We were walking through the city I lived in. We had just returned from a battle with one of the other countries. I was walking in front even though I'd prefer to be walking in the back. Specifically for the reason this battle took place… I'd lost my temper and wanted to show that I could win a battle against anyone. The perfect candidate would have been England but since he lives so far away… and I wanted to prove it sooner than later… I attacked Netherlands. Sure I could have attacked Austria, again, but that was too much of an easy victory.

"Gilbert, you're going the wrong way, it's a left." I turned to see Blaz speaking. I turned left and headed for home. They didn't need to say anything. I could feel the disappointment coming from them. We had lost a less than twenty men but they were still disappointed in me. I didn't want to stand here and take it but the fact of the matter is that they are my men. I can't just flee from them. They follow me wherever I go.

We reached the castle that I call home and when we got inside, most of them dispersed, they were going to go see the medic because she was furious when we didn't come to see her after every single battle! I mean, sometimes we just don't get hurt in combat! Doing so would use more money than it was worth. I would head there soon myself but Rainart was motioning me to follow him. I stood rooted to the spot as I decided whether or not I wanted to comply. I had no idea what he wanted but I suppose it is to scold me like some of the knights do. Though that seems to rarely happen. Only when I mess up big do they do anything about it.

I nodded and Rainart bowed as I came up to him. He turned and headed deeper into the castle before turning left. We went down to the empty prisoner cells room. We rarely took prisoners. He knelt down until we were on eye level. "Please look at me sir." I had turned my head away from him when he bent down. He was on his knees, his knees spread a bit so he could meet my eye contact. "Look at me." I turned my head to look at him, making eye contact.

"What is it Rainart?" I spat. His calm expression turned into a sterner one. I felt bad the instant those words were out of my mouth. "Rainart-"

"I know you don't have to, but I really appreciate it when you do respect me, when you respect us. Your knights are lucky we got out as unscathed as we did. The only reason we did is because we never stop training. I wish you would space the battles out more. Instead there's one every week. I want you to take more consideration into the lives of your warriors."

"You don't think I care about your lives? Because you would be wrong! I do care!" I said as my feet stomped in anger.

"Hey! Stop that! Please?" I crossed my arms across my chest while glaring at him. "I did not say that you did not care about our lives, I meant you need to consider our lives more." I felt tears rising in my eyes at the thought that it seemed I didn't care about my knights. My warriors were awesome! I was AWESOME! If they think I don't care if I put them in danger, I'll go fight an army all by myself! Without telling them anything. I'll bring home something to prove I put myself in danger for them. In fact I'll fight RUSSIA for them! Russia is the biggest country besides me that I know… I think. I felt a tear fall and gasped. I was crying! … My awesome tears. Rainart pulled me to him and gave me a hug. "Come on, don't cry, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings Gilbert. I was just trying to get my point across. Did it work? Do you understand?" I nodded against his chest and cuddled into his chest. Something I should probably say is that unlike the other kids I don't have parents… or a family. My family was the knights and the staff of my castle.

"You got your point across Rainart. I promise." I hiccuped from my awesome tears. He kissed my cheek before standing up, picking me up as he did. He walked out of the dungeons and towards the doctor. "I'm sorry Rainart." I said, looking up at him.

"You're forgiven Gilbert. I promise." He smiled at me. I smiled back before laying my chin on his shoulder since we had a long walk to go. The doctor was near the front of the castle and we had gone towards the back.

I'd almost fallen asleep from the motion when it stopped. I looked up and around to see the door to the doctors office. He set me on my feet and knocked on the door as he stood back up. The door opened and Leon's face appeared. He was glaring. I frowned. I didn't want another lecture. Rainart's hand landed on my shoulder.

"Sorry, I just needed to talk to him." I should probably apologize to God…for fighting Netherlands just because I lost my temper. "Come on, go inside. We're having our check up done now." He gently pushed on my upper back and I walked in and he followed. Leon had me get up on the table before he started checking me. He tested my reflexes before checking for any cuts, scrapes, bruises, or red spots. I had none. My knights kept getting in the way when they tried to attack me like that while I attacked my attacker.

"Gilbert, you're healthy and untouched. You may leave. I heard that Adalbert or Imre baked you some treats." Leon said as I got down. I beamed before running out the door and towards the kitchens. I waved hello to those that I passed, both servants and knights.

When I got to the kitchen, I ran in before slowing down to a walk because I didn't want to trip and get hurt, pissing off Leon, and I didn't want to trip someone up and ruin anything to do with the treats or dinner. I saw Adalbert walk up to me. He smiled and bowed.

"Good afternoon, sir. I'm happy to see you. Are you okay? How did the battle go?"

"Good afternoon to you too. I'm great and we won! We won so hard that the enemy won't come looking for us for a long time! You should have seen how they fled with their tails between their legs! … I think we scared them. I am awesome!" I jumped up and down. "Leon said that you had something for me."

"I do. I shall retrieve it for you." He turned around and walked away and quickly came back with flan. I smiled, I loved anything this man had cooked. Or most of it anyway. If there were any problems with the food, it was my taste. I liked wurst but the flavors I ate were… down graded from the others food who ate with me. Izaak told me it was because I was a kid. He said it was because my sense of taste was stronger than an adults. "I brought a fork and a spoon so that you have the choice of which one you want to use." I smiled at him. None of it matters, I'm still awesome! I stared at the gold silverware he presented to me.

