I do not own Hetalia. I only think that it's awesome enough to write about.


When Feliciano finds me, I'm bashing my head against the carriage seat.

Why I chose to bang it against the seat is very simple. Before I was banging my head on the wall but then I came to my sense realizing that I didn't want to get a cut or splinters on my forehead. So I decided to hit my head on the plush seat.

Repeatedly.

Why was I doing this you ask?

It's fairly simple really; I wish to pound the memory of my brother abandoning me out of my head.

The Italian boy gasps and I can hear the sound of his quick footsteps running toward me. Seconds later I feel hi s arms pulling me away from the seat and by grabbing hold of my shoulders. Once I have been forced to stop, he turns me around to face him.

"Miss Elizaveta! Don't do that! You'll hurt yourself." He scolds as if I should know better. And really, I should. But this was a special circumstance. It was either this or crying and I did not want to cry.

I rub my head and mumble, "It didn't hurt." To be honest, it hurt a little. But at least I wasn't thinking about what happened. I shake the last bits of the memory out of my mind. "Was Mister Roderick calling for me?" Though I really don't care if he's being calling me for an hour or not, I don't want Feliciano to worry anymore than he probably is.

"No, I was just worried about you. It's been twenty minutes since you went to put the carriage away." He explains, biting his lip nervously after he's finished speaking.

"Has it?" I say nonchalantly. Although I should care since that means I've been neglecting my other duties, leaving Feliciano to either do them or offer excuses as to why I haven't done them.

Feliciano looks at me anxiously. "Are you feeling well?"

I flash a fake smile his way. "Of course why wouldn't I be?"

He doesn't look convinced. "Well." He redirects his gaze down at the ground. "Can I ask you a question?"

Hmm, he seems serious. That would mean that I can happily focus on his troubles and be able to forget mine. I nod slowly, trying not to seem to eager. "I don't see why not. Is something wrong?"

"Yes." He says without hesitation. He's still looking down at the ground.

"What's wrong, Feli?" I ask feeling much more concerned now. I tilt up his chin with my fingers to see his face. "Does this have anything to do with that guy earlier?"

His eyes widen and he regards me with amazement. "How did you know?" Oh Feli. Doesn't he realize how obvious he can be with his emotions.

I roll my eyes with amusement. "Feli, you do realize that you've been acting oddly since he mistook you for someone else."

"I have?" Feliciano asks before frowning "I was thinking about what he said and I remembered that I have an older sister."

"But he said that he had a boy working for him. Not a girl." I correct him.

"I know! I know! But I have a feeling about this!" He yells so suddenly that I jump at his outburst.

Wow, Feliciano never raises his voice. Unless he's shouting with happiness. It really must be bothering him if he's yelling at me. So in an effort to comfort him, I hug him tightly. "It's okay én kicsi Felim. I'm sure we'll figure this out."

He hugs me back. "I hope so." He lets me go after a few seconds. He looks pensive, an emotion that is not usually present on his features. In fact, I think he's actually more than worried. He seems almost...scared. What could he possibly be scared about?

"Ready to go back to the house?" I ask carefully while trying to figure out what could possibly be bothering him this much.

Feliciano nods. "Yes, let's go."

I ruffle his hair in an attempt to put his mind on other things. When I still see that he's not any less stressed I say, "Why don't we have some pasta?"

He smiles widely. "Ve~ Pasta!"

Who knew pasta could mean so much to a person? I shake my head as he goes running off to the direction of the house. It didn't take very long for his spirits to be brought back up. I just hope that his spirits stay up.


"Miss Elizaveta! Miss Elizaveta! You're going to be late if you don't hurry!" I hear Feliciano call as he pounds on my bedroom door.

I tear my eyes away from the mirror I had been staring at for the last ten minutes. I am convinced that I am undressed.

Maybe I should put something in my hair?

'No,' I think as I shake my head. Does it really matter that much? Who cares what those stuck-up rich people think, anyway? It is not as if they will be seeing me for very long and it is unlikely I will go to another ball unless Roderick invites me again.

I feel my cheeks heat up at the thought. That's right, the only thing that matters is that I get to go to a ball with Roderick.

This is ridiculous, I need to stop worrying and just be myself. Well, not all of myself. I need to remember that no matter what I need to hide my identity.

It's too bad this wasn't a masked ball.

Finally feeling ready, I take a deep breath and open the door. I see Feliciano leaning on the wall looking anxious. He sees me and gets off the wall. "Ve~Miss Elizaveta! I know that you're nervous, but you look pretty! You have nothing to worry about."

I smile. "Thank you, Feli." I'm so lucky to have this little Italian by my side. He has enough energy to keep me focusing on him instead of my nervousness.

