A/N: This was inspired was inspired by another fanfiction called Secrets. Once again "T" made this chapter, but "J" will contribute to parts of the writing around chapter 5. Hopefully you'll enjoy "T"'s amateurish writing. Thank you for reading this! BTW Marie is Jeanne d' Arc.
I don't own Hetalia ;A;
Heroic Princess
Alfred was no cross dresser, and yet here he was, being stripped from head to toe, prepared to wear the laid out yellow long-sleeved dress with flowery patterns stitched at the bottom of the hem. He felt awkward as his maids tore off the rags clinging to his sweat. The maids treated this like a ritual, peeling off his clothing slowly as if it was a ceremonial robe than pieces of cloth sewn together.
"Time for the corset, "said one of the maids. During his ephemeral eighteen years of living as a pauper, this was the most degrading thing that his disposition could had aver thrown him.
Despite the nagging urge to flee from the stuffy dressing room, he stilled himself to resist that overwhelming temptation. He swore he would see this through the end; the proof of that was his signature on a certain sacred royal contract hidden somewhere in the depths of the grand library. This mutual agreement was between the king and him.
An obnoxious laugh was heard. "Hon hon hon. My, my. You have a striking resemblance with someone I know."
Speak of the devil. There was King Francis, leaning against the door frame with a wide smirk on his flawless face.
"Shut it Francis." growled Alfred.
Alfred hated the corset, which was stinging his too skinny ribs. How did the women manage to bear this suffocation?
"Hush, mon cheri. Remember who your saviors were."
His smile grew wider, which was almost impossible because the corners of his mouth were already stretched across his face. Francis had a point though. If it wasn't for his generosity, Alfred would had been executed, a dead man, but his courteous benevolence came with a hefty price.
King Francis spoke again, "It's hilarious, really. You look like the twin of my sister. However, though you have a shocking resemblance to her now, are you able to pass off as her, I wonder?"
Even though Alfred's face was as white as a sheet of paper and began to wheeze through the tightness of the corset, he will not back down from his mocking tone of voice.
Alfred flashed the gayest smile he could muster and said sweetly, "Of course I will… my brother."
These two weren't blood brothers, barely related as humans, in fact. However, this was part of the deal that guaranteed the well-being of the villagers of the Lapiz Kingdom and his survival: to impersonate the princess of the Lapiz Kingdom.
It all began with war.
The Twenty Years War between the Lapiz and the Emerald Kingdom strained their finances and depleted their resources over the years. Bedridden, both kingdoms agreed a truce, and as a symbol of their agreement, the Emerald Kingdom's crown prince was willing to accept the hand of the young princess of the Lapiz Kingdom, Marie Everdeen Bonnefoy. Her brother, King Francis, held the proposal with scorn even though this marriage could be the key to peace and prosperity to both kingdoms. Yet, right at this moment, he was prepared to throw away his title as king and declare his older sister, Emilie, as ruler. He was willing to do all of this in order to protect his dear sister from being engaged to the infamous crown prince of Emerald. The image of the crown prince of the Emerald Kingdom was sketchy because numerous rumors had spread throughout the kingdoms. Some say that he would rape the women from the villages that he conquered and that his cruelty knew no bounds towards his enemies. On the last day King Francis and Princess Marie were at court before they would give up all of their royal duties, a peasant appeared in the throne room and began to beg incessantly.
"Your majesty! The poor villagers down yonder are starving 'cause not enough food is provided. Please! I beg of you! Look closely into your holy soul before they- I mean- we would all die!"
The peasant boy had dirty blonde hair and his skin was perturbed with muck, mud, and other unknown mixtures from the sewage water where he lived. The stench was unbearable. If he was going to present himself to the king and his court, he could had been considerate and thrown himself to a river before rotting someone's sense of smell. Were the castle guards awake when he showed up at the castle front? Because if they were, thought Francis, they were all fired and should be replaced immediately.
The disgusting filth was dragged away to the dungeons because nobody would listen to him even if he was to proclaim he was an angel himself.
"Please!" The boy was at the hinge of the door by now. "Children are dying! Disease continues to spread in the village! Save them! I'll do anything!"
His voice echoed throughout the room as the massive doors of the throne room closed. Everybody in the room knew of the drastic situation taking place in the land, but greed overpowered the agonizing complaints of the people. After the boy's screams were no longer heard like a buzz of a mosquito, the most brilliant idea popped into the king's head.
The boy hugged his knees, sobbing at the unfair state he was in. His crying didn't cease, but it slowed down to small hiccups. He felt miserable, cooped up in some musky cell. The positive thing was that the undying smell of rotting flesh couldn't rival against the boy's sewage aroma.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
He heard footsteps far into the distance. Has his sentence been made? His presumption was wrong for a hooded young girl stood across from him; her face made his breath stopped because the girl was recognized as the princess! She waved shyly. He returned the wave.
