Starting Over, Part 13

Yuuri signed the last of the documents in front of him with a flourish. Earlier, just when he had thought himself almost done, Gunter had dumped another stack
on his desk. It had been a small stack, thankfully, so this time he really was finished. He sat back in his chair, cracked his knuckles, and beamed. Now he just
had to slip away before Gunter found something else for him to do. He was half afraid there would be a round of formal greetings before the ball, and he
dreaded having to practice silly handshakes and bows or whatever bizarre things that involved. One of these days he might actually have to memorize that
stuff himself. He dreaded that, too.

Wolfram was leaning against the wall just outside his office. Yuuri was happy to see him there, and he was all set to tell him he should have come in and kept
him company. Then he heard what Wolfram had to report. Annoyance promptly took over. "You confronted them without me?"

"It wasn't a confrontation. I simply informed them that a piece of paper had gone missing from your room and if they valued their future here that paper would
find its way back into your possession posthaste. That could be more difficult with Murata ensconced in your room. I don't see why he is in there. If he wanted
a bigger room here in the castle he had merely to ask."

Yuuri wasn't interested in talking about Murata. He had been looking forward to confronting their suspects. "Why didn't you wait for me?"

Wolfram's eyes narrowed, though he wasn't quite looking at Yuuri. "They would have been too busy twittering and fawning over you to take this seriously. And
I know you would have caved had one of them cried."

Yuuri had to admit there was a lot of giggles and whispers when he passed within sight of the maids today. Twittering was a good description for that hushed
sound. He had known he would be teased about that scene in the kitchen. And he knew he had a serious weakness for crying females. Greta proved that
often enough. Still, his first thought was that Wolfram had left him out in order to keep him away from the maids simply because they were girls. He considered
complaining about that irrational jealousy and decided against it. He was worried about just where he and Wolfram stood today. They hadn't argued last night,
but they hadn't kissed, either. They had gone to bed with the familiar ease they'd had before he had left. Familiar and entirely platonic. He was still strangely
uneasy about the fact that he hadn't woken up wrapped around Wolfram this morning. He felt like they had taken a step back instead of a step forward.

"At least you came right away to tell me how it went," Yuuri smiled. His words were met by a guilty glance, and he found himself frowning again. "Didn't you...?"

"I did intend to," said Wolfram, "but Mother caught me on my way here. She has a request. She wants me to teach you a dance in preparation for the ball."

"She wants us to dance together at the ball?" Yuuri yelped. He immediately regretted it. Wolfram's eyes shuttered, flat and dark, and his lips curled into a hint
of that cruel smile that looked so wrong on his face. Guilt clenched painfully in his stomach. Was it any wonder Wolfram doubted him when he still reacted like
that? "Wolf-"

"Of course she doesn't want us to dance together. She wants you to learn so that you will dance well and often, making it clear to anyone who attends that
absolutely nothing has changed. She would teach you herself, except she's too tall for you to lead her properly." His upper lip curled. "I'm willing to don a dress
for the lesson, if it will make you feel better."

"Wolf, I didn't mean that the way it sounded." That awful smile slipped away, but Wolfram's eyes remained cool and distant.

"Yes, you did. I don't blame you. I have never once danced with another male. There is only one dance appropriate for two males and I don't even know the
steps to it. Rest assured, I don't like the thought of dancing with you in private any more than you like the thought of dancing with me in public. Luckily for you,
that will never happen. Unfortunately for me, Mother's point is valid. The kingdom needs you to show you're the same affable Maou you were before you left.
Dancing the night away will prove that quite nicely." He gave a wry smile that didn't touch anything but his lips. "Look at it this way, Yuuri. I'll not only be giving
you permission to flirt, I'll be making you better at it."

"And hating me for it?" There wasn't even a pretense of denial, just a flat look that made him want to pull Wolfram into his office and kiss some life back into
him. "I won't do it." Obviously. Wolfram should at least give him that much credit. "I won't dance with other people when you consider that cheating. Not that I
do," he said quickly, because he wanted that much clear. "Dancing isn't any more intimate than sparring as far as I'm concerned. You send more heated looks
at your men when you spar with them than I'd ever send at a girl I'm dancing with."

