Lovino sat in his bed and looked at the ceiling. In his hands he held a book that was worn with age. It was thick with a leather cover. This book was his greatest treasure. Given to him by one with the most knowledge of his kind. The book had been handed down for generations and knew information learned was always added.

He opened the thick binding to a blank page. He ran his hand across the paper gently. He grabbed a quill from his desk and dipped it in ink. Carefully, so that he did not let the ink to drip, he began to write his own findings.

Gilbert stood in the castle's dressing room with his tailor. An impatient and bored expression on his face. He had been in the same room for five hours. It was quite boring. "Please tell me that you are almost done sewing this outfit for tonight Roderich."

Said man looked up at him with a huff. He pushed up his glasses and rolled his violet eyes. "Gilbert you have to look your very best today. I will not allow you to meet your brother's intended looking like a slob."

"I believe that is Price Gilbert to you," He teased.

"As if. I have known you since we were children. And you are still a thorn in my side as always." He worked on getting the silver pendant with their family crest fitted onto the collar of Gilbert's new jacket.

"You're just mad that I stole your first kiss."

Roderich frowned with a tsk. "I am not mad about it now. But I was for quite a long time." The brown haired man had remembered how embarrassed he had been. He wanted his first kiss to be with his one and only love. But the girl had more of an interest in fighting than boys.

Gilbert had also remembered the kiss. He had always had a crush on the man. But he knew that he had eyes on his female friend and partner in crime. So, he wanted a kiss at the very least. He had never told Roderich that. "You got the girl of your dreams in the end though."

"Indeed. It seems that even Ludwig has found someone he wants to be with. But you are still just fooling around I assume?" He gave him a questioning glance as the put the finishing touches on the jacket cuffs.

"I may have found someone who has caught my interest. But I would not say I want to be with said person just yet. I have only known him for a week. Though we have met up each night I am unsure about him."

The violet eyed man put away his sewing supplies as he was finished with the newly tailored suit. "I am surprised you have not jumped at him yet. What is stopping you?"

Gilbert looked in the mirror. The suit was all white with gray lines following along the borders of the jacket. It was adorned with silver rose buttons and cufflinks. The top was a simple black button up with a wine red tie to go with it. He had to admit that it looked good on him.

"I do not really know what is stopping me. I know that he wants me. I mean who does not want a piece of me?" he joked slightly. "He is mysterious. I do not know all that much about him. And I feel that he is hiding something. Something big and dark."

"Do not think on it too much. You have more important matters that deserve your worry. Perhaps you just need to get to know more about him. Have you invited him to tonight's dinner?"

Gilbert nodded. "I have. I thought it only fair since Ludwig had invited his lover."

"Good. I am going to be entertaining your guests with my piano arrangements tonight. I will see what I think about him. You know how good I am at judging someone's character."

Gilbert grinned and patted Roderich's back. "Thanks! Even though you are a stuffy aristocrat I can always count on you."

The brown haired noble huffed and crossed his arms. "Still charming as ever. But yes, I will not let you down." He left the room to make sure that all of the dinner preparations were being put together.

Dinner was laid out on the large table. It was enough to feed three families, but it would only be feeding the brother's, their lovers and some of the noblemen who were very important to the success of the kingdom.

There was tortilla lasagna, stuffed paccheri, an avocado citrus salad, baked salmon filet and brown sugar bourbon glazed ham. For dessert they had laid out servings of vanilla bean panna cotta with strawberry rhubarb compote and tiramisu ice cream cake. All of this was paired only with the finest of wines. Ludwig would have to give Francis his praise later on. When he had been told by his elder brother to hire the flirty man he had his doubts. But he was an amazing chef.

Ludwig and Gilbert greeted each noble as they were let in. There nine men and five women in total. They were each seated by one the many servants. The last two to arrive were the guests of honor, Dimitri and Lovino. They royal brother's greeted the two with kisses on their hands as they lead them to their seats. Each was seated to their respective lover's left.

The servants began to get servings of each dinner item for the guests plated. Ludwig stood before the table as the guests were served their wine. "Good day my fellow people. I welcome you on this night to enjoy a lovely meal in my castle. Tonight is a night I wish to celebrate. I have found someone important to me. His name is Dimitri and he is of commoner status." Someone went to object his words, but Ludwig raised a hand to silence them. "I know that is not accepted by you nobles of MY land. So, I wish for you not to worry. An heir will be born to this kingdom. I have spoken with my lover and a noble women will be chosen to birth me a child to name the heir of the throne. But what I do with my personal life is my own choice. Any objections?"

