"Elizabeta, stop it! You are acting like a child!" snapped her boss sternly, his glare fixated on her emerald eyes which began to dot with tears of frustration. The wedding was in a mere hour and she decided to break down now. She had known about the event months prior to this very day, at the very least she should be able to contain her hysterics.
"But I hate him!" she exaggerated, "He's so full of himself and- and almost misogynistic! He's just an egotistical Austrian who can't care for himself!"
Her boss rolled his dull grey eyes and turned away, "You and me both know he does not hate the female gender in the slightest. Now go get changed, I have no time for your whining."
Elizabeta, who was full of everyone telling her what to do, shot him one last glare before turning around swiftly on her heel and storming away into her changing room where she was to be accompanied by Lili and Natalia. Rage boiled up inside her, anger consuming her other emotions, although she normally was good at keeping herself mentally in check, such a strong wave of emotion was difficult to suppress.
"What's wrong, Eliza?" Lili asked in her soft German accent, green eyes filled with worry when she flung herself into the room.
"Nothing, nothing at all! Just leave me alone!" the Hungarian retorted angrily.
Lili whimpered, slightly hurt from the nastiness of her tone. The young girl slowly backed away from the fuming woman as Natalia advanced, raising a hand before bringing it down with great force across Elizabeta's cheek. Hungary looked up to her, resentment raging in her eyes as she prepared a comeback but was stopped by Natalia's cool voice.
"I realize you are angry. Do not take that anger out on us. We did nothing to you. Now shut up and get dressed." said Natalia, her voice strict and serious. It was no time to be taking your frustration out on your friends.
Elizabeta looked at her with a sad smile and nodded, "You're right. I'm sorry, Lili. I just… This is the last thing I want to do."
The two agreed slightly out of sympathy and brought out her dress. If it wasn't to wed her to a man she did not love, she would have thought the gown was nothing less than perfection. The torso clung to her figure, bringing out her smooth curves and large breasts and broke at her wide hips, flowing out beneath her.
After slipping into it, they worked on her hair. Pinning up her chocolate locks and dusting her cheeks with makeup. If she had bothered or cared to dress like this every day, she would have men falling for her left and right. But Eliza was never one to get hung over on appearances, especially her own.
"You look very pretty!" Lili assured her after she stepped away from doing her makeup to admire her handiwork. And she was not lying at all. But there was no time for chatting, the ceremony started momentarily.
Elizabeta thanked them and walked out into the hall, eyes darting over the swarms of people crowded around to see the two nations be united. For the first time in her life, she felt a shy blush heat up her cheeks, the normal shamelessness and bravery evaporated. Her eyes stopped on the figure at the end of the aisle. Hair slicked back, a white suit and complimentary bowtie with a rose tucked into his breast pocket. She could hardly recognize Roderich, and under any under circumstances, she would have thought he looked very attractive. But at the moment, she detested him with every fiber in her body.
The familiar notes of the piano began to fall in place, her cue to walk down the aisle while Natalia and Lili joined the other female nations, cheering her on with silent support. Her legs locked up, still determined not to marry this man. She refused to make a move, as nervous eyes fell upon her. After a cold hand pressed against her shoulder as it pushed her forward, a harsh whisper in her ear telling her to move forward she plucked up the courage to begin her journey.
The rest of the ceremony happened in a blur of confusion and anger. Saying the "I do's", the reception, even a subtle kiss was forced to be exchanged between the two. But she did, however, pick up one thing from the much loathed wedding. Roderich was in the same position as she was, not content on marrying all the same. And for that, well, at least she could empathize.
The party drew to a long-awaited close as she stepped into a carriage and whisked away, off to the couple's new home. During the ride, she brought out a pen and a paper, constructing a letter to no one in particular.
"I hate being married to that egotistical Austrian. How can they expect me to love a man whose only concerns revolve around himself? I doubt he is capable of love, not that I care. I'll never love him, not if we're married for a million years. These are, no doubt, the worst years of my life."