Colors and Life / Soviet x Reich

Chapter 3

I filled the water I had brought with me in the water of the animals before I took the wooden bucket back to where I had taken it. Then I got the pitchfork and cleaned the stables. Then I put new straw on the ground. While I was spreading the straw on the ground, I saw Lukas, who was making himself comfortable on one of the fences. He joked: "Bis du zum Blumenjungen geworden? (How did you become a flower boy?)" "Ha-ha-ha, sehr witzig. (Ha-ha-ha, very funny.)", I said annoyed, then I told him in a better mood, "Ich habe diese Blume von jemanden bekommen, denn ich kennen gelernt habe! (I got this flower from someone I met!)" "Seit wann hast du den Freunde? (Since when do you have friends?)", he joked. However, I no longer got involved with him and continued to finish my work.

Every time he tried to annoy me in some way, I ignored him until he was gone. I put the pitchfork in the corner where more tools were. Then I went to Rosi's house, who was just putting the freshly washed clothes in the dresser. "Rosi, ich habe heute jemanden neuen kennen gelernt. Darf ich zu ihm? (Rosi, I met someone new today. May I see him?)", I asked her. She seemed happy about it and said happily: "Natürlich! Geh ruhig zu ihm. (Of course! Go to him.)" "Danke! (Thanks!)", I thanked her before I stormed out of the room. I ran down the stairs and almost fell, but luckily I was still able to catch myself. Then I ran outside and into the forest.

It didn't take long until I got to the pond and saw that Nick wasn't there yet. I sat on the ground. Then I remembered saying that we wouldn't meet for three hours. "Ich Dummkopf bekomme nichts auf die Reihe! (I idiot always do everything wrong!)", I grumbled to myself. "Andreas, you are not a idiot! You just have a different sense of time.", Nick said, who was just walking towards me. How did he just understand me? Only now did I realize how big he was, but he still couldn't scare me. I knew he was a nice guy so I didn't have to be afraid of him. He sat down next to me. Nick said: "We can spend time together now, too. I have plenty of time."

"I also have enough time.", I informed him. Then I looked at him and saw that he had a basket with him. "Why did you need the flowers?" I asked him first. "I work in a bakery because I have to pay for my accommodation. In case you ask, I ran away because I don't like the life my father planned for me. I use the flowers as ingredients for some of the snacks that are served there.", said Nick. He ran away just like me. We're more similar than I thought. I can probably tell him that I didn't want to live the life my father planned either.

I told him: "I also fled from my planned life. My father and brother got on my nerves so much that I just had to leave. Now I live with a Statehuman and his family." "Really? It's the same for me except that I don't have a brother.", Nick laughed. "Do you mind that I don't want to talk about my real family?", I asked him. Then he said: "Of course I don't mind, especially since I don't want to talk about him either." When it comes to our families, it was probably very much the same with us. Maybe I can even tell him who and what I am, but later.

"Do you have any pets?", I asked Nick. "The bear I told you about was a pet. Afterwards I never had a pet again.", he answered, "What about you?" "I've never had a pet. I would like a dog.", I said. "How many friends do you have?" Nick asked me. To which I had to answer: "Zero, except when we are friends?" I wasn't exactly sure we were really friends and I didn't know if Soviet and I were friends either, since he never told me. Nick said: "Of course we are friends!" It made me really happy to hear that I have a friend for the first time in 17 years. What do friends usually do? I don't really know friendship.

My father always said: Reich my son, you cannot trust anyone. You are only safe here in the palace! Safe from what? I never needed security because all I want is freedom. Security not only takes away your freedom, but also the joy of life. If I hadn't made it out of there, I would have hanged myself, so that maybe in my next life I could be free as a bird. "Earth-to-Andreas?", came from Nick. I had drifted too far into my thoughts again. "Sorry! That happens to me again and again.", I apologized to him. "It's okay!", he said, "You also mumbled something about 'Reich'."

He shouldn't find out who I am! "Reich is the name of the king and the prince. The king is called Second Reich and his son is called Third Reich. I was just thinking that Countryhumans cannot have friends.", I told him. Why did I come up with something like that? He will definitely not believe me! That was the worst lie I've ever told anyone. "I thought the king was called Reich the Second and his son was called Reich the Third.", Nick said. I lied: "Their names are often abbreviated with Second Reich and Third Reich." My father and I were always called the long version, except in the family.

I wondered what Soviet's whole title was. He was one of the only princes I was ever allowed to talk to, for a while, anyway. He always made me feel so strange that I couldn't quite describe it. Unfortunately, I'm not sure if we were friends because I never heard from him that we were friends and I had no idea about friendship. When I thought about him like that, my body started tingling again. Somehow I miss Soviet, he was always such a friendly and nice guy. He was always careful and really nice, but could also be very clear and direct. He was always so fascinating and I often wanted to hug him.

"If you could meet a Countryhuman, who would you meet?", Nick asked me. I didn't have to think twice to give him an answer: "I would like to meet the son of Russian Empire, and you?" "I would like to meet Reich the Third. I don't know why, but I feel so drawn to him. I firmly believe that he has a good heart and is a really nice guy.", Nick replied. He likes who i am. It's nice to hear from him. Maybe I should show him who I really am, but I'm not sure. I am not ready to show him that I am Third Reich.

"Would Reich the Second allow his son to love a man?", Nick asked me. My father would definitely not allow it. "I'm sure he wouldn't like that.", I told him, in a slightly disappointed voice. Why did he ask that? Nick said: "The Russian Empire would definitely not allow that either." Had I just heard some sadness in his voice? Did Nick have anything to do with the royal family?