I heard someone come into my room. I turned my head away to keep them from bothering me. I wanted more sleep… if only because I know what is going on today. I heard them walk to my window and pull open the curtains and open the window.

"Time to rise and shine Gilbert." I groaned.

"Go away Abelard." I threw my pillow over my head. I heard him walk over to my bed and I felt him pull the covers down. I shivered. I curled up closer to myself to keep as warm as possible while the warmth slowly crept away.

"His Majesty wants you up and dressed before eight before noon." I groaned as he grabbed my pillow and gently tugged on it. I groaned again.

"Go away! I'll get up eventually."

"I'll give you five minutes before before I come wake you again."

"Pfft. Five minutes." I pulled the covers back up and held the pillow to my head. I heard the door open. "Go. Away. Last warning." I told him.

"Gilbert, it's not fair that I got up at seven before noon and you're still sleeping."

"Frederick, this is your future wife we're meeting. Go away. I don't want to go. I shouldn't have to."

"And Father?"

"Tell the King that I'll come in fashionably late."

"I don't think Father would like that." I growled out a huff before sitting up in bed.

"Fine! I'm up. You stupid bastard!" I got out of bed and Gilbird quickly flew over, tweeting a good morning song. I smiled. "I'll take a bath." I headed for the bathroom and started running water. I took off my clothes and got in.

"Today the sun shines bright for you." Gilbird tweeted. I smirked.

"I don't need the sun. I shine bright on my own. It's called being awesome." Gilbird landed in the bathtub and started bathing too. When I finished I stood up and snatched a towel before wrapping it around my waist as I stepped out of the bathtub. I walked into my room to get some clothes to wear. I chose the same clothes from yesterday.

I went downstairs and saw Fritz waiting. "Gilbert, go change your clothes. You're supposed to be wearing a suit and a cravat." I scoffed at him.

"Shouldn't you be happy I'm attending the ball?" He gave me a look and I went back up the stairs and just grabbed a book from my shelf and started reading on my bed. I was interrupted an hour later however by Fritz coming into my room. I quickly hid my book under my pillow. It's not that I'm not allowed to read it but he'd be displeased to know I had ignored what he said about changing clothes.

"Gilbert, didn't I tell you to change clothes?"

"I can't figure out what to wear so I decided to stay with what I have on now." He sighed and opened my wardrobe. "Fritz! What are you doing?" I asked, and quickly got up off the bed and went to stand by his side. He shuffled through my clothes and pulled out my blue suit and my cravat from one of the drawers. He laid them out evenly and straight on my bed.

"There you are Gilbert. I will allow you twenty minutes to get dressed and come down stairs. England and Princess Elizabeth Caroline will be here in thirty minutes. I expect your best behavior and no goofing off that ruins the ball. Am I clear Gilbert? Today is a very important day." He said and headed out my door. "Remember, twenty minutes." He closed the door after him. I waited and then took out my book from under my pillow. I started to read again.

About fifteen minutes had passed before I put my book down and stared at the clothes I was expected to wear. I took off my clothes and dressed in what Fritz had laid out for me to wear. Except the cravat. I hid that in my bathroom, in the sink dresser where pills were supposed to go.

I hurried downstairs and hid from sight from Fritz. I went and saw Prince Frederick. He was even more dressed up! He was wearing a cravat, cufflinks, and golden jewelry. I frowned. I never wear golden jewels! He smiled at me.

"I feel ridiculous Gilbert. And over dressed."

"Who dressed you that way?"

"… Dad…" I smirked.

"Not Prince Henry?"

"Actually I'm pretty sure Henry's called Duke Henry or something."

"I don't know what the bloody fuck a Duke is anyway. Just someone who's not king."

"Do you think Dad would mind if I removed some of these jewels?"

"Yes, I do." I answered, grinning at him. "After all, you are the Prince of Prussia."

"I do think I'm dressed to be a king though. I look great, don't I?"

"Nope. Over dressed."

"Wonder what she'll be wearing."

"She? She who? Your mother?"

"No, of course not. I mean the princess."

"Princess Elizabeth Caroline or something. Good luck. Females are stupid, emotional, and most of them are bitches."

"Gilbert!" I quickly turned around to see King Frederick and Prince/Duke Henry. "Watch your language. Where's your cravat?" I crossed my arms over my chest, looking away from him.

"I'm not wearing it. I've two questions. Why does the Prince get to wear golden jewels and I don't? Is your brother Henry a prince or a duke? Also, what is a duke?" Fritz grabbed my forearm before heading up the stairs. However, he did answer my questions.

"My brother would be a prince. A duke can be either the male leader of a duchy or it could be a nobleman. The Prince of Prussia is dressed the way he is because he is the center of attention at the ball." We reached my room and he sat me on the bed, sighing. "Where did you put your cravat?" I stood up.

"Shouldn't we be downstairs? Isn't England coming soon?"

"Yes, but not dressed improperly." I glared at the floor.

