AG: Well, we're back, and I finished another chapter! Are you guys fangirling yet?

CanaDERP: *runs in* Hey, AG! I found your "magazine" collection~! ;)

AG: WHAT?! NO! I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU FOUND THOSE, BUT IF YOU SHOW THEM TO ANYBODY, I WILL KILL YOU! GIVE THOSE HERE, RIGHT NOW!

CanaDERP: HERP! *shows readers censored images* Lookit what I found under AG's bed~! HURR HURR!

AG: *beats CanaDERP senseless and takes back the magazines* GAH! Do you have anything to say about the fanfic before we get on with this chapter?!

CanaDERP: *cries* Yes...I loved this chapter. It made me fangirl, as usual... *rubs head* Ow...AG, you meanie-face! D8

AG: *goes to room, locks the door* I've gotta hide these somewhere a random moron won't find them...

"How can you be so calm about zhis?! Didn't I tell you vhat he did to Felicia zhis morning?!" Roderich had just finished telling Gilbert what he'd heard from Eliza, and Gilbert wasn't reacting the way he had expected him to.

"Felicia? Oh, is zhat zhe girl zhat vas in the kitchen yesterday? So vhat if he valked in on her naked? It's about time he got to see somezhing like zhat! He's becoming a man, like me! It vould suck if he ended up like you, sissy girl-boy!" The two were in Gilbert's room at the time, which suited Gil just fine, but Roderich couldn't stand how messy it was.

"Zhat's not all he did! Vere you even paying attention to zhe last part?" Roderich had been at the bottom of the stairs when he heard Felicia's scream, and he had seen what happened, and had been immensely relieved when Valdemar appeared; Roderich knew he wouldn't have time to get up the stairs and save her, much less be able to stop Ludwig by himself anyway.

"Nein, I vas too busy being awesome to listen to you. It had better be more important zhan him valking in on a girl in her undervear! I don't zhink anyzhing he could have done vould top zhat!" Gilbert was smiling, and Roderich wanted to wipe that smile right off his face. However, being the kind of person he was, Roderich would not actually do that, even if it was Gilbert.

"Vell, idiot, vhat has he done every single year to every single person zhat has been sent to us?" Roderich crossed his arms over his chest; he was quite easily irritated with Gilbert.

For once, Gilbert actually looked like he cared about what Roderich had said. "Hmm…Oh… He did zhat?! To HER? You know… I've started to vonder if zhere is any hope left for him… Maybe it's just been too long…" He sighed, staring off into space. "Roddy… Vhat if he doesn't break zhe curse? Vhat vill ve do vizh him? Ve can't just let him continue on like zhis… He's just been getting vorse und…" Roderich had turned to leave. "Let's not talk about it." And he was gone.

Gilbert stood, and stared out the window. It was fairly early in the morning, and the sun was slowly creeping across the courtyard. "He's like mein bruder… Vhat if he never gets to be human again?" His smile, that he was unaware he was still wearing across his face, began to fade. "I vant to help… but I don't know how… He's just gotten more depressed lately, und zhat is making me depressed, und it's ruining my awesomeness! … Hm?" He thought he saw something moving in the courtyard, but when he looked again, there was nothing there.

"Maybe… zhe shadows vere playing tricks on me." He put a hand on his head. "I vish I could just talk to him… But it's just been getting vorse und talking to him might mean…" He put his hand to his throat now. "If only Valdemar could do somezhing for him! If nozhing can be done… zhen vhat's zhe point in making him live vith such torment?" Now, Gilbert wasn't really the kind of man to think deeply about anything that didn't concern his own ego, but Ludwig was like an older brother to him, and he found that he couldn't help but think about him. He turned around, "Nein! I can't just give up on him! Zhat girl is his only chance… I've never been a matchmaker before, but vizh my awesomeness, maybe I can make it vork… Kesesesese!"

Roderich was rather irritated, as he usually was after speaking with Gil, but this time, it was worse. He wanted someone to talk to, but when Felicia came into Eliza's room while they were talking, Eliza promptly kicked him out! After he was finished talking to Gil, he didn't have anybody else he could go to. Valdemar was probably doing something to Ludwig, trying to help him in some way, and the only people left to talk to were the mute servants. Only one that he could recall wasn't mute after what Ludwig had done, and that was the first one ever sent to them.

He was trying to remember the young man's name. What was it? Bernard? No, wasn't not it. It had been seven years since he'd met the man, and he'd never spoken to him, but he knew that he was the only one that would, and could, still speak. Was it Gerard? …No, that wasn't it either. What about Harold? Nope… He seemed to be getting further from his actual name every time he tried to think of it. Walden? The "wald" part was right…

"Ja, zhat's it! Bervald! Zhat's his name!" Roderich set out to find him now, and he had a feeling he would be in the courtyard.

