Ludwig winced as his knee scraped against a particularly rough bit of brick, biting back a little cry as he heard footsteps quickly approach. The boy clamped a hand over his mouth as a skirt came into view, just before him. He stilled, mouse-quiet beneath the table he'd scrambled beneath. The frayed tablecloth hid him from prying eyes, or so he hoped.
Somewhere above him, he heard a woman's voice, cursing softly. It was Gretchen, his governess. She seemed in a particularly dour mood today. Ludwig could imagine her face, purple and swollen with anger, her nose scrunched up as she loomed over the table.
"Ludwig!" She snapped. The boy jumped slightly, but made no noise. The hem of Gretchen's dress swayed in an agitated way. It reminded Ludwig of Germouser's tail right before a swat. The young nation pursed his lips at the sight of the ugly, faded purple garment. She always wore the same dress, the one that reminded him of a plum. Gretchen was a robust woman. Imagining an angry plum wasn't far off.
But she meant well, as she often did. She'd come to collect him for his tutoring, no doubt. Not that the child had the slightest intention in attending today--he had important things to do. He'd caught a mouse in the attic the evening before and stowed the creature away in his trunk. Surely his mouse was hungry by now, so he'd run off to the kitchen for a bit of cheese. He mustn't leave his mouse hungry.
Besides, Gilbert was gone on a hunt today and wasn't expected to return until at least supper. Even if he were to be caught, Gretchen couldn't do anything to him. Not without Gilbert's permission.
A long minute of silence passed before he heard a huff. "When your brother hears about this, he'll wallop you right on the bum!" Ludwig had no doubt about that. He watched his governess leave the room. Germany waited another minute before venturing out from his hiding place beneath the table.
He peered around the empty kitchen to make sure he was alone. When he was certain, he resumed his mission searching for his mouse's lunch. When he found no cheese, he eyed the cupboards critically. Under normal circumstances, one of the estate hands could help him reach such a high place, but he was on a secret mission. He carefully carried a chair to the cabinets and clambered atop to quietly swipe a biscuit from the breadbox.
He crammed the bread into the pocket of his knickers for safe keeping. He wasn't terribly fond of the outfit--a gift from England--at first, but it was comfortable and good for sneaking about. Not that he tried to make a habit of sneaking. Once the bread was stowed away for later mouse-feeding, he jumped noisily down from the chair and ran down the kitchen corridor, past the vestibule and straight up the stairs. He climbed them two at a time, stretching his little legs to gain leverage.
"Ludwig?" He heard the call not far behind him, near the bottom of the stairs. He risked a glance over the banister behind him to see Gretchen begin to ascend the flight after him. Ludwig's eyes widened and he doubled his pace. He rounded the corner and bounded down the hallway leading to his bedroom before halting.
The bedroom is just where she'd think to look. His eyes fell on the great door of Gilbert's office, further down the long hall. Surely she wouldn't think to look there? After all, the place was expressly forbidden for everyone but his elder brother. Including the staff. Did he dare? He had no choice. Resigning himself to more punishment, Ludwig threw himself at the door and quickly slipped inside, shutting it behind him as silently as he was able.
He'd never laid eyes on this room of the estate before. Even from the window outside, he could never see much of it. It was dim here, the only light spilling from a slight break in the curtains in the window above, and his eyes took a long moment to adjust to his surroundings. The first thing the boy registered was red. The carpet he stood on was a deep, wine red, rich and velvety. He crouched down to touch the fabric with gentle fingers. It must have been very expensive.
Realizing this, the youth quickly unlaced his boots and took them off the carpet carefully. He left them near the door as he went further into the room. Great, tall shelves rest against the walls, taller than Prussia, even, and all of them filled to the brim with tomes. Wonderful books with gold lettering sat untouched and yet immaculately free of dust. Ludwig was amazed. This library was so much greater than the one in his lesson room.
He recalled what Gilbert once told him: Books make up no small part of human happiness. He supposed this to be true now. His brother often came to this place in times of distress. Maybe he was trying to console himself with books?
The library wasn't the only lavish thing to be found here. A thick, beautifully carved staircase lead up to a loft. Ludwig went up the stairs curiously and came upon a large, solid desk. Spread over the dark wood was a map. He recognized a few of the places, blue eyes sweeping over all of Europe. Gilbert had the entire continent at his fingertips! A stack of documents sat neatly to the right of the map with a quill and inkwell, beneath a kerosene desk lamp but Ludwig was more interested in the globe resting on a pedestal to the immediate right of the desk. His fingers walked along Europe and crossed the sea, all the way to America.