"What?"

Maybe arguing with him wasn't such a bad idea after all. At least Wolfram was really looking at him now. He'd rather have him angry than blank and distant like
that. "Well, it's true. I saw you fighting with Daniel, smirking all flushed and satisfied..."

"You can't seriously be comparing a fight to..." Wolfram closed his mouth, bristled furiously, and then started over. "We were sparring! Training. That isn't
remotely similar to you sweeping some simpering girl around a dance floor."

"Only because I don't do it as often or enjoy it as much," Yuuri scowled. "Dancing is awkward and embarrassing and I sure as hell don't get all flushed and
excited about it."

"I do not get-" Wolfram flushed furiously. "There is nothing improper about the way I fight with my men. Or with anyone, for that matter."

"But there's something improper about me dancing with a girl? Even if I'm only doing it in public for the sake of appearances?"

"No," Wolfram bit out. "But that doesn't make it any easier to watch."

"Then we're even. I'd rather see you dance with girls than watch you fight with guys. The only difference is, I'd have no problem never dancing with a girl
again, but you'll always be fighting with other guys whether I like it or not. If one of us should be complaining, it's me."

"You have never complained before," Wolfram scowled back at him. "I have made my feelings about you dancing with others quite clear. You have never
shown any interest in what I do with my men."

"I've never seen you with them. I've only seen a few glimpses of them the entire time we've been engaged. Were you hiding them?" His eyes widened when
Wolfram looked away. Guiltily. "You were?"

"No! Well, yes, in part. The less you have to do with the soldiers the better. Brother and Conrad have done the same with their own men."

"But I'm not engaged to either of them." It was past time he got to know these men. He didn't like being jealous of them. That was as irrational as Wolfram's
jealousy, and he wasn't hypocritical enough to deny it. He wouldn't be able to ask Wolfram to work on that if he became just as bad. "Let's make a deal. Teach
me this dance and then you decide whether I actually use it. I won't dance with anyone unless you okay it, no matter what Cecilie says. In exchange, you
introduce me to your men. All of them. And tell me about each of them."

Wolfram sighed, his shoulders slumping as all of the fight drained out of him. "I'm so tired of this..."

"What?"

"I'd like to introduce you to my men," Wolfram admitted, "but it would be wrong. Foolish. Maybe even cruel. Soldiers die, Yuuri. If you know them by name you'll
be more likely to notice when we lose one. I can't do that to you."

"That's-"

"Besides," Wolfram said, talking over him, "the entire point of teaching you this dance is so you can sweep off anyone who agrees to partner with you. If I had
the power to stop you I would, no matter how selfish that would be. I'm sure the main reason Mother asked me to teach you is so I'd have time to accept the
idea. And I will," he said sharply. "I will resent the situation and your partners, but I will not take it out on you. You're the Maou and you have to play the part. I'll
play my part as well...with stoicism if not grace."

Wolfram was pushing him away. The distance Yuuri had sensed was gaping wider by the second. He leaped across the chasm before Wolfram was entirely out
of reach. Like all of the kisses he had initiated, it was awkward. Wolfram jerked back into the wall, shocked and stiff and still so far away. Then his arms came
up and he was right here with him, returning his embrace and kissing him back with as much intimacy as he could have hoped for. Yuuri's fears crumbled
away. It wasn't the hormone surges that made him need Wolfram. They might be to blame for his extreme reaction the other night, maybe even for the way he
kept crawling all over him in his sleep, but they had nothing to do with this. He threw himself into the kiss, loving the lack of urgency. He wanted more, but he
didn't need more. Not yet. There was no horrible urge to finish and be done with it as quickly as possible in order to attain relief. He felt he could keep kissing
Wolfram forever and enjoy the way it just got better and better. Had he pulled Wolfram into his office before making that leap he might have done just that.