The courtyard was mostly dark, since it was primarily centered on the north side of the mansion, and it was early morning in late fall. The shadow the mansion cast over the courtyard made the building seem even taller, with the sun so low in the sky. The young man was sitting on a bench, and his dark clothes made him blend in to the shadows. When he saw Roderich, he stood up promptly, clearly expecting to be reprimanded for not working. He attempted to walk by Roderich, and was expecting Roderich to turn and let him pass, but he stood firm.

"…" Berwald was not really one to talk a lot, but at least he was still capable of talking. "I'm not mad at you, Bervald, I just vant to talk…" Memories flickered in his mind, of the day when Berwald was found just within the gates of the mansion, hands tied behind his back. Yet even then, he wore the same expression. He wasn't worried or scared, or anything at all. He almost looked angry, and in truth, Roderich was rather scared of him. Even when Roderich cut the ropes that were binding his hands, Berwald hadn't reacted in any outwardly noticeable way. Maybe he didn't feel emotions at all. It didn't really matter; maybe somebody that was completely rational and without emotions would be the best person to talk to.

"Umm… I just need someone to talk to… About Ludvig. You've been here zhe longest, so you know vhat he's like… Und… I'm sure you've noticed zhat he's gotten vorse." Berwald gave a slight nod, which only indicated that he was paying attention, and not that he necessarily cared. Roderich continued, "Zhis morning, he almost attacked zhe newest arrival…"

"The girl, right?" Roderich couldn't remember what Berwald's voice sounded like, so when he spoke with such a deep voice, he was a bit startled. Roderich nodded.

"Ja, zhe new arrival is a girl. You've seen her? I vas surprised, too."

"I wasn't surprised." For the first time, Roderich looked up to meet Berwald's gaze. From where he had been, Roderich couldn't tell that Berwald was so tall. Was he this tall when he first met him? His height was intimidating, and Roderich backed up.

"You're worried about him."

Roderich nodded, "I don't vant him to be stuck zhis vay forever. I know you've never known him any ozher vay zhan how he is now, but he's like a little bruder to me." He noticed the younger man was staring at him. Why were those eyes so terrifying? Berwald had never given him reason to fear him, but regardless, his expression—or lack thereof—was cause enough to produce fear in anyone.

"There's still a chance. Maybe that girl is the answer." Berwald brushed past him, and went back inside. "Standing out here won't help any." The girl is the answer? Maybe he was right. If Roderich could get Felicia and Ludwig to fall in love, Ludwig's problems would be over! But that was much easier said than done; he couldn't just make them fall in love with each other. It didn't work that way. If Ludwig's condition wasn't so terrible already, it would make things a lot easier. "Hmm… Perhaps I can make it vork…"

"Why won't you answer my questions? Why should this be a secret? If I have to live here, I should be allowed to know!" Felicia had been asking Eliza about Ludwig, but she wasn't getting anywhere; Eliza seemed very reluctant to answer her questions about anything. It's as though she had to hide everything, but why?

"I can't tell you! If I tell you und Ludvig doesn't vant me to, he'll be very angry! You'll have to ask him yourself!"

"I can't ask him myself! There's something wrong with him, and I want to know what's going on!" Felicia was getting angry; she came expecting to get answers, and she wasn't getting them at all. "I wanted to ask him, then he went berserk! How can I ask him what's going on?"

Eliza sighed. "I knew it vould happen… But I still can't tell you. He'll get better, it alvays happens vhen a new villager is sent to us. At least you didn't end up like zhe rest zhough. You've noticed zhey don't talk, right? Vell, vhat happened to you happened to zhem too, but it vas much vorse. Give him a few days, zhen try to ask him. Or maybe you can ask Valdemar. He doesn't care about making Ludvig angry. I'm really sorry, I'd like to help you, but I don't vant to make him upset." Taking a deep breath, she began to dig through a pile of clothes on her bed. "Since you're here already, I found some of my clothes zhat should fit you." She tossed several garments to Felicia, who caught them in her arms and looked at Eliza curiously.

"So… All the others are mute because of Ludwig?" Nodding, Eliza went through the pile again. "All but one, und I don't zhink you've made his acquaintance yet. Not zhat he's zhe talkative type…" Her hands fell back to her sides and she straightened up. "Vhen Valdemar finishes taking care of Ludvig after his…outburst, I recommend you go ask him vhat you asked me. He knows Ludvig better, und Ludvig confides in him more zhan anyone else."

