The Lost Prince

Roderick's Secret

The four returned to the table. Ludwig rejoined feliciano while Matthew stood beside Roderick momentarily.

"Gilbert, how about you take Roderick out for a walk in the garden for a bit. Elizabeta and I can show our guests the art room." Matthew said.

Feliciano's eyes twinkled when Matthew said art room. Gilbert looked shocked however. Like he wasn't expecting Matthew to say that at all.

"You don't want to join us?" Roderick said a bit frightened.

"Mattie! Please do!" Gil yelled.

"S-sure? But Liz.."

"I'll be alright, I know where the art room is, just come meet us when you're done."

The rest of the group looked confused but they willingly followed Liz away. Gilbert got up and walked over to Matthew and Roderick.

"Mattie." He said with sad eyes. "Please don't tell me you're leaving me for this guy."

"What?!" Matthew and Roderick said at the same time.

"You, okay... Good!" Gil said grabbing Matthew. "Get your own."

"G-Gil.." Matthew blushed. "Roderick has something he wants to get off his chest."

"Let's walk." Roderick said.

They all started to walk side by side leaving the dining hall threw the kitchen. They headed out into the field the started to walk towards the garden path.

"Gil, there is something I've known, myself and my mother that is. We knew about your mother leaving." Roderick said hiding behind Matthew.

"You, what did you know?" Gil said still not clear.

"My mother helped yours escape."

"She did what?!" Gil said alarmed. "You knew about this Mattie?"

"I only knew the first part, the rest is all news to me." Matthew said truthfully.

"That's not all..." Roderick winced. "I've known where her and Ludwig had been all along, I was trying to find ways to get Ludwig to come back but nothing came up. Until I received a letter from King Roma saying he needed tutors... I took the opportunity and told him about Ludwig and it worked..... Soon after I sent a letter to you about his whereabouts but you never replied." Roderick took a breath and waited for Gilbert to swing at him.

"Roddy, usually I would slug someone for news like this..... But I can see it wasn't you."

Roderick let out his air and looked up with big shocked eyes.

"Now your mom I would happily slug!"

"Gil." Matthew warned.

"But.... I'm grateful that you tried to reunite us." Gil sighed.

"I'm sorry." Roderick said.

"Sorry? Now I know this ain't real! You never say sorry!" Gil laughed.

"that's because this time it actually is my fault." Roderick admitted.

"You should have told me!" Gil yelled.

"My mother would have killed me!!" Roderick defended.

"Yeah, even I wouldn't mess with her." Gil agreed. "Well I guess it's only been 21 years." He sassed.

"Roderick had to keep that secret for 21 years Gil, it must have been hard to lie to you every time he visited." Matthew said shedding light on Roderick.

"Yeah, I get it." Gilbert said annoyed.

"Should we meet with the others now?" Roderick asked.

Gilbert crossed his arms and turned away.

"Yeah..... But one more thing. Did Ludwig know about any of it?"

"Not a thing."

Gilbert sighed. "We can keep it that way."

"Are you sure?" Roderick asked.

Gilbert smiled and Matthews heart fluttered at this.

"I'm pretty sure." Gil said smiling kindly.

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

Ludwig and Antonio watched as the twins painted one giant canvas together. Ludwig looked over his shoulder he saw Gilbert, Roderick and Matthew enter the room.

"Have a good talk gents?" Ludwig mocked.

"Yes quite." Gilbert sassed. "What are they up to."

"A masterpiece." Liz explained.

"We were only gone a minute and they've already painted this much?!" Gilbert said wowed.

"You obviously don't gossip." Antonio pressed.

"The Italian twins are known for their mastery for the arts, especially young feliciano." Roderick remarked.

"He put those old artists to shame." Ludwig said proud.

"I would say...." Gilbert said.

They pulled up some chairs and watched silently as the two went at it on the large canvas.

Gilbert leaned over to Matthew and whispered in his ear.

"Go into the hall and yell for a maid, ask them to get the chef to make a big dinner for our palls." He smiled.

Matthew nodded and snuck away. Before long he returned and they continued watching the twins paint.

Many hours later

Finally the painting had been done. In good time to because Gilbert was now falling asleep.

"Done!" Feliciano announced.

They both backed away and let the the painting be revealed. They all sat up except for Antonio who stood up. On the canvas was s lay out of the stars. And just beneath it all holding hands on the red castle roof. Was the princes the king and their tutors. The order from left to right was Ludwig, feliciano, Antonio, lovino, Matthew and Gilbert. The greatest thing about the painting though was the fact that everything was very dark. Except for the stars, their hands and their eyes and sparkled for a greater meaning.
Heath"Lovi~." Antonio whimpered.

"Yeah yeah, it's beautiful." Lovino rolled his eyes."

Antonio hugged him tight and nuzzled his face into his hair.

"It's more then beautiful." He cried.

Ludwig and the others also got up to admire the piece. Feliciano ran up to Ludwig hugging him excitedly.

"Do you like it?" He asked.

"One of your best." He praised.

"Yay!"

Elizabeta walked up to Roderick and stood beside him.

"I feel kind of left out." Roderick admitted.

"Well that's because the twins have no fond memories with us, unlike with the others." She explained.

There was a Knock at the door that everyone except for Roderick and Liz were to busy to hear. Roderick there for answered it and saw a young maiden looking up a bit baffled.

"Yes?" Roderick answered.

"Dinner is ready for his majesty and pals." She explained.

"Alright I'll tell them, you better hide before the twins catch a glance at you." He warned.

She looked very confused but still nodded and trotted off.

"Who was that?" Gil called from across the room.

Roderick padded up to them and they all piped down. He looked at them confused.

"This isn't a royal hearing or a symphony." He sassed. "It's dinner."

"DINNER?!" Feliciano screamed in excitement.

"Awesome! I'm starving!" Gil announced.

They all proceeded down to the mess hall.