"Y-your majesty," he began, "what are you doing here?"
Then, a mysterious accented voice rung from the narrow walls of the dungeon.
"Because I have a preposition for you, mon cher."
A man with shoulder-length wavy blonde hair appeared from the shadows with a torch clutched by his hand. It was the king! He held a solemn expression and shifted his clear eyes to the unkempt boy.
Alfred stuttered nervously, "P-preposition, your highness?"
"Yes, a contract between you and me."
Fire sparked in the boy's eyes. Was this a dream?
"What do I have to do?"
The prince stuck a finger to the boy, signaling him to silence.
"Uh uh uh. First of all, I must know your name. For a formal introduction, I am King Francis of the respectful Lapiz Kingdom."
"Alfred F. Jones."
"Alfred, huh? Well then." Francis clapped. "Alfred, if you were to accept my offer, your name will no longer be Alfred; your life would change forever."
Said Alfred cocked an eyebrow.
Francis continued on with the conditions, "If I promised I would guarantee the lives of the villagers throughout the winter, then you must do something for me."
Alfred eyed the man apprehensively.
"And this something is?"
Francis gave a devious grin.
"You must act like my sister. Be my sister. And marry Arthur Kirkland, crown prince of the Emerald Kingdom."
Alfred heard crazy things before, one of them a dare to pants Gilbert, the egotistic guard at the front of the castle, but this was the most absurd suggestion he had ever heard in his life. Before he could voice his appalled outcry, Princess Marie quickly grasped Alfred's large hands with her two small hands and stared back at his sky blue irises with such intensity and fire that it made him rethink that she was meant to be born a knight than a princess. That momentary glimmer of determination faded away as she crumpled to the ground. Drops of water plopped down from her tear-stained face, pounding the encrusted floor with each drip. It looked like she was having spasms because she was weeping with such magnitude.
She whispered, "Please. Please Alfred. Please save me from this wretched life. Please do this for me. Please. Please. Please."
The ongoing pleas plagued his mind; his hero complex wanting to respond to her- he really did. His lip quivered, unsure of what to do. Why is he so pressured?
From behind, King Francis gripped Marie's hand, trying to hush Marie while patting her back, his face now crestfallen. Alfred's heartstrings hurt. It stung him deeply because he realizes that if he says no, these two would definitely do something, something that will have dire consequences in the future. He wasn't the most perceptive man, but he could tell whenever his choice was hanging by a thread. He considered all of the benefits that would come with the king's proposal. It's not that bad, right? He'll get a pampered life, with maids left and right at his beck, and the whole village would be safe, including his precious older brother, Matthew. He pursed his lips with uncertainty, but he gained enough courage to say the three words Marie and Francis had been waiting for.
He muttered, "I'll do it."
The royals were stupefied. Did they just hear correctly?
"You'll do it?" asked Marie.
Alfred scowled and turned his head away, obviously disturbed by what he just said. He nodded to confirm that he would be the scapegoat for her, that he would sacrifice his entire body to save his village and his own beehive. King Francis suddenly knelt down to Alfred and began kissing the entire length of his arm, crying tears of absolute joy. Alfred yelped in surprise.
Princess Marie scratched the back of her head as she explained shyly, "I apologize. Um, this is what happens when my brother is… over appreciative."
With a contract and an oath to promise to bury all of this in secret, the deal was sealed. Alfred will no longer be Alfred. His name will be Marie Everdeen Bonnefoy. He will marry the crown prince. He will be a girl until the day someone figures out that he is a boy. He will stay like that. Forever.
Even though the chance that Alfred would be caught is exceptionally high since anything can happen, Alfred agreed because for once, instead of being the bratty kid he was in the streets, he can actually be useful. Therefore, while his time limit to swallow all the knowledge of being a princess initiated, he endured learning how to walk whilst balancing books on his head and forced his puny brain to absorb the entire history of the Lapiz Kingdom.
Who knew that time could fly by so quickly? Alfred trained himself hard, attempting to perfect every princess-like manner while retaining his dignity. Again, he saw his reflection on the mirror, wearing the first dress he wore on day one, his hair a bit longer and a bit more voluminous. Fortunately, Marie naturally had short hair, and like the crown prince, rumors circulated everywhere about her, saying that she was known to be feisty and hot-blooded, so Alfred's height wouldn't matter since everybody viewed Marie as… well, somewhat like a man ironically. The voice was no problem either. Luckily, Alfred can make his voice high pitched because he was gifted with the skill to copy almost any voice. At first, the two were surprised when he presented them this remarkable talent, but no matter, because they needed this attribute. While Alfred is disguised as the princess, Marie would have a new identity incognito, possibly as an assistant to the king for the time being. She insisted on wearing the same type of glasses Alfred wore because she quoted, "We wouldn't want the princess to roam around the Emerald Kingdom blind shall we?"
