Growing up with the king as a father was tough, Gilbert knew many boys in that situation, but a grandfather as the king didn't make it any better. Guards were positioned everywhere preventing Gilbert from leaving or making too much of a mess.
His grandfather thought it was a wonderful idea to have a guard-in-training around his age positioned on him. He was currently glaring at that guard that was forbidding him from sneaking out that large and inviting window.
Ivan was a little taller than him and overall friendly until Gilbert tried to cross him.
Stomping over to his bed, he promptly face planted into it and groaned.
"It's sooo boring!"
"I suppose going for a stroll along the outskirts of the castle grounds would be okay as long as you did not run."
Way to suck the fun out of everything, Gilbert thought.
"I'm going to go visit my brother." He had put an emphasis on the I hoping that Ivan would have noticed and stayed behind. He lifted himself off the decadent bed and out of the large room. Once Ivan had started to follow, Gilbert added, "alone."
He heard Ivan yell half-heartedly behind him, "Do not leave the castle!"
"Whatever," was his reply as he turned around and stuck his tongue out.
He just wanted to actually see the towns he was supposed to one day rule. How was he supposed to become an awesome ruler if he couldn't even talk to his subjects? He let his knuckles fall onto the large door across the hall from his.
"One moment," came from inside.
The door opened not ten seconds later. Gilbert strolled in, his hand clasped behind his head.
"Burning the midnight oil I see," he said motioning to the schoolwork.
The rooms were set up similarly. As someone walked in, they were met with a large desk that had a side table and a pair of wooden chairs, where Gilbert was currently sitting, next to it. Across from the desk was a king-sized bed. The bedding was extravagant and expensive. Ludwig's was blue and his was red. On either side there were night-tables. On the wall with the door, there was a large closet that could easily fit five people inside. In the middle of the opposite wall was a window. In the corner of the room was a fireplace that was not currently lit due to the warmth of the outdoors despite the night chill.
Ludwig sat back down at his desk and continued to work. "If you bothered to do your schoolwork, maybe Folkert would let you wander around town."
"Yeah right," Gilbert countered sarcastically. "Like that old man would let the awesome me do anything besides die of boredom."
Ludwig smirked.
"You know where Antonio went?"
Antonio was Ludwig's guard and Gilbert's best friend at the palace. They were the main trouble makers when Antonio was off duty.
"He went back to the sleeping quarters for the day." Ludwig marked on his paper as he read through it.
Gilbert groaned. He drug his chair the short distance to the window and looked out at the town.
He could see the entrance to the palace. It was extravagant although not as much as others he had seen before. There was a fountain placed in the center of the circular drive. Past the gates, he could see the looming clock tower. It was always lit up at night. He could see a few people still walking about and the lights in the houses.
He envied this view. From his room, he could only see the guard's sleeping quarters and the fields that lay behind.
After Ludwig decided he was done working for the evening, Gilbert and his brother talked late into the night before both retired.
The house had grown quiet after Francis' death. Arthur became quiet and secluded. He would be gone more often than not. When a new departure came, Matthew would always make a good luck charm for him.
Matthew mostly read and helped the servants complete their daily tasks. He took many outings on Kuma and often let his mind wander. Matthew's violin was only played on rainy days, but it carried a joyful tune through the house, lifting the spirits of those in it. Arthur would often come out from hiding to listen to the music he once danced to happily.
One day, Matthew had grown awfully comfortable in the stables, leaning on his horse and reading out loud. He was close to falling asleep when a hand tapped his shoulder.
"Matteo?"
Matthew smiled as he spotted the two twins from the door of the barn.
"Do you need help with something?" Matthew responded, lifting and dusting himself off quickly.
"Just came to check on you," Feliciano cheered. "You had been in here for a while."
Lovino mumbled an "I told you he was fine, idiota" but the other didn't seem to mind.
Matthew laughed at the two as he started towards them.
They were similar in appearance but almost impossible to confuse. Their chestnut hair was almost the same color, Lovino's being a tad darker. They both had a stubborn curl that stuck out as well.
It was especially hard to confuse them once they started talking. Feliciano had a higher pitched voice and a much brighter speech pattern. On the other hand, many people spoke of Lovino's rude manner and sailor's mouth. Matthew knew that it was his way of affection.
