Okay, so there are a couple of instances where I used strikthroughs, which didn't transfer over here. So if you see / around a word or phrase /like so/, it means it's something Italy or Holy Rome crossed out before sending the letter.
Dear Holy Rome,
How are things where you are? Not much has changed at Mr. Austria's house, but it seems so quiet without you! I'm still working hard; Ms. Hungary says I have to try very hard to keep things working well at home for when you come back. I make time to draw and paint though, because it reminds me of you. I've included a drawing I did of the gardens in the afternoon. They look so beautiful! When you come back, I'll show you how to paint the fading sunlight just right!
I miss you so much already, Holy Rome. Mr. Austria tells me I have to just keep on living, but it feels like part of me has gone with you. Can you feel it? I dream of you at night; I hope it's sunny and warm where you are and that you're winning all your battles. Spain says he might bring Romano to visit me! That'd be fun! I wish you could meet my brother. Some day when you come back, we can go visit him and we can all go out for pasta! Does that sound fun? I have to go now-Ms. Hungary needs help with the dishes. I'll write you again soon, Holy Rome! Don't forget me!
Love,
Italy
Dear Italy,
I miss you too! The sun seems a little less bright when I can't see you every day. I'm trying very hard to win as soon as I can so I can come home to you. Is Mr. Austria working you too hard? I can write and tell him to give you less work. I loved the drawing you sent me- It was beautiful, and so well done! You're such a great artist. I can't wait until you show me how to draw like that too. I don't think I'll ever be as good as you though. You should try to sell some of your work-maybe you can make a little money and buy yourself some new drawing supplies.
The battles are hard, but we've won a few. I don't want you to worry though-I'll be home before you know it and then we can do all the things you want to do. We can paint and sing and make flower chains. Every time I go out to fight, I think of you and it makes me fight all the harder, because I want you to be safe and I want to see your smile again. You're so pretty when you smile, Italy. It makes the room feel warmer when you do and I think I could win these battles with just your smile to give me courage.
Listen to me, Italy. I could never forget you! I never want you to think I'd do something like that. As long as I live, I'll never forget you-you'll always be first in my heart, no matter what! I've loved you since the 10th century; I won't let you go now! Just you wait; I'll come home and make you a princess! You'll never want for anything as long as we're together! I'll make sure all your dreams come true and no one ever mistreats you again! If they even try, I'll make them sorry! We'll be so happy together. Write me again soon, I love reading your letters. They make me feel like you're not so very far away.
I love you,
The Holy Roman Empire
Dear Holy Rome,
Yay! You wrote me back! It's getting so hot out because summer is here and even Mr. Austria is dressing down to stay cool! Yesterday Ms. Hungary took me to that stream where I swam with you and she and I went swimming. It felt so nice! Can you swim where you are? I hope so! You'd be way too hot in that cloak and hat! When we were there, Prussia tried to spy on Ms. Hungary, but she beat him up with a frying pan! I never knew she was so strong! Mr. Austria was very upset when she told him what happened-I think he was quite angry with Prussia. But don't worry about me! I was fine-Ms. Hungary wouldn't let anything happen to me. But I wish you were here to protect me instead-I feel so safe when you're around. I want you to be at my side, always Holy Rome.
I'm so happy to hear you're winning! Do you think you'll be home in time for Christmas? It's my favorite holiday! Mr. Austria will get a big turkey and you can help me decorate the tree! I'm going to make you a Christmas present, Holy Rome. So you have to be here for me to give it to you, okay?
Your letter made me feel warm inside. You write so beautifully! I wish I was so poetic. Mr. Austria is going to give me a thesaurus so I can learn new words. I'll make sure to use them when I write you! When you come home, you can teach me to write in exchange for me teaching you to draw. Today I went to draw water from the well and I saw a couple of robins flying around a tree. It reminded me of us. I miss playing with you! You'd always chase me around and I was scared at first, but then you told me how you really felt and I wanted to laugh out loud I was so relieved and pleased. Never stop telling me how you feel, okay Holy Rome? I'll never get tired of hearing it.
Keep fighting hard, but don't get hurt! It makes me so worried to think of you out on a battlefield. Promise you won't get hurt, okay Holy Rome? I'd be /sad/ devastated if anything happened to you! I wish I could fight by your side and offer my strength, but I must stay here for now. One day we can fight together! Or maybe we won't have to fight at all, which would be best. Stay safe! I send my love from home!
Love,
Italy
Dear Italy,
I love getting your letters-they make my day so much better. I reread them all the time and think of you. You're never far from my mind. Is everything really alright back home? Prussia makes me so angry! I can't believe he'd try something like that when you were around! He has no manners! He's a heathen-stay away from him! I don't want you getting hurt. Prussia isn't to be trusted! Especially not around you and Ms. Hungary. I hope Mr. Austria tells him what for!
Sorry to yell, love. It just makes me furious when people think they can pick on you because you're small. Just you wait until I'm back; no one will ever bother you again! I'm glad to hear I make you feel safe-you're always safe when you're with me. My love is like a lion-always fierce and ready to defend my Italy. I promise as long as you're mine, you won't ever have to fight. I won't let anything happen to you, I swear.
