Chapter 3: Caspar

The silence was so loud Caspar felt like his head was about to burst. It was always like this. It was always quiet when Austria was present. Even the slightest sounds the silverware made on the china plates made him wince. Although Austria had never raised his voice to any of them, just the way he chooses his words and the way he looks at you, made anyone uncomfortable, ashamed. Yes, one should be very careful around that man.

"Agnise, Caspar I'm sorry to say Gilbert cannot meet you two as planned." Roderich had spoken up while he cut through his bread.

"As planned?" Caspar thought surprised at how Austria had said it, and felt dread crawl over his neck.

"When I told him about the extra music practice he told me he was interested in seeing you both play." Roderich continued spearing his bread and lifted it to his mouth, chewing.

"You mean he will be present when we are having our music lesson?" Agnise questioned, her voice betraying slight irritation. She had suddenly gone very stiff her knife and fork placed down next to her half-eaten plate of salad.

Roderich nodded after swallowing he turned his attention to some ham. "Yes, because Gilbert will be there I have to get you both some new clothing."

Caspar couldn't believe what he had just heard. The Austrian had hardly wasted a penny on any of his servants not even in the dead of winter forcing everyone to patch up their old clothing. Agnise still looked grim and tightlipped.

"May I be excused Austria-san?"

"Yes."

Agnise left the dining room abandoning her food and closed the door behind her quietly. Caspar was still shocked by what Roderich had said had had not thought too much about his sister's strange behavior. But now as he thought about it maybe something was wrong? Something must have happened. Feliciano happily dug into his plate of ham and colorful vegetables oblivious to what was going around him. Elizabeta had stopped eating, her fork was left stuck on top her slice of bread. Her green eyes were narrowed creating small creases between her eyebrows.

"By Gilbert…do you mean the Prussian, Gilbert Beilschmidt?"

"Yes."

"Roderich, you have to be careful."

"Whatever do you mean Elizabeta dear?"

"That man tends to ask for what he wants and always gets it……..including his new boss." "They are getting power hungry Roderich, and I am afraid of that."

The Austrian threw back his head and merely chuckled at her words.

"Oh, Elizabeta I know you despise Gilbert but don't hold it against him." "He just wants to meet them. That's all." Roderich concluded.

Caspar finished eating but he was still digesting the information he had just heard.

After the meal was over, he quickly went up the circling grand staircase upstairs to where their rooms were. Heading down the hallway Caspar stopped at the familiar second door to the left turning the brass doorknob and finding Agnise sitting near the wide paneled window. The dapples of sunlight illuminated her face and created sharp red highlights in her brown hair. She looked up the moment he had walked in. Her worried expression had already had him talking.

"Agnise, what's troubling you so?" Caspar walked to her sitting besides his beloved twin.

"I-I'm afraid of that man……Gilbert…" She managed to say while wringing her hands in her lap.

"Is that all?" Caspar said lightheartedly while smiling. "There is nothing to fear from that accursed Prussian as long as I am here…I'll protect you no matter what happens."

Agnise sighed then looked at her brother. "I know that you always remind me." "But what if you were not there for me as so visa versa I was not there for you?"

"Stop fretting, we are going to pull through this okay?" "Strike it head on, together." Caspar said firmly and confidently as he took her slender hand in his own, brushing the pad of his thumb over her knuckles.

Agnise smiled then nodded. "Alright, Caspar I believe you."

Caspar grinned then looked out the window, where he saw the head butler preparing a carriage.

"Then, I guess we have to head outside to get our much anticipated new clothing." He said before leaving the room.