"I choosssee… the spoon. It's shinier." He gave me the fork and the flan before smiling.

"May I request that you go to the table to eat it so that we can continue cooking your dinner?"

"I wanna watch my awesome meal get cooked." I looked up at him, meeting with direct eye contact. He looked at his second in command in cooking before he nodded at me.

"Yes sir. We have an hour left to finish cooking the meal. You may watch if you please." He then turned back and began working again. I sat down where I stood and began to eat my dessert… treat. I wonder if Reginald will mind me have a treat an hour before dinner? Maybe if I'm not hungry enough to eat dinner. He was a strong believer in no dessert or treats unless right after lunch and dinner. The only snack he allowed was healthy snacks, like apple slices. No kids should have to suffer from this injustice.

When I finished I stood up and walked around the kitchen, watching them cook. It really was interesting. There was a lot of fire and no witches being burned. I preferred fire not burning people to death with fire. They should get killed by the blade, that way it wasn't so cruel. Instant death was better than slow death for them and everyone, if you asked me. Though that might be because I prefer my sword to waving around fire like an idiot.

When dinner was ready I tried to get them to let me help set up the plates but they politely refused. So instead I left the kitchens and headed towards the horse stables and bumped into Koen when I went to turn for the corridor that led outside. I fell down and noticed that Koen was talking with Milo and Tihalt. When I came into view they stopped talking and looked down at me. I glared at them.

"Don't say a word! And don't look down at me!" I demanded. They looked away immediately and Koen turned around to face me.

"Sir, might I help you up?"

"Nnn… yes." He held out his hand and I took it, being pulled up to my feet again. "Thank you Koen. What were you talking about?" They shared looks before looking down at me.

"My wife and her children sir."

"Then why did you stop when I came in?" I didn't know what a wife was but I'm not interested in that question.

"Their thinking of adding in a new kid." My face went blank. That's horrible.

"They just go out and… buy kids?! Where do they sell kids?" They chuckled.

"That's why we were talking about it. We don't know." I nodded and moved on towards my destination. "Hey! Gilbert, isn't dinner going to be soon?" I turned back to him, nodding.

"Yeah. So? I'll be there. I just want to go for a ride on my horse."

"Then shouldn't you stay, eat, then go for a ride? The others are busy with work, but if you really want to go for a ride we could come with you instead. Aldabert is rather upset when you don't come. You are always his favourite guest of honour." I beamed, humming in delight at the compliment. I considered my options again. I always have options. It is one of the many things I like about being in charge of everything about my self declared country. One day everyone will fear me and my awesomeness! "Gilbert?"

"I will wait for dinner." I conceded. All three of them smiled. I stood listening to them talk and then a few minutes Varick came over. "Sir, dinner is ready to be presented if you are ready to come into the dining room."

"Then I'm ready! Go inform everyone else that wants to attend… preferably everyone." I marched towards the dining room with my arms going back in forth with ninety degree angle and my legs were straight as I marched.

When I reached the dining room I marched to my chair and was not surprised when Waren pulled my chair out and put a box down so that I could get on my chair… again being small sucks but since I was used to it for so long I don't care anymore. I'm awesome and that's all that matters! I climbed into my chair and he pushed the chair into the head of the table, where I always ate at. He took the box away to keep me looking professional. Milo, Tihalt, and Koen came in and sat down in their places and a few minutes later everyone who had staid was sitting at the table.

What Izaak and Arvinn called servers, I don't really get the difference between servants and servers, brought out the food in silver cloche domes and gold food cart. More of them came to ask us what we wanted to drink.

"Beer!" I declared. The others ordered and they left to get the drinks. When they came back they gave me my gold cup and the others got silver ones. When everything was set out, including the plates and silverware and food, they all stood up against the wall in case we needed them. I began to dig in and they followed after me.

I listened to them talk until I was half way through my meal before looking up at Burhardt. "Burhardt! I want to go out for a ride! In the carriage!" He looked up at me, clearly trying to decide if we should do it today or tomorrow. So to try to persuade him, I used the 'magic' word "Please?"

"It gets rather cold at night Gilbert. Colder than usual and it's only the ending towards winter."

"You are correct Burhardt, Spring is only five days away. The end of winter is the coldest." Varick replied.

"You know why? Because Winter's angry with the other seasons. When do people try to stay inside the most? Winter! Spring, great bring on the flowers. Summer, time to swim! Fall, leaf jumping! But winter? Please don't make me catch a cold." Izaak chuckled and I sighed.

"So tomorrow morning?"

"That's okay." Varick answered. "You won't get sick."

"I can't get sick! I'm too awesome!" I nodded my head, affirming what I said before going to finish my meal. "I want wurst to be the star of every dish tomorrow. For every meal! Kesesesese." I smiled. When they finished their meals we were brought DESSERTS!

I got half way through dessert before Izaak spoke up to me. "Hey, Gilbert! I was wondering if you would like to try a new sport that I learned last week! I bet it would be fun!" I looked up at him, intrigued.

"What sport is it?"

"Creag. You practice climbing trees. It can be played by one or two or more people. It's perfect since I'm taking you and only you. You need a break from all these people if I dare say so myself." I nodded at his statement.

"Whatever you say Izaak." The others stared at us, suspicious.