfect, unless you looked closely at his eyes. Murata wondered if they had always been that grim and dull, he’d never really looked that close at the Mazoku. As Wolfram nodded in his direction before slipping quickly out the door Murata began trying to think of ways to make this situation any more palatable. At that moment he couldn’t think of any, for once he hoped Shinou had a plan because he surely didn’t.

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AN: Wow this one just did not want to be written. Murata’s a hard guy to write.