Hallo! This is Azzy here! This big beauty is a new story between me and my favorite Girl! ^3^
Disclaimer: Me and Maddock do NOT own anything relating to Hetalia. It is all the sole property of its creator.
Young Prince Ludwig was awakened early this morning, for it was the eve of his sixteenth birthday, a big number for an upcoming king. It was today that his Grandfather and elder brother Gilbert, seeing as his birth parents died in a carriage accident when he was very young, would be taking him to the local Slave ring that morning to see if he fancied any of them. Ludwig himself hated the very idea of owning anyone but if it made traditions stand, he would go for it.
It was about mid morning when he finally made it out to the fencing circle where he knew his elder brother would be waiting. "Brother! Grandfather sent me to fetch you to clean up. We shall be leaving for the market soon."
One of the two men in the fencing ring turned at the Prince's voice, his opponent quickly taking advantage of his distraction to draw blood, signaling the end of their duel. The winner gave his opponent a hand up before whipping off his mask and shaking shaggy white hair from his face. Red eyes locked onto the light-haired prince with mischief in them.
"So soon? It can't really be so late in the day! But then, I'm still not sure that the squalling beast that Mother and Father brought to my room could possibly be in his sixteenth year already." The king was young, only twenty three, and kept his family close as a sort of guiding compass, but he was an effective ruler that was willing to make the hard decisions. The albino had originally faced challenges from the public that distrusted him for his devilish appearance however he'd quickly become an exotic symbol for the empire to follow.
"Have you given any thought to what you might look for, oh little squalling beastie?" Gilbert teased, setting his equipment to the side and pulling off his sweat-soaked exercise tunic. "Male or female, young or old? Maybe someone your own age to keep you company when you aren't closing yourself off in the libraries?"
Ludwig stood with his hands on his hips and a slight scowl. "Stop calling me that. And I'm hoping that something strange will happen and I won't have to choose anyone. Just because Antonio and Francis have become more like puppies to you then servants doesn't mean anything. Its still wrong to own anyone." He challenged, as he had been trying for years. He never once won an argument though and had just decided when he became king that he would just outlaw slavery. If you wanted someone to work for you, then you could pay them.
Gilbert shook his head at his younger brother's impulsive arguments, used to this one consistently unreasonable thing about the blonde. "Change is difficult, brother-mine. But at least I can know that any slaves held by our family have their bread and shelter. You know this." The servants no longer spared any scandalized glances at seeing their lord and sovereign walk through the halls without his full outfitting -too many years of such exposure had dulled them to it. "If nothing else you can find a friend, a companion, a brother such as I can no longer be for you now that my duties are fully upon me." It was a valid concern to the king - he loved his brother and didn't want him to lack for anything, even company.
"If you're so worried about my company, give the throne back to Grandfather." The prince teased with a huff. He shifted his slightly uncomfortable clothing, "We are going to a Slave Market, so why must we dress up like a Duke is visiting for supper?" He complained, cracking his neck, "Do you know if we are meeting anyone else there? The common-folk? Or did you and Grandfather persuade those horrid Slave Drivers to a private showing?"
Finally reaching his private suite (more like his own wing of the castle, if he were honest), Gilbert was unsurprised that the prince had followed in without question or commented when he began to strip his sweat-laden undershirt and breeches.
"The summer is far too warm this year, or at least too warm for fencing and combat practice. Would you like to go riding later? The lake should be cool and would be a pleasant reprieve from the weather." He pointedly avoided his sibling's teases for the reason that they were not always said in jest. Ludwig had, on more than one occasion, tried to persuade him to surrender the throne to their grandfather until he inherited it through the usual channels. He didn't want a fight, not that day.
As he pulled on fresh clothes and fiddled with his hair, he watched Ludwig from a mirror. "Pomp and ceremony serve their purpose, as annoying as they are. Besides, I would not have our cousin commenting on your clothes on your own birthday - you know how Roderich can be." he reminded with a sigh, finishing his outfit with his sword belt and a cocky grin. "Ready for manhood, my little Princeling?" Gilbert asked, turning to face the younger royal.
As if out of habit Ludwig looked down at his attire. "It s still stupid to where this. And yes. I am. But hey! You never answered my question! Sneaky!" The blonde laughed, "Are we actually going to mingle with the peasants? The lower nobles?" The young prince asked excitedly, alway finding it he rather associate with the lower classes then the puffed up faces of the nobles he was forced to communicate with.
