Matthew smiled as he watched the man ride away. He was awfully handsome. His eyes and hair were both peculiar colors, but Matthew thought they made him even more attractive.

He blushed to himself, realizing his thought process and rode away from the small clearing where he had just met the very peculiar man.

Matthew decided he didn't want to go home just yet. He knew he might be in store for something if he didn't get back before dinner, but he had four good hours until then and cleaning didn't sound like the right action.

He decided to ride towards town. That way, he could make the excuse he had to pick up a few items for dinner while stopping to see two dear friends.

He tied Kuma to the horse's post in town and walked the rest of the way to the new restaurant the twins had opened.

A bell on the top of the door sang as he walked in. They had gotten a decent spot near the center of town for fairly cheap. To no surprise, the shop was nearly full despite being three in the afternoon. Matthew remembered the meals that the two could create.

The waiter, who knew the drill by now, lead him to the kitchen doors.

Inside, Matthew sat on a stool and waited until the bustle of the kitchen slowed to a low roar.

Feliciano was the first to come over to him.

"Matteo! È bello vederti! Come sei stato?"

"Bien. Et toi?"

"Occupato."

Matthew nodded. An eager smile had been stuck on his face since he had entered the restaurant.

"Are you just joining to sit there or will you tell us why you are here? You obviously want to say something!" Lovino rolled his eyes as he approached the two.

Matthew laughed. "I hope I wasn't being too obvious."

Lovino mumbled, "I'm sure even Feli could tell."

To which Feliciano added, "I could."

They all snickered.

"So tell us! What happened to make you so antsy?" Feliciano sat on the edge of his stool.

"It sounds so stupid now," Matthew started. "I was riding in the forest today when Kuma suddenly wouldn't slow down and this kind man named Gilbert helped me to a stop." His face grew hot.

"Ooooh! Matteo's got a crush!" Feli's hands went to his cheeks as he nearly squealed.

"What else did you get on him? You can't just tell me you only got a name."

Matthew smiled, ready to divulge any information to the two. "He is an apprentice at the palace. He told me he doesn't get out often, but he wants to. And he had such peculiar features. Red eyes. White hair. Pale skin." Matthew sighed.

The two twins exchanged looks.

"What?"

"Nothing," Lovino spoke before Feliciano got the chance. "Now stop gushing. We don't need a lovesick fool contaminating our food."

Matthew laughed.

"So, why did you end up in the forest?" An "ouch" quickly followed that comment as Feli's brother promptly slapped him on the back of the head.

Matthew winced and turned his head away. "Nothing much."

He had stopped telling the twins what went on in that house a long time ago. It wasn't that he felt uncomfortable with them, but that he knew that if they knew what was going on, they wouldn't let Matthew stay in that house any longer. But Matthew believed he had to cherish that house for his passed family. He understood those living in it now did not.

"That's okay Matteo. Would you like a small snack before you head out?"

Matthew turned back, smiling and nodded. "Of course."

Gilbert paced in front of his grandfather.

"He was amazing! Absolutely beautiful!"

"Gilbert."

"So nice and caring."

"Gilbert would you please—"

"Almost matched my awesomeness, you know?"

"Gilbert! Would you let me talk?!"

Gilbert stayed silent.

"Mein Gott. You do realize you've only met him once, right?"

"Well, yeah. But it seemed like we've known each other forever, you know? We joked and laughed and it was awesome! Besides, you said you knew right away when you met our grandfather."

"That was different. He was royalty."

"So what?! It would do the kingdom good to feel like they have someone they can trust in power!"

"They can't trust you?"

"They don't know us! We've only been here because you married in!"

"Do you even know his name?"

"No," Gilbert pouted for a moment. "But that's not a problem. We've planned a ball, have we not?"

"Yes," the stoic man replied, with a frown on his face. "Shouldn't you be going to get your painting done?"

"Yeah, yeah. This discussion isn't over!" Gilbert walked out to find Ivan who was there with Ludwig and Antonio as well as his royal advisor, Elizaveta. Gilbert rolled his eyes.

"That sounded like it went really well," Ivan looked like he was having a wonderful time teasing him.

"Whatever," Gilbert glared at him.

"You know as much as anybody that I love seeing people get together, but he provides no assets to the kingdom. A princess would allow for a merge of kingdoms for greater territory or money or what-not." Elizaveta tried her best not to reason with the man.

