Sleepy Lion

"You just got back?" Lady Celi exclaimed as she looked at the King and her middle son. She laughed out loud at their appearance. Apparently, they had a mishap that got them wet. "I apologise," the noblewoman said, trying to contain her laughter, "but what happened this time?"

"Pig," Yuuri answered.

"Goats and lilies," Conrad added sheepishly.

"And a lake," Yuuri finished with a nervous laughter.

Lady Celi shook her head

"Why don't you boys dry off before you catch a cold," "Gwendal is looking for you, Heika. There are more papers that need signing." She laughed understandingly at his moan of displeasure at the thought of paperwork. She remembered the times Gwendal had to berate her himself.

Speaking of her eldest son, Lady Celi was rather surprised to find him looking for her when he planned to spend the afternoon signing papers with the king. Gwendal's cheeks had a tinge of pink when he handed her a tray of freshly baked cookies and a mug of chamomile milk tea. "Better give it to the other baka as well," he grumbled, "I much rather not deal with two sick idiots." His mother laughed softly. She knew at times Gwendal felt like he was looking at a younger version of herself, or Conrart, when dealing with the king.

"Conrart?" she murmured, knocking on the door. She opened the door to find her son in a fresh shirt and pants but asleep on his bed.

It was likely that he simply intended to rest his eyes for just a bit after a possible funny adventure earlier that day but Lady Celi knew better. It was obvious to her that Conrad was absolutely exhausted. He had a very busy past week: one patrol after another; Dai Shimarron stirring up trouble at the borders; three bandit attacks; just yesterday as the King arrived, a children's baseball tournament; and whatever they were up to that very day that involved a pig, goats, lilies and a lake.

She gently ran a hand through his partially damp hair, downy as the day he was born. She remembered the day her Healer announced his coming; the months she waited for him. She remembered being so worried as he was not very active at kicking her. She remembered hearing his voice for the first time the day he was born. She remembered him running towards her in cheer when she was not busy; how he daily rubbed her stomach when she was expecting Wolfram. Now he lay in bed before her as a grown man but every bit of that happy little boy she knew her Little Lion to still be.

"Mmh..." he moaned, stirring slightly under her touch.

"Shh..." she hushed gently, running her fingers through his hair in a slow repeated motion. He did not need to wake up, not just yet. Sure enough, Conrad fell back asleep, allowing the dark warm slumber to cocoon his tired body. Lady Celi smiled. All three of her sons were easily defeated whenever someone played with their hair.

The King could afford to let his godfather rest for awhile. Gwendal and Gunter were not going to let the boy out of their sight anytime soon. It will give her a rare moment to watch her Sleepy Lion while he slept.