"Don't say anything stupid," Ivan ordered the man beside him.
The thick door opened to reveal Matthew in tattered, dirty clothes. His face still looked terrible, but not any worse than it was earlier that day.
He invited them in with a clearly confused face.
Antonio winked at Matthew and Ivan elbowed him.
The boy bowed and kindly excused himself to retrieve his step-father, or as Matthew put it, "the master of the house".
Reagan greeted them with refinement and elegance.
"Do you men have a preference for tea?"
"No, sir," Ivan spoke before Antonio could.
"Chamomile and biscuits." With a flick of his wrist, Matthew scurried out of the room to prepare the things that were asked for.
"May we ask who that was?" Ivan almost glared a hole into the man's head beside him. It was such a stupid question and he really didn't want to dig him out of it.
"Only a servant. Why do you ask?"
"We are surveying the number of residents in the land. Does he live here?"
"Yes. We have reserved a space in the attic for the boy."
"I see. How kind of you." Antonio smiled at the man. It was strained but without knowing his usual face-splitting grin, the step-father would have no idea.
For most of the night, Reagan kept the conversation going, eventually inviting his boys down to greet the visitors. Ivan held in a sigh as he remembered the ruckus the two made at the previous night when Gilbert had first left the ballroom.
Matthew skirted in and out when he was called for after delivering his original platter. He never stayed far away.
At some point, Reagan had even told him to fetch his violin to play as background music for them and chastising him when it took a bit too long, albeit in the other room.
Matthew's skills were nothing to belittle. He had talent even if the boys on the couch across from them said otherwise. The songs he played were soothing and contrasted greatly with the boys loud and obnoxious behavior although that was no fault to him. It even helped Ivan calm down in the presence of the others. He could tell the same went for Antonio.
Matthew was the one to let them out. He was also the only one who thanked them for coming to visit them.
"I really enjoyed your company. Please come again and have a wonderful night."
Ivan wondered if Matthew would be able to wake up as early as four o'clock seeing it was only three hours away. It occurred to him that the boy probably wouldn't sleep as they were currently obstructing his chore time.
Ivan knew he wouldn't be able to wake up in the morning after this. He'd have to sleep for a full night before his headache subsided.
"Well, that went …" Antonio trailed off, unable to find the words and Ivan didn't know what to say either. "How did it go?"
"I'm not really sure."
It made them both very uncomfortable. Reagan had seemed gentlemanly enough. The boys were rowdy and a bit cruel, but they were also teenagers.
"They seemed so normal." Ivan nodded, agreeing with Antonio's comment. "It's like they overlooked the bruises on his face and his clothing. And he just said the boy stayed in the attic like it was nothing."
The two looked up at the house. It was common for a house to not have an insulated attic. They could imagine cold nights.
In the window, they saw movement. Matthew stood looking out at them, waving with a smile. The candle illuminated his face, although it wasn't as haunting as one would expect. The flame cast a pleasant light that seemed to highlight the boy's warmth. He put a finger to his lips as if to say 'be quiet'. Then, he pointed at something, thought for a moment and tried to act something out.
"He's pretending as if he's riding on a horse." Ivan nodded, seeing it.
Antonio nodded, trying to make the movement big enough to see from the attic but not so big as anyone else in the house would have known it was directed at the boy.
His smile grew bigger as he laid his head on his hand and pointed again.
They both nodded. His room may have been the attic but he slept in the stables.
"It's probably warmer there, especially with a horse's blanket."
"I'll tell Gilbert to look there first tomorrow morning if Matthew misses their meeting."
The two waved goodbye to the boy who waved back as the candle's light faded from view.
They turned around, mounted their horses, and rode back towards the castle, eager to get sleep.
"Who do you think could watch Gilbert tomorrow?"
"Only you, amigo. No one else would dare."
Ivan nodded. He'd have to get up early. He had a feeling that the day this whole mess was over, he'd sleep for at least three days after, if not more.
Gilbert woke up on time, mostly due to an aggravated Ivan pushing him off his bed.
"I suppose you didn't get much sleep?"
Ivan simply held up two fingers indicating his two hours of sleep. "I hate you."
Gilbert wanted to laugh, but new the other probably had a headache and was mad enough as it was so he opted for a sly smile.
He quickly got dressed and they departed.
When Matthew didn't come to the door, Ivan directed him towards the stables, explaining the trouble they had getting that information the night prior, or rather, that morning.
And so, Gilbert leaped over the stone fence and went into the building. There, he found only one of the horse stalls full. In it, a horse was laying down, sleeping with a gently snoring Birdie curled beside him.
The hay stuck in his hair only went to show how adorable the boy was. He had a blanket wrapped around him.
The horse was easily awakened and looked up to Gilbert.
He let the being sniff his hand before it nudged Matthew awake.
Gilbert was then blessed with the most captivating scene he had the opportunity to ever behold as Matthew yawned, turned over and curled back up all while a free hand gently pushed the horse's snout away.
He allowed himself to laugh a little, although not enough to wake up those inside the house.
Knowing the boy had a long night, he thought it would be best for him to sleep. Gilbert decided to sit down, careful not to land in any droppings. He pet the horse's nose until it rested its head in his lap.
He sat there for the next to hours before Matthew practically jumped up and ran.
A second later, he was back inside with a blush on his face.
"Sorry, I didn't see you there. And I slept past the time we were supposed to meet. Reagan wakes up in an hour and I've got to prepare his breakfast."
Gilbert stood and walked over the Matthew, fixing his hair and clearing the straw from it. "May I join you in the kitchen then?"
The boy nodded and he followed him through a backdoor that led directly into the old house.