Felicia turned to leave, but Elizabeta caught her arm. "I really am sorry. I vould love to answer your questions, but I just can't…" She let go, and Felicia hugged her with one arm.

"It's alright, I understand." Smiling, she waved slightly and left the room. As soon as the door was closed, she sighed, "I guess I'm back to square one…"

Felicia soon found that Valdemar was still with Ludwig, since he wasn't in his own room, so she resolved to seek out the one servant Eliza had mentioned, the only one that wasn't mute. Her only problem was that she had no idea where he would be, or what he looked like. A description of him would have helped. All she had to go by was the fact that he wasn't very talkative, but that wouldn't help her pick him out among the five others that couldn't talk!

She didn't even know his name; Eliza hadn't mentioned anything about him that would help her find him. Maybe she could ask Roderich or that man with the weird laugh who the servant was that could still talk. It would be nice to talk to somebody that came from the village, too… I can't really expect Roderich to understand. Suddenly being brought out of her daze, Felicia looked up as she ran into someone's back.

"Oh! I'm really sorry!" Whoever he was, he turned around when she spoke, and he appeared very angry. Feli's heart jumped into her throat. She noticed one of the teacups he was carrying had been emptied… all over his shirt. No wonder he looks so mad! Felicia wasn't quite sure if she was as scared of Ludwig upon their first meeting as she was of the man she'd just bumped into. She took several steps back, fearing the reaction that was sure to come.

"I'm so, SO sorry!" His expression made him look older than he really was, for in truth he was the same age as Ludwig, but his eyes made him seem more mature. When he spoke, Feli knew she'd found the man she had been looking for.

"It's fine." He glanced down at the tea stain on his dark overcoat. When Feli looked at him, she recalled something her best friend Tina had told her a long time ago.

"Were you the first one chosen to be brought here?" He nodded, and began wiping at his shirt with a white cloth. "Tina told me about you! I never thought she was describing you accurately…. Your name's Berwald, right?" He looked at her now. His gaze made a tingle go down her spine.

"You know Tina?" His expression softened, barely. Felicia nodded, "She told me that her… boyfriend… was the first one chosen seven years ago. I bet Tina would be so happy to find out you're still alive!" Her smile returned, and she forgot all about how terrifying he looked. However, now he looked stunned.

"She calls me…her boyfriend?" There was the slightest hint of a smile on his face now. "I suppose it's only fitting. I told her I would marry her."

Feli's eyes grew wide. "She never said anything about that! And she wasn't even old enough to marry back then!"

"…I know. I was eighteen and she was fifteen. We could have been married for four years now." He picked up the empty teacup he had previously set down, now that he had wiped all the tea from his shirt, and went back to the kitchen. Felicia followed him, and began asking questions, hoping he at least knew more than she did.

"I don't know much about Ludwig's problem. All I know is that he's under a curse." He poured another cup of tea, and sipped while listening to more questions roll out one after another from Felicia.

"How did it happen? Do you know who did it? How can he break the curse?" More and more questions rolled out, all about Ludwig, but what would Berwald know? He was in the same boat as Felicia, yet she expected him to know all the answers.

"You will have to be patient. The best idea would be to ask him yourself, rather than asking everyone else. It may be a while, though, I've already heard what happened this morning, and every time before, he has been laid up several days, if not weeks, after Valdemar deals with him." Felicia got the feeling that what he just said would be the most he would ever say, and it would more than likely be pointless to try to get him to say much more.

"Alright, I suppose… Thanks for helping! If you ever want to talk, I'd be glad to have somebody to talk to!" She smiled and waved to him as she exited the kitchen.

"You could also try talking to Valdemar… He knows a lot, and he doesn't seem to mind telling people what others don't want to." His back was turned to her, and he continued drinking his tea.

Her footsteps receded, and Berwald gazed into his tea. "So she talks about me, hm?"

Now that Lovina's plan was set in motion, she decided it was best to stay home and console her father, who was drunk again, as he had been ever since the day Feli had been taken away. He was sleeping off a hangover that morning, when someone knocked at the door. Lovina had been lying in her bed, staring at the ceiling when she heard the knock. She got out of bed, rather reluctantly, and went to the door, running her fingers through her hair to smooth out the knots.

"Yeah, who is it?" She opened the door, rubbing her eyes. Lovi was surprised to see it was Tina, Felicia's best friend until a few days earlier. Seeing her brought back painful memories of her sister that she had been trying to hold back ever since she was taken. It seemed that no matter how many times she cried over it, she would always cry again whenever she thought of Felicia.

