The Lost Prince

Gilberts Plan

"Mattie, Mattie!" Gilbert yelled rushing up to the blonde.

Matthew turned around only to be pounced on. He let out a small "oof." Before beginning to laugh.

"Gil, you don't have to pounce me every time you get an idea." He laughed.

"But Mattie this ones really good!" He said excited.

"Alright then tell me." He said sitting up and pushing Gil up as well.

"Let's take Ludi, Toni and the kids to my castle!" He said excitedly. "For the week, we can go horse back riding, go out to the lake, Ludi can meet the old man!"

Matthew seemed worried for a moment but then he smiled.

"I think that's a great idea, but you had better ask king Roma first." Matthew pointed out.

"Well I wasn't gonna kidnap them!"

Matthew lifted a brown in disbelief.

"Mattie I wouldn't!" He whined.

Matthew laughed lightly and pet Gil's hair.

"I know I know, now go ask."

Gil got up excitedly and ran off leaving Mattie on his rump.

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Roma slumped over a gold and silver board where beatific hand carved knights and pawns fought a long battle. He puzzled over his small wooden men as he thought of how he would save himself, the king. Yet Ludwig's pawns out numbered his own and he seemed calm as he waited for the king to move.

"Would you like help, your highness?" Ludwig offered.

"Your enemy would never help you in real life." The king looked on.

"It's just a game your highness." Ludwig sighed.

"No, it is war!" The king tempered.

"Sir, it's chess."

The king moved a piece. "AHA! Check-"

Ludwig moved a piece and the kings eyes widened.

"Mate."

"I can't believe I lost!" The king bellowed. "you are no regular guy."

"Thank you, I think?" Ludwig said.

The doors I the room the two sat in swung open slamming them to the walls.

"Your highness!" Gilbert yelled.

Ludwig and Roma looked shocked and they both stood swiftly.

"I have something to ask you!" He announced.

"Oh? Ask away Gilbert."

"Can I take Ludi, Toni and the boys to my castle for the week."

Roma's eyes looked confused. He looked at Ludwig as if for confirmation.

Ludwig cocked a brow then sighed. "The boys could learn a lot seeing the other kingdoms, comparing contrasting what not."

"Well that's good enough or me, have fun boys." Roma said putting away the chess pieces.

"Alriiiiight!!" Gilbert yelled in excitement.

He then ran off and Ludwig gave a ghost like smile. Roma caught the smile but said nothing watching the childish king run off.

"It's hard to believe a man who acts like a kid can really be king." Ludwig said.

"He's serious when he needs to be, if a king doesn't let loose sometimes they'll become strung up, kind of like your father, that guy was always so serious." Roma said looking back.

"We don't know if he's my father."

"He is, he was just like you, but much more quiet, I'm sure I annoyed him a lot, but he helped me all of the time!"

Ludwig stayed silent and thought about it for his mysterious father.

"Your cousin looks incredibly like him as well." Roma remembered.

"Sir, Roderick looks nothing like me." Ludwig announced slightly annoyed.

"Not Roderick! Berwald, the swede."

"The Finnish king?" Ludwig remembered.

"Yeah, ask your old man if your interested, now get out of here so I can sulk over my loss."

"Yes sir.... King Roma?" Ludwig said standing up. "Did Gilbert's father beet you in chess to?"

"Your father us to let me win." Roma laughed. "Now get going."

Ludwig nodded and walked out leaving the handsome king to his chess board.

"He'll see, they are just the same." Roma smiled looking out the stained glass window.

**************************

Gilbert ran down the hall and caught sight of the twins listening to Antonio read. Gilbert stopped and walked up leaning against the wide doorway and listening to Antonio read the story. He couldn't understand a word, for it was all in Italian but he liked the way Antonio sounded when he spoke. His voice was soft and he read the Italian fluently. Gilbert thought about it for a second and realized the reason it sounded good may have been because it was Italian instead of German. Antonio caught sight of Gilbert and he waved him to join them. Gil smiled and sat down with the kids. Antonio read on and Gilbert listened intensely.

**************************

Matthew found Ludwig carrying the twins bags and his own. Matthew walked up to him with a big smile.

"So you're going?" He asked.

"Would Gilbert had given me a choice?" Ludwig laughed to himself.

"No, not a chance." Matthew agreed.

"He's a good guy." Ludwig said picking up the three bags.

"Hm? What brought that around?" Matthew asked.

"I've just been thinking a lot, an if I'm going to be stuck tin his castle for a week, I might as well start thinking of him as a person and not a pain."

Matthew begun to laugh. "I've been trying to do that for 5 years, he's still a pain."

"Where is he anyways?" Ludwig asked.

"With the twins, Antonio's reading then stories."

Ludwig cocked a brow. "All the stories in the library are Italian and Spanish."

"Yeah, he has no idea what he's saying." Matthew giggled.

Ludwig rolled his eyes. "Well these are the last of the bags, so go get them and we'll head off."

Matthew nodded and adjusting his glasses. He turned and started to walk away but then he paused.

"And Ludwig." He called.

Ludwig stopped and glanced over his shoulder.

"Gilbert really is trying." Matthew said with a kind smile.

Ludwig sighed. "I know."

With that they parted ways in preparation of the travel to the Prussian castle.