I woke to the sun hitting my face. I stretched and got out of bed. Then I remembered last night. I quickly got back in bed. A few minutes later I heard my door open. I waited to hear Abelard's voice but instead I felt my bed gain more weight. That's weird. It moved all the way up to me and I felt my covers lifted and a minute later be put back down. I opened my eyes to come face to face with the Prince. I smiled at him.
"Well, hello there."
"Is it okay if I stay here?" He asked, blushing. "I just know Dad's going to hear about last night from Uncle Henry." I nodded.
"Yeah. It's fine." I wrapped an arm around him. "I'll keep you safe for as long as I can." He smiled.
"Thank you Gilbert. You're my best friend." I nodded before closing my eyes again. I'd almost drifted back to sleep again when I heard my door open again. I didn't pay attention to it and almost drifted off until I heard Fritz' voice.
"Gilbert, have you seen-…" He must have seen his son under my arm. I almost drifted off to sleep again he staid quiet so long. "Are you two night owls? Wake up." He ordered. Prince Frederick was the first to move. I moved when he got off the bed. "Did you two fall asleep in the same bed?" He asked.
"Well, no. No we didn't. I couldn't sleep so I came to sleep with Gilbert." I nodded.
"He's telling the truth boss." I replied.
"Might it be because of apprehension of the coming morning?" Damn. Straight to the point, this guy is. He's terrifying that way sometimes.
"What are you talking about?" Frederick asked, sounding honestly curious.
"You and Gilbert left the castle last night. You didn't come back until two in the morning."
"Um… well… Gilbert?"
"I would like a chance to explain the situation from my point of view, Your Majesty Fritz." I said. He nodded.
"As long as your honest."
"Well in that case, Frederick should go first."
"What are you two hiding?" I blushed.
"Why would I have any reason to hide something from you? I've ne-ver had cause to do so!" I almost said I had never done it. That would be lying to him and I would be in more trouble than I am. I looked at Frederick. "Are you going to tell him?"
"Um. Well Dad, it's like this… we left the palace."
"To go to a party perhaps?" This time he blushed.
"Um. Yeah. That." He nodded.
"Frederick, tell your story first. I have a feeling you were the general in this mischief." Frederick turned to me, a plead for help in his yes.
"Gilbert-"
"No getting help from Gilbert, I want your side of the story."
"M-my side of the story?" He asked, blushing. He unconsciously hid himself behind me. I could tell because his eyes showed nothing but fear, as if he were being set upon by a whole army from Prussia on his own.
"Did I stutter? Yes I want your side of it." I just want to disappear. Fritz may not seem like it but I've been here too long. He's furious.
"You better just tell him. The longer you draw it out, the worse it might get. Just be honest." I whispered.
"Gilbert! Don't help him. That's an order." I ducked my head as I blushed even more. I couldn't help my friend out this time. The Prince mumbled at first. He cleared his throat and his first sentence came out as a squeak. He seemed to gather some courage before he continued in a normal voice, with a tint of fear. I don't blame him. I wonder if I pretend I don't exist that I won't have to face judgement. That is an awesome thought compared to this predicament I'd gotten myself into.
"My friends were throwing a party with music and drinks. Beer. I decided I would go because my friends begged me to go. I couldn't say no to them. We had a great time dancing and drinking until Henry showed up and then he berated us for what we were doing and how we were probably 'disobeying' our parents. He forced them to go home before he turned on me to know where Gilbert was. I told him I didn't know because I didn't. Then he led me around town, trying to find him."
"I'm so sorry." I told him.
"Okay. Gilbert, I want your side of the story now." I nodded.
"Well the Awesome Me had left the Prussian Prince to enjoy his party. I went to one of the many bars in the city, I was awesome and remembered I wasn't supposed to leave Prussia, and I staid there and I got awesome juice and drank quite a lot and then the Awesome Me decided I was bored and started a fight with the toughest looking guy in the bar. When the Awesome Me won, of course, those losers made a game of trying to see who could beat me. The Awesome Me won every time. I will never let His Majesty Fritz down! Never!" I cheered, throwing my fist in the air, completely forgetting I was in trouble in the first place. "I am awesome!" I threw my other fist in the air.
"Gilbert!" Fritz scolded. "I don't approve of you throwing fights in the bar. They are silly and foolish." I grinned.
"Yes they are!" I cheered. "You are always right!" I heard Frederick chuckling.