"I think he'll be a good form of bondage to this land. It'll do good for the people to see that."

Elizaveta nodded as Gilbert got onto the wooden saddle so the painter could begin his work.

"I understand that. I really will try my best. What if," she trailed off, putting her hand to her chin to think. Everyone noticed as soon as she got an idea; her smile had turned devious. "What if we open the ball to all people, including the kingdom?"

"Do you think he'd come?"

"There's a chance, right amigo? You must take it!"

Gilbert smiled at them before being yelled at by the painter to stay still.

"It's decided then! We'll make the announcement to the public this evening! I'll inform Roderich and your grandfather immediately." Elizaveta rushed off.

Back in town, Matthew had just stepped foot out of the restaurant, when a man in the middle of the square started to make his announcement.

"On this day, two weeks in, there shall be held, at the palace, a royal ball." The man's booming voice made itself known easily to the crowd. "At said ball, in accordance with ancient customs, the prince shall choose a partner. Furthermore, at the insistence of the prince, it is hereby declared that every person in the kingdom, be they noble or commoner, is invited to attend. Such is the command of our most noble king."

At the door, Feli looked to him excitedly. "You can see him again!"

Matthew nodded with a smile on his face and a tint of hope in his eyes.

"I've got to rush home now. Dinner needs to be finished by sundown."

They parted ways and Matthew rode home. Excited to tell the news and maybe, just maybe, be given the opportunity to go to the ball.

He entered through the back doors and quickly began to clear the table and clean it. Soon, dinner was started and then finished.

Matthew stood in the corner while they ate, waiting to be called on to speak.

"Grass-ew, why on earth do you continue to stand there?"

"I believe I should inform you. There was an announcement today in the square an-"

"Why were you in the square?"

"I had to get a few supplies for dinner."

A sneer was directed towards him. "Continue."

"The prince has invited all subject to the ball as he searches for a partner."

Silverware clattered onto the plates. Silence for a moment and then chaos. Matthew wished he hadn't told them for a moment.

The boys were practically screaming nonsense. Matthew could only make out "prince-this" or "marry-that". Reagan sat with a calm and calculated look although his eyes were wider than normal.

"Shut up!" Matthew jumped at the sudden exclamation. Reagan turned his head towards Calvin and Emery. "One of you must win the heart of the prince. Then, we can finally rid ourselves of this horrid house and lifestyle."

The boys screamed again and Reagan smiled at them.

Turning his head, scaring Matthew, he spoke again. "Why are you still here?"

Taking a large breath in, Matthew began to speak. "I was wondering if maybe I could go?"

Crap. Reagan looked positively pissed. He stood up from the table and Matthew began to panic.

"You see, I have this friend who lives there and I would really like to see him again. He is an apprentice. I wouldn't even go near the prince, there is no need to worry about something like that. I would just like to see a friend again I swear!"

Nothing that Matthew said had stopped Reagan in his approaching nor his beating shortly after.

Matthew laid there, hurt on the floor for the rest of the loud dinner. They had carried on like he wasn't there. Enjoying the food he had prepared as if he was not hurt in the middle of the room.

Before Reagan and the boys left, the stood over him. Calvin and Emery both kicked him in his stomach before going off to bed.

"Tomorrow, go to town with the boys to get them each fabric. From now until then, you shall make three fine suits. One for Calvin. One for Emery. And one for me."

With that, Matthew was left alone.

He didn't get up for the next couple of hours.

Finally, when the sun was completely set and the house had grown dark, he lifted himself from the floor and started collecting dishes. He brought them to the kitchen and made a snack for Kuma before heading out to the stables to be comforted by the light nudges given to his hands and face while he cried.

Gilbert was giddy. He went to Ludwig's room to watch the town. He wondered where the mystery boy lived as he sat up late into the night and technically early the next morning.

He fell asleep on the window sill. When Ludwig nudged him awake, he saw a slightly worried smile on the normally straight face.

"Go back to your room and sleep for a while longer. I'll make up an excuse for you just this once."

Gilbert stood, looked to his brother with very apparent bags under his eyes, and nodded a silent 'thank you' before going across the hall and climbing into his own bed.

Hi!

I hope you are still enjoying the chapters.

Here are a couple of translations!

È bello vederti! Come sei stato?=It's good to see you! How have you been?

Bien. Et toi?=Good. And you?

Occupato=Busy