A/N: So I decided to continue it. I won't regret it. ….probably.

Yay, Ludwig comes out! Be happy Germany fans! Yes, I'm talking to you! (Yells at my Germany fangirl friend)

Rated T for cussing. Nothing changes, huh?

Yay, more new characters! I won't tell you who. I'm gonna say it out now to all you Austria fans. NO, HE WILL NOT COME OUT YET. I apologize for the delay…

Disclaimer: see the one from the last chapter. 'Cause it's exactly the same XD

Now start marching on to the story! (That is probably the shortest A/N I ever posted)

"Gilbert!" Gilbert heard his name yelled behind him, and quickly turned back. He broke into a grin.

"Hey Ludz. How're you doing?"

"I'm doing just fine," Ludwig huffed as he caught up to his older brother. "I think you should go find father now… he was quite angry with you skipping practice for 2 days. Straight,"

"No matters," Gilbert waved his hand around. "I just met him. Yeah, he was quite mad with me, but he let me go,"

"...well, that's that then," Ludwig answered a little worriedly.

"Oh yeah, by the way," Gilbert crouched down to Ludwig's height (since Ludwig was about half the height of Gilbert) and petted his head. "Father mentioned this to me – he said he might let you lead the West Side,"

"Really?" Ludwig asked, with sparkles in his eyes. "I… I don't know Gil. I might not be ready for it…,"

"Oh come on Ludz!" Gilbert stood up and slapped his little brother's back. So hard, that Ludwig almost collapsed. "You'll do just fine!" Gilbert looked at his brother. He had golden-blonde hair with light-turquoise blue eyes. On the other side, Gilbert had metallic-silver hair with blood-red eyes.

"Gilbert?" Ludwig asked. Gilbert blinked, and smiled.

"You know Ludz, the older you get… you remind me of mother,"

"Mom?" Ludwig asked confused. Gilbert sighed, and sat down on the ground.

"Of course you don't remember mother. You were small when she got taken my God, weren't you?" Gilbert narrowed his eyes. "So small…,"

"Gilbert, what did she look like?" Ludwig sat down next to his older brother.

"Well…. Just like you Ludz," Gilbert shrugged. "Blonde, Blue eyes… and your personality's kinda the same too. Quiet, patient, but hard-working,"

"You on the other hand," Ludwig cut in. "Are just like father,"

"True," Gilbert snickered, and ruffled Ludwig's hair. "C'mon, I'll take you on for practice,"

"Okay!" Ludwig jumped up and took out his sword always on his waist. Gilbert smiled and stood up as well.

"You might put up a better fight than Liz," hearing that, Ludwig's smile faded.

"Gilbert… are you still friends with her?"

"What? Of course!" Gilbert answered confused. Ludwig bit his lips.

"If…if father's going to let you protect the East Side… that means you're going to protect the Princess as well, right?"

"Well… yeah," Gilbert smiled awkwardly at his little brother. "Ludz, what's wrong?"

"…nothing," Ludwig mumbled back.

"Ludz, did someone tell you something? Is it one of those older knights that always bother you?" Gilbert asked Ludwig worried. His little brother bit his lips, and answered.

"It… it was one of those knights. They told me that… the knight that serves the royal… they… they always end up dying protecting them and…," Ludwig trailed off at the last part, and broke into sobs. Gilbert sighed.

"Ludz, what are you so scared about?"

"What I'm so scared about?" Ludwig snapped back, which made Gilbert jump a little. "I'm scared of being alone! Father serves King Bandi, and in the future, you'll serve Princess Elizaveta! If… if…,"

"Ludz, we are not going to die," Gilbert pulled Ludwig into a hug. "Father is unbeatable. Plus, all those stories are from times when our country was in chaos. The country of Héderváry is absolutely peaceful now, right?" Ludwig hiccupped in his brother's chest, and nodded. "Well, we can't get careless. You never know what might happen,"

"Gilbert!" Ludwig protested. Gilbert laughed.

