The next week went by uneventful. Feliciano and Ludwig hadn't bumped into each other, as he was forced to escort Francine and her family around after leaving them in the throne room. Elizabeta would have wondered about it if it had not left her alone to wander around on her own merits. She had been deemed a noble already despite her poor origins, and not one of them knows her true name. It was the time of her life, really.
On the other hand, Feliciano was being bombarded with women. He could not find himself being alone for half a second without another girl hounding on him. He had to admit that it did feel a bit weird: he never had so much attention centered on him before. What's worse is that the girls were actually kind of cute, and he had no idea how to react to them.
That translates to "he felt no attraction to them".
When he was with Gilbert during one of his alone times, he had mentioned that there is a chance that he would find the one girl that will make him complete in this place. Feliciano had no idea what it meant, but to Gilbert it translated to "a war feeling in the chest" and "the burning sensation of the cheeks". To Feliciano, it sounded like the girl was going to set him on fire. That didn't sound very pleasant. Nonetheless, he felt terrified around the women for the rest of the week.
It was the middle of the night where he finally had the time to get away from it all. He was on the second floor of the guest manor, watching the party from the outside of the second story window and grateful that he finally had a moment to himself. Feliciano could barely see himself in the reflection, hidden by the lights of the building and the torches in the gardens, and he couldn't help but wonder if he was just weirder than everyone else…not being attracted to women and all.
It's weird…maybe I have a different image in attractive women? He blinked. But Elizabeta is different from those girls, and I don't like her…
He stared at the image in the window, thinking for a few minutes, when he realized that another image had appeared behind him. Feliciano almost screamed and turned around, sighing when he realized that it was only Ludwig, staring at him in confusion at what he was looking at.
"Is something wrong?" Ludwig asked.
"No…not really…" Feliciano answered, nodding. "I'm just happy that I have a break."
"A break? From what?"
"A lot of girls at the party think I'm cute…" He blushed. "I don't really know how to handle all their attention…"
"No?"
"Well, the last time I was around a lot of girls, they were telling me what to do…" He blinked. "I never really had a conversation with anyone beside Elizabeta…"
"Not even me?"
"I-I mean female wise."
"Oh. That does seem weird for me to understand…you're surrounded by women."
"I don't get it either." Feliciano turned his head away. "But I just go with it. If it hadn't been for your brother, I wouldn't know how to handle them."
"Mein bruder...? Really…?" Ludwig had to rub his forehead. "Him?"
"Ve? What's wrong with him?"
"…nothing, I guess." He sighed. "I mean, he is a good person…"
"That was actually something I want to ask you." Feliciano blinked. "Why aren't you going to be king? You're the son of the current king, and…well, Gilbert is…"
"Yes, Gilbert is the son of the exiled king, and I had wondered why my father allowed him to stay…but I'm a little glad that he didn't leave." Ludwig smiled. "He is a much better future king than I'll ever be."
"Eh? He is?"
"You don't really know it, but once he ascends the throne, you'll understand." The prince smiled. "He is nothing like the former dictator…"
"That's good…"
Feliciano found himself shivering at the thought of another one like him. He had seen the cruel king before, in all his glory. He really was a scary man, especially when he was on his bad side. All Feliciano could do was rub his cheek, remembering the pain that used to be there…
He felt light fingertips on his hand, and he paused, looking up to see a concerned Ludwig staring back at him. Feliciano had never seen Ludwig so concerned before, and for some reason it made him look older than usual…almost like that of a kingly age. Why was his face burning up…?
"…Gilbert…"
"Hm?"
"…Gilbert mentioned that you were looking for me for a long time…" He blinked. "Is that true?"
"Of course it's true." Ludwig answered. "You were one of the few friends that I ever had…I was destroyed when I lost you."
His chest is feeling warm…
"I didn't get it either when I thought about it…but back then it was the only reason why I wanted to be in the army. They were the only people allowed out of the kingdom." Ludwig looked out of the window. "I just wanted to know that you were alive, and safe…"
"Well…I was…" Feliciano looked down. "Just with that family until you came around…"
Ludwig stared at him in confusion. Feliciano did not sound convincing with that statement, but he didn't bother to question it. Instead, he allowed himself to stare at the smaller man who was wondering why he was staring back at him with watering eyes.
"You need to sleep. You look tired."
"Ve? Oh, all right." He blushed. "I'll see you tomorrow then?"
"Of course. I'll look for you."
Ludwig's hand lowered as he turned and walked away, leaving Feliciano to stand away staring at him, holding the hand that he had touched. His whole body seemed to increase in temperature: burning cheeks, shaking chest, twitching fingertips…
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"UWAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! I'm on fiiiiirrreeee!"
Feliciano turned around and ran to his room, unaware that Arthur had been listening the entire time. He clenched his fists before vanishing into the air.
/=+=/
Man, I wanted to update this so badly. Not because it had been a while, but because I accidentally watched a documentary about the infamous "Westborough Baptist Church". It is hate-filled messages like theirs that make me write these stories filled with homosexual relationships. Seriously, a man can love a woman, but a man can't love another man the same way? Apparently only a certain kind of love is accepted in these parts.
I would mention the whole "if we accept the marriage between two men, then people will start marrying their dogs" argument, but seeing as how there's already a marriage between men and rocks and dolphins, I find it moot to mention.