Feliciano was woken up with a start by all the knocking on the door. He looked up and saw Elizabeta being woken up with a start as well before heading to the door and opening it up, seeing a rather peeved Natalya staring at them with a look that scared him.

"Y-yes?"

"Someone's at the door, and I haven't taken my medication yet." Natalya glared. "And we know what happens when I don't."

"R-right…I'll be there in a minute…"

Feliciano quickly walked past her and headed downstairs to the lobby, slowly opening the door before opening it in full. It was the mailman, not bothering to ask where Francine was before handing him the mail and leaving him. Feliciano could only blink in confusion before turning to the mail in his hands; one of them had his name on it. He quickly snuck it into his apron.

"Feli~~~~! Who was that?"

"It was the mailman, ma'am." He answered, turning around. "Letters to you."

"Ooooh, this must be that wonderful Romulus man that I was wanting to talk to!" She took the mail from him. "Do us a favor and make us some breakfast."

"Y-yes ma'am."

/=+=/

Feliciano,

I hope that this letter reaches you. If so, then I know how I can contact you. My father was glad when I told you that you were alive; in fact he wanted to personally come and meet you himself. I had to convince him not to: I personally cannot find myself to trust your new master Francine. Maybe it was because she used to ally with the former king…

My apologies. I just fear for you working for that woman. If she was that strict to you in front of me, god knows how bad she is without wandering eyes to find the truth. If you don't want to leave that place, I cannot convince you otherwise, yet I cannot help but fear for your safety. If you ever feel like you're in danger, do not hesitate to send me a message. I will do everything in your power to protect you and get you out of that manor, and don't worry…I'll be sure to bring Elizabeta with us as well. She is a nice individual, and I want to help all of your friends.

Feliciano, I hope you can respond as quick as possible. I can't help but be worried for you, but I'm glad that…nevermind. I hope life is kind to you.

Ludwig

/=+=/

Feliciano couldn't help but chuckle at Ludwig's concern as he was making the breakfast for everyone, immediately hiding the letter back into his apron. He was cracking the eggs with a hum underneath his breath, not helping but think about the times where he was meeting up with the young friend on the castle grounds. He'll write back tonight…

"You look happy today."

He jumped and turned around, seeing Elizabeta staring back at him with a smile on her face. He quietly smiled and started working on the breakfast, trying not to look too happy for his own good.

"I just had a dream about Ludwig last night…"

"Ohhh? Was it good?"

"Y-yes." Feliciano was taken aback. "Just good times, when we were only children…"

"Do you…want to go back to him?"

"V-ve?"

"If you two are such good friends…"

"…I don't want you to be the only one here…"

"Don't worry about me. Seriously, do you ever worry about yourself?"

"I-I don't have to…everyone worries for me, so…"

"Feli…you're too nice, you know that?"

"N-no I'm not…"

Feliciano could only blush as he finally finished the eggs and went forward with the bacon. For some reason, all he could find himself doing was laughing quietly at how he would sometimes say it to Ludwig. Maybe life does go around and provide echoes of the past…

"The mistress wants me to work on the stables again." Elizabeta smiled. "After you serve the breakfast, you want to ignore what else they want you to do and help me with the horses?"

"T-that would be nice, I guess. I haven't seen Harriet in so long…"

"All right! Now you better hurry up…you can't keep the mistress waiting."

"Y-yeah."

/=+=/

Elizabeta was nice enough to deliver the breakfast for the other two, leaving Feliciano to have to deliver to the mistress herself. If anything, he would give anything never to confront her ever again, but alas this is what he was bought to do. If only Elizabeta was with him…

"You may come in, Feliciano."

He cringed, but fortunately the door was closed. He quietly opened the door and saw Francine sitting on her bed, petting her cat in that creepy form and waiting for her breakfast to come to her. Feliciano had to keep himself from swallowing his courage as he quietly placed the tray in front of her.

"On time as always."

"Of course, madam." He bowed quietly, turning around to leave.

"Ah."

"Y-yes?"

"I wanted to talk to you about yesterday."

He cringed.

"I want to know everything that the general was talking to you about."

"H-he was just telling me about what he wanted…"

"Cut the crap. I know you're lying, and you know it too."

"…" He really couldn't lie this time. "We were…talking about our childhood."

"Your…childhood?"

"Um…we were friends…a long time ago. I was his servant once…"

"Oh…I guess he sold you because of how horrible you were to him?"

"N-no!"

"Don't lie to me. You were a horrible servant when I first got you, and it if hadn't been for me you would still be a horrible servant." Francine grinned at him. "Was he telling you how much better his life was without you?"

"N-no…"

"You're lying, aren't you?"

I'm not…I'm really not…

"Poor Feliciano. Not used to the world telling him how much of a waste he is." She leaned forward. "You're just another pile of flesh and blood living under my command. Don't you ever forget that."

"…yes, ma'am."

"The windows need a bit of cleaning up. I can't see the sun from here." She leaned back. "Clean them again, will you?"

"…yes, ma'am…"

Feliciano quickly walked out of the room, hoping that she wouldn't see the tears falling from his eyes. From the chuckle he heard, he had failed at doing that.