Marcello stepped over the pebbled path that led through the woods. He pulled his cloak tighter around himself as the chilled evening air brushed over his skin, sending goosebumps up his pale arms and legs. The white material draped over him, making him feel safer as he walked. Marcello often thought what Lovino had been doing before he vanished.
It was early in the morning nearly two years ago. Marcello had gotten up because he had heard Lovino marching down the steps loudly, grumbling. He had gotten out of bed and crept down to the kitchen.
Lovino placed a few loaves of bread into their wicker basket He cursed under his breath before giving a heavy sigh.
"Lovi?" Marcello asked "What are you doing up so early?"
"Going to gramps. I was supposed to bring him some bread like, three fucking days ago. But I forgot like a dumbass. Anyway, I just remembered so I'm gonna head down right now."
"Are you ok, Lovi?" Marcello asked.
"No. I forgot to feed my grandfather."
"I mean like... I dunno. You've been sad lately." Marcello said with a shrug.
"I... I don't know? I'm bored. I feel like I'm doing the same thing every day and nothing I do seems to matter... I'm so... I feel alone."
"Morning." Feliciano said coming into the kitchen, stopping the conversation. "Oh darn! We forgot all about bringing Grandpa food!"
"I know, I know... I'm on it." Lovino said and grabbed his red hood from the far right hook.
"Be safe!" Feliciano said starting to fix some eggs.
"Yeah, I'll be back tomorrow."
That was the last time they ever saw him. Feliciano and his grandfather seemed to think he was killed or kidnapped... Not Marcello. He thought perhaps, Lovino had found was he was looking for. He walked down the path, hoping to get to his grandfather's home before dark. He paused to stop by a tree, with a large cut in it, as if someone had thrown an ax right into it. He touched the cut before continuing on down the path. Wolves howled in the distance, Marcello picked up the pace a bit...
He came to his grandfather's door and knocked.
"Come in!" A voice yelled inside. Marcello came in and held the letter up "Where's Feli?"
"I came alone." Marcello said.
"Don't do that. I always told Lovino to never come alone because something would happen to him..." Romulus gave a sigh.
"Here." Marcello said and handed him the letter.
"I've heard this name before... Fernandez. Very unusual in this country..."
"Well. He is the king. So I'm sure you've heard someone say it." Marcello said sitting down to rest his feet.
"I had no idea what the King's name was... Antonio Fernandez... I think there was a Fernandez family here once. A very pretty girl I knew... From the village before I moved out here. Lovely young lady named Maria. She was too young for me, but she mentioned a Fernandez... But he was something with an R. Rodrigo? Ricardo? Something..."
"Whatever. Ludwig is already writing back saying yes. You should come." Marcello said
"Hmm.. Suppose I 'll head back together in the morning." Romulus said "Now come on, you look like you could use some food."
000
It had only taken three days for a Royal Carriage to arrive. Servants helped them pack their bags. Many of the other villagers had peaked out their doors to watch. Ludwig tried to coax answers from the carriage driver as to why they were being summoned. But even they didn't know. The five were helped into the carriage before it took off. Angelina fell asleep leaning on Ludwig, with Feliciano petting her hair. Marcello sat across from them reading and Romulus read over his shoulder.
"Something else I just noticed." Ludwig said rereading the letter "They refer to you as Feliciano Vargas. But we've been married for a year. It should say Beilschmidt."
"Wow... Really?" Feliciano said reading it again. "That's weird."
"Maybe the king doesn't know you're married. Or like, he knew Feli but before he got married." Marcello said. "Here's a theory, the King is an old friend and wants you to be his Queen."
"I never knew an Antonio." Feliciano said. "But that's very kind to offer..." He blushed.
"No." Ludwig said. "The King is married. Gilbert wrote me about it. Married very recently I think."
"Really? What's the Queen's name?" Marcello asked
"I don't know. He didn't say. He mentioned it in a letter. It was the last one I got from him. Said he was heading to the west to investigate if the King is related to King Adam. Apparently the King seems to think so."
"Is your brother still working on that book?" Feliciano asked. "About all the heroic stuff the king did before he was king?"
"Yeah. That's why he's going to check his bloodline." Ludwig said "The more I think about this whole thing the less sense it makes..." He said and sighed.
"Don't think too hard. You'll hurt yourself." Romulus said with a laugh.
000
They had reached the palace late in the evening, and were unloaded from the carriage just as another pulled up next to them. Gilbert hopped out holding several books. He spotted Ludwig and the others and nearly dropped the books.
"Oi, Lud what are you doing here?"
"You mean you had nothing to do with it?" Ludwig asked
"Nah. I've been out of the palace for a few weeks. Left right after the wedding. Got all kinds of bloodline shit for Toni, you know. The king. He said he knew he was related to Adam. He totally is. But he's also related to almost every other Royal family." Gilbert said "The Charming brothers, Prince Phillip and Aurora. He's got more royal blood then the last couple of Kings. And most of it is direct relation."
"Very good." Ludwig said. "Look, we're gonna go do this thing with the king."
"Yeah yeah. I'll be doing work making a family tree. Have fun. Also watch out for the Queen. Got a real nasty temper..."
Ludwig nodded before gathering up his family, taking Angelina from Feliciano and held her up. The five of them were lead into the main hall of the castle. It had recently been under construction, and now looked good as new.
"Oh wow!" Feliciano said "It's so pretty."
"That's the work of the Queen." A male said coming from a side door. He was average height with blond hair and glasses. "Eduard von Bock, we have corresponded."
"Ah yes, Ludwig Beilschmidt and my husband Feliciano Beilschmidt. Our daughter Angelina, my brother in law Marcello and grandfather Romulus Vargas"
"A pleasure." Eduard said "Now, your bags are being taken to your rooms, and the King and Queen have been made of your arrival and request that you come with me to one of the offices." He said and lead the way through the castle.
He showed them to a room with a few couches around a fireplace that was lit. "please wait here." And he disappeared out into the hall.
They all sat down, laying Angelina on a small chair. They waited in silence for a few minutes until a door opened on the other side of the room. A man came in, one to be assumed was the king.
"Hello." He said with a smile, charming green eyes shining. "Feliciano Vargas?" He asked spotting Feli. "You look like you could be him."
"Yes." Feli said standing and giving a bow.
"Please, don't bow. My name is Antonio, and I've contacted you because... Ah well... It's a little hard to explain, please let me get my husband- thats a very interesting hood." Antonio said. Feli was wearing a green and Marcello in white.
"Oh. Yes, our mother made them for us. There are only three, one green, white and-"
"Red." Antonio finished.
"How did you..." Feli started but stopped when the door opened again. Romulus and Marcello both stood up. Ludwig looked between them all and looked at the man in the doorway and understood.
"Because he's seen." Lovino said, hugging the hood on her shoulders closer.
"Lovino..." Feliciano whispered, tears in his eyes.