Chapter Text
As much as he hated to admit it, Yuuri had started to grow accustomed to the perks of living at Blood Pledge Castle. He realised this whenever they had to leave the Castle to travel, sleeping in bed rolls and eating longlife food always made him long for his large plush bed and the kitchens of the castle.
So even after having returned over a week ago to the castle, Yuuri was still thankful for being able to wake up so utterly refreshed. He felt Greta sleeping sprawled across the middle of the bed, making complete use of the vast amount of space. Slowly he blinked his eyes open, expecting to see Wolfram clad ridiculous pink frilly nighty but instead was greeted with empty sheets. A flash of guilt struck him as he shifted towards the end of the bed, expecting to find Wolfram sleeping on the floor, as it was for some strange reason very common for one them to fall out of bed.
But he found nothing, and a more focused glance around the room revealed that Wolfram was nowhere to be found, which Yuuri thought was quite odd as Wolfram definitely wasn't a morning person. He sighed inwardly, the lack of morning bickering feeling a little lonely before shrugging off the thought. He would interrogate Wolfram about his absence at breakfast.
He quickly changed into his tracksuit and went to meet Conrad for their morning jog, who was already waiting outside his room.
“Morning Conrad,” Yuuri said cheerily as he stretched his shoulders. “I don’t suppose you know where Wolfram is? I’m a little surprised he managed to sneak out without waking me up. ” Yuuri couldn’t help but ask Conrad, unable to squash his curiosity about his fiancee’s whereabouts.
“Is he not with Greta and you?” Conrad asked, bending his head to peek into the room behind them.
“No, that’s why I am asking,” Yuuri said a little impatiently. “I thought you would have seen him on his way out?” Yuuri asked.
“I haven't seen him this morning, I’ll be sure to remind him to let you know of his plans next time though.” Conrad said again with a smile, but Yuuri did see a brief flicker of concern flash across his features.
-
Wolfram had not been at breakfast, when Yuuri had asked about his whereabouts Conrad and Gwendal had just exchanged glances before Gwendal gruffly said “Sir Von Bielefelt is on an errand and will return by the end of the day.” Yuuri wanted to ask what the errand was but the conversation swiftly moved on the topic of the forbidden boxes and how much study Yuuri would need to do before they could be safely sealed, which Gunter seemed way too happy about.
It was almost lunch time when Yuuri managed to escape Gunter and the library, He fancied a walk through the Gardens to refresh himself of all the dusty books he had been forced to read and consider.
Yuuri was walking over to the flowers to see which were in bloom when he caught sight of a familiar boot visible behind a bush, He paused for a moment at the odd sight. When he approached he was glad to see that the boot was in fact being worn by his fiance, who appeared to be sleeping against a tree in the sun. Yuuri knelt down beside him, taking a few moments to appreciate his sleeping face. It really wasn’t fair how beautiful he was, especially now with the gentle rise and fall of his chest and the sunlight playing off his golden locks.
Yuuri wondered if he should just leave him here as he looked so peaceful but in the end his curiosity got the better of him and he reached a hand out to gently shake Wolfram’s shoulder.
“Wolfram, wake up.” He said quietly trying not to alarm him.
Wolfram’s eyes flickered open and he started making his usual grumbly noises he made upon being woke “Uhhnn… Yuuri...” Wolfram said groggily as he pulled his hands over his face, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
Yuuri moved to sit down beside Wolfram, who drew close to Yuuri instinctively, resting his head on Yuuri’s shoulder. Usually Yuuri would be uncomfortable with such a public display of affection but something seemed to be unsettling Wolfram, and Yuuri wanted to be there for him. “Where were you this morning? You got up before me which was weird enough but then you didn’t come to breakfast...” Yuuri said as he shifted to look into Wolfram’s heavy lidded green eyes staring off at nothing.
Wolfram lifted his head a little so he could return Yuuri’s gaze. “Uhh I was…” Wolfram trailed of and Yuuri could almost see the gears of his mind rattling to find an answer to the question.
“Gwendal said you were running an errand.” Yuuri started but stopped as he noticed Wolframs eyebrows knit together, as if he had no idea what Yuuri was talking about. Wolfram attempted to stifle a yawn and Yuuri decided he would have to question Wolfram about it when he was more alert and less zombified. “Why are you sleeping out here anyway?”