It was the feel of Yuuri's hips pressing into his own that snapped Wolfram back to his senses. He had come to Yuuri's office determined to do the right thing
and teach Yuuri to dance well enough to assure everyone at the ball that the Maou took his engagement no more seriously than he ever had. The entire point
of the ball was to prove to the skeptics that nothing had changed and he was man enough to do his part. But something had changed. Yuuri was kissing him
like a lover, right in an open hallway where anyone might see. Wolfram was too selfish not to enjoy that, just for a moment. He knew that moment had now
passed. If they didn't stop he was going to embarrass himself and Yuuri was pressing too closely not to notice. Breaking the kiss, he turned his face away and
then gasped when Yuuri kissed the side of his neck instead. Were fiances allowed to do that? It felt too wicked to be allowed. He forced himself to be firm and
pushed Yuuri back a step. Yuuri's eyes burned into his and he felt himself flush.

"We're in the hallway," Wolfram said quickly. His voice sounded breathless and weak. So much for being firm. "Are you having a flare up?"

"No." Yuuri was so relieved to be able to say that. It wasn't hormone surges or energy flare ups. It was all Wolfram. "I just wanted to kiss you. Do we really have
to stop?"

"We're in the hallway," Wolfram repeated. Exasperation helped to strengthen his voice. "You can't be doing things like that in the hallway." Even lovers
wouldn't be that bold. "We have to...be discreet. It isn't just dangerous, it's...unseemly." Wolfram winced at himself. He sounded like Gunter. Why did he always
go from one extreme to the other? He might not be a lech, but he certainly wasn't a prude, either. "If you had warned me, we could have stepped into your
office instead." Yes, because saying that wasn't nearly as extreme as complaining about Yuuri's lack of discretion. He blushed and scowled and resented the
way Yuuri was smiling at him with open amusement. This wasn't funny.

"Do you want to step into my office for a minute?"

"Absolutely not," Wolfram lied. It wasn't right for Yuuri to be boldly teasing him. Tempting him like that. He behaved rashly enough without an invitation. "I'm
supposed to be collecting you for a dance lesson. Mother is waiting." She might have already sent someone to see what was keeping them. Had that someone
stumbled onto them kissing like that he wasn't the only one who would be considered thoroughly compromised. Were he a better person he would feel
appropriately ashamed by that possibility rather than wistful. What nonsense. He didn't want either of them forced into marriage.

Yuuri let himself be pulled down the hall without complaint only because Wolfram had taken him by the hand. He quickly fell into step beside him. "I don't get it,"
he admitted. "You have never let me dance with girls at these things. How would me suddenly dancing with a bunch of them prove nothing has changed? That
would be a really obvious change."

"A change for the better, on my part," Wolfram muttered. "The real purpose is to show that you have no more decided your future than you had before you
left. We want people to believe yours was a planned absence. And this is a ball, after all. If you sit out the evening they'll wonder why, and look to me for
answers. I won't be chasing away your potential partners this time. I told Mother as much, which is why she insists you dance as often as you can. We can't
both be standing around looking stoic. Assuming you could." He sent a quick look at Yuuri, who appeared too confused to have registered the insult. "Your
inability to act like a noble is part of your charm. You'll reassure and endear people just by being your usual bumbling self." There was the scowl he had been
waiting for. He smirked. "I'll teach you to dance, but I won't help you with the small talk or the other social niceties. I doubt even Gunter could keep you from
saying the wrong thing as soon as you're left to your own devices."

"So you're hoping, what? That I'll make an idiot of myself?"

"More or less. The less kingly you behave, the more people like you. I might not understand why that is so, but I have seen it enough to know it's true."
Wolfram was relieved when Yuuri grumbled under his breath and dropped the subject. Wolfram was well aware that the ball could prove to be the ultimate test
of his resolve. If he couldn't even spend one night watching Yuuri dance with other people then Gwendal was right and he had only been fooling himself to
think he could let Yuuri go without a fight.

By the time the dance lesson was finished, Yuuri felt as graceful as a one-legged chicken. He almost wished Wolfram had worn a dress, what with all of the
lectures about 'proper distance' to avoid his partner's skirt. Luckily Greta had been available for the twirling and hand-kissing. She raved about the twirling and
how her skirts would swish once her dress was done. And practicing with her hand wasn't nearly as awkward as doing it with Wolfram would have been. He
blamed that on Cecilie. The lesson could have been a fun family affair if she hadn't been watching, smiling, and commenting on everything from Yuuri's breath
to Wolfram's form. Wolfram was graceful of course, swirling Greta around like a regular prince charming. Yuuri, on the other hand, had a horrible time trying to
kiss the air above Greta's hand without exhaling through his nose. It was a shame she didn't have gloves on. Not that kissing a girl's glove would be any less
awkward.

