For The Love Of Yuri

(For Erika) Reaching Each Other's Hearts

Erika went to the garden a few minutes after Murata and Yuri left her room. For some strange reason, whenever she was looking at a certain blue flower there that was named after Conrad (according to Lady Cherie), she would always feel calm.

And as she continued looking at it, she never knew that a certain blonde-haired woman was happily watching her and could sense her emotions at the time. Lady Cherie already knew about Yuri and Wolfram's plan for Conrad and Erika. She had never felt happier when she realized that even Gwendal was definitely feeling the same way as she does when she stated once that Conrad and Princess Erika would definitely be a perfect match for each other.

And with that thought in her head, she left while happily smiling and hoping that Yuri's plan would work.

About the same time, Conrad just arrived at the garden and there, hd saw Erika looking at the flowers once again -- just like last night. He smiled when he saw that. But when he clearly saw the exact flower Erika was looking at, he somehow felt that his heart had stopped beating for some seconds. And he could feel that he was having a hard time breathing when he also saw Erika's calm expression as she kept looking at it.

It was as if...

She feels calm whenever she would look at it... He does not know what else to think at the moment. But he could vividly feel a certain emotion inside of him because of that.

He felt... happy. He could feel certain happiness because of the thought that a flower his mother named after him would actually make the young princess felt calm and serene.

That was the time when the princess had finally noticed his presence. That was why when she stood up and looked around, for some reason, she was startled when she saw him standing there, looking at her. He thought that she was mad at him for suddenly appearing there and somehow disturbed her. But then he figured out that he was wrong because he saw her smile before she gently and slowly approached him.

"I'm sorry. Did I disturb you, Your Highness?" He could only asked to her since he does not have anything else to say.

Erika shook her head as soon as she stopped in front of him. And they were just a few inches apart from each other. "You did not disturb me. In fact, I am glad that you came here. I was actually planning to have a word with you."

That definitely Conrad one hell of a surprise and at the same time, confusion. And having an idea what he was thinking, she just smiled.

"Do not worry, you are not in trouble. I am just--" she paused. "--having a little problem. And somehow, I could feel that I should be talking to you with concerns to that." And then she looked at him hesitantly. "Will that be okay with you?"

He could sense hints of pleading in her voice when she asked that question. And for some reason, he felt that he could not say no to that. That was why he smiled.

"It is okay with me," he answered that made the princess smile, as well. "Since I don't have anything to do until lunch, I could stay with you until then if you want to."

"Thank you so much."

And with that, they headed to the flowerbed together. They found a seat for them to stay for a while since Erika could sense that they would be talking a lot, depending on how Conrad would answer some of her questions.

"Um... Did someone from the castle ask you about going out or perhaps, taking a day off? Something like that," she blatantly asked without looking at Conrad as a start.

That was why she didn't notice the surprised look on Conrad's face.

"How did you find out?" he asked calmly.

Still not looking at him, Erika sighed before answering.

"I did not know. It is just a speculation because a while back, Yuri and Ken told me not to focus on any work loads today and have a day off. They also said that I should do that because tonight is the start of this kingdom's Moon Festival. They stated, as well, that you will be the one to accompany me. So then I ended up guessing that someone might have told you the same thing," she explained and sighed soon after. "This must be a part of Yuri and Wolfram's plan to help me, huh?"

Conrad sighed, as well, after a few moments of silence.

"You are right. Your brother and even Wolfram did ask me to take a day off today. But if I have to analyze it well, it appears that--"

"--they are setting us up on something," Erika finished Conrad's sentence. "I am really sorry for letting them do that to you because of me, Conrad." She then looked at him as she apologized. "You've been getting involved in whatever plans that Yuri and Wolfram were up to."

Conrad chuckled for a while and then smiled. "You don't have to apologize, Your Highness. There was no harm done. And besides, you do not have any idea about it, right? That they would be involving me in their plans to help you forget the sadness that has been in your heart for so long. So was I. But still, it seems to be for the best that we have to do what they want since they asked us to do it and we ended up agreeing, anyway."

"So you agreed?"

He hesitantly nodded and then he avoided her stare.

But that was not exactly what Erika noticed that made her feel... amused with the man sitting beside him. He saw Conrad was literally blushing as he continued to avoid her stare. And at the same moment that she was looking at him, she could feel her heart flutter. She never thought that the man she was looking at would actually blush like this, like he was looking at a teenage boy having a conversation with his crush on their first date.

But even still, he looked undeniably handsome. I wonder why I felt so calm when I was looking at him. In some way, I feel like I could actually confide everything to him, she thought as she kept staring at him. But then she was caught unprepared when suddenly, their eyes locked gaze in each other as the man suddenly faced her and looked at her. It felt like forever and definitely, she could feel something weird about this.