Wolfram sat up straight with a jolt as if the question had suddenly lifted him out his daze “Damn it, I didn’t mean to…” but trailed off to stare back at Yuuri again, who was now sporting an equally confused expression to the one Wolfram had. “I’m sorry... I don’t know why I did that...” he mumbled to as if he was talking only to himself. “I’d better go.” He waved a hand vaguely in the direction of the castle. He stood up and turned to leave hurriedly.
“Wolfram!” Yuuri called as he ungracefully staggered to his feet to chase after his fiance. “Wait! Wolfram!” But Wolfram continued to stubbornly walk away. Yuuri stumbled after him and clasped him on the shoulder roughly “Come on Wolfram, I’m worried about you.” Yuuri said as Wolfram turned to look at him.
Wolfram closed his eyes and let out an exasperated sigh “Don’t be stupid Yuuri, I’m fine, shouldn’t you be studying now anyway?” Wolfram said, a slight sting in his tone. Wolfram considered Yuuri for a moment, before pulling out of his grip and turning to leave.
But before he could walk away, Yuuri grabbed Wolfram's hand in his own, the action somehow taking them both by surprise “Ummm…” Yuuri started, feeling a little foolish. “I’m allowed to worry about my fiance...” Yuuri grumbled, stubbornly staring at Wolframs feet.
“Yuuri...” Wolfram smiled, his expression softened. He drew his free hand up to rub Yuuri’s arm soothingly. “I’m fine Yuuri, I will see you later today okay?”
“Fine, but you have to have lunch with us, Greta missed you at breakfast.” Yuuri demanded a little childishly.
“Of course.” Wolfram agreed and before Yuuri realised what Wolfram was doing, Wolfram had leaned in and kissed him quickly on the cheek, before turning and running off.
Yuuri heard a chorus of “Aww!” noises come from across the yard where he assumed a group of maids had been watching their interactions. He slapped a hand over his cheek as if to hide the invisible evidence and felt his face flush a colour which he could only assume was a bright red.
-
The rest of the day seemed to progress quite smoothly compared to strangeness of the morning. Wolfram did keep his promise and had lunch with Yuuri and Greta, even though Yuuri had to keep avoiding his eye as Wolfram was smirking as if Yuuri’s face was still bright red from the earlier public display of affection.
Yuuri’s busy afternoon progressed into a busy evening and by the time he managed to get to bed he found Wolfram and Greta sprawled haphazardly amongst the blankets, limbs sticking out in every direction. Yuuri smiled, times like these he needed a camera, if only to blackmail Wolfram with at a later date. He found a safe spot to slide in and snuggled into the blankets, sounds of snores his soundtrack to help him drift off.
It was much later in the night when Yuuri woke with a chill, the nights were getting cooler as the seasons changed. He groggily felt around him for a blanket, which had managed to pool at the bottom of the bed, completely surround Greta who was peacefully sleeping in a makeshift cocoon. With a sigh he sat up to go fetch more blankets for Wolfram and himself who had both been left without any in favour of their adopted child.
As he shifted towards to edge of the bed he heard a pained noise from Wolfram, looking back at him Yuuri realised he was shaking.
“Wolfram?” Yuuri whispered to see if he was awake. After no response Yuuri pulled himself back towards Wolfram, who was facing away from him, curled up on his side with a hand fisted into the sheet. There was a sticky sheen of sweat across his forehead which had caused some of his golden locks to stick to his pale forehead. Yuuri lifted a hand and brushed his hair out of his face, noticing that Wolfram was unpleasantly warm.
“Wolfram.” Yuuri whispered urgently trying not to wake up Greta in the process. “Wolfram please wake up.” He started to gently shake him in an attempt to rouse him quicker.
With a jolt Wolfram’s eyes snapped open, and pulled sharply away from Yuuri’s hand. “Please! No!” he whimpered as he tried to escape the bed.
“Wolfram, please!” Yuuri begged desperately, watching Wolframs shape as it pulled away from him, dropping off the side of the bed. Yuuri lept out of the bed to help him but Wolfram seemed more terrified and tried to shift away from him.
“No! No more!” Wolfram shouted, Yuuri flinched as he heard shuffling from Greta’s spot on the bed.
“Wolfram! it’s me!” Yuuri found his way to his fiance's hands and grasped them in his own “Please Wolfram, you’re unwell, I need to get you to Giesela okay?”