"Tell me, Gilbert, how did Frederick get you to take him to the party?"
"I offered of course. Oh. Wait. I mean…" Shit. I backed up onto my pillows and into the corner of my bed.
"I know exactly what you mean Gilbert. I suppose I was wrong then. Frederick, I apologize for making assumptions. The two of you will follow me." Frederick whined and backed up himself. "Now." Fritz ordered.
"Dad, I'm sorry. Please don't. I don't need a spanking, I know what I did was wrong." Frederick said, frowning, pleading with His Majesty. His Majesty wasn't convinced.
"I expect you two to obey me." I nodded.
"Yes sir." I replied, despite not making a move to do so. I knew he expected that, and I accepted that he expected that, I mean he's the King of Prussia!
"What part of my grounding you didn't you understand Gilbert?"
"I understood all of it! I know I'm not supposed to leave Prussia."
"No, you are not allowed to leave the castle grounds. This is the third time you snuck out. How did you do it this time?"
"Through the garden, Dad."
"I pushed him so he could climb the wall. I followed after him Fritz."
"You two will follow me. Stand up." He ordered. I didn't dare move. I knew what would be awaiting me. Frederick shook his head.
"Dad, please, reconsider. Can't I just have harder training or something?" Idiot. Fritz doesn't do that.
"One." Shit! He's counting. I gulped and Frederick scooted so far back he was touching me. "Two. If I get to three, there will be two very sorry little boys I know." I quickly jumped out of the corner, onto the bed, and onto the floor. I quickly approached Fritz, but not too close that he might grab my ear. Frederick scurried after me.
Fritz headed out of my room. I stood rooted to the spot but when Frederick took the lead I followed after him and stood between him and His Majesty. I saw some of the others watch us following Fritz, clearly curious about what was happening. I glared at them and a few of them didn't look away. For instance, Abelard and Prince Henry.
We reached his chambers and then his bedroom and he opened the door and waited for us to enter. I entered first and Frederick quickly came in. Fritz walked in, closing his door. In hindsight, I should have guessed Fritz didn't approve of bar fights.
"Frederick, you will go first. I should expect better from you."
"What? He's just as old as me!" He complained.
"You are the Prince of Prussia. Therefore, you have more responsibility."
"That's not fair!" Fritz gave him a look and I saw Frederick blush and look away. "Sorry Dad."
"Gilbert, go stand in the corner." I didn't complain. I obeyed the King. "Frederick, come here."
"Fritz, you know, he does have a point. I don't see why he should be expected to be more responsible than I."
"You're supposed to be quiet in the corner Gilbert." Fritz ordered. I shut up instantly. For a second.
"But Fritz-"
"Gilbert, please. I'm losing my patience with you." I shut up this time. What Fritz wants, Fritz gets. I tried my best to ignore what was happening to the Prince. I knew he had a whipping boy but the only ones who use him to punish the Prince are his teacher and his mother. That said, I have one too. Only the Queen uses him though. Abelard doesn't, though he seemed to be thinking about it. Such a thing is astounding, considering how caring the Queen was. Not to mention how delicate she looked and acted most of the time.
At some point I was dragged out of my thoughts by His Majesty Fritz. "Gilbert." I gulped, looked at my feet and obeyed. I didn't want to look at him. "What did Henry mean by you being very disrespectful?" I looked up at him, surprised Henry said something. Not that he didn't say he wouldn't.
"I don't know sir." I replied.
"What did you say to him?"
"I promised I wouldn't tell." I replied. I knew better than to tell him what I had said. I'd be in so much trouble he probably wouldn't know what to do with me.
"Then we shall go ask him if you may." He had clearly had enough. He grabbed me by my ear but that instant, the door opened and Prince Henry came in.
"Your Majesty, the Queen wishes to know what color you would like for her new dress. Also, she requests she be given money to buy a unique dress in town."
"Perfect timing, Henry. I was wondering what this boy said to you last night."
"I told him that he'll never be as good as you! There! I said it." I said, yanking away from Fritz, to realize my temper had gotten the best of me. "I'm sorry Fritz." I quickly said, putting his hand back on my ear. However, of course, that didn't fix the way I had behaved. I knew from the look I was getting from the both of them. I looked away. I didn't know what to do.
"There was more to it than that. Can you not remember?" Henry asked.