Gilbert wrapped an arm around his younger brother's shoulder - already broadening so quickly that he was sure to outgrow his sibling before he reached nineteen years of age - and tugged him along with a grin. "I can get nothing past you, my prince. Yes, we will see some of the lesser nobles today, though I doubt many commoners will be present. Those who are not looking to...purchase...are not often permitted to linger."
Before they reached the end of his wing and entered the castle proper, Gilbert pulled Ludwig aside into an alcove, hidden from servants' view. "I can not help myself - I remember my own coming-of-age and know that there will be no time for us to talk privately for some time. So, here, I insist you take my gift for you. I may not have a chance to offer it tonight or tomorrow morn." the albino explained, handing Ludwig an obviously home-wrapped gift. The silks and leather ties poorly contained their gift, but served their purpose and hid the dagger from view. It was customary for a weapon to be given on the sixteenth birthday, from father to son as a recognition of the young man's status as an adult. "I hope this will serve you well for years to come, Ludwig." Gilbert offered with an unsure smile, waiting for him to open his gift.
Ludwig gasped when he saw the dagger. The silver hilt with few sapphires and a ruby encrusted in it, the blade was thin and light, but sharper than any the Prince had seen. "Brother! I-I Thank you. Now I can only hope I will never have to use it." Ludwig nodded and bent over, attaching the dagger to a sheath on his left thigh. The prince righted himself and quickly hugged his brother. "Thank you again Brother. Papa would be proud of how well you're handling my coming of age. You haven't even teared yet" the Blonde joked slightly.
"Tears? From me? Of course not. This is a day to be celebrated, Ludwig, a day on which you are not the prince, or the king's brother, or the lovely young man that hides in his books and his stables and pets rather than putting up with swooning insincere women of your own age." the humor normally present was absent for once, the words wholly sincere. "Today you are just Ludwig, and you are your own man." One pale hand came up to brace the prince's shoulder, the other framing the young blonde's face. "I will save my tears for the day you marry and I lose my brother so that he can become a husband and father." The silence between them was broken by a familiar male voice with a lilting accent.
"Your Majesties, your grandfather has sent me to retrieve you! You are both late as it is; do not make me hunt you down as well as come all this way for you, Gilbert." Suddenly the material that blocked their alcove from view was pushed to the side, exposing the brothers to the tan-skinned servant. "As I said, it is past time for you both to meet your grandfather." Antonio nodded respectfully to Ludwig, though his easy smile never faltered. "Your highness, you look wonderful for your coming-of-age today." Gilbert puffed up with pride and smiled at his younger brother. "Doesn't he? He looks every bit the little Princeling that he is."
Ludwig flushed briefly bowing his head and calmly pushing past the servant. "Please brother, If we are this late we must be going. I can't be too late on my first day can I?" Ludwig kept his back to the elder boys, the embarrassment of being caught in such a touching moment showing on his face.
From the hallway which Antonio had come, came Francis, Gilbert's other servant with a strange accent that none of them could quite place. "Mazterz ve muzt be going now. Your couzinz, Roderich and Hans have arrived and are waiting." He bowed to Ludwig and nodded at Gilbert.
A sigh escaped the albino and he waved a hand in the air absently. "Yes, yes, I know. I wish Grandfather hadn't invited Roderich along, but I suppose it is tolerable since Hans is with him. Though he will be going through his own coming-of-age soon enough..." Gilbert patted Ludwig's shoulder briefly before wrapping an arm loosely around his blonde servant. "I wonder Francis - did you know that you and Antonio are apparently puppies?" The look on the prince's face at the reminder of his earlier comment had Gilbert laughing loudly as they made their way to the waiting company.
Francis tilted his head some, "Puppiez? How did we get reduced to dat?" Antonio looked from his friends (though if pressured to answer, he would never hurt Gilbert's reputation by claiming him as anything other than his King and master), to the Prince with a smile.
"I think, Francis, that our dear Prince has told his brother this...though it's a good enough description. Think about it, we follow him, come when he calls us, greet him happily - we just need tails to wag, no?" The king's chuckles echoed again and he let go of Francis in favor of straightening his sleeves. "Well, wish us luck - I will undoubtedly need it if we're to spend the day with Roderich in tow."
Francis bowed to them both, a smile on his lips. "Have fun at market, M'lord." He stated before turning with Antonio and going to do their predestinated jobs.