Chapter One

Sofiya and Alexander Braginski nervously walked outside to where their son, Ivan was sketching the sunflowers that grew in the garden. Despite being the heads of the most influential family in Russia, their teenage son still sent shivers down their spine. He had always been withdrawn, quiet, and completely intimidating.

"Ivan, we have great news." Sofiya told him, standing next to her husband. Ivan looked up from his sketchpad and up at her, making her step back, slightly behind Alexander. Something about the way he looked at them always made them feel uneasy, like he was calculating your every move and expression.

"What is it, mother?" His voice was always monotonous, not betraying any emotion at all. He preferred his sketches and dogs to people; it was obvious with how he reacted with everybody, especially his family.

"We have found you a wife. Her name is Natalia Alfroskaya, from the royal Belarusian family. You have met her before, at the balls held by her family." Alexander said to him, awaiting his reaction. There was no guessing how Ivan would react, with his history of being unpredictable when informed of things that concern him.

"She has expressed her interest in marrying you to her parents many times, Ivan. There are numerous benefits to both of our families." His mother tried to persuade him, knowing that Ivan wouldn't go through with the marriage. Disbelief and anger were prominent in Ivan's eyes, though his face didn't betray anything.

Ivan stood and dusted off his light brown overcoat and straightened his off-white scarf around his neck before looking at his parents. "I do not wish to marry Natalia. She is much too forward and…impolite with her affections." He walked past his parents and into their mansion, ignoring the servants that quickly moved out of his way.

"Ivan, it's your duty to the family. There is no changing the decision, you will marry Natalia and continue the Braginski line." His father tried a different tactic, knowing that his son was nothing if not loyal to the family. "Our families will become one through this marriage."

"I refuse, father. Our families will not 'become one' and my opinion on the subject will not change." Ivan looked his father in the eye and felt triumph at the flash of fear and nervousness in his eyes.

"It is not normal for a man your age to not be betrothed at the very least. There must be something your mother and I can do so you will agree to this." His father pleaded. There had to be a continuation of the family line, no matter what. Ivan had to realize that he couldn't avoid getting married for forever.

"Anybody but Natalia. If it were somebody not so…like her, I could tolerate it. Choose another family. This time, think it through more, and choose one with more territory or at least stronger influence." Ivan turned away from his father once more as he sat at his desk, getting ready for his tutor. "No matter whom you choose I will despise them, so try to be smart about it." The statement was a clear dismissal to his father as he wrote in the journal his tutor recommended he kept.

Alexander silently nodded and left his son's rooms, cursing at how easy it was for Ivan to control him. He went to his study and started the dreaded task of writing the letter of rejection to the Alfroskaya family.

The Bonnefoy family was the most influential in North America. Their territory covered Most of Canada and all of America, as well as parts of England and France where the heads of the family were born and raised. The heads of the family, Arthur and Francis Bonnefoy, knew once they were engaged that the only way to continue the line was to use a surrogate mother. The woman they hired had twin boys, Alfred and Matthew. Alfred was older by six minutes, and never passed up a chance to use that against his younger brother.

Being the oldest son, Alfred was engaged first to the heir to the Japanese royal family, Kiku. They became surprisingly close, despite being nearly completely opposite. Kiku was shy and hid most of his emotions, while Alfred was loud and wore his heart on his sleeve. Alfred was naturally the center of attention at all of the parties they went to with other nobles.

"Dear, don't you think it's time to find a family that we can marry Matthew into? None of the single heirs have shown any interest, and I've abandoned the hope that they will." Arthur told his husband, Francis, while they watched their youngest son out the window of the sitting room.

"If we have to. I just wish he could've attracted somebody's attention, like Alfred did. He's so polite and kind, but so shy and quiet." Francis replied. Matthew was sitting outside by himself, while Alfred sat with Kiku, Ludwig, and Feliciano. Matthew occasionally looked over at the table his brother was sitting at with his friends, hoping to be asked to join or at least acknowledged in some way.

"Are there even any heirs left that are of age? I haven't heard of any in a while." Arthur asked, trying to remember of any families. Anybody was better than his son being alone for the rest of his life.

"The only one I can think of is the Braginski son. They control much of Russia. The only problem is he has refused a royal family, so it will be hard to please him." Arthur paled noticeably.

"Not him, Francis. He would be terrible to Matthew; he wouldn't stand a chance being married to him."

Francis stood and wrapped his arm around the nervous Englishman, trying to calm him down. "We don't have a choice. It's either Ivan Braginski, or Matthew is alone."

Hey, this is my first Hetalia fic, but I love RusCan with all my heart. I hope you enjoy it. :)

Song of the Chapter: Promises feat. Skrillex by Nero

If you like Black Butler, you should check out my other multi-chap, Welcome to Stockholm (Ciel x Sebastian)