"How was last night?"
"I had no clue they were coming."
The two whispered because Matthew insisted as to not wake his family.
"I got to play my violin. That was nice."
"I'd love to hear you play sometime. Ivan said you sounded angelic on it. I'm sure Roderich would be impressed."
Matthew smiled and blushed a little. "They were in a good mood too. It was really a very nice evening. I had even gotten a compliment on the dinner I prepared."
"I'm sure you cook well too. Did you make the biscuits? Antonio loved them."
Matthew nodded. "They are my father's recipe. It was pretty much the only thing he could cook." He laughed a little. The sound still filled Gilbert with a pleasant feeling.
After talking a bit more, Matthew interrupted after glancing towards the clock. "It's almost time for me to wake Reagan up. You need to leave." His smile was replaced by a frown.
Gilbert gave the boy a hug before Matthew scurried off into the house.
Once out of the house himself, he tried so hard not to laugh at his guard who was currently sleeping on the ground.
He gave Ivan a playful kick to the stomach which was met with him being tripped while walking away.
They got on their horses and rode back to the castle, Gilbert reporting the things he learned about Matthew. Ivan would have used the word 'gushed'.
The rest of the day was normal. They went to town again to talk to Feli and Lovi to keep them updated.
Again, he went to bed early, and this time Ivan did as well.
The next few days continued like this.
Matthew would always be the one to say it was time to go, but he always waited until the last second and Gilbert would always give him a hug, and sometimes a small kiss on the forehead, before leaving.
The next morning, Matthew was up by the time they got there. He brought out scrambled eggs for them to eat. At some point, Matthew and Gilbert wandered into the stables again.
"Birdie," Gilbert started. He wasn't really sure he should finish his sentence, but the boy encouraged him to continue speaking. "I don't think your family is good for you. I know you love them, but they hurt you."
Matthew looked down. "They're family. I promised to take care of them. I promised my parents."
"From the stories you've told me about your parents, I don't think they'd want you being hurt like you are now. Your step-family, did they treat you like this when your father was around?"
Matthew shook his head.
"If he knew this would happen, I can promise you he wouldn't have had you make that promise."
"I think you met him once." It was off topic and Gilbert was kind of glad it was. "He asked you for a dipper of water. You were with someone and talked with him for a while. He said you seemed very kind."
"I remember him, I think. Did he have huge eyebrows?"
Matthew laughed a bit. "And a funny accent."
"He definitely made an impression. A man like that, he loved you so much. He wanted the best for you. This isn't the best. I'm not saying that I could provide that either, but I'd like to try."
"Can I think about it?"
"Of course."
They started on another subject until again, Gilbert had to leave.
Again, it continued for a couple more days. Neither said anything about leaving.
Matthew had just finished cleaning up dinner when Reagan walked into the kitchen.
He found himself cowering just a little over the sink. Carelessly, he found himself speaking.
"What is your favorite memory of my father?"
Without skipping a beat, Reagan answered, "When he left."
Matthew's legs gave out as the man continued speaking.
"Arthur was a weak man. He spoiled you rotten. Filled your head with nonsense ideas. It was a good thing he died when he did otherwise you would have never turned out as you did."
Reagan gave a swift kick to his side by Matthew felt nothing. He was too distracted by the news.
His father was a strong man. Any person who willingly went on those trips had to be. At first, his papa's death made him mourn but only a strong man would ever let something have such an impact on his life.
They filled his head with wonders and ideas and Matthew knew for certain that what they told him was not nonsense. It was filled with wanting and dreaming for his son to grow up to be better than him like any parent would.
His father loved him.
This man, whose back was turned as he walked out of the kitchen, he did not love him. Matthew even wondered if the man had any more than hate for him.
And now, someone, a prince no-less, came every morning offering Matthew a way out.
He sniveled and decided he needed to think. Running to the attic, he grabbed his violin and a box he had hidden and went to the stables. There, he took out each object, one by one.
The rose and glove from two weeks ago and the man that came with them.
He took out the letter his father had sent him, rereading it over and over.
His journal, he read it multiple times as well. There were only a few entries.
He found dried lavender and thought of his papa, all those years ago, planting them in the garden. He thought of the laughter and joy he saw on his father's face and realized that nothing came close to that moment. It was pure and golden.
At that time, it felt as if two hands were on his back, supporting him and pushing him to do what he thought was best.
In the bottom was a blanket. It was the one the doctors had swaddled him in when he first arrived. He thought of his mother, father, and brother, only one of which he knew.
The items laid in a semi-circle around him. He opened his violin case and began playing, slowly drawing the bow across the strings to create a sweet song.
And that's were Gilbert found him in the morning. Still performing in front of an audience created by his memories. Still watching his parents dance and his brother smile.
The prince didn't interrupt, just sat and watched him play, listening to the music and watching the emotions pass over the boy's face.
After an hour or so, Matthew spoke. "I want to leave."
He was still playing and it came out in a mumble but Gilbert heard him loud and clear.
"Now?"
The boy in front of him nodded, finishing his song. He didn't move. He looked generally disconnected until a pair of violet eyes met red.
Gilbert kneeled down and hugged him, smoothing his hair and whispering calming words into his ears. He helped Matthew pick up each item and put it into the box, letting him explain the memory that each one held with it.
Matthew insisted on carrying the box as Gilbert hoisted him onto Kuma. They walked out together and the white-haired man mounted his own horse, Ivan already on his.
They went out together. Towards the distance.
And, for once, Matthew felt he had nothing to fear.
Hi!
I have one more chapter so please stay tuned! I'll have it up in a couple of hours!
Thank you so much for reading! Have a wonderful day!