The Pet Chapter 36 Her Acclimation

I am so sorry that this is late! I have been busy with work and getting ready for Anime Weekend Atlanta. I'll be there during the weekend and then back to regular life. Also, this chapter was difficult to write, but thanks to some feedback from a colleague at university, I got it done! I hope you enjoy it!

September was approaching and the Imperial Household was preparing for the move back to Berlin. The Kaiserin was in one of her many palaces away from her husband, but she still sent letters detailing what she wanted waiting for her at the Stadtschloss. The Kaiser, old and weary of his wife, had simpler needs. Prussia and the German Empire were not only busy with overseeing their own servants pack, but also with letters from Bismarck and other German personifications. They were discussing the issues facing the Reichstag when it resumed meeting, and strategies for dealing with the mortals' different political parties and the other German states' needs and demands.

Adeladja was left to herself most of the day. The final receptions had been held as everyone was preparing the move or heading back to their estates before the Berlin social season. Her maids packed her belongings efficiently, as if they had already been given instructions before she could tell them anything. She had asked Prussia a couple of times if she could write Poland and Krakow, but he shook his head. "Adeladja, they haven't answered your last letters. The more letters you send, the more overwhelming and disappointing it is for you. You shouldn't have