Wolfram's looked at Yuuri, fear fading in his features leaving that of pain, “Yuuri… I…” Wolfram started as though he too was unable to make sense of the events that had left them sat awkwardly on the floor hand in hand.
“Shh, it’s okay, we just have to get you to Giesela.” Yuuri shifted to stand up, pulling Wolfram up with him and wrapping an arm protectively around his waist. They shifted clumsily towards the door to open it where they caught two guards off guard, clearly surprised to see the Maou up at this time of night.
“Your Majesty! Your Highness! is all well?” One of them asked alarmed at their disheveled appearance.
“We are fine, the two of us are just going to see Giesela for a moment.” Yuuri said calmly before adding, “You two stay here and make sure Greta is okay without us.”
“Your Majesty, please allow one of us to accompany you.” One of the Guards said while lowering his head.
“I think I am more than capable of walking around my castle as I please.” Yuuri said trying desperately to sound authoritative.
“But your Majesty-” One of the Guards tried to argue before Wolfram cut him off.
“Enough! He is with me and I will not allow any harm to come to him, understood?” Wolfram said firmly.
The Guards did not seem overly convinced by this, their gazes lingering on Wolfram’s night dress and his sickly pallor, but both agreed with a loud, “Yes Sir!”
With that the two made their leave and started off towards east wing of the castle where Giesela resided. When they reached the first Guard free corridor Wolfram stumbled, drawing a hand to his head in pain.
“Wolfram?” Yuuri said as they paused, he was regretting not bringing their robes as the chill of the corridor’s was making Wolfram shiver all the more.
Wolfram moved to stand up straight before muttering a quiet “Sorry Yuuri…” And they continued along their way in silence. Yuuri was reminded of the sheer size of Blood Pledge Castle, it felt eerie in the silence of the night, their footsteps echoing around the halls. Yuuri desperately wanted to fill the the silence with their usual chatter and teasing, but Wolfram’s eyes just continued to stare ahead, never glancing towards his partner. Wolfram looked incredibly uneasy, and his silence was extremely out of character.
They surprised many more guards along the way, who were easily silenced by a truly terrifying glare from Wolfram and a hurried apology from Yuuri. Just as they were approaching Giesela’s chambers Wolfram suddenly stopped dead in his tracks, shocking Yuuri who stumbled at the sudden halt.
“This is stupid, why did I let you bring me here.” Wolfram said suddenly grumpy.
“Huh? Wolfram? We are here let’s just go see Giesela.” Yuuri said confused.
“I hardly think we should be waking her up at this hour Yuuri.” Wolfram said a slight sting to his words.
“But Wolfram you’re not well! You need to see Giesela!” Yuuri felt his volume rising in an attempt to convince his fiance.
“There is nothing wrong with me!” Wolfram spat back angrily.
“Well what was that back in the room? You’re still shaking Wolfram…” Yuuri whined desperately.
“Well maybe if you hadn’t dragged me out to wander the castle in my night clothes I wouldn’t be cold!” Wolfram said angrily, “I’m going back to bed.”
Wolfram turned to walk away, Yuuri grabbing his arm in an attempt to stop him moving. “Wolfram!” He whined loudly.
It was a moment later when they heard the telltale creak of a door opening, both pausing to look back at the door as a disheveled Giesela poked her head through to look at them.
“Your Majesty! Your Highness! Is something wrong?” her expression was more bemused than concerned and she looked between the two standing standing their pajamas.
Wolfram crossed his arms and let out a huff, glaring at his fiance beside him before Yuuri spoke “Wolfram is ill.” Wolfram sighed frustratedly.
“Well there is no point standing around is there.” She went back into her room for a moment before reappearing with a small bag. “Come on, there is a spare room we can use.” The two of them followed her purposeful stride as she found her way to an empty room just a few doors down.
“It’s really nothing, I feel fine.” Wolfram insisted as Giesela firmly directed him to sit on the bed. Yuuri sighed rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. Yuuri picked up the spare blanket folded at the end of the bed and draped it around Wolfram’s shoulder, Wolfram's expression softening a little at the gesture.
“Well if nothing’s wrong why did you walk halfway across the castle to see me?” Giesela asked in polite tone, though the challenge still strong in her words.
“Yuuri insisted…” Wolfram stared up at his fiance, but not with the frustration of their earlier argument. It almost looked as if Wolfram was feeling guilty.
