In this story, Yuri won't be the Maou. I'm changing the setting to Early Modern Period, when there was a Holy Roman Empire under a Holy Roman Emperor where um, like the anime plotline, they are at the brink of war with their enemies (keyword: brink; hasn't happened, yet.). This fic was inspired from a book called 'My Knight in Shining Armor' by Jude Devereux. I won't follow it exactly, of course, just the idea. That's all I'm gonna say so enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own Kyou Kara Maou.

Prologue

15th century, somewhere in Western Europe

Conrart's P.O.V

It has been two weeks since she died. It was so unexpected, so sudden. We never thought that she, one of the kindest, wisest lady in our country, would die trying to save it. Adalbert took it the hardest. He fought against the court for their unreasonable orders to send our soldiers to ambush the enemy so close to the village borders where she had been. After that, he left the country, forsaking his title and origins off his shoulders, swearing to never involve himself with the ones who had caused her untimely death.

I stare out the window through my quarters, watching the rain drizzle down onto the dark, wet streets until I forced myself to turn back to the unfinished letter. The war we had tried so hard to avoid is now set into full motion. Unfortunately, Yosak and I are now stuck in a small village with no supplies, money or reinforcements to speak of. That is why I am writing to my mother to let her know of our ailments and hopefully she would send someone to escort us back in time before the enemies reach our borders.

Halfway through the letter, my eyes drifted to the beautiful blue, teardrop pendant lying innocently beside my hand. Before I knew it, I had put it on and held it against the dim candlelight, watching in fascination as the blue swirled and sparkled like undercurrent waters. This was her last gift to me, just right before my troops were sent to scout the borders. She said it would bring me luck, and she was right. I would have died if it wasn't for this pendant, but now I wished that she had kept it, if only to keep hers.

She had always told me how one day there would be peace and I believed her. It was the sole reason I went on the scouting espionage despite knowing the risk. I drive myself to the limit, did everything I could, just to make it come true. But now that she's gone, that dream went with her too…

Shaking my head, I was about to go back to my letter when I heard…crying? I looked around my room, confused. There was nothing. The faint crying was still there though, is it from outside? I opened the window to face an empty street, and the crying still continues.

A dreadful thought hit me. Could it be…feeling my hairs stand on end, I quickly mumbled out a small prayer until I could not hear the crying any longer. Relieved, I was about to sit down again when the crying came back, only this time getting louder and louder, ringing painfully through my ears and into my mind. I clutched my head in my hands. Why won't it stop? Who was crying so…so sadly? What does it want with me? I close my eyes tightly, praying fervently in my heart for the pain and loneliness not my own to leave me.

When I opened my eyes again, the room was gone, only darkness. The crying has thankfully tone down to a bearable level. Surveying my surroundings warily, I noticed a figure ahead of me. I could surprisingly see him clearly in this darkness. A boy, I think around sixteen or seventeen – was sitting on the ground with his knees pulled up to his chest so I couldn't see his eyes. Everything about him was black; his hair was black, his clothes were black, his tanned skin the only thing keeping him from blending almost perfectly into this nothingness we are in. Was he the one who was crying?

Well, whoever he was, I want him to stop. I don't have time for this. We have a war in our hands. I needed to write that letter.

"Hey, you there!" I shouted to the boy. The boy didn't seem to hear me, nor did he look up. The crying has yet to cease either. I scowled angrily. I really don't have time for this. Lives are at stake here! And yet…a part of me reached out towards the crying boy, wanting to comfort, to protect. I have not felt this way about anyone since…

Disturbed with myself, I yelled again. "Stop crying! I wish I can help with whatever ails you but I can't! I'm…I'm needed here! So please, stop crying!"

It did no good. The boy continued with his endless tears, dripping down like sparkling pearls in the dark. I stepped forward without meaning to, feeling my heart clenched with each step as I got closer and the crying got louder. With each step I said, "Please, what do you want me to do? Why are you here? What do you want with me? Why me?"

As I was just two steps away from him – the crying now rising to a wail –the ground beneath me suddenly lurched followed by a wave of dizziness. The world around me spins out of control and I was helpless to stop it. My quarters flashed past, then darkness only to appear again like a shutter. I tried to reach out towards the boy but his figure diminishes until I could see him no more. I wanted to shout, for Yosak or the boy, I don't care – as long as it stops this madness but nothing came out from my mouth.

The ground beneath me lurched again and I was thrown forward, unable to regain my balance. Down, down I went until all I remembered was the feeling of falling.