Disclaimer – I don't own Hetalia

Chapter 25

Alfred's Point of view

As I was being dragged away through the dungeon by the knights I couldn't help but think how Alice was the stupidest yet bravest person that I knew. She sacrificed her freedom, her dreams, her everything for me and I felt pathetic for letting her get away with it. I know that she loved me and that she wanted me to be happy and if returning to a place that she hated would make me happy me she would gladly do it, but I wanted her to be happy too. Unfortunately the way everything happened to work out only one of us could get what we wanted and based off of Alice's decision the lucky one was me. But I didn't feel very lucky. Yes, I know that my life was spared and I should be grateful. I was grateful but at the same time there was a deep wound in my heart because what was the point of living if I couldn't be with the one I loved?

As I continued to be towed through the dark maze of tunnels against my will, my unsaid goodbye still hung on the tip my tongue. That would haunt me forever; the fact that I never got to tell Alice goodbye. The fact that before we departed for good I never got the chance to tell her how much I cherished her and how much she meant to me. Now it was too late. Our hands had been ripped apart too soon and the last image I had of her saved in my mind was one of distress and panic.

After some time of walking and being shoved along the knights began to herd me up a steep flight of stone steps which I could only assume was the exit out of this pitch-black hell. I tripped and stumbled a couple of times for I was so unfocused with everything going on with Alice and all and it caused a few of the knights to break out in a rowdy laughter.

"Come on and walk right!" one of them shouted at me as he gave me a push forwards.

This motion only caused me to become even more uncoordinated then I already was and I went crashing to my knees. The group of them started to snicker and no one offered me a hand up. So I struggled to stand again without the help of my arms (because they had been tied behind my back) to bring me back up on my feet.

I was disgusted with the knights' behavior. They were supposed to be chivalrous men, who were sincere, and brave and true. These were the knights I looked up to as a kid, the knights that I wanted to become when I got older. But these knights weren't my role models; they were just a bunch of jerks. I was so angry at the way the way were treating me. Yeah, I know that I was supposedly a "criminal" or whatever according to the king, but they didn't understand my situation. The love of my life just gave up everything that was important to her to set me free and now I would never get to see her again. It's only natural to be distracted when such important events have just taken place, you don't have to call me out on it and push me around.

Finally after what seemed like years of climbing we had reached a door at the top of the steps that I assumed was the exit and after entering through it I found that I was correct as that we were now out of the dungeon and inside the royal kitchen. It was an odd place for a dungeon door to be located but I didn't have much time to think about it because before I knew it the knights were pushing me forwards again out of the room. From their hasty motions I'm pretty sure that they wanted me out of the castle as fast as possible just in case the king appeared and threatened their lives for not removing the scum of the earth (me) fast enough from his property. Suddenly, after maneuvering through the castles endless hallways, the knights and I found ourselves outside. We headed towards the front gate swiftly and with every step I got further and further away from Alice.

I felt my stomach drop in heartache. What would I do without her? The crazy girl I met a week ago in the village that turned out to be my first and only love. And what would she do without me? It was painful to think about how her father would most likely marry her off to someone of a worthy standing in only a matter of time. I got sick just thinking about it so I forced myself not too. I focused on the nighttime stars instead as the front gate became nearer, but then I remembered how Alice and I had gone stargazing the other night and my heart sunk even lower if that were possible. God! Everything reminded me of her!

Before I knew it we were there standing at the front gate. One of the knights, the one who tripped me I think, untied the rope that my hands we trapped in and set me free.

"Go on, get out of here," one of them told me pointing towards the village, but I stood frozen to that spot. I couldn't believe I was really letting her go like this.

"What's the matter?" another knight asked me. "We're letting you go, you're going to live. Scram before we change our minds."

I wanted to scream at them. To shout all of the terrible things I thought about them in their faces, but I didn't. What was the point? I could tell them how unfair and cruel they were being but they wouldn't understand. They didn't know how broken I felt inside. So instead of addressing their behavior I gave a small salute as thanks for freeing me and taking a deep breath I took the first step off towards home. It took everything in my power not to look back.

…Line Break…

That night when I had gotten home from the castle I practically had to drag myself up the stairs and when I was finally in the sanctuary of my room I collapsed on top of my bed, exhausted from emotional drainage. It was a rough night for me. I alternated between states of restlessly sleeping and pacing across my room deep in thought. When I was asleep though I always awoke to the sight of dried tears upon my pillow. Yes, I was that much of a wreck that I cried unconsciously.