“Alright why don’t you tell me what happened then?” Giesela directed her question at Yuuri, who explained all the events that had lead up to them arriving at her door. Sometime during Yuuri’s story he noticed Conrad slip quietly into the room, one of the guards must have told him that they were up. Yuuri gave a small wave but didn’t stop talking to Giesela.
Wolfram was now sitting hunched over, face hidden by his hands. “I was really worried, it was like he didn’t know where he was…” Yuuri started, moving over to rest his hand on Wolfram's shoulder and rub soothing circles into his skin “Like he didn’t know who I was.” Yuuri finished quietly, voice thick with unsaid emotions.
“Well he is a bit warm.” Giesela said as she moved her hand over Wolfram's head, who had reluctantly sat up to be examined. “Wolfram, do you remember having any dreams before waking up?” Giesela asked kindly..
“Uhh…” His eyes flickered to Yuuri’s for a moment before he continued “I think so… but I can’t really remember what is was about.” Wolfram mumbled quietly.
She gave him a warm smile and placed her hand on his knee. “It’s perfectly normal, His Majesty must have woke you up while you were still dreaming and that would be why you lashed out at him.”
“So it was just a bad dream?” Yuuri asked, feeling a little foolish for dragging Wolfram here in the middle of the night. “Sorry Giesela, I thought he was really-”
“It’s fine Your Majesty, no need to apologise. You did the right thing bringing him here.” She said raising her hands to hush him. “Severe nightmares can be treated, and from what you describe I wish to treat Wolfram as his dream was clearly very vivid.”
“Is that necessary?” Wolfram asked sounding exasperated.
“It will assist you in sleeping for the remainder of the evening, you’re mind is probably still restless.” She replied, the politeness in her voice not disguising the fact that she had already decided. “I will treat you in here and you can rest here for the night. You certainly shouldn’t be wandering around in only your nightclothes anyway..”
Wolfram sighed defeat and looked up at Yuuri sternly. “Go back to bed now Yuuri, Gunter will be upset if you fall asleep in lessons tomorrow.”
“Are you sure you are okay?” Yuuri asked.
“Wolfram will be fine.” Giesela smiled. “You can see him in the morning.” She turned her direction towards Conrad, who was still standing quietly by the door. “Sir Weller can you escort his Majesty back to his Chambers?”
“Of course.” he said with a nod and a smile.
Yuuri looked once more at Wolfram, who seemed tired of all the fussing. “I will see you at breakfast.” and then gave him a couple awkward pats on the back before turning to leave with Conrad.
-
The two of them walked back to the royal chambers in companionable silence that emphasised the sound of their footfalls on the polished floor. Before they reached his rooms Yuuri stopped, in one of the many empty corridors of the castle.
Conrad turned to where he had stilled. “Your Majesty? Is there something wrong?”
“Call me my name, you are the one that choose it after all.” Yuuri said exasperatedly.
“Sorry Yuuri, but why have we stopped?” Conrad asked.
“I’m really worried about Wolfram, he has been acting strange lately.” Yuuri said stubbornly.
“Giesela will treat him, he has probably just been tired if he has been having nightmares.” Conrad reassured.
“But he has been forgetting things! the other day I found him out walking and he didn’t even know where he was, it was like he was in a daze! What if he is really sick Conrad?” Yuuri pleaded.
Conrad's expression turned serious. “I will assist in anyway I can, but we should give him some time to recover first Yuuri.”
“Yeah you’re probably right, it’s just weird to see him acting like this.” Yuuri mumbled, still feeling strange about the situation.
“I promise I will do everything I can to look after him.” Conrad reassured again. “Come on, we better get you back to Greta before she wakes up.”
They found their way back to the room relatively quickly after that, finding Greta still sound asleep in the blanket nest she had fashioned for herself. Yuuri thanked Conrad before he left and made sure to grab some extra blankets before going back to bed. It was difficult to get back to sleep after being awake for so long, thoughts of Wolfram sleeping alone halfway across the castle kept niggling at his mind.
He dozed lightly for an hour or two before giving up on sleep and deciding that watching the sunrise would be a better use of his current state of consciousness. He pulled on his dressing gown and made his way quietly out the door, Greta still sleeping soundly. He walked outside to the gardens and sat down on a bench that faced towards the glimmer of purple already visible on the horizon. He felt himself relax as watched the purples and oranges paint the inky black sky.