The boys had grown near and dear to Matthew. They were all around the same age and the two often kept him company. They would often check up on him if he had grown quiet for too long or kept a far-off look for too long.
"I'm fine," Matthew paused in thought. "Would you two like to accompany me to the end of the road? I'd like to dry a rose for Father before he leaves again."
The two nodded. Feli led the way as Lovi and himself stayed behind and listened. Every once in a while, Lovi would mutter some objection or obscenities under his breath and Matthew would laugh under his breath.
Once they had returned to the house, Matthew noticed Arthur standing in the front door with a concerned look etched onto his face. They both took deep breaths to prepare for the conversation that was soon to come.
They walked quietly to the sitting room together. Arthur was deep in thought and Matthew did not want to disturb him. They sat in silence. Arthur began to say something many times, but thought better of it and closed his mouth again.
"Father," Matthew started. "Please tell me what you want to say. I promise I won't be upset."
Arthur nodded. He had a faraway look in his eyes as he began his rambling. "Do you remember Lady Esteves?" Matthew was about to answer but Arthur let him no time. "She has passed. Her husband has slipped into a deep depressive state and their two sons are left to themselves.
"I was thinking that maybe we could all take another shot at happiness together?" Arthur looked into Matthew's eyes with hope and pleading. He wanted to be forgiven, but he also wanted to try to become happy again.
Matthew nodded. "If you believe that happiness will fill your heart, I have no choice then, do I?" Matthew laughed and Arthur followed behind shortly.
When Arthur came back, he was wed. Another pair of boots following his father's out of the coach was odd in the first place, but to see another two was even stranger. Matthew smiled at his new family members. They almost seemed to glare back at him.
The two boys were bickering back and forth rather loudly and making rude comments about Matthew's appearance.
They were handsome, but anyone who had seen Matthew could easily point out that he had more points in the looks category than the two combined, although some would state he is more beautiful than handsome.
His step-father was dressed in all black that seemed to match his hair that has a few streaks of gray running through it. His thin frame and stiff posture reminded Matthew of the villains he read of in books. That thought quickly vanished when his father's smile came into view. It had been so long—too long—since Matthew had seen a smile that grand.
Arthur introduced him first. "This is my son, Matthew. Matthew, this is Calvin and Emery and their father Reagan."
Matthew nodded to each respectfully with a light smile on his face. "May I offer a tour?"
"A tour of this farm house?" Emery nearly spat.
"It's so drab."
"Boys," Reagan began. "Be kind. It's not like they had any say in where they lived."
Matthew looked off, especially to his two friends peaking up over the fence. The smile on his face was still etched there, but it looked highly uncomfortable and strained.
"Let me show you inside." His voice betrayed his feelings and came out calm and polite.
Matthew nearly sank into the parlor chair. The boys were upstairs in their new room and Arthur and Reagan were in the office. After all the off hand comments about decoration and the house itself being terrible, Matthew's head had begun to spin. His papa loved this house. It had been in the family for generations. How could these people just come in an degrade it like they did.
Matthew took a deep breath and stood to get some fresh air.
"Are you going somewhere?" Arthur stood behind just as he was about to leave for the stables.
"Not really. Do you need me for something?"
"We were just about to eat dinner. It will be the our first one together." Arthur's beaming face was the only thing that kept Matthew from frowning. His father looked so happy after all.
"Of course."
Dinner was loud. A lot louder than any Matthew had before, even when he had lunch with the servants. His head pounded as the two boys laughed at another snide comment.
Matthew hadn't eaten much. He just moved a couple of pieces of food around his plate so it seemed like he had much more.
He excused himself from the table and went to the kitchen to clean his dishes so the others wouldn't have to in the morning.
Once back in the dinning room, he excused himself for bed. He was met with objections saying that it was too early for sleep.
His smiled stayed etched onto his face as he agreed to join them for a while longer.
A while longer ended up being another six hours. It was two in the morning and Matthew's eyes had grown almost too heavy to keep open. He convinced himself that he would have to do this more often and to get used to it.
The boys were still incredibly energetic and Matthew had no idea how. The night had mostly just been them rambling and getting into fights every so often.
