Secrets

Secrets

There would always be many secrets in both of their lives, such was the nature of their very being. It was their fate that there were always going to be people in their lives from whom they would keep secrets and even tell lies to, simply to protect those secrets.

Ludwig and Chiara had accepted that their duty to their people meant that there would be secrets between them, things they could never share with each other or warn the other one about. They could only try to forgive for each other for  choices made long after they had been made.

They accepted this because secrets were not the only thing shared between the two of them. There was the love the both felt. The love that was a secret itself, for no one knew of it. Perhaps Gilbert knew because he knew his little brother better than anyone. Maybe Francis had his suspicions, the man seemed to have a sixth sense for people in love. Chiara didn’t think her sister had ever noticed the tension between her sister and her best friend. Fact was, neither one of them had actually told someone about it.

Their love was a secret during meetings, when Chiara would show up at his hotelroom.

This love was a secret during his visits to Feliciana, when Ludwig would knock on the older sisters’ door during the night.

Ludwig didn’t want to hide his love for Chiara anymore.

Chiara loved the younger potato bastard. Now that she had reconciled with that fact, she wanted people to know it.

But they kept their secret.

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Day 1 prompt Secrets for @hws-germano-week's 2nd week of 2023.

For @pruktober's 2nd day of Prukcember. Theme Christmas with the prompt Poinsettias. (+ a touch of the theme winter with prompt snowflake if you don't blink.)

After the second time she pressed a wrong key she was annoyed enough at the way he kept staring at her that she changed to Chopin. It had never been uncommon for Antonio to join her in the music room when he had the time to spare back when they had been married, but he had never looked at her quite like that.

When she played the wrong key yet again though, she was absolutely done with it and turned away from the grand wing to glare at him.

He looked at her in surprise. “Why did you stop playing?” Not the question he should be asking, he was playing dumb. The man was smarter then he usually let on, Anneliese knew that because she had known him so long and she knew him well.

“You should ask me why I’m angry.” She told him.

He smiled at her and asked “Why are you so angry, dear?”

The woman huffed and looked away. “You distract me, why are you here anyway?” Her ex had just shown up without any official business or other reason, but she had allowed him to stay anyway.

“Simply to visit you.” He answered, still smiling.

“And to stare at me.” She grumbled annoyed.

Antonio looked at her for another moment before walking over and sitting down next to her at the grand wing. He took her hands at placed the back at the keys and asked her to play something again.

As she began moving her fingers across the keys again, he began talking. Talking about the past and old glory. How, for as rich as he had been her eyes were brighter than the most beautiful gems he had ever owned.

“What?” She was the only thing she could manage.

“Especially when you’re playing Chopin.” Did the idiot really just say that? No wonder he was one of Gilbert’s best friends.

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Day 2 prompt "But none of those gems shine brighter than your eyes." For @spaus-weekweek.

Day 1 prompt Why can't I hate you for @aphfrukweek

@pruktober Yes those are little fairies. I usually draw my fem!England with some of them present.

Day 8 prompt horror movies for @hetaween-event, but started this for day 2 prompt scary movies @pruktober.

“So…?”He started asking when the glare the blonde shot him made him go quiet. “I don’t know how this happened.” She said while she went back to glaring the little gingerbread men to death. Further to death that is.

Thing is neither of them knew how to bake those cookies. Viv refushed to acknowledge she had no idea what she was doing and when she just tried to wing it, Gilbert had awesomely gone along with that. He had read up on some recipes in secret, no need to tell that to anyone though, but these recipes must have been wrong.

Which meant that after making their way through the smoke to rescue the little cookie people from the  oven’s mighty flames, they had really only saved them from the confines of the oven. They also managed to save Viv’s kitchen from burning down.

Still, as they stood side by side looking down on their attempt at baking they has to admit the little piles of charcoal were far beyond salvation.

The blonde woman sighed and put her head on his shoulder in defeat. “I’m going to make a call.” The man said and before she could make another comment, Gilbert added “He won’t ask any questions.”

Ludwig shook simply shook his head when he heard his ringtone go off. He had been expecting this call and had been acting accordingly. He answered the call and only said. “They are ready.”

On the kitchen counter was a batch of gingerbread men cooling off.

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For @pruktober's 2nd day of Prukcember. Theme Christmas with the prompt gingerbread.