"Knock, knock."
Alfred swished his head around to see the king and the real princess.
"Francis! Marie! Come in, come in!"
The couple were delighted and beamed with euphoric elation ever since Alfred joined the crew. In a sense, they formed a friendship with the boy, which is why he didn't have to address them with "your Majesty" and such. That is why they were dispirited today because today is the day when Alfred would travel to the Emerald Kingdom, where they would be separated. Their friendship was short-lived, but they grouped together in an embrace that lasted longer than expected. The atmosphere turned melancholic because today felt like a funeral, an eternal goodbye for Alfred, because he can never return to the Lapiz Kingdom permanently.
He gave one final glance to the couple, the message clear in his eyes.
Wish me good luck.
With that, he straightened his back and headed out to his doom.
Francis and Marie stood alone at the empty room, contemplating the turn of events before they would follow after Alfred to accompany him.
"I'm going to miss him."
Francis nodded.
"But… will he be alright? We only gave him a month. Oh, brother. I fear for his life. What if they found out at the wedding? What if-"
"Marie," Francis had his index finger at Marie's lips, silencing her, "Have faith in him."
"But-"
"Shhhh. If you had observed his progress like I have, you will have nothing to worry. Alfred managed to read most of our library archives and learned at least the proper etiquette and history that a regular princess should know. I know because I was the one training him alongside with Emilie. Though he was a peasant, he adapted to this environment as if it was second nature. Even though I don't want to admit it, if he was born a royal with a mind like King Ivan, the world would be at the palm of his hands."
King Francis shuddered at the thought.
It was Marie's turn to speak.
"But… he isn't like Ivan at all. He's better than that. He's naïve, innocent. Like a burst of-"
"Sunshine." Both Francis and Marie smiled gently as they simultaneously said the best descriptive word that fitted with Alfred.
They didn't know how, but at that moment, they were confident that Alfred would succeed because that's Alfred, the boy wonder who could change the world. They just know it.
"Where is that blasted ring?"
A frustrated Arthur stormed down the hallway, huffing and puffing, a vein visible on his forehead. A malicious aura was emitting from the enraged prince, his eyes scanning the hallways like a hawk, suppressing his wrath. His anger was going to erupt and explode if he doesn't catch the attention of a maid. He was mentally kicking himself, cursing out profanities that respected princes shouldn't say. He lost the princess's ring of all things! Not only that, today was the day where the princess should arrive from her long journey from the Lapiz Kingdom. How would he bloody explain? That he, Arthur Kirkland, confessed that he lost the ring because he was distracted from his fairy friends? As if! At this point he was desperate. Obviously the maids were scurrying around the castle since they are in charge of the preparations to celebrate the princess's arrival. He practiced his introduction for a whole month now, but all of his efforts would be in vain if the ring was gone. Her first impression of him would be disappointment, and Arthur cannot stand that. Unaware of his surroundings for a second, something firm crashed into him, sending him backwards.
"Oi!"
He was seriously pissed now. He was about to reprimand the idiot for bumping into him, but he stopped short as he distinguished golden locks. His breath halted as he took in azure eyes staring back at him. It was a girl that he didn't recognize.
At least it wasn't the princess, thought Arthur. That was his assumption since the girl was wearing a plain dress.
He was about to interrogate her presence until she bowed down and said, "I'm sorry your highness." Then she left and turned around the sharp corner.
Well, that was an abrupt meeting. Then he glanced down at his feet because at the corners of his eyes, a small gem was shone, basking in the sunlight from the windows. Attached to a golden ring, the jewel was puny, but it glistened majestically in the sunlight.
The ring! Did that girl perhaps discreetly handed it to him while he wasn't noticing? Hopefully the princess wasn't a whiny brat who preferred big diamonds, he thought. Planting the ring in his shirt pocket, he made a mental note to thank the girl when he had the chance to see her again. After all, she must be from the Lapiz Kingdom since she was unrecognizable in these halls, so it would be a matter of time when they will meet.
Humming cheerfully down the hall was Alfred himself, heading towards his dressing room to be fitted and glad to be a hero again as he replayed his encounter with the prince and handing him the ring like the smart aleck he was. At least he made a good impression, right?
Waiting for Alfred at his personal room was his make up artist and hair designer, Antonio and Lovino.
"Where the fuck have you been?" shouted Lovino.
Alfred shrugged, "It's no big deal."
Today is his wedding day, so he might as well torture Lovino.
"Thank you guys! I'm going to miss you!" Alfred winked with a seductive curve of his lips.
"The hell I will!" Antonio had to manhandle Lovino if Alfred wanted to avoid Lovino clawing at his dress.
"Love you too Lovino!"
Alfred dashed from the private room, and without an escort or directions, he browsed for the church where he would be wed.