Yuuri was making a clumsy attempt to lead Cecilie around the room – without twirling her right into Wolfram and Greta – when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He
stumbled to a halt and looked up to find Yozak smirking down at him.

"Mind if I cut in?" asked Yozak.

Cecilie cooed her delight. "Oh, how brazen of you!"

"I'll take that as a please do. Find another partner," he said, as if he were doing Yuuri a favor. "I'll take the lady off your hands."

Yuuri watched in bemusement as Yozak swirled her away. It was so weird to see him dancing with a woman when Yozak had been dressed as a woman the last
time he'd seen him on a dance floor. Wolfram and Greta came over to him, and he flashed a weak grin. "He stole my partner."

"I doubt anyone would dare do that to you at the ball," said Wolfram. "But if someone does ask if you'd mind him 'cutting in', the proper response is 'I certainly
would.' It's even better if you don't stop dancing at all. Glare over your shoulder at anyone impertinent enough to tap you, and then ignore him. It's
disrespectful of your partner to give her up so easily." His eyes narrowed on his simpering mother. One would think she hadn't danced with a man in years.
"Unless Mother is your partner. She never stands on ceremony." Yozak noticed him watching them and winked. Wolfram turned away with a scowl. Better they
were interrupted by Yozak than by Conrad, but not by much. "Dance with Greta," he told Yuuri. "You have the steps down. Now you just need to practice them."

"You're leaving?" asked Yuuri.

"I need to speak with Gunter."

"Now? About what?"

"The schedule my squad will be following." Specifically whether or not they'd be able to fit in another training session with Reinhild or if he would need to find
something else to keep his men occupied. They had been lazing around the castle for far too long.

"Wolf-chan?" Cecilie called after him.

"I've done my best," Wolfram said over his shoulder. "He's all yours now."

Cecilie directed her pout at Yozak, who had the grace to wince. "Did you intend for that to happen?"

"Actually, I was hoping Yuuri would take a hint and steal him away from Greta." Which was probably dumb of him, he realized. "I should have stolen Greta from
Wolfram, eh?"

"He would have taken that as an excuse to leave, too," Cecilie sighed. "What you should have done is steal Yuuri from me. That would have gotten a reaction,
I'm certain."

"I try not to be that obvious," Yozak grinned. "Unlike some people." He laughed when Cecilie preened. "Encouraging Yuuri to dance could very well ruin your
ball, you know."

"Nonsense. What is a ball without drama? You should consider attending yourself. I am in charge of the music, you realize."

"Oh, no," Yozak said playfully. "Don't turn your matchmaking wiles on me. I'd sooner pretty myself up and mingle with the ladies than be the only one doing that
dance in public. You noble folk can have the drama. I prefer a lower profile."

"A shame," she murmured. "He does know the steps to that dance."

Yozak grinned. "I'm well aware of that."

.-.

Murata accepted the temporary eviction notice with restrained amusement. If Wolfram thought the culprit unlikely to return the map with him occupying the
room, he didn't mind making himself scarce for a while. As tempting as it was to lay about in bed all day, the company did get annoying after a while. Shinou
had undoubtedly overheard the suspicious question Wolfram had shot him before departing. Murata was no more eager to explain the meaning of 'gay' to
Shinou than he was to Wolfram. Yuuri had to be the one who had brought that word here. The only question was why throw that word out and then refuse to
say what it meant. If Yuuri thought Wolfram was gay then he was in need of more advice than Murata had realized. Advice Yuuri wasn't likely to get from
anyone else around here. It wasn't meddling if he was merely offering himself up for any questions Yuuri might have. That was just being a good friend.

He found Greta first, happily chatting alongside a doting Cecilie about 'swishing Beatrice' at the ball. Given the girl's age, Murata refrained from asking. "Have
either of you seen Shibuya?"

"Yozak stole him away," Greta pouted. "I told him I certainly would mind, but he took him anyway."