"Gott Ludz! There is no way the Awesome Me is going to die! You remember that, got it?" Ludwig nodded again. Gilbert petted Ludwig again.

"That's a good knight! Now, get stronger and make father and mother proud!"


"Hey Gil, could you take me out to the market?" Elizaveta asked, grabbing Gilbert by the arm as he was taking his favorite horse Nachtschatten to his stable.

"Liz, I thought your mother had you locked up in your room 'studying manners'?"

"Yeah, I broke out," Elizaveta laughed. Gilbert sighed.

"Some princess…," Elizaveta stuck her tongue out. "Liz, if Lady Héderváry saw you do that, she'll probably lock you up in the dungeon for 10 years or something,"

"Does our castle even have a dungeon?" Elizaveta asked. Gilbert rolled his eyes.

"Fine. I'll take you to the market. Get on a horse. I'll ride Nachtschatten," Nachtschatten nuzzled his master. "Don't worry. I'll get you a whole ton of food after the princess's 'shopping spree', alright?" Elizaveta bumped Gilbert with her elbow.

"Shut up Gil. Can't a girl get her time?"

"Fine, fine…,"

"Alright…Napfény, let's go!" Elizaveta ran into the stable and grabbed the reins of her favorite horse. Napfény weighned happpily as her master climbed onto her back. Gilbert rolled his eyes.

"Oh boy, and I'm gonna have to babysit her again Nachtschatten," Gilbert talked to his horse. He felt immediate pain in his left hip as his childhood friend rode past him on Napfény.

"Oh, hey Gil?" Elizaveta quickly made her horse turn back. "Can I invite Brun as well? I mean, shopping with a guy is no fun,"

"Sure, mock the guy," Gilbert mumbled so no one can hear (Especially Elizaveta) "Go ahead. But I'm gonna take Antonio and Francis along as well. I am not going to stick around with two girls. Okay?"

"Yeah, go ahead. C'mon, we have to get over to the Carriedo household!"


"Hey Eliza!" Brun jumped at Elizaveta as she open the gate. Brun's bright-blonde hair was wavy in the ends like always, and she had on her favorite orange headband.

"Hiya Brun! Hey, you feel like going shopping?" Eliza gave her best friend a hug back.

"Of course! Oh, hey Gil. Didn't see you there," Brun looked behind Elizaveta and waved at Gilbert, who was holding both Nachtschatten's and Napfény's reins.

"Hi Brun. Where's Antonio?" Gilbert asked.

"Oh, you're looking for Tonio?" Brun asked, and turned around. "Hey Antonio! Gilbert's here to see you!"

"Gilbert? What Gilbert?" a voice asked from inside the house. Brun rolled her eyes.

"Gilbert Beillschmidt, of course! Your best friend? Seriously Tonio? What are you thinking?"

"Oh, that Gilbert!" there was thudding inside the house. Brun rubbed her temple and looked at Elizaveta and Gilbert.

"Excuse my brother's stupidness…,"

"Sometimes, it's hard to believe he's your older brother, you know?" Elizaveta crossed her arms. Brun smiled warily.

"I wish he was a little bit more like Neils, you know?" she sighed.

"Isn't Neils away with your father again? I did want to meet him…," Elizaveta said a little disappointed. Brun shrugged.

"A merchant has to sail as much as possible Eliza. And since Neils is taking over –" she looked inside the house with a frown. "He has to join daddy often as possible,"

"Wait! I thought Antonio was taking over?" Gilbert said a little shocked. Brun sighed.

"Apparently, daddy thought it's the best to let his second son take the family business than his oldest," Brun said like it was nothing, but it seemed to shake up Gilbert a lot.

"And… and Antonio is fine with that?"

"I guess so Gilbert. He didn't say anything back when daddy informed him that. He seemed not to care," Gilbert looked concerned about that, but then Antonio came bursting out of the house, almost pushing his little sister over.