"Well I don't care about the high society. I thought you didn't approve of it either Fritz!" I whined. I mean, he's the one who doesn't like being fancy like France.

"There is a very fine line between fancy like France and the customs of high society."

"Your Majesty, England and the Princess are here. Is there anything I can help you with?" asked Henry.

"We will be down in a minute Henry, thank you." Henry nodded and left, closing the door behind him. The next thing I knew Fritz was forcing my cravat on me. "Strangely I found it in the bathroom dresser."

"Um… yeah." He grabbed my forearm and dragged me downstairs.

"Not a toe out of line." He ordered as he let me go to greet his guests. I frowned and walked off. I pulled on my cravat. I was surprised by Francis pulling the thing off me and pretending to try it on himself.

"Is this the best you Prussians can come up with? We have better ones in France."

"If it were made of silk and loose then I wouldn't mind wearing it. I think it was a stupid invention. Besides, everyone knows who I am…" I just realized that England is coming over and France is here… I have to think of something quickly. "Hey!" I got their attention. "Go out and I'll be with you in a minute. I have to be seen by the Princess. Fritz said not a step out of line so I figured that I'd obey him." Spain and France both stifled a laugh before heading off.

I went around the Englishmen looking for England and the Princess. I found them talking to my Prince. I walked up to them, clearing my throat. England looked at me quizzically. "Hello Prussia."

"Hello England. I was wondering if there was anything you needed?"

"No. I'm fine. Thank you very much."

"What about you Princess?" I asked, being as polite as possible. She looked at me briefly.

"No, I don't need anything right now." I nodded my head before walking around, giving people a good day, hello, or how are you. They all seemed to be satisfied with my behavior and I was soon near the castle doors. I looked around for anyone of my men or my King but they weren't around. I quickly made a mad dash for my friends.

If France weren't here I would have staid but I can't really ask France to leave, that would be rude. Fritz, I promise to be back for lunch. I met up with my friends. They were running around Spain's bull, trying to wrestle it to the ground. I smirked and tackled the bull from behind, landing right on it's back. It started bucking and jumping and mooing in pseudo anger.

"Wahoo! Go Prussia!" Francis cheered. Spain tackled his bull from the side, laughing. I was finally flung off as it twisted itself in midair. When it landed on it's feet it charged at me. I cackled and hurried to get up and run from it.

"Good job Toro!" Spain called. "Come at me amigo!" The bull turned and charged at Spain. I quickly ran at the bull. I jumped at it and wrapped my arms around it's head. I smirked but quickly the smirk was wiped off my face as the bull kept trying to head butt me in the side without using it's horns. I was knocked off and I heard a rip as the bull's horn caught my arm. The bull froze and Spain quickly ran over and unhooked me from his horn.

I looked at my clothes to see that the seams had been torn. This wasn't a suit to play games in anyway though so it doesn't bother me. It means that I'll be needing a replacement. Spain hugged the bull. He looked at us.

"Do you want to continue?" I nodded.

"We can have one more round before we go back to the castle. We need to be there for lunch and then we can leave again. We'll have to be back before it ends though." Then I heard someone laugh. I turned to look to see we were surrounded. By bandits. I rolled my eyes.

"Give us all your money and we won't hurt you." The biggest one said.

"Leave us alone and I won't hurt you." I threatened back.

"Toro!" Spain pointed and the bull charged at them, clearly this time he meant harm. The bandits tried to tackle the bull to the ground but that didn't work and then they took out blades. I jumped to my feet and tackled the man with the blade. We rolled over a few times before he landed on top of me. I grabbed his hand with the blade before kicked him off using my feet. I started to break his hand and he screamed in pain.

"Leave my friends alone!" I shouted at him. I looked over to see my friends in the midst of their own fights. However that was the wrong move because I felt the cold blade touch my neck.

"Get off." He was using his other hand to hold the blade. His hand I was holding was broken. I threw myself off of him and he quickly slashed the blade at me but I threw myself backwards yet again. When I saw an opening I pounced him, grabbing his hand with the blade. "No you don't!" He punched me in my jaw and I went falling backwards at the thrust of his attack. He thrust the knife into my clothes and I grabbed his hand, stopping it in it's tracks.

"This was my best suit." I told him, glaring at him. I broke his hand before punching him hard in the gut. I've had too many brawls to actually lose to a human bandit. And some of those brawls were with Austria or other countries. He turned around and ran off. I got up and ran after him. I heard Spain shout and I found myself running into his bull and the bull carried me back to my friends. "Man! It was just getting good! Why'd you stop me?" I complained.

"I didn't want you to get your clothes even more ruined." Spain answered.

"Oui. My clothes are ruined!" Francis complained. I looked at my own clothes. Shit.

"All the more reason to go after them! Maybe we can take- … their money?" And steal from them? That wouldn't be the best thing to do would it? "What should we do?" I asked, beginning to dust off. "I've kind of put a toe out of line by having a brawl, even if it wasn't with the visitors."