"I know I called you a loser, I recall saying I don't have to listen to you, I recall… berating him." I cringed. "And I tried to intimidate him. It didn't work though." Fritz was shaking his head.
"He was right, that was very disrespectful of you. Henry, tell the Queen she should choose blue." Fritz said, dragging me by the ear to his desk that was in the room. "Frederick, go to your room and don't leave until I tell you to. Gilbert and I need to have a long talk." I blushed as I was bent over the desk.
I heard them both leave. I felt a smack land on my left cheek. I jumped more at the sudden feeling but the one that was delivered to my right cheek had me beginning to feel the pain of the spanking that was probably not even started yet.
"Gilbert, I am severely disappointed in you. It has not even been one day since you were disrespectful to Voltaire, you are disrespectful to Henry and I. You directly disobeyed me by leaving the castle grounds, you even offered to disobey, may you have or not thought of it that way. Then you start fighting in the bars? I think this maybe should have happened yesterday. You clearly need an attitude adjustment."
"Noo! Fritz! I'll be good! I promise!" I complained. 'Attitude adjustments' were always long and I usually wouldn't be able to sit for a week, at least not comfortably. I've only had them six times but still I had learned to fear them.
"I'm sorry Gilbert, but your behavior went from bad to worse in only two days. Tell me how you were disrespectful." He ordered. I shook my head. I didn't want an adjustment.
"Fritz, don't! I'll be good I promise! Just please don't." I begged. He only swatted my thigh.
"Answer me Gilbert." He said with a warning tone to his voice. I whined but I obeyed. I had no choice!
"I tried to intimidate Prince Henry. I won't ever do it again, just please don't." I begged, yelping with the swats he delivered.
"What were the other ways you were disrespectful to Henry?"
"I called him a loser, I'm sorry. I should have called him a jerk instead. OW! Frizzz." I cried, he'd swatted my sit spots hard, three times for that.
"You should not be calling anyone names, Gilbert. No names at all."
"But he's a jerk." I whined. "You told me to be honest and I am being honest."
"No, you're being disrespectful. Tell me more Gilbert."
"I was rude to Henry. I was a jerk right back at him." I heard Fritz sigh.
"Gilbert, I don't want your sass. I'll let it slide this time but keep in mind you should be respectful. How else were you disrespectful?"
"I cursed at Henry. I was rude to you. I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. I love you."
"I love you too, which is why I'm so disappointed in your behavior Gilbert. Now tell me how you disobeyed me."
"I left the grounds of the castle even though you told me not to. I'm sorry, please stop. It hurts!" I complained. He rubbed my back. I knew we weren't done though. This was just the beginning. Having me admit what I did wrong. It was going to get worse. I felt him reach under me and start undoing my belt. "Fritz!" I whined. "No!" I lifted myself from the desk to grab my belt, to try to prevent it from happening but he swatted my hands and I quickly took them back, rubbing where I'd been swatted.
"Keep your hands up there Gilbert. We're just getting started." I groaned and stomped my foot on the ground. He gave me a warning swat. I yelped, tears pooling in my eyes. I felt my pants drop to the ground and my belt was placed on the desk. I looked away from it. I didn't want to be thinking about belts right now. "What did you do at the bar that you know you weren't supposed to?" I shook my head but I received a swat to my sit spots.
"OWWW! I started a fight, just for the fun of it." I felt him tap something flat against my bottom. It was that damned paddle again! I bit my lip for the upcoming punishment. I didn't have to wait long.
"Correct. I don't appreciate your new attitude Gilbert. I don't want this disrespectful behavior to escalate anymore than it already has. This is why I have deemed it necessary to give you an attitude adjustment. May you think better of being disrespectful in the future. May you think better of being disobedient in the future as well." I stomped my foot again, I didn't want to be here!
"OWWW!" I bucked from the pain but he quickly had me back in position.
"Can you tell me why you should listen to me when I give you an order?" I gulped.
"Because you are the King. You are in charge of me and all of Prussia and it is your duty to keep us safe and disobeying you is only making your job harder than it has to be. Because you want to keep me safe and I should listen instead of fighting you. I'm sorry Fritz. I didn't mean for it to happen."
"Thank you Gilbert." He rubbed my back before going back to punishing me. I felt tears welling up almost to the point they were trying to escape. I clenched my eyes shut. "Tell me why you should be respecting Henry and I."