"You didn't glare hard enough," Cecilie smiled at her. "You must make your displeasure very clear. We were having dancing lessons," she explained to
Murata. "Yozak swept him off to do something baseball related, most likely with Conrad. Those two haven't been spending much time together lately."

Her glittering eyes told Murata she had a good idea why that was the case. He let them go with a smile of thanks and took himself to the nearest window. There
he had a mental discussion with himself about the definition of meddling. Rushing off to interrupt Conrad and Yuuri before they could have a heart-to-heart
would definitely be meddlesome. It wasn't any of his business what those two might say to each other. On the other hand, observing them from a polite
distance would let him get a feel for the situation. He didn't have anything better to do. And unless he decided to stay on Earth from now on, any decisions
Yuuri made would affect him as well. Preparing for the future was different from trying to control it. Yes, because being an avid observer was so very different
from being a voyeur. He had lived too many lives to start lying to himself now.

"Bored?" Yozak asked when Murata sat down beside him on the steps. "I'm surprised Gunter isn't picking your brains about some obscure aspect of ancient
history."

"I've done my best to avoid him," Murata admitted. "He thinks I know far more history of Shin Makoku than I actually do." Shinou had done his best to fill him in
over the last few days, between picking his brain about all he had seen and experienced during his own years on earth. If Gunter had questions he could save
them until Shinou was ready to reveal himself. "What about you?"

"Oh, I keep busy. Most of the time. Right now I'm taking it easy. Not as much entertainment out here as you'd think, though." They weren't even talking to each
other. Yozak had settled far enough away for Conrad to know he wouldn't overhear anything. He couldn't very well read lips when Conrad's back was to him.
No, Conrad wasn't keeping quiet because of him. He hadn't intended this when he had set out to needle him last night. All he wanted was for Conrad to put his
assumptions aside for five minutes and actually talk to Yuuri. Was that too much to ask?

"I hear there was some sort of entertainment earlier," said Murata. "Something about dancing lessons?"

"Of all things," Yozak scoffed. If Cecilie was hoping for drama then he would hope for the exact opposite. Drama was to be expected with those two. It was
nothing new. Hand-holding, sneaking around, thunder-storms, and suspicious sword bites? Now those were new. Conrad tossing the ball to Yuuri in complete
silence while Yuuri watched him just as quietly was new, too. They would have to talk eventually, but it obviously wasn't something he could arrange for them.
He shouldn't be surprised. He'd known this family long enough to realize they rarely sat down and talked things out. Maybe Conrad really did view Yuuri as a
brother. He was certainly treating him like one.

Murata eyed the silent pair, unaware that he was thinking along the same lines as Yozak. Everything would be so much simpler if they would just talk about it.
Conrad wasn't stupid. He had to know what Yuuri's coming of age meant. Conrad had made himself Yuuri's confidante. So why wasn't Conrad inviting Yuuri to
confide in him? Was he really that afraid of what Yuuri might say?

"Some storm we had last night," Yozak commented. "You'd never guess it from the clear skies today."

Murata forced himself to give a token hesitation before accepting the topic. At least Yozak was willing to talk about the obvious. "We should count ourselves
lucky his strongest affinity is for water."

"No kidding," Yozak grinned. "To hear Conrad tell it, Wolfram started some serious fires at that age. I missed all of that myself, being away at the time. When I
got back he had already secluded himself in his room. Too bad that's not an option for the Maou." Especially since it was Wolfram's room he would be locking
himself away in. The brothers wouldn't take kindly to that even if they didn't have the upcoming ball to worry about.

"If Shibuya wanted to hide, he would have run back to Earth by now," said Murata. "A few storms are preferable to that."

"You think we'll have more of them?" Yozak laughed when Murata raised an eyebrow at him. "Yeah, same here. I'm looking forward to it, myself."

"I wouldn't go that far," Murata sighed. This probably counted as gossiping. He disliked being a hypocrite. But what else was there to do around here? Deliver
himself to Gunter and chat about all of the plotting he and Shinou had taken part in way back when. Or steal Yuuri from Conrad so he could confront him
about this 'gay' thing. Or go find a quiet corner where Shinou could happily haunt him for the rest of the day. Only one of those options really appealed to him.
He refused to do it. If he was going to meddle he would at least wait his turn. Yuuri couldn't handle uncomfortable silences. He'd end the quiet ball-tossing ball
on his own before long, one way or another.