"L-Lovina? I'm sorry to just drop in like this, but I wanted to offer my condolences… Can I come in?" Lovina nodded faintly, and took a step back to let Tina inside. She motioned for her to sit, and they both took a seat. Tina spoke first.

"I probably haven't told you this; I know I told Felicia about it, but the first person that was sacrificed… Well, he was my boyfriend." Lovina had had no idea, in fact, and was quite surprised to hear about it. At Lovina's shocked expression, Tina nodded, "He was… always saying that he would marry me…" she blushed, "But I wasn't old enough to get married at the time." The small amount of cheerfulness she had brought with her into the house faded now.

"We never got the chance. He was taken away as a sacrifice before I was even old enough. …I still imagine what kind of life we could have had together." She looked up to Lovina now, who had also been staring at the floor. "I just wanted you to know that you're not alone, and… if you need a shoulder to cry on, I wouldn't mind. I wish somebody would have been sympathetic with me when Berwald was taken away…"

Lovina took the opportunity to cry on Tina's shoulder, sobbing quietly, "Nobody should have to go through this! That bastard that killed my sister will meet his end soon!" Tina's expression went from sorrow to confusion.

"What do you mean he'll meet his end? What are you planning?"

"I'm going to gather people in this village and kill that monster! I already asked that bastard Francis to help, and Antonio said he would help me too! I just have to be patient, but I will get vengeance for my sister, one way or another." She seemed proud of her plan, but Tina was worried about her.

"Are you sure that's a good idea? I mean, if you go up against him, more people might die… Lovina, are you sure you know what you're doing?" Her brow was furrowed, her eyes sincere. "I don't want more bloodshed. I've already lost two people I was very close to; I don't want to lose more."

"But Tina! If we kill him once and for all, we won't have to worry about any more people being his victims! Once he's dead, nobody will suffer!" She took Tina's hands in her own. "Please, would you at least support me in this? For Berwald, and for my sister?" Her eyes were pleading.

Sighing, Tina resigned to agree with Lovina. "I suppose if it would put an end to the sacrifices… I guess it wouldn't be too much for me to throw my support behind you and… whoever helps you." She tried to smile, but the only expression son her face were worry and grief.

Matthew was sitting in the tea shop with Francis; the recent sacrifice had been depressing him.

"Francis, did I ever tell you that I knew somebody that worked in that mansion?" He sighed. "He's probably dead now; I'm sure that monster he was working for killed him." Putting his arms over the table, he rested his head on top of them, while Francis ignored him.

"As zough I care! I 'ad Feli taken away from me! Sure, I still 'ave Lovina, but zat cuts my chances in 'alf now!"

For once, the tea shop had quite a few people in it, though they were not all exactly customers. Two of them were Natalia and Katyusha, who were sisters. However, unlike Feli and Lovi, they would have been more than happy to have Francis fawn over them. Also in the tea shop with Matthew and Francis was Antonio, who was only there to speak with Francis.

"His name was Gilbert… I miss him so much. I know it's too much to hope that he made it out alive, but sometimes I still imagine seeing him in town at the market…" Matt was still droning on in his quiet voice, hardly noticed by anybody. "At least you knew it was coming, and you got to see her before she was gone… Gilbert just stopped coming into town one day, and then we heard about the monster. It was then that I knew I'd never see him ever again."

"Would you shut it already? I am sick of 'earing about it! You're just depressing me!" Francis huffed. Antonio felt there was probably not going to be a better time to interrupt, so he spoke up.

"Mi amigo, how are we going to get anybody to join us to kill that monster? Everybody's terrified that if we go against him, he'll slaughter us all. How can we convince them we can win?"

Francis perked up from his slump now. "Zey'll listen to me, just trust me. Ohonhonhonhon…"

He certainly looks confident. But will that be enough? Antonio noticed that Francis's hangers-on were coming closer. Those two need a hobby. I'm pretty sure Francis is less than interested in them… Wait, did Matt say Gilbert?

"Say, Matthew, did you just mention a man named… Gilbert?" Francis was irritated now.

"'E 'asn't stopped talking about 'im since ze sacrifice il ya trois jours! Mattie, why can't you just—huh?" Antonio tugged at Francis's shirt sleeve, and pulled him aside. Francis only just realized that Matt's eyes were full of tears.

Matt was only thirteen years old when he heard of the news in the mansion, and it upset him quite deeply that his close friend Gilbert would never be heard from again. It's a mystery as to how Matt and Francis became close friends afterward, though it is rumored that in Matt's depression, Francis saved him from ending his own life, and lifted his spirits. However, every year after each sacrifice, Matt fell into the same depression, and Francis had become a bit tired of it after seven years. The age difference between the two also poses a bit of problem in their already strange relationship, for Francis is seven years Matthew's senior. It was due to this that Francis began to consider himself Matt's older brother, even though they were already cousins by marriage.