"I should be respecting you because I love you. Part of loving someone is respecting them. You have my best interest at heart and I should learn this, which I do know you love and want the best for me, and you deserve my respect. I'm sorry for disrespecting you my King. It won't happen again." Again he rubbed my back.
"Thank you Gilbert." Then he returned to punishing me. "What about Henry?" He asked. I didn't answer. Of course that only made me receive a swat to my sit spots and I yelped, reaching back to protect myself. Again he swatted my hands. I yanked my hands back, whimpering. He only swats my hands with his, never with an implement. "What about Henry?"
"The only reason I should respect him is because he is your brother." I replied. Wrong answer. I received ten smacks with the paddle. "AH! OW! OWCH! Fritz!" I whined. "Stooop, pleassse."
"Answer my question respectfully." He ordered. I didn't want to answer so instead I gave him a different answer to a question I knew he would be asking me later.
"Starting unnecessary fights is wrong because it hurts other people and costs supplies that could have been better spent on a fight that has more importance." WHACK!
"That is not what I asked."
"I should respect Henry because he is your brother." He sighed again. He delivered a swat for every other word he said this time around. I started crying.
"You should respect Prince Henry because he also has your best interest at heart, even though it may seem he does not. You are his responsibility just as you are mine. The only difference is that I am the one who deals with all your mischief, Gilbert. Do you understand?" He asked, resting the paddle on my thighs. I nodded, crying too much to trust my voice. "Do you understand Gilbert?" He asked, the paddle still resting.
"Yesss sssir." I cried. He rubbed my back for a minute.
"Good boy Gilbert." He said soothingly. "Why is starting unnecessary fights silly and foolish?"
"Wasting supplies that could be used for a battle with a better cause." I cried, answering the question again.
"Good boy. We're almost done. I'll give you a minute." He said, continuing to rub my back. I tried to gain my composure before the final stage started. When my minute was over, Fritz grabbed the waistband of my boxers. I gasped, reaching back only to have my hands swatted again. Damn it! Once they were down, I quickly dropped myself to the floor. Fritz was surprised by that and I quickly made a mad dash for underneath his bed. I made it but I could tell Fritz was less than pleased. I didn't care. I didn't want to finish. I wanted to stop it altogether. "Gilbert. Come out please." I shook my head.
"No!" I scooted as far back as I could from him.
"One!" He counted, after getting over the shock I had out right denied him. I didn't move.
"Fritzzz, nooo. Can we pleasse just move onn? I don't want anymore spanking. I'll be good!"
"Two! If I get to three, you will be a very sorry little boy indeed." I shook my head.
"I'll give you jewels! I'll give you anything! Just stop."
"Three." He bent down and reached his arm under the bed. I moved away quickly, feeling scared now. I knew I'd pushed too far but I don't think anyone can get me. "I am going to retrieve Abelard." I heard him turn around and head for the door. I staid where I was. I saw his feet disappear. I pulled up my boxers and my pants before checking that he was still gone.
I ran to the desk, grabbed my belt, and quickly put it back on. I knew I would never make it to my room. I looked around for a different place to hide. I ran to the bathroom and blockaded it. I hid in the closet, trying hard not to breath too loud.
"Gilbert, come out. The sooner it's over the better." I heard Abelard say. "Your Majesty, he is no longer under your bed."
"Check the castle. I'll check my room. He can't have gotten far." I heard Fritz say. Fritz started looking around. I didn't dare move. I heard the bathroom door open a few minutes later. Shit. I held my breath. I heard Fritz walk around, checking his bathroom. Then I saw the door open and Fritz grabbed me. I struggled immediately until I thought better of it. I dropped myself on the floor. I'm no longer a child. I can't easily be picked up.
I soon found I was wrong when I was placed over his shoulder and he carried me to his bed. He tried to pull my pants back down but I had been smart enough to put my belt back on. He undid my belt before bending me over the desk. I felt him bare my bottom and I struggled as hard as I could. Fritz placed a hand on my back. I felt the belt deliver a burning swat to my under curve. I let out a sob.
"Gilbert, that was very naughty of you." I blushed. I struggled harder as he continued to punish me on my under curve. Soon I just stopped supporting myself all together, making it harder on Fritz. "Cooperate or we can do this another way, Gilbert Beilschmidt." I wriggled and bucked as hard as I could. I finally freed myself from Fritz' grasp. "It's the hard way then." He seemed to say to himself. I was grabbed by my ear and dragged to his bed. I was pulled over his lap and he started the punishment all over again. I kicked, squirmed, wriggled, bucked, anything I could think of to try to get away. However Fritz easily solved it.