.-.

Wolfram set his men to a sweaty, repetitive, uninspired series of sword fights. Spars and mock duels were entertaining, challenging, and rewarding, but they
didn't really build muscles or stamina. After the last few days his men needed the exercise. He probably did as well, yet he remained on the edges where he
could snap at anyone daring to slack off. So far no one had. He was almost disappointed by that. They hated this sort of exercise as much as he hated
assigning it to them. He should have gotten at least a token complaint from Lukas if not some quiet whining from Phillip. Instead they threw themselves into the
work like the well-disciplined squad they were. He should have known they would be able to read his mood.

Gunter had coolly informed him that he had not yet completed his background check on Reinhild and saw little chance of doing so before the ball. There were,
however, a number of border patrols his squad could see to in the meantime. Wolfram suspected at least one of those had been sent by Waltorana. It would
be just like the man to send another request directly to Gwendal after not getting a reply from Wolfram himself. He was going to refuse the request, which
meant explaining to Gwendal exactly why he was intent on avoiding his own uncle. And if Gwendal brushed off his concerns and made it an order he would be
going anyway. He should be putting careful thought into how he could convince his brother. He certainly shouldn't be giving his men busy-work while marveling
at the fact that he had actually danced with his fiance.

Wolfram had left the hall convinced that it wasn't him Yuuri objected to. It was being on display with him. He doubted Yuuri would have been so stiff and
reluctant had they been alone. Yuuri had relaxed a few times, forgetting that Cecilie was watching their every move. Even standing in for some future female
partner hadn't stopped Wolfram from enjoying the way they had moved together. And so he'd been jarred out of it nearly as badly as Yuuri each time Yuuri
recalled their audience. Yuuri might have accepted his interest in him, but he still panicked at the thought of anyone noticing that interest. Which made that
encounter in the hallway even worse. What was Yuuri thinking? If Yuuri didn't want anyone to know then he should at least be discreet about it. But Yuuri was
coming of age, which if it was anything like Wolfram's experience meant acting on impulse and regretting it later.

Wolfram didn't have that excuse. He didn't have any regrets, either. He didn't even have guilt, which made no sense at all. Had they been in Yuuri's office
instead of the hallway he might not have ended the kiss himself this time. He would probably let Yuuri kiss his neck again if he were inclined to do so, even
though he was fairly sure that was one of those 'other things' that fiances weren't supposed to do. It wasn't as if he had pushed Yuuri into it. He should still
have guilt for allowing it to happen, much less enjoying it so much. Yuuri didn't know any better. Wolfram did. It fell to him to protect Yuuri from himself,
especially while Yuuri was at the mercy of overwhelming urges. Wolfram suddenly found himself doubting his ability to do the right thing by Yuuri, which made
his lack of guilt all the more worrisome. At this rate he really was going to have to talk with his mother.

.-.

Yuuri was relieved when Murata led him off to his office as soon as he finished practicing with Conrad. He had never felt so awkward in his company before.
Conrad had looked concerned and sober, as if he had as many things he wanted to say as Yuuri did but was no more eager to say them than Yuuri was. So
they had tossed the ball back and forth, hard and fast to make up for the silence that was so loud it hurt the ears. Was he losing him? What would Conrad
think of him if he found out Yuuri was putting the moves on his little brother? And he was. Wolfram was right about the hallway. Anyone could have seen them,
including Conrad. Would it help if he explained that he fully intended to marry Wolfram? He was afraid it wouldn't. If Conrad really had joined forces with Gunter
and Gwendal he might insist on separating them until one of them changed his mind or there was a wedding. Yuuri refused to be separated from Wolfram right
when he was trying to get closer to him.

Murata waved Yuuri into the chair and then hopped up to sit on the edge of the freshly cleared desk. "Wolfram threw me for a loop earlier," he said without
preamble, "by asking me what 'gay' meant. He's under the impression you're searching for 'other gays'?"