"Hey Gilbert! Oh, Princess Elizaveta! Antonio Fernandez Carriedo at your service!" Antonio bowed gentleman-like. Suddenly, he grabbed Brun's head and pulled it down.

"Antonio, let go!"

"And Brun Zoé Carriedo at your service as well!" Antonio looked at Gilbert and smirked. His best friend sighed.

"Antonio, you've been doing that since – when? When we were like, seven?"

"Guess so," Antonio stood up and laughed. But his laughter quickly stopped when his little sister smacked him on the head.

"Why can't you be more like Neils?"

"Oh, apology to you, Eliza," Antonio ignored Brue. "Niels Pieter Carriedo is away with father,"

"Tonio, stop," Elizaveta commanded, but she seemed to be having fun. "You'll tag along with us to the market right? Well," she gave a glare at her childhood friend. "Gilbert wants you to tag along,"

"Oh, in that case, let's go get Francis! We can make him buy us stuff!" Antonio suggested. Brun sighed.

"Tonio, we're the biggest merchant family in the Country of Héderváry. Why are you making Francis pay?"

"It's called 'saving money', Brunhilde," Antonio sighed. Brun slapped her older brother again.

"Don't call me that!" she shrieked. Elizaveta looked confused.

"I still don't get why you hate your real name, Brun,"

"Because it sounds stupid!" she yelled. "And guess what it means? It means 'battle armor'! What kind of mother will name you 'battle armor'? When you're a girl?"

"Brun, your name sound fine," Gilbert jumped in the conversation. "And shouldn't we get going? See, these two are – hey, Nachtschatten – Napfény – calm down!" the two horses got impatient and started to squirm.

"Here, Napfény – down girl," Elizaveta ran to her horse and pulled her down. "Brun, Antonio, we should get going!"

"Okay, got it!" Brun grabbed her brother by his chest and dragged him out of the porch.

"Aren't you gonna need a horse?" Elizaveta asked Brun.

"We'll live," Brun said as she let go of Antonio. "If my leg starts to hurt, I'll make Tonio carry me!"

Antonio sighed as he walked over to Gilbert on Nachtschatten.

"Why do we always have to be ordered around by these girls?"


"Francis Bonnefoy, get yourself out here!" Elizaveta screamedat the huge mansion. In a few seconds, a wavy blonde head popped out the window.

"Hello there Princess! Oh, you too Brun?" the head popped back in, and in a few more seconds the same figure walked out of the front door. "Gilbert! Antonio! For what did you decide to visit me? Did you have to come see my beauty?"

"Naw, we just decided to drag you along to our shopping!" Brun answered truthfully, smiling. Francis looked a little hurt.

"And to add in, Francis," Elizaveta smiled even bigger than Brun. "I'm sure all of us can live without looking at you for – let's see – about 30 years or so?" Francis looked at Gilbert and Antonio, as the two girls when on ahead chatting.

"You know guys; those two aren't exactly my ideal girls…," he sighed.

"Hey, Liz isn't my ideal princess either." Gilbert shrugged.

"And Brun isn't my ideal sister." Antonio added. Francis sighed again.

"Well, looks like we're gonna have to go pick up real girls while they're shopping huh?"

"Excuse me, but we're girls too thank you very much." a voice said to the three. All of them froze as they saw Elizaveta glaring victoriously at the three.


"I hate this," Antonio complained as Brun handed him another bag of groceries. "Fran, this is your entire fault!"

"What?" Francis yelled back, with bags of dresses almost making him unable to see. "How is it my entire fault?"

"Yeah, can't be his entire fault," Gilbert said as he took another bag from Elizaveta. "Lady Héderváry could've raised Liz better –,"

"Hush!" Francis hissed at Gilbert. Gilbert just sighed.

"Hey you two, don't you wanna take a break?"

"A break?" Elizaveta asked.