"Matthew, dear, you look so tired." It was Reagan's voice that interrupted his gentle fall into sleep with his head propped up on his hand.
"I usually go to bed much earlier. I am enjoying staying up with you though." He didn't want them to think they were boring him.
As if Reagan hadn't been staring at the clock for the past hour, he muttered an "oh" and simply said it was time for bed.
The boys complained, but Matthew let out a quiet sigh in relief that was quickly followed by a yawn as he led the others to their rooms, saying a goodnight to each of them.
Arthur followed him to his own room and they held a short conversation about nothing before Arthur went to bed himself, following Reagan into the room that his papa used to sleep in.
Something felt off to Matthew, but he decided to ignore it.
He got got ready for bed and them promptly fell face first onto his bed and slept like that until morning.
Matthew was an early riser. He always went to collect eggs from the hen house and help with the other chores like washing dishes or feeding the animals. It was his favorite part of the day.
It did not seem like anyone else was awake yet. The servants had all arrived and Matthew greeted each of them with a smile. Today was a new day after all.
Around noon was when his brothers got up. Matthew found that it mostly involved a lot of screaming and a whole hour of getting ready. Arthur and Reagan had gotten up two hours earlier.
The rest of the day passed like normal with only a few minor inconveniences. For instance, when Matthew went to read his book, he found it extremely hard to concentrate with the two boys yelling at each other somewhere else in the house.
The days went on like this. Matthew switched up some of his schedule, but otherwise found a comfortable rhythm that allowed him to get his usually activities done without many distractions from the two boys or his new step-father.
In the evenings, he found that his new step-family liked to turn the house into a gambling cave. Matthew and Arthur would spend this time in the study talking until Matthew would decide to go to bed.
The first day it rained, Matthew was at a loss of what to do. His usual activity which involved playing his violin was taken over with more arguments from the boys who especially hated rainy days.
The day seemed more somber, particularly to the servants who found it hard to work with only the droning of rain on the roof.
A whole two months continued on like this. A whole two months of screaming and shouting from Calvin and Emery. A whole two months of violin-less rainy days and gambling nights.
During an evening, while Arthur and Matthew talked in the office, he mentioned a trip.
"I'll be leaving tomorrow." Arthur looked ashamed. When he looked at Matthew, all he saw was sorrow.
"I just got the news today. An urgent topic of interest has come up and I have to get to it. You understand, don't you?"
Matthew nodded.
"What would you like? Your brothers have asked for face cream and a new silk tie."
"May I think about it?"
"Of course." Arthur smiled at the boy. "You'll take care of them won't you?"
Matthew looked up at his father who's eyes were focused on the door, seeming to look beyond it.
"Despite themselves, you'll take care of them, right?" Desperate eyes were turned to him. "They may be a bit loud, but they've brought life back into this house."
Matthew smiled and nodded again. "Of course I will."
With that, Arthur sent Matthew off to bed.
"I'm sorry Father. I was unable to dry a rose in time." Matthew eyes held tears. Arthur took his son's face and gently cleared them. They were standing on the porch now. It was another rainy day. If one looked, they could see the faces of two servant brothers pressed against the windows watching the scene.
"I understand. It would have been impossible for me to preserve it as well as you do."
Matthew smiled.
"What would you like from this far off village?"
"In the first town you reach, ask for a drink of water. Bring me back the name of the person who gives it to you."
"What a peculiar request. May I ask?"
"So I can hear the name roll off your tongue with your silly accent," Matthew practically laughed it out, but its twinge of sadness was evident.
"If there is ever a day I don't get made fun of for my accent, I know something is wrong." Arthur didn't really realize he had said the words until they were out. It was a reflex, but it felt foreign. Almost like riding a bike that you hadn't ridden in too many years.
Two sets of eyes glossed over in tears before they hid themselves from each other in a hug.
"I'll miss you, Matthew."
"I'll miss you too, Father."
Reagan, Calvin, and Emery all stood back in the corridor. The two boys almost scoffing at the scene before them.
Inside the house, Feliciano looked to his brother with a frown. "I've got a bad feeling about this."
Lovino nodded. "Me too."
Hi!
Sorry about the OCs but I couldn't see anyone in Hetalia being as rude or mean as these guys are/will be.
Please enjoy!