"We should go back to the castle of yours." Francis replied.

"Just tell the truth, I'm sure the king won't mind." Antonio answered. I scoffed at him.

"I'm sure Fritz will mind!" I shook my head. "Just go in there and play it real cool. He won't notice unless you give him reason to notice." I headed back to the castle and they followed me. Spain congratulated his bull for doing such a wonderful job. "So France, did you get any fighting in?" He nodded.

"Oui. I did quite well if I do say so myself."

"I'm sure you did. And you Spain?"

"I got quite a few punches in. Toro handled the rest." I smiled.

"Is Toro the name of your bull?" He nodded.

"That's his name."

We reached the castle and I quickly dusted myself off before heading back into the castle, playing as cool as possible but not overdoing it. I sat down at the table when it was lunch, far away from Fritz and England. France and Spain sat next to me.

Everything went well and we said goodbye to England, I'd had France go look for my cravat and he brought it to me, I put it on before daring to go see my King. He smiled at me. "Thank you for being on… what happened to your clothes Gilbert?" I looked down.

"I have a confession to make Your Majesty Fritz."

"What is it? Please tell me you didn't fight England."

"England? When was England here?" Francis asked. I glared at him.

"Shut up! He just left." Fritz looked at their clothes before his eyes told me that he had drawn a conclusion.

"Answer me Gilbert."

"I wasn't exactly here the whole time. I walked out with my friends. And we went to have some fun and then we got surrounded by bandits." I told the truth. It was easier that way. He sighed.

"What am I going to do with you Gilbert?"

"Well I didn't fight England."

"Look at your suit, it's ruined. We'll need to give you a fitting for a new one. Go to your room while I figure out what to do with you. And throw those clothes away." I nodded and obeyed my King. I sat in my room with my friends. After a while of talking to them I heard my door open.

I looked up to see Prince Henry. "What is it?"

"His Majesty would like to see you in his office."

"Okay, I'll go on my own free will. I don't need you dragging me." I stood up and headed towards my King's office. When I got to the door was when my courage faltered. I have no idea what's going to happen to me.

"Go on Gilbert, everything will be okay." I looked up to see Abelard. I frowned.

"He told you?"

"Well it is supposed to be my job to keep an eye on you, more or less." I took a deep breath and opened Fritz' office door. He was sitting at his desk, finishing a letter. I closed the door behind me. I sat down in one of the chairs. Fritz folded up his letter before smiling at me.

"I'll be with you in just a moment Gilbert." I nodded as I watched him open the door. "Have this delivered to the King of Spain."

"Yes Your Majesty." Fritz closed the door and walked back to his chair.

"Gilbert, I know you know that you disobeyed me. I asked you not to put a toe out of line. You ended up sneaking out of the kingdom and you left the ball when I told you specifically to attend. You ruined your suit as a consequence of disobeying me as well. What do you have to say for yourself?"

"Only that I did it to the benefit of everyone. Francis would have started a fight with Arthur and you would have been upset and France would have been upset with us, or the king of France anyway, and England would be upset with us too and it would have ruined the whole ball."

"I see another solution to this problem. Can you find it?" I blushed, shaking my head.

"It wasn't an option for me."

"The option I see is asking Francis and Antonio to excuse you for the day. I think they should be getting back to their own country by now." I frowned.

"I'm sorry Fritz."

"Come here Gilbert." I whined. I knew it! I obeyed, hoping that if I did so that he'd be proud of me. He pulled my pants down before laying me over his lap. I blushed hard. He reached over me and I looked to see a paddle. I felt the strong urge to struggle but I resisted, I still wanted to make him proud of me. "Do you know what you did wrong Gilbert?"

"I disobeyed you." I answered.

"And?"

"I ruined my clothes?" I felt him rub my back. I had gotten it right. "So… how did it go anyway? Did she like him? Or did he like her?"

"I hardly believe this is the proper situation to talk of that. Can you name the ways you disobeyed me?"

"I snuck out of the castle and I didn't attend the ball."

"Yes. I am proud of you for telling me the truth though." His hand landed on my head. "Are you ready for your punishment Gilbert?"

"Yes Your Majesty Fritz." I jumped at the first swat from the paddle and flinched at the second. When he hit me with the fifth swat I yowled and with the seventh I felt my awesome tears flow. The last one I was sobbing at. I'd thrown one hand behind me to protect myself but he'd pinned it to the middle of my back. He began to rub my back, shushing me.

When I stopped crying, Fritz spoke. "Gilbert, I would like you to go to the corner to reflect on disobeying me." I nodded and stood before going into the corner. I heard Fritz writing on paper the whole time. "Gilbert, sit please." I obeyed and looked at him.

"I'm so sorry Fritz."

"I forgive you Gilbert. I have a request for you." I smiled slightly.

"What is it Your Majesty Fritz?"

"I want you to ask Francis and Antonio to go home." I felt my smile drop completely.