He looked around at each face and saw no one interrupt. He knew that as long as he produced a proper heir to the throne then he would not have to worry about the nobles trying to bring down the kingdom. Now the only worries he would have would be all of the noblemen's daughters that would be thrown to him.

"Do we get an introduction of your brother's lover?" a man asked.

"Is he also a commoner?" one of the women sneered.

Gilbert rolled his eyes. Ludwig gave him a look that said to just get it done and over with. He stood up and gave a disgusted look to the noble guests. "The way you judge others disgusts me." There were gasps of shock from the guests, a chuckle from Lovino and a sigh from his brother. "But as for an introduction I guess I can do that. This sexy beast right here is my lover. His name is Lovino. He is of noble status just as the rest of you snobs. Only he does not have a stick up his high and mighty ass." He smirked and took his seat.

The guests began to complain about his foul mouth. Asking for the king to do something to punish him for speaking so rudely in their presence. He asked them all to kindly ignore his foolish behavior and to enjoy the food. He would deal with the matter later. Though they were not happy they listened to their king's words. It seemed he too did not like how his brother spoke. In reality he also did not like the way the nobles judged. But he could not speak out like his brother.

"That was very impressive," Lovino said to Gilbert. "Though I was not aware that we were lovers. I do remember saying I had no time for such things." He took a bite of the stuffed paccheri. It was very delicious.

Gilbert smirked as he took a drink of his wine. He took a finger and traced random patterns on the amber eyed man's arm. "I also remember me stating that I get whatever I want. And that what I wanted was you. By the way, for all the time you do not have . . . you are have been spending a lot of it with me."

Lovino blushed bright red. He wanted to move his arm, but he could see the nobles looking over at them. He did not want to ruin Gilbert's wonderful performance. "I am only doing such things to make you stronger."

"Yes. Physical contact with you makes me stronger. Then shall I take even more strength from you, my lover?" Before Lovino could ask what he meant he found those soft lips on his once again. He had not felt them since the very first time a week ago. His heart skipped a beat as he pressed his lips back into the kiss.

They pulled back as they heard a noble man clear their throat. Gilbert looked at them with a glare and flicked them off. "We shall continue in my chambers. That is to say if you are not scared." Pink eyes held a playful sparkle in them.

Amber eyes glared. "I am not scared! I simply do not wish for you to get attached to me!" he shouted quietly through clenched teeth. He stabbed his fork into his food. He was clearly flustered and Gilbert knew it.

"You should not worry about that Lovi. If there is anyone you should worry about it should be yourself. If anyone is going to get attached it is going to be you," the prince said. His voice perfectly calm as he talked. For he felt the words to hold true.

As Roderich played his musical pieces for the guest's entertainment he watched Gilbert and Lovino closely. He could tell that there was defiantly mysterious about the amber eyed man. But he could sense no ill intentions from the man. He sensed no evil coming from him. If anything all he saw was worry and power.

The worry he could sense from the male was purely worry for Gilbert. He could see it in the way he treated the man. He also held worry for himself. He watched as the two kissed. It was obvious that Gilbert was playing the man. Lovino seemed to know this as well, but even so he was still falling into the albino's arms easily. He honestly hoped that the prince would not end up hurting the other. For he could sense great power coming from him. And who knows what he would use that power for when faced with rejection and a broken heart. Love made you do crazy things after all.

Gilbert stood and held out his hand to his lover. Roderich could not tell what words were spoken, but he saw the brown haired man shake his head in refusal. He saw a dark grin come onto the pale face and pink eyes become red. Lovino immediately stood and took his hand.

Roderich was taken aback. Surely he had to have been seeing things. His eyes had to have been playing tricks on him. It must have been the lighting that seemed to make those pale pink eyes turn bright red. But Roderich could not get rid of the sinking feeling in his gut. The feeling that something was wrong with Gilbert.

Roderich watched as the two left the dining room. Lovino looked back as they reached the door and his eyes met with Roderich's. They held that same look of worry. There was now fear in those eyes as well as a bit of lust and pride. When the pair disappeared Roderich thought for just a moment that maybe what he saw was real.