He threw his leg over my wildly kicking ones and wrapped his free arm around my waist. I couldn't do much in this position. I tried bucking but I didn't get much for it and it used too much of my energy. I threw my hands back to protect me but he just caught them with his hand. I tried wriggling, using him for support but I got no where. I stopped moving.
I'd lost! I'd lost to my King. I started crying, glaring at the covers on the bed, angry I wasn't strong enough to break free. "You can pout all you want Gilbert, you're not getting out of this." Fritz said calmly. He started to lecture me. Soon the pain was getting too much and I stopped glaring, I just sobbing into the bed sheets. Fritz delivered ten more swats to my thighs, I started bawling, before he stopped and started rubbing my back.
"Shush Gilbert. It's okay. I love you. All is forgiven." He removed his leg from over mine and released my hands. He rubbed my back with one of his hands while the other was petting me, trying to comfort me. I was soon sat on his lap, he made sure to keep my bottom from touching anything. He hugged me and I clung to him.
I stopped crying when I was beginning to feel drowsy. I'd stopped clinging and only hung onto Fritz because of this. He continued to comfort me, whispering loving things into my ear. I moved my head from his chest to lay my head down on his shoulder, closing my eyes. They were too heavy to keep open. Before I knew it, I'd fallen asleep on Fritz. That's how my attitude adjustments always end.
Later I woke up in Fritz' bed. I lifted my head, looking around for my King. I saw him playing his flute, reading his music paper. He was accompanied by another man however. I yawned and rubbed my eyes. I sat up, yelped, and quickly rolled over once I felt my bottom on his mattress. I started to rub my bottom instead until I remembered there was a new man in here. I stopped immediately, blushing.
I looked to see if they'd noticed. Fritz had saw me wake but the other man had his eyes closed. "Good evening Gilbert. How did you sleep?"
"Very well, Your Majesty Fritz." I answered. I stood up out of the bed and rubbed my bottom again, it still hurt. "Fritz, I'm sorry about everything. Really."
"I believe you. I have already forgiven you." He said, beaming at me. I blushed. He was proud of me. I heard the other man stand up and I quickly dropped my hands to my sides.
"Is this the Gilbert you speak so fondly of Frederick?" asked the man. Fritz nodded.
"My name is Gilbert Beilschmidt."
"Did something happen? Your face looks sad, child." I would have glared at him for calling me a child but I didn't. I knew better.
"No, it's fine." I told him. Fritz gave a raise of his eyebrow at the man. He cleared his throat in return.
"I am Prince Augustus William of Prussia."
"Another Prince? That makes three princes I know." Fritz smiled.
"Augustus is my younger brother, older brother to Prince Henry." Fritz said. "Are you hungry, my child? You've not had breakfast or lunch."
"I know, he may eat brunch with us. It's a really fancy thing these French weirdos have cooked up." I couldn't help but smirk when he called them weirdos.
"I know a weirdo." I told him. He smiled.
"Who might that be? Let me guess, the French Heretic Voltaire? I hear Frederick's friends with the man."
"He is." I replied.
"That's enough you two. Let's go see if the cook has anything edible." I chuckled at Fritz' joke. I walked up to Fritz while we walked. Fritz gave me a smile and I returned it with one of my own.
"You don't like us making fun of your friend? Or perhaps he may be a friend with benefits. The kind where you two get to talk about philosophical magic. Gilbert, I hope you speak French. That's the only language that heretic speaks."
"Fritz, I think I like Prince Augustus." I whispered to him. Fritz smiled.
"Good. He informs me that he will be staying here for a couple of days."
"Good!" I said, smiling.
"Glad you think so. I came to see you, really. I want to know just what about you does the King like so damn much. I think I can tell we'll be the best of friends."
"Hopefully not too close. I don't need you giving Gilbert any ideas."
"Who? Me? I would never, my King."
"It should be me giving him ideas you should be worried about Fritz!" I joked.
"I might have my hands full then, juggling two brothers and two sons." I blushed. He considered me a son? I couldn't help but beam the whole walk to the kitchens, even as they started talking to each other and leaving me out of the conversation.