It's very hot here too- all the men are complaining about it. I'm sweaty all day and even when I sleep it's sweltering. Sometimes it's so hot we just lay outside in the grass in our bare skins instead of sleeping in our tents. You'd have to cover your eyes if you walked through camp today! Most of the men don't wear shirts unless they have to. The camp smells awful-I miss the smells of your cooking. I think of it all the time when I eat the bland, mushy army food. It makes me appreciate yours all the more! Eat an extra dish of pasta for me, won't you?
Oh, Italy…I miss you more than words can say. My heart aches for you, my soul is crying out and every day I feel my longing as though it were a physical wound. At night I dream that I've come home and you've forgotten me and are loving someone else and I wake up, full of fear that I'm going to lose you while I'm gone. I love you so much Italy, if I lost you I'd just die. My heart unto yours is knit, so that but one heart we can make of it and were we ever to part company, it would be the death of me.
Don't you worry about me! If I could, I'd wipe the tears from your cheek from where I sit. I'll beat the enemy black and blue and come home to you, without a doubt! I promised, remember? And you must have my sweets and treats ready for me when I come back, because I've been starved of your cooking for too long! You write me soon, okay? I'm thinking of you know, Italy. Your push-broom is sitting right next to me, but it's no substitute for you!
All the love in the world,
The Holy Roman Empire
Dear Holy Rome,
Don't be angry! I don't like it when you're upset. Hungary beat up Prussia so everything is fine! He hasn't showed his face around here for weeks. Right now I'm sitting beneath a tree by the river and the sound if it is so relaxing. Are there rivers near your camp? It sounds so hot! I wish I could send you a cool breeze. I hope it fools off soon so you won't be so uncomfortable. I think of you as much as I hope you think of me, Holy Rome! Every day I go to sleep hoping that tomorrow I'll get a letter telling me you're on your way home. /Last night I dreamt you kissed me awake/ I can't wait to see you again!
Holy Rome! Your letter made me cry! I love you too and it makes me depressed to think that you're in pain because of me. I'm right there with you, Holy Rome, right beside you! Remember that, okay? I never left your side before and I never will! In every battle you fight, think of me beside you, cheering you on! I know I'm too weak to fight, but my spirit is still sending you courage! I miss you too and sometimes I cry because I wish you were there with me. Even when we weren't in the same room I could know you were there and feel your presence. It made me feel at home. Now the house feels strange and alien. Mr. Austria and Ms. Hungary had a big fight a few nights ago and now they won't talk to each other. At night I can hear Ms. Hungary crying. I've never seen her cry before. I went in to comfort her, but she pretended to be asleep. I still slept in her bed to keep her company. Mr. Austria can be so mean! He yelled louder that night than I've ever heard before. I don't even know what they were fighting about. He hasn't come to dinner since the fight and spends all his time locked up in his study. He doesn't even play the piano much anymore, but when he does, it sounds so angry! It scares me, Holy Rome! I wish you were here to help me figure this out, or at least to make me feel less lonely. It almost feels like a battlefield here at home.
I'm glad you still have the push-broom. I hope it reminds you of me and that I'm waiting right here for you! I'll wait as long as it takes, Holy Rome! I'll never leave you for anyone, I promise! You shouldn't worry about that-there's no one else who's as kind and gentle to me as you are. There's no one in the world who could possibly replace you, you can be assured of that! Do you think my writing is getting better? I'm not sure. Anyway, I'll wait with anticipation (I just learned that word!) for your next letter!
Love,
Italy
My dearest Italy,
I'm sorry I haven't written you in a long while-we've been in retreat for several weeks. It's been very hectic and I've just been too tired or busy to get time to write. I hate to tell you that I'll probably miss Christmas. The fighting is dragging on and I don't know how long it will be before I can come home. As I write this I'm sitting inside my tent and although it's cooled off a little, it's still much too hot for my liking! Food spoils so quickly at these temperatures! We're running low on supplies, so sometimes I give my dinner to my men instead. But don't worry! I'm still eating enough and as soon as we regroup we'll have them running for the hills!
It's terrible when Mr. Austria and Ms. Hungary fight. They've done it before, but this one sounds more serious…Don't feel too bad-it wasn't your fault. It'll blow over and they'll forget about it soon enough. Mr. Austria can be quite cold and it bothers Ms. Hungary a lot. She was crying? I've never seen her cry either. I'm glad you went to comfort her-she needs you. She loves you too Italy. We both do. Just try to keep out of Mr. Austria's way and keep Ms. Hungary away from him until they make up. She can be violent sometimes.
Oh, Italy! Don't cry, it makes my heart break to think of you crying with no one there to dry your tears! Italy, my most darling Italy, without the thought of you, I wouldn't be able to go on! It only hurts me because I can't see you, but having your image in my mind is far better than nothing! You give me strength to lift my sword when my arm would drop with exhaustion. Remembering the look in your eyes when we kissed reminds me of all that I have to fight for. I'll always treat you well and remember how lucky I am to have you. I'll bring you breakfast in bed every day and read poetry to you in the afternoons and in the evening after dinner we can go walk together through the gardens. I'm sure that when we at last see each other again you'll be even more beautiful than you were when I left! You just hang on until I can come back and make you laugh again, alright?
Love from the deepest depth of my heart,
The Holy Roman Empire