"Oh, God," Yuuri cringed, blushing furiously. "What did you tell him?"

"That I had no idea what you were talking about and he would have to ask you to clarify. Did you really call him gay? Are you that...stupid?"

"What? No! I was talking about me!" Yuuri's shoulders hunched and he wished his chair would open up and swallow him. "We were sparring, venting, and then
I got...confused and it all just came out."

"Confused is right," Murata sighed. "Wolfram is no more gay than you are. By all accounts he wouldn't even qualify as bisexual. He's too sheltered to have
explored his sexuality with anyone."

"I am gay," Yuuri blurted. "I'm gay for him." Murata's mouth fell open and Yuuri went on before he could laugh or tease or whatever he'd been about to do. "I
don't know how it happened. Why me? I always thought I was straight. I mean, I could handle being bi, but I'm not even interested in girls anymore. One
comment from Shori and suddenly I'm the only guy in Shin Makoku, the only person in this entire castle who is attracted to him? How is that possible? How
does that even make sense? Were they lying? Did they all say it was normal for two guys to marry just so I wouldn't feel weird about being engaged to him?"

"You have a blind spot the size of Africa," Murata said slowly. "I knew you were obtuse about some things, but..." This was impressive. Sad, but impressive all
the same. Only someone who had withstood Wolfram's looks for a year could be that blind to the people around him. "You aren't gay, Shibuya. You did like
girls before meeting him and you've never had interest in guys aside from him. That you're interested in your fiance to the exclusion of all others just proves
that you're the loyal sort. If you insist on labeling yourself, stick with formerly potentially bi- and currently exclusively Wolfram-sexual." That conned a weak
smile from Yuuri. "If you need a reason for it, blame it on your mazoku side, or puberty. Or chalk it up to the fact that Wolfram is beautiful enough to make even
straight men look twice."

"But that's just old men," Yuuri scowled. "He said as much and I've seen it myself. Aside from me, only dirty old men are attracted to him. And that was just one
time that I saw. They were human men, too. We've gone all over the place together and no guys ever react to him. If it's not me, then what's wrong with the
guys here? If there really are gay guys here, where are they hiding?" He drew himself up sharply. "I think it was a lie. It isn't normal for two guys to get together
here. They were just saying that because I'm the king."

"Marriage between two noble males isn't common, but it does happen and is perfectly legal. Shinou saw to that when he began giving permission for noble
couples to marry. As for the rest of your...gross misinterpretations, I suggest you look around you a little more closely. Gunter would be a good place to start.
Unlike you, he is gay. Openly flamboyantly prettily gay. Even you must have noticed that."

"Of course I did," Yuuri muttered. "But he's Gunter. Gunter is...Gunter." Really, that said all that needed to be said. Gunter was in a class of his own. He was
Gunter. He just was.

"Fair enough," Murata sighed. "How about Yozak, then? Does the fact that he's perfectly comfortable donning dresses not clue you in a little? The fact that he
enjoys doing so and gets a lot of amusement from it?"

"He only does that to sneak around. Spying and stuff. He's not the least bit-" He stumbled for a word, one that would describe what Yozak wasn't without
insulting people who were...more like Gunter. "He's not flamboyant," he said finally. Yozak was nothing like Gunter, who pranced and sighed and reminded him
a lot of Cecilie when he got all happily excited about things. Gunter was Gunter. Yozak was a manly man who just happened to wear dresses sometimes...

"Well done," Murata smirked. "A king should know how to be politically correct about these things. And, no, Yozak doesn't fit the 'queen' stereotype of the
crossdressers on earth. But he does have the same confidence in his masculinity that many of them do."

"That makes you think he's gay? Because he's manly enough to wear dresses sometimes and not care how it makes him look?"

Murata sighed. If Yuuri regularly twisted logic up that badly it was no wonder he was so confused. "No. I think he's gay because he only looks at men." And one
man in particular, which anyone without a continent sized blind spot would know. "He hasn't exactly made a secret of the fact that he isn't interested in females.
The dresses merely cement the fact that he's perfectly comfortable being what he is. A bottom."

"What?!"