Weird but unexpectedly wonderful.

Erika does not know why but in some way or another, she could feel a sort of calming heaven whenever their gazes would lock. And what was weird, she just noticed it at that particular moment.

How come?

And there was another weird feeling in her as she still looked at him. It felt like meeting and befriending Conrad like this made her feel that there was a missing piece of her life that she haven't found yet. Whatever it was, she does not know and she could not figure it out at the moment.

"Then can I meet you here tonight? In a way, you are going to be my tour guide," she said soon after just to break the silence between them and then she smiled.

Conrad smiled, as well, before nodding. "I will be very much obliged, Your Highness. It will be an honor."

"You are being polite to me again," Erika could not help joking.

"I was merely trying to tease you, but maybe it did not work."

Both of them laughed and out of sudden happiness, she abruptly held both of Conrad's hands and smiled. "In any case, thank you very much!"

The man was completely shocked because of her actions that made him blush again. He was staring both at his hands that the princess held and to her simultaneously.

When Erika realized what she had done, she could not help blushing as well and slowly, she let his hands go. And then she just avoided looking at him and just stared at the ground.

"I am sorry. I guess I got a little excited. I tend to act like that, especially when I am... usually happy," she explained, still without looking at him.

Though still a little shocked, he could not help but to start a giggle and then turned to laughter. Erika was, surprisingly, not angry but only bewildered. And still, that made her blush even more.

"What is so funny?" She could not help but ask that.

It took a while for Conrad to finally stop laughing before facing her. "Nothing. I just never thought that you would still act like a kid at your age."

Erika pouted. "I should say the same thing to you, since you were blushing like a teenage a while ago."

Stunned silence filled the air... both of them just staring at each other.

And then...

A short burst of laughter followed.

"I guess we are the same in some way," she murmured after laughing.

"Do you still have other plans until lunch?" He asked.

Erika heaved out a sigh before speaking. "Right now, I think it might be better if I just stay here with you."

Did I... hear you right? Conrad asked himself regarding what the princess had said.

"Weird, huh?" she commented and then looked at the sky. "I know that I barely know you... But somehow, whenever I am with you, I could feel something like as if I could forget everything that made me sad for a long time."

Then... I will just stay here with you... For unknown reasons, Conrad could not exactly voice out that particular thought out. I never ever want you to be this sad... That was what he thought as he kept staring at the princess's sad eyes. Why was it that this girl would always catch him off-guard?

With no answer to look for, Conrad just decided to stand up and then placed his hand in front of her. Erika took it and then stood up.

And the day continued normally to the two of them, at the very least, as the others in the castle were busy preparing for the ball in celebration of the Moon Festival.

As many could hope for, this was one of those important events where two people's fates would intentionally be set in motion...

xxxxxx

It was already night time.

The stars were out, decorating the calming night sky with its sparkling shine as most of it formed a gallery of different constellations. The wind blew forth gently, touching every inch of all living and non-living beings it passed through.

This night was undeniably perfect for celebrating a romantic occasion such as the Moon Festival.

A festival dedicated to the people who found their true love and to those who wished to find one in order to feel complete. And this was the right moment for the people like Yuri, Wolfram and Murata to settle the romantic date for the two people important to them.

Conrad and Erika.

At the exact same time that the ball had started, Conrad decided to meet the princess at the bench near the garden, the place where he agreed to meet her. He was wearing civilian clothes so that he and the princess could roam the capital without a fuss.

And since the capital has lots of activities arranged during this festival, he then decided that he would be the personal tour guide for Erika since she was just new to Shin Makoku despite having visited the kingdom twice already.

He looked up to the sky, staring at the beautiful and serene night sky shimmering with stars. He then smiled as he breathe the fresh air in while he continued looking up.

As he continued staring at the night sky, he remembered the words from the song that he had heard Erika sang this morning.

Every night, my heart aches

I never stop thinking about you

I am used to being alone for such a long time

And I face it with a smile...

For such a long time now, though some were vaguely shown in his dreams, the one thing the others did not know about him was the fact that he had been dreaming about the mysterious maiden who had saved him during the Battle of Lutenberg -- one of the wars that both Shin Makoku and Castalia had faced before. And for as long as he could remember, the only woman he ever felt in love with was that maiden...

That maiden who gave him a second chance at the life he could still get. And until that moment, he was still continuing to wait for her, thinking of her... and loving her.

Believe me, I chose to wait

Even though it's painful, I won't leave

Only your tenderness can save me from this endless cold...

No matter how long, or how far, there was no doubt that he would continue waiting for her. For he knew that the life that he wanted to live had that mysterious maiden in it.

That was what he thought... during those long and treacherous years of waiting...

But now...

"I'm sorry. Did I make you wait for long?"