He hoped to go there someday. Quickly growing bored with the globe, he turned his attention to the great thick curtains covering most of the window. Prussia was not a fan of the sun. His medical condition saw to that. Dust motes swirled round, dancing in the wane light. He peered out at the courtyard and saw that the sky was cloudy and dim. It looked like a storm was coming. Ludwig wandered away from the window and busied himself with the various cases and decorations that adorned the office.
It struck Ludwig that this room did not at all reflect Gilbert's bed chambers, which were sparse and even Spartan in comparison. Then again, Gilbert's bedroom did not suit the Prussian. His bedroom was not grand or warm or inviting or rich in history. It was a room with four walls and somewhere to sleep. This was Gilbert's real room. This area was at the heart of the manor, locked away and very much off limits. It made Ludwig a little sad that his brother would keep such a wonderful thing from him. He was hurt. Gilbert did not trust him with this intimacy.
With that thought in mind and the knowledge that he truly was intruding on such a place, he went to gather his shoes. He only slowed when he saw the mass form of something he'd initially missed upon entering the room. As he drew closer, he recognized it as a piano.
The instrument pulled him like a magnet and he soon found himself brushing his hands along the fallboard. There were no fancy inscriptions here, no carvings of grandeur. Nothing but raw, austere simplicity. Just like Gilbert.
But he'd never known his brother to touch more than a flute. He certainly didn't know Prussia played piano, let alone had use for one. Ludwig slid the keylid gently off and sat on the provided bench, admiring the pale ivory. Small, fragile digits stroked along the smooth surface of the keys lightly so as to not disturb the quiet. His mission was all but forgotten, and now he was entranced.
So much so that he didn't register the approaching footsteps. The study door swung open and the boy startled, striking one of the keys. The sudden noise didn't help his poor fluttering heart as he stared, wide eyed at Gilbert's form.
"Ost." He said, petrified, his mouth forming an O.
His brother stared down at him, expression unreadable.
Ludwig's pale countenance began to tinge red and he ducked his head to hide his humiliation. He swallowed thickly around the rapidly forming lump in his throat, expecting to be cuffed over the ear. He flinched as Prussia moved toward him, but instead of a blow, the albino sat down on the bench beside of him.
Ludwig looked up to see the thoughtful expression on the elder's face through his teary eyed vision. His eyes dropped back down to his hands in disgrace. He knew entering this place was a cardinal sin--he knew it was wrong. And now Gilbert was angry with him. So angry he had no words, so angry--
"It rained." Gilbert's voice. It was quiet, and soft. It wasn't the berating tone the boy had expected. It wasn't loud or forceful.
Ludwig looked up again and his brother watched him. There were dark circles beneath his eyes. His face was gaunt and he seemed tired. Germany sniffled pitifully.
"It rained," Prussia continued, "so I had to come back early. So I did. I came back to find that you had refused to take your lessons today."
There was a pause. It was almost immediately filled with a remorseful wail. "I'm sorry, Gilbert. I know I should have gone today. I jus--My mouse--I knew if Gretchen found out she would take it and--"
The elder held up a hand and Ludwig's blubbering died down. Fat, salty tears rolled down the blonde's cheeks.
"Ludwig." Gilbert's tone was stern and fatherly. "Your studies are much more important than a mouse." He said gravely, as though he were sharing a daring secret. A contrite sob left the child. With a sigh, the albino pulled his little brother against his chest and cradled the back of his head.
"I'm not angry, Lu." He murmured.
It only made Ludwig feel worse. Morosely, he tucked himself further against Gilbert's breast.
"Hey." Prussia shook the young nation tenderly. "You wanted to learn to play, right?"
A muffled, "What?" Came from the confines of his coat.
"The piano. This was a gift from Roderich. I haven't played in a long, long time. You'll have to be patient, and promise to listen to Gretchen from now on."
Ludwig peeled his face away from the safety of his brother's heartbeat. "I promise." He sniffed.
Long, calloused fingers reached out to wipe a tear from the child's cheek. Gilbert's hands were slender and warm, and Ludwig had not the slightest clue yet how they held a sword far more often than they comforted him. He was too young to know. Right now, they were enough and he tucked this safe feeling away into the pocket of his heart.
"We'll start with where to put your hands."
Gilbert loved him and he loved Gilbert. For now, that was all that mattered.