We were out most of the day, and I didn't ask for much of anything simply because I didn't want to talk to Prussia. Before we returned home with only one of things we bought (we would take the others later), we stopped outside a small stationary store. The white haired man stepped out of the carriage and at first, I didn't follow.

"I'm stopping here for you, buttercup. You'll need more paper, won't you?"

I exited myself and traced his steps inside, only wanting to go home. If we made this fast, I could do just that.

The store was actually quite nice. It was organized with paper on one side and quills and ink on the other. There were all sorts of parchment. Some had been saturated in different colors and were pink and green. Some of them even had little borders and light drawings on them, but those were somewhat pricey.

"Pick whichever one you want." Prussia told me. "Just…make sure it doesn't cost a fortune."

I looked over all the options, finding something simple with little musical notes doodled in near the bottom. I took a pile of sheets and brought them back to Prussia who was paying for a well of ink and a new white quill.

"These?"

I nodded.

"Alright." The parchment was put on the table and he pulled out a small bag of coins. Prussia placed a few on the wooden table top and the old man took them, smiling. The sheets I bought were slipped carefully into a brown paper bag and handed to me.

"Thank you…" I said, actually looking to my new owner.

"…Whoa…Seriously?"

I didn't open my mouth.

"…It's no problem…Let's go home…and stop glaring buttercup…"

On the way home, Prussia was smiling at me with closed lips. I was simply looking around. It made me mildly uncomfortable.

"…What?"

"…It's nothing, buttercup. I'm just convinced you're evil or something…You're so cute, but all you do is glare at me…" He laughed.

"…You're the evil one..."

"Why is that buttercup?"

"Don't call me that!" I yelled at him, not even wanting to explain myself. I was about to break.

"…Okay, Lorelei. I won't."

I looked at him, my eyes widening then turning my head away quickly, beginning to weep. That was it…the final push into the river. My hands covered my face, and I tried to stifle the sounds coming from my ugly lips.

"…Hey…" Prussia placed a hand on my back, and then one on my furthest shoulder, trying to turn me towards him. I wouldn't let him, so he simply held me. "…I'm sorry…Maybe I'm being too…insensitive…" His hand was tracing over my back and shoulder blades. "…Put your hands down…" I didn't listen at first, and he was patient. "…Please?"

I didn't at first, and when I did I finally looked at him, his face blurry. His fingers clasped onto the ends of his sleeve and he wiped my tears away with the fabric, surprisingly gently.

"…Sorry…please don't cry anymore. I'll try and suck less…You can come up with your own nickname so I don't piss you off…" He gave me a descent hug and I tried so hard not to push him away.

When we were back, I got out with my paper and went straight to my room. I locked myself away, just sobbing. I heard voices outside my door.

"Prussia, what did you do?" It was France

"I don't know…I just called her Lorelei like that stupid Roderich and now this happened…I was kidding."

"You idiot! I should smack you! You can't call her that! She's probably thinking about him all the time! You can't kid with someone who's upset…and it's your fault!"

"I know!" The voices were fading. "…I was just messing with her…"

"…Well…you can't."

"I know!"

"…She's in a lot of pain right now…" They were still there, but I couldn't hear them.

I didn't come out until dinner. I had stopped crying and had gotten to sleep a while, so I was feeling a little better, but not by much. Prussia wasn't there. I wasn't sure if he was feeling guilty or just didn't want to deal with me…Maybe we was just doing something else. Either way, I was happy he didn't show up.

This time, we were having some sort of meat. I didn't bother asking what it was. It would only bring disappointment and I really wouldn't eat…

The table was silent, but everyone was looking at me. I just looked back at them, wanting to say something, but the words just wouldn't form themselves. There was just a tangled web of emotions I couldn't disperse. I think they had the same problem.

Finally, when dinner was over, I stood up, but was stopped by Spain.

"…Hey…umm…is there…anything I can do?"

I was touched that he would even ask. "…No…I don't think so…but thank you."

"Alright…"

Before I walked away, I thought. "…Maybe we can go out…I need to get away from this place…"

"…I can do that…" He answered.

"Thank you…"

That night, I lied in bed, unable to sleep. My brain wouldn't shut off. I thought about how much worse this could really be…at least everyone seemed to care…Spain was a nice man…and France would make a good friend…maybe even Prussia could be tolerable after a while. But I couldn't forgive him for what he had done…

I knew I would get used to it…I remembered hating my husband at first…I thought he was simply a boring, stuck-up man…but then I ended up marrying him…It was hard to say what could possibly happen…I just hoped it would be good.