Ludwig didn't exactly know why he took your statement so seriously. Perhaps he thought you'd actually understand what it's like for him… but that was highly unlikely. Shaking his head, he looked towards his destination. Home. Though he didn't know if he could truly call it that anymore. Being born into a royal family, he didn't really know much about the modest lifestyles of the lower-classed citizens. Like you yourself had been. You simply wouldn't let his mind be, your blunt insults still replaying in his head. You hadn't recognized his status at first, most likely because Gilbert wouldn't have his little brother caught floating around running errands for him. At least not in full, regal cloaks and silks. It wasn't a thing nobles did. So he had Ludwig dress in plain but still relatively high-class attire.
       He never looked forward to returning home after the errands had been run. Ludwig was always greeted with his brother's crimson glare, always plotting something sinister or otherwise. The smirk that was always etched into his features still lay there, mocking in nature and utterly disgusting to him. His sly expression made Ludwig weary, as Gilbert came to look down upon his brother from where he sat on the throne, "Guten tag, Luddy~ I see you're still as sour-faced as ever."

        Gott, how he dreaded that nickname, "Don't refer to me with such a disgusting name."

       Gilbert's smirk grew as he leaned forward in his seat, "Kesesese~ my opinion remains standing and unchallenged, I see. Tell me…" He leaned back again, once again looking more like a disgrace to the throne with the way he sat. His voice suddenly changing from obnoxious to a terrible impression of a whiny child, "Why do you never call me 'bruder' or 'mein awesome bruder, Gilbert Beilschmidt'?"

       Ludwig's eye twitched, "Perhaps for the same reason most people in the countries outside of Germany don't even know I exist? With that ego of yours, it's no wonder the people hate you-"

       Gilbert suddenly shot up from his seat when something in him snapped, "NEIN. The people of the German states, including those that have joined our empire in recent years, are content with the way things are being run. My ego has nothing to do with the politics. Think carefully before you even think of contesting me again, you stupid brat."

        Ludwig clenched his hands into fists. This was how the Beilschmidt family really was. A rivalry between one brother, whose ego stands in the way of his own people, and the other who tries to get some sense through that thick-skulled dummkompf. Another reason on his ever-growing list to hate his brother. He knew it was starting to get slightly out of hand, but as long as he kept his 'other thoughts' to himself, it wouldn't get worse… right? He didn't give his brother the satisfaction of another word as he stormed his way up to Gilbert, threw the pouch of gold at him and quickly left to go back out into the city. It was his only safe haven right now, anywhere that wasn't there was fine by him.

       The bazaar near the centre of the main road was having one of its quiet days. Only a few of the market stalls were open, selling only what people needed instead of being swarmed with the foreign specialties. He had no set destination in mind. Rather, he was merely wandering… killing time until he felt he could show his face back in his own home without sparking more arguments with his brother. He shook his head. No, he had to stop thinking about him for a little while. He needed to preoccupy himself with something else for a while, to help himself relax. Though his brother was naturally laid back, Ludwig hadn't gotten the same carefree attitude Gilbert did, oh no. He was growing into his attitude of keeping himself reserved and respectful… at least towards his peers. That girl he ran into earlier… you… for whatever reason, even he didn't understand, he disliked you. Maybe it was because you'd been so hostile towards him, or maybe it was because you could care less about his status in the world. But now that he thought about it, maybe that's why he kind of enjoyed the encounter. You treated him like every other person you came across, well… so he assumed. That somehow struck a nerve of sorts in him, and it made him have some kind of mutual respect for you, even though you and he barely knew each other besides those insults thrown earlier in the afternoon.

        Maybe that's what he needed? To see you again, set things straight and perhaps get to know you? Well, it was worth a shot. He had nothing to lose anyway except maybe a bit of pride. Straightening himself up, he began to walk in a random direction with a new kind of determination. Nothing would stop him from doing something good for once.

        Those were his thoughts, until he suddenly found himself landing roughly on the ground with a soft 'thump'. Well, there went that train of thought. A voice suddenly spoke up from above him.



       "Oh, Guten Tag, dummkopf."