"Now let's go!" He practically drags me down the stairs. "Wouldn't want to keep Mister Roderick waiting, right?"

I blush. "No, of course not." That would not be a good way to begin the evening. So I allow myself to be dragged out the door and into the carriage.

"You look wonderful, Elizaveta." I turn to my right where Roderick is. I nearly gasp. He looks so handsome in his evening wear. His coat is tinted violet and it compliments his wonderful violet eyes. Stop staring! I command myself.

After staring, errr...I mean looking him over I remember that I should probably say something, "You also look wonderful, R..Roderick." Ha! I finally said it!

He smiles. "You finally said my name without my title."

He noticed! I return his smile. "Yes, I did."

The rest of the carriage ride is silent except for Roderick telling Feliciano directions.

"Turn right here." Roderick tells Feli. Right? Usually the right turn is last. Unless I haven't been paying as much attention as I thought. I look outside and realize that I was right. We're about to make a wrong turn.

"No, go left. It's a right at the next turn." I want to cover my mouth, but it's too late I've already said the words.

Roderick looks at me curiously. "How do you know the way to the Beilschmidt's house?"

I want to snort at the word house. House? It's more like a mansion!

But I remember that I'm not supposed to know where the mansion is. Quick! Think of a lie! I command myself.

"I…saw the address on the invitation. I happen to pass by this intersection when I go shopping." I explain. Well, it's not a full lie. I do pass this intersection when I go shopping, I just happen to go further down and stare at his house. And there was no address on the invitation if memory serves. Hopefully he won't remember that.

Roderick still looks confused. "Really? But I thought that the marketplace was further up…"

"We're here! Do you want me to hitch the horses on the street or up the driveway, Mister Roderick?" Feliciano interrupts. I thank my lucky stars that Feli has the best timing in the world.

"Please take us up to the house then hitch the horse on the street. If you park up there, we will not be able to leave until morning."

I nod my approval. I remember the few parties I've been to at the Beilschmidt's house. The people who park at the top usually end up drunk and can't go home for a while. My father used to be one of them. I shake the thought out of my head. No! I don't need to think about this right now! I have more important things to think about. Like avoiding certain people at the party.

"Ready, Elizaveta?" I snap out of my thoughts and see that Roderick has already opened the door for me.

I smile. "Yes." He takes my hand and helps me out of the carriage. I know that it's gentleman-y to help a lady out of a carriage, but it makes me feel like I can't do anything for myself. And touching his hand makes me feel nervous. But kind of happy at the same time.

"Well, just to warn you. My cousin happens to dislike me and he might try to pull something. I hope that he has some sort of boundaries and leaves you alone, but there really is no guarantee."

I bite my lip before asking "By the way, if you don't mind me asking that is…I've never heard you speak of a cousin before. How are you and the Beilschimdts related?" I ask. I've been wondering that ever since I heard him say 'idiot cousin.'

He closes the carriage door. "Well, I do not mind telling you. My mother's sister is married to a Beilschimdt. It happened rather recently actually. Only three years ago."

Feliciano waves to me before taking the carriage down to the street. Ah…it makes me nervous when he drives that thing alone.

Then I remember that Roderick and I are having a conversation so I return my thoughts back to him.

That would explain why I never heard that my friend was Roderick's cousin. "But that doesn't make you a direct cousin, correct? It makes you a second cousin at least."

"Third actually. But my Aunt insists that I call them cousins. So I do." Before I know it we're at the door.

"So, the boy turning fifteen…" I start.

"Is my third cousin along with his brother." he finishes.

I suddenly realize something. "Did you get him a present?" The door opens for us.

"Good evening and welcome to Master Beilschmidt's birthday ball." the page greets. "You may leave your coats in the next room."

He smiles. "Feliciano is going to bring it in." He looks amused. "Did you think that I had forgotten? He is my favorite third cousin."

I laugh. "I bet you have a lot of those and of course not."

"No, actually. I use the word 'favorite' seriously. I am not too fond of his brother."

I gulp. I feel like I crossed as line. "Sorry if I'm pestering you with all these questions." I say. I'm not really sorry but it seems like the polite thing to say. And maybe it will get that look of hatred off his face.

We walk to the room where an attendant is taking coats. "You are not pestering me at all, Elizaveta." he takes off my dark green cape and hands it to the attendant along with his own black outer coat. Hmm, he must have had it in his hands the whole time.

"In fact." he continues. "I am glad you are asking." He smiles and then does something that I never imagined he would do tonight.

He stares at me.


Dun dun dun! Why is he staring at her? Guess you have to wait until the next chapter. But don't worry the next chapter will be up soon.

Guess what?

Gilbert is finally making an official appearance.