As Francis helped him through his misery and befriended him, Matt acted as a voice of reason to Francis. He had previously tried numerous times to get Francis over his obsession with Felicia and Lovina, but failed every time.

"I'm sorry, Matt… I didn't mean to…" Antonio pulled Francis away from the table and went outside.

"You know what, amigo? You can be muy estupido sometimes!" He pointed to Matt through the window in the door. "Don't you remember Gilbert? Dios mio, it's been a long time. I never knew that Gilbert and Matt were such close friends."

Ever since the Vargas family had come to live in the town three years earlier, Francis had forgotten about most everything before, and had concentrated on almost nothing but Felicia and Lovina almost every day, so it was no wonder he didn't recognize who Gilbert was when Matt talked about him.

"Gilbert, hm? … Oh, zat kid with ze white 'air and red eyes? Wow… It 'as been such a long time." He turned to look at Matthew through the window. "And I was so inconsiderate… I made him cry. I forget zat 'e's still young..."

Antonio groaned, "Just go apologize to him already. And you better mean it." He opened the door and pushed Francis back inside, but did not follow him in. Instead, he pulled the door closed and left.

I would have smacked him, but it wouldn't have done me any good. While he's in there comforting Matt, I should be going to see Lovina to comfort her. I'm sure she could use it just as much as Matthew right now, and since Francis is busy…" He chuckled to himself, and began to walk to Lovina's house. "What am I thinking? Am I going to really take advantage of her emotional state just to get close to her?! Dios mio, what kind of person am I? I'm acting like Francis! But I should go console her anyway... I won't be like Francis! She's just a friend… A really cute… adorable friend… and she needs somebody's shoulder to cry on!"

Meanwhile, back at the teashop…

"I'm really sorry, Mattie! 'Ow could you ever forgive me?" Antonio's little talk had made Francis feel terrible, and he was practically begging Matt for forgiveness. He had one of Matthew's hands in both of his own, staring into his eyes, on the brink of tears. "Please, Mattie, would you accept my apology, mon ami?"

"Francis, how many times do I have to tell you? It's okay, I understand; don't beat yourself up about it." He smiled, a rather forced smile, because Francis begging was rather pathetic, even for him. Matt tried to pull his hand away, but Francis just held it tighter.

"Oh, merci, Mon ami! I don't know what I would do if I couldn't get you to forgive me!"

Arthur walked in then, surprised to see so many people there. Alfred had been taking care of the shop before he arrived, and Arthur was pleased that he had drawn in so many customers…until he realized that they were all there because of Francis, who was at that moment holding Matthew's hand across the table.

"Can you not control yourself?! Do you have to flirt with everyone that sits at the same table as you?!" Why was he so angry? It could'nt it be that he was… jealous?

"Ohonhonhon! Arthur, I'm not flirting with Matt! I was simply asking 'im to forgive me, I was… being a little rude earlier." His eyes sparkled when he looked at Arthur, and he stood, letting go of Matt's hand and taking Arthur's. "Really, mon ami, are you jealous zat I was 'olding Mattie's 'and? I'm so flattered zat you feel zat way about me!" For a moment Arthur's gaze was soft, and sincere, then it changed to rage. He forced Francis's hands away from his own.

"Why would I be jealous over you, frog?! Get your hands away from me!" Arthur quickly moved past him and into the kitchen. He noticed his face felt hot. "Why am I blushing? Seriously, why would I care about that wine-loving, flirtatious moron?!"

Francis took his seat again, his eyes focused in the direction Arthur had disappeared in, a faint smile on his lips.

"He'll come to his senses soon enough. I'm sure of it." He left some money on the table and left the tea shop.

AG: *is still beating CanaDERP* I AM NEVER LETTING YOU IN MY ROOM AGAIN!

CanaDERP: *gets tired of being beaten, so does a triple backflip and lands on AG's windowsill* NON! D8

AG: If you keep doing this, I will just post the next chapter by myself and I won't let you fangirl over it at all.

CanaDERP: *laughs at the absurdity of such a thing*

AG: Hmph, you think it's absurd now, but I've already started on chapter 5, and I haven't shown you a single word of it! BAHAHAHA!

CanaDERP: ... You will, though. *climbs out window and disappears* *reappears a second later* You will... *disappears again*

AG: Damn, why do you have to be right?! I hate you so much!

CanaDERP: *disembodied laughter floats in from outside as CanaDERP derps off into the sunset*

AG: Freak. *sits at computer, writes chapter 5*