In the morning I found it impossible to get out of bed for work at the blacksmiths. I knew that Ludwig hated me and that he wouldn't give me another chance at working for him if I didn't show up today, but I couldn't physically move from my spot for I was so melancholic over losing Alice. So as I sat there in bed time seemed to stop and I became so deep in thought I barely noticed the hours ticking away and the morning changing to noon then to night. And in all that time I thought about her. What she was doing, if she was okay and if she was as miserable as I was.

Sometime later in the night after the street lamps had come on I heard a knock on the apartment door. I jumped upright for the noise had surprised me after such a quiet day. Who was there? Representatives of the palace maybe? Had the king changed his mind? Although the knock had made me curious and had got my heart beating fast I still couldn't get up on my legs to go and answer it.

After moments had passed I thought that my visitor had gone away but then suddenly I heard my front door swing open. This strange person had let themselves in and now they were climbing up my stairs. My heart began to pound, who the hell was in my house?

Suddenly the mysterious footsteps were right outside my bedroom and I watched in a mix of fright and confusion as the door slowly creaked open. Then, standing there calmly in the doorframe, (like he hadn't just broken into my house) was Kiku Honda.

"Kiku?" I asked my dark haired friend in puzzlement. "How did you get in my apartment?"

"The door was open," he replied in his monotonous voice.

"Oh," I said, "I must have forgotten to lock it last night."

Kiku started over towards where I was laying but didn't sit down on the bed besides me. Instead he stood in front of me so that he was close but not too close. That's Kiku, always keeping a comfortable distance, making sure no one's in his bubble of personal space.

"Ludwig was looking for you," he told me.

"What did he say?" I asked him with a sigh although I already knew the answer. I was fired, so totally and completely fired.

"He wanted to know why you weren't at work today."

"I'm depressed," I groaned, rolling over to the other side of the bed so that I was further away from Kiku. I wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone. I was too upset, too dejected and too heartbroken. I just wanted Kiku to leave me alone. The only person I wanted to see was Alice but that was impossible.

"Why are you feeling so badly?" Kiku asked me.

I sighed and tried to keep my voice from cracking with sadness as I answered him. "It's Alice."

Kiku nodded like he understood what I was going through but that was a total lie because from what I knew Kiku had never had a girlfriend which meant that he had never experienced heartbreak. "What is it that happened?" he asked.

Should I tell him the truth about Alice being the princess? I guess there wouldn't be any harm done since Alice wasn't even here anymore and there wasn't anything to lose. "Kiku…" I began slowly knowing that this might be a bit of a shock for my quiet friend. "Alice is the Hetalian Princess."

I waited for his eyes to grow wide with shock, for his mouth to drop open, but there was no reaction at all. "I know," he said simply like it wasn't any big deal.

Now it was my turn to be surprised. "Wait…you know? How? When?" I asked in a frenzy.

"I always knew," he replied.

"Does Alice know you know?"

"Yes, she found out I knew a few days ago. So now that you know that I know tell me what is wrong, Alfred-san."

I sighed and began to tell him everything. How I was knocked out by the knights and taken to the dungeon and how Alice then came to rescue me. Then about how Alice stood up to her father and gave up her freedom to keep me from being executed. Lastly about how I was let go from the palace and how now I was too upset and heartbroken to get out of bed because I missed Alice so badly.

"Ah that was a very brave thing for Alice-Chan to do," Kiku mused. "I bet she misses you too just as badly."

"I know that we'll never be able to be together but I can't forget about her, Kiku. I love her."

"I know," Kiku said sympathetically.

There was then a long silence between us, allowing us to both collect our thoughts when suddenly my growling stomach broke the peaceful air.

"Have you eaten today?" Kiku asked me and when I told him no he sighed. "Alfred-San I know you're upset but you can't starve yourself."

"I don't care about food anymore," I said feebly.

"Alfred-San, I will give you a week to get over this. I will contact your boss and let him know what you're going through so that you won't lose your job and I will come over often so that you're not alone, but your life must go on. It must go on and you have to deal with the fact that Alice won't be in it anymore."

And with those last depressing words Kiku left my bedroom leaving me alone with my gloomy, empty thoughts.

Author's Note: Hey guys how are you? This chapter was so sad for me to write, poor Alfie! :'( Despite its gloomy nature I hope you all enjoyed it and I hope you're ready for the next chapter because you're going to get to see how Alice is coping with this love disaster. Reviews = cookies! Until next time! :D