For anyone looking for USUK, this fanfict WON'T contain that pairing, I'm afraid. As well as that, the characters are humans, rather than countries... Other than that, I think that's it?
Enjoy!
His parents had told Alfred it was an honour to become a servant to the King. Alfred thought it was more like being a slave. Then again, the entire land was a slave to the King. Taxes were so harsh that people barely had enough money to live, anyone who spoke ill of the king or broke the law was killed slowly and painfully, and anyone who did not immediately report such incidents to the King or his guards were forced through the same treatment. To promote the idea of neighbours informing on each other, 100 gold coins were given to those who did so. This caused corruption to spread like the plague amongst a previously honest population. People lied about those they hated, and received more money than they would earn in a lifetime for their troubles. Most of it was taken back by the King by taxes, but it was a fact that many were willing to overlook.
Over a hundred people were executed in London during the first year alone. Alfred had counted and watched each and every one of them. Not that he had any choice in the matter; the King seemed to enjoy the company of the young boy – well, as much as the terrible man seemed to be able to enjoy anything. The number of executions rose each year, much to the boy's shock and horror. Almost in correlation, the King's public appearances decreased as the time passed, until half way through the fourth year of his reign, the King started sending out a representative to oversee any important event that should occur during such grim times.
It seemed like life couldn't get worse for the country of England, but no member of the population doubted it would.