悪妻は百年の不作。

"Mm.. no.." Ludwig grumbled, as like a stubbron child as he further curled into himself, though remaining his hands to be intact with Kikus. "Don’t wanna… forget you.." he said, a little louder this time so he could make sure he was heard. He kept in his almost odd positon for a while before he instinctually tucked his nose under his bed robings, hacking and coughinf for a few moments. He faltered when he stopped, and mentally thanking that his pajamas were basically red to begin with.

Kiku placed his hands on his knees, gripping so he wouldn't start shaking or move them up to cover his mouth, a nervous habit of his that Ludwig had surely picked up on by now. "You're not going to forget me, you're going to get better and I'm not going to get sick. You don't have to worry." He had to start saying it, because even if he got his hopes up, he didn't want his husband to lose hope. He hated seeing Ludwig like this, and it would hurt even more to see his emotional state decline as well.

The 7 nodded, slipping the key into her fur-trimmed sleeve absently. He looked ill, frankly, about ready to collapse. His pallor was terrible, and it looked terribly familiar to her, as terrible as it sounded. Was he sick? If so, why was he here? What was he doing out of bed and in the Clubs castle, of all things? Especially, with the king’s meeting here, his Highness Ludwig would have forbade him from accompanying hi-

She knew.

Ludwig slowly nodded before forcing him self backwards so he could flop back down on his back. He breathed outwardly through his nose for a moment, closing his eyes to try to collect himself before he curled up his legs a bit, feeling an odd chill cross over his body. And within just a moment, he felt like there was no blankets or coverage on him at all, just icy chill.

Noticing his husband's trembling, a feeling of dread rose up in him. He didn't want to believe Ludwig was dying, but looking at his condition, and the fact that no one was 100 percent sure what it was, affirmed in Kiku's mind that he was doomed.

Ludwig softly smiled as the queen flustered in talking, pushing himself a little further to lean over to gently kiss those soft hands of Kiku’s that gripped his hand. “I love.. yo-ou too..” he murmured, staying just in that position of half laying over to just reach over to their joined hands, resting his forehead on top of them as he didn’t exactly feel like having the strength to move back either. 

At first Kiku was genuinely confused at his husband's action, he wondered for a moment if Ludwig had lost it already. He then moved to kiss Ludwig's cheek. "I thought I told you not to strain yourself. Lie down."

He wasn’t going to lie, or he wasn’t if he was going to say it out loud, he didn’t exactly catch what all was said around him. Both the lowkey sound effects in the room and Kkiu’s voice wavered on the boarder line of perfectly clear to trying to hear through pillows. However the last part came out remotely clear.

Seeing Ludwig like that again, he almost considered running away for his own reasons, but there was no way he would do that to him. He'd walk through fire if it meant helping his husband.

"No. Really, your highness, I am honored and terribly flattered, but…"

The air was stagnant between the silent pair of royals, worrys polluting the air and making it stale around them, even if the windows were open a bit. No amount of fresh air to clear away the heavy atmosphere. The king laid still and silent in his bed, up until now in a heavy sleep. There was times in his dreams he would faintly see a light far ahead, but even in sleep he knew to look away from it. He wanted no part of that.

He was suddenly pulled out of his torturous thoughts by the sound of Ludwig's voice. On impulse, he brought his other hand up to feel his husband's forehead and brush a few stray hairs aside. His hair was normally perfect, and the fact that it was even the tiniest bit unkempt was like pouring salt into the wound (instead of Kiku's mouth, that was much more preferable).

You’re lucky you caught her, in the middle of locking her study door with one hand and balancing half a dozen maps in the other

The Queen's thoughts were so crowded with worries he hadn't realized she was struggling with all the work in her hand. "My goodness, do you need some help with that?" He tried to keep his mind off his millions of stresses - Ludwig, meeting, finding his escort, getting back home, rereading meeting notes, it just didn't end - to focus on helping the poor Seven out. He wasn't the only one with problems, he scolded himself. Kiku thought he had left his selfishness behind when he became Queen.

Ludwig pulled back a hand from behind Kiku to gently cup his face, stroking a thumb against his cheek to try to wip away some times rolling down them. “I’ll be fine. I’m mostly concerned for you right now.” He said, very soft but firmly. He aned down and gently kissed his queen, holding their lips together for a good few moments before leaning up again, a tint of red on his cheeks from the action. How long had it really been since the last time he had even done that? Obviously too long for his liking.

He leaned into the kiss as well, not trying for anything too passionate, simply content with letting Ludwig lead. A warm feeling rose in his body, not from embarrassment (at this point, he would only be embarrassed if someone else was around) but from happiness. Kiku's moods had gone on a long adventure during the entire ordeal, but now everything was starting to settle down.

It idn’t take Ludwig long to feel the other quiver under his his hand as he stroked his back. He frowned lightly, pausing a moment to look around the area before softly whispering, “we are alone. You don’t need hold anything back.” He hugged Kiku tighter against him lightly, not wanting to be too rough but wanting him to make sure he was going to support and protect him, even itf it was just from his feelings. “I’m right here for you.” He said, though quickly went quiet as he felt a small waver in his voice. Usually he himself was not a man for many outright emotions, especially not one of tears, but he also knew Kiku wasn’t either.

Kiku looked up at Ludwig for a moment. He was awake, but that didn't mean Kiku wasn't concerned for his physical health. He'd been ill for a long time, he surely wasn't in top form. "Ludwig, are you okay? You've been through so much recently." He couldn't hide a slight crack in his voice or a few tears falling down his face. Ludwig was here, he was holding him, and everything was going to be fine. He could finally share burdens with his King, both of them could lift each other up again, and the Kingdom would be fine.

Ludwig faltered only a little as Kiku fulled hugged him, pausing for only a moment before hugging him back, raising hand to gently stroke the back of his raven hair. It was hard from him t oactually process he had been somewhere, when it felt like it hasn’t been that long since they had seen each other.