"No way!" Brun answered and ran off to another shop with her best friend. Francis shrugged.

"They're girls. What do you expect.

"Hey, um….Antonio?" Gilbert asked, pretending not to notice Francis. "Is it true… that you're letting Niels take over the family business?"

"Hm?" Antonio looked at him confused, but then he seemed to understand. "Oh, Brunhilde told you didn't she?" a half-eaten apple came flying out of nowhere and struck Antonio's face. "Yeah, I am," Antonio mumbled as he rubbed his red face.

"But why?" Gilbert said, almost yelling. "Aren't you annoyed that your little brother just beat you to your father's expectations?"

"Gil, calm down," Francis whispered. "There are people staring… oh wait, maybe they're staring at me since I'm so beautiful huh?"

"Don't you feel embarrassed?" Gilbert said even stronger. "You got defeated by your younger sibling!"

"Nah, not really," Antonio shrugged matter-of-factly. "I wasn't really interested in taking the job anyway. I'm thinking of doing something else. A pirate seems fun!"

"Well, people looking at me are totally fine with me –,"

"Look Antonio, I'm just trying to help you with your future…,"

"Gil, I think dad's already decided to let Niels take the job. And I'm fine with that. Kinda like how Liz doesn't want to be the Princess right?"

"Yeah, but Liz doesn't have a choice!"

"And I do, Gilbert! And I choose not to do it!"

"I hate you both! You guys keep on ignoring me! What's wrong with you two? You guys are lacking so much love!" Francis finally broke down.

"Shut up!" Antonio and Gilbert snapped at Francis at the same time.

"Holy, what's going on back here?" Elizaveta came back, with Brun following her, with about ten more bags. The three gulped.


"Well, see you again Eliza!" Brun waved her hand at Elizaveta, and ran inside the house yelling, "Mom, what's dinner tonight?"

"…see ya guys," Antonio said awkwardly as he carried up about twenty bags of shopping.

"Hey, Tonio?" Gilbert grabbed his friend's arm. "Look, I'm sorry… for butting in. It's none of my business is it?" Antonio smiled.

"Hey, it's cool Gil! Amigos, right?"

"Yeah," Gilbert smiled back, and shook his hand (Antonio almost dropped the bags). Antoniom walked back into his house and shut the door behind him.

"Well, gotta go back as well! The new maid must be missing me!" Francis said. "She's quite a Beauté…," he added with a whisper to Gilbert and winked. "See you again guys!"

"I guess we should head back too!" Elizaveta said climbing on Napfény.

"…hey, Liz?"

"What?"

"Didn't you say that you sneaked out?"

"…oh damn it."

"You're in so much trouble." Gilbert snickered as he mounted Nachtschatten, looking at Elizaveta's horrified look.


"I can't believe you sneaked out!" Queen Gyongyi shrieked at her daughter. Both Elizaveta and Gilbert were standing in front of the Queen at her table in her room. "Eliza, go to your room now. I won't let you out until you cover up all those lessons you missed!"

"…fine," Elizaveta gritted her teeth at her mother, and walked out of the room. Gilbert started to follow, when Gyongyi snapped,

"Oh no, not yet Beillshmidt," Gilbert stopped, turned around and looked at the Queen with worried eyes.

"…yes, my lady?"

"What is wrong with you?" Queen Gyongyi said, rubbing her temples. "Taking Eliza out when she's not supposed to? Can't you just say no?"

"Since it's the Princess, I can't say no," Gilbert answered. Gyongyi glared.

"Don't get smart with be boy. What will Louisa tell you?"

"…if she was alive?" Gilbert added painfully. Gyongyi stared at Gilbert for a few seconds, and then nodded. Gilbert froze, but opened his mouth. "She'll probably do the same thing she always did when I did something wrong. Scold me but then smile, pet me, and hug me. Right?" Gyongyi didn't answer. But instead, she sighed.

