Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia.
"What do you think about this one?" The seamstress asked, passing some papers to Alice. The princess sighed as she glanced over the design. It was a long and skinny white dress, lacy flowers were drawn at the waist.
"I don't like it." Alice returned, carelessly handing it back to the older seamstress wearing an exasperated expression
She heard her mother sigh behind her. The princess turned around as the seamstress went to find a new design to show her.
"What?"
"Your wedding is in four months, they have to start on a dress, but you just have to be difficult and keep shooting all their designs down. Those poor women just want to serve their princess." The queen returned, a hand on her forehead. She rubbed patterns in her face as she continued. "You can't put off the wedding by doing something like this."
"I don't like any of the designs." The blond lied. She actually had like a few of the first ones, but she refused to wear any of those at a wedding where she wasn't marrying Alfred. Her dreams showed her in dresses like those when she was at their wedding, she wouldn't wear them anywhere else.
"Oh, I'm sure you don't." Her mother returned sarcastically. "You have to pick one eventually."
"I will when I find one I like." Alice retorted, crossing her arms and glaring at the wall rather than the queen.
The two were quiet until her mother softly said. "Alice, dear, I know you're not excited about this wedding, but that doesn't stop it from happening."
"Not excited about it is an understatement." The princess scoffed.
Silence fell on them again. All she could hear was the shuffling of the seamstress in the next room.
"What if Prince Alfred was alive?" Alice asked suddenly, just barely louder than a whisper, but she knew her mother had heard her.
"What if he was?" The queen returned nonchalantly.
"What would happen?"
"Well, we would be sitting here waiting for you to pick a dress for that wedding too." Her mother smiled.
"That's not what I mean. What if, right now, after we've all thought he was dead for eleven, twelve years, he just showed up again at Americana's castle? What would happen then? Would I marry him?" Alice asked, looking over at the queen.
"It would depend."
"On?"
"Why he disappeared, who he was now, whether he would still be next in line for the throne, what his parents wanted to do. It would depend on a lot of factors." The older woman returned.
"But just guess. If he showed up again, realistically, do you think I would marry him instead of Francis?"
"The opportunities of joining with Americana are much greater than joining with Fraunce. That's why you were originally engaged to him rather than Francis. I think it would be possible for you to marry Alfred." The queen answered. "But, dear, he's dead. There isn't much use in dreaming up ghosts."
"I know. I was just curious."