Murata winced, leaning away from him. "Okay, maybe I'm wrong about that part. But he still stands as an obvious example of the gay and bisexual people all
around you that you somehow have failed to notice. If you want the other side of it, Anissina is the clear choice around here." He scoffed when Yuuri just
stared at him with a dumbfounded look on his face. "Scary sadistic overt feminist? Women's Liberation trips? The only man she ever shows interest in just
happens to cringe and flee as soon as he hears her voice? You should really pay more attention to the stories of hers that Greta loves so much. There's a
reason Anissina so often places herself in what would traditionally be the prince's role, and why she always rescues whatever damsels inhabit her tales."

"Are there others?" Yuuri asked quietly. "Right in front of me, that I never even noticed?"

"Yes. Some closer than you'd believe. They aren't all gay, of course. The majority are more bi than anything. But I can safely assure you that a good portion of
the mazoku you see in this world are in or have had intimate relations with members of the same sex. Marriages aren't common, but relationships are."

"And I never noticed..."

"You weren't looking for it and, since you tend to associate with nobles and noble households, discretion keeps overt displays to a minimum. You could live out
your life here without ever catching two people kissing in public regardless of their genders. Public displays of affection are usually limited to hugs, hand-
holding, and dances. And a kiss during wedding ceremonies, of course."

"Dances," Yuuri blurted suddenly. "Cecilie asked Wolfram to teach me a dance so I can dance with a bunch of girls at the ball."

"Surprisingly cold-blooded of her," Murata frowned. "I take it Wolfram refused?"

"No. He taught it to me. But he said there was only one dance where two guys danced together. Is that why I've never seen guys dancing before? Because
they don't do public displays like that?"

"In my time men never danced together, in public or otherwise. That appears to have changed over the years." Shinou was eager to teach him that dance.
Murata had categorically refused. "If you actually married Wolfram you would be expected to dance with him, and any other male couples in attendance would
join you on the dance floor. For the most part men are content to sit out and let the ladies have their fun."

"Wolfram doesn't know the steps to that dance."

"I'm not surprised. It isn't as if his brothers would teach it to him." Although he was fairly certain they both knew the steps quite well.

"I could teach it to him," said Yuuri, "if you taught it to me."

Murata was struck dumb. Yuuri wasn't even blushing. He was leaning forward in his chair, his face excited and determined. Murata cleared his throat before
asking, "Why would you want to do that?"

"Because I can."

"I see," Murata lied. He didn't see at all. "Well, unfortunately I don't know the steps, either. But I know someone who probably does."

"I can't ask Gunter," Yuuri grimaced. "He'd freak out, and then he'd tell Gwendal and Conrad and-"

"I was thinking of Yozak, not Gunter." Though Yozak might be just as quick to run straight to Conrad with the news. Yuuri smiled so widely he decided not to
mention that. Pointing out the overt gays in Yuuri's midst was very different from informing him that his chosen father-figure was romantically involved with one
of them. That would be meddling on a grand scale. "Do you want me to ask him for you?"

"Yes. Soon, okay?"

Meaning before the ball? Surely not. Yuuri might have a new-found attraction to his fiance, but that didn't mean he had the nerve to make such a public
display. Besides, he would have to include Cecilie in his plans in order to set up the proper music. With her involved the brothers would get wind of it and shut
down the entire scheme. "I'll mention it the next time I see him," he promised. "In the meantime, let's disprove this belief of yours that you're the only one in the
castle attracted to Wolfram."

Yuuri scowled at the reminder. "I wasn't counting you. He doesn't know you were looking at him like that."

"I wasn't referring to me. Come along and see for yourself. You'll probably feel better knowing you're not the only blind person around here. It sounds like
Wolfram has his own blind spot if he honestly hasn't noticed." He left the office, trailed by a reluctant Yuuri, and stopped the first male they came across. A stiff-
looking soldier in Gwendal-green. Perfect.

"Excuse me," Murata smiled, "but I was wondering. Are you sexually attracted to Lord Wolfram von Bielefeld?" He promptly stepped back so Yuuri could have a
front row view of the man's blush, fear, and sputtered denials. Talk about protesting too much...

.-.

PART 14

.-.

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