"Go out, Beillshmidt. You are no longer needed."

"Thank you." Gilbert said rather sarcastically as he bowed, walked to the door, opened it, and shut it behind him.


"Gyongyi, was that so necessary?" King Bandi asked his wife.

"What are you talking about?" the Queen asked.

"Gilbert. You know that he's pained by his mother's death!" he said. Gyongyi looked down at the ground.

"It's already been eight years since she passed away Bandi. He should get over it soon,"

"Louisa was his mother," Bandi added, with a stern face. "Not some house maid or gardener or cook,"

"I understand that Bandi. I'm not that mindless," Gyongyi avoided her husband's eyes. She hated to get him angry. The two stayed silent for a long time. It was surprisingly, Gyongyi that shattered the silence first. "I'll tell you one reason I like Ludwig over Gilbert, Bandi,"

"What is it?" the King asked curiously. The Queen looked out the window, which had the sky now painted in orange, pink, and soft violet.

"He… he looks more like Louisa more than Gilbert," she sighed. "I liked Louisa. A lot. She was polite, sweet, and understanding. She was my favorite maid," Gyongyi ran her fingers through her hair, much like Elizaveta's. "I – I still don't get why she married Frederick. She could've married someone so much better…,"

"Frederick was the best that Louisa could've ever chosen from," Bandi spoke in defense of his best friend. Gyongyi stood up.

"If you say so, honey," she said, and walked out of the room. Bandi was left all alone. He sat down, and sighed.

"Father?" Bandi looked up and saw his daughter. He smiled.

"Eliza, didn't your mother tell you to stay in your room?"

"She'll let me talk to you if it's urgent, right?" Elizaveta said with a sly smile. Bandi chuckled.

"I guess so my dear. What is it?"

"It's…it's about Gilbert," she answered. Bandi raised his eyebrows.

"Yes, what is it?"

"You…," she mumbled. "You don't have anything against him, right?" Bandi looked at his daughter by surprise.

"Why should I, Elizaveta? He's a good boy, a good boy indeed!" Bandi answered, his voice booming. Elizaveta let out a sigh of relief.

"Well, that's good. Mother doesn't seem to like him very much…," Bandi stared at his daughter. "Father?" Elizaveta asked. Bandi gave his Princess a warm smile.

"No worries. If your mother doesn't like him, she can't do anything about it can she? After all, I'm the one who decides on who takes over Frederick!"

"I'm glad to hear that," Elizaveta smiled. "Well, good night father. I don't want mother to catch me out of my room…."

"Alright. Good night sweetie," Bandi said, as the door closed. He sighed.

"The bond between the two is stronger than I thought, isn't it?" Bandi thought to himself. "Gyongyi isn't going to like this. Not at all…."

Bandi felt something weird inside him. A stirring feeling, like a pot of stew getting mixed. But it didn't have the delightful smell of the fresh stew at all.

The sky outside was starting to darken.

A/N: Okay, description of the new characters

Antonio Fernandez Carriedo – Spain, duh

Francis Bonnefoy – France. Duh again XD

Ludwig Beillshmidt – Germany. He didn't have a last name and I wanted to make him brothers with Gilbert, so yeah.

Brunhilde Zoé Carriedo – okay, in my image, she's Belgium

Niels Pieter Carriedo – he's… supposed to be Netherlands….

I had to change Belgium's name like, four times… none of it seemed to sink in. I could've chosen 'Bell', but it wasn't a Belgian name…. wish it was. And it wasn't very interesting as well. So I settled with Brunhilde. And seriously, it means 'battle armor' XD

Yeah, I made Spain, Belgium and Netherlands one family XD Netherland's won't probably come out in person, unless I screw around the plot like, a lot.

So I'll keep on working. It's weird. The more I work on it, Gyongyi becomes more of a jerk XD Thank you to people who review this on the last chapter….

I'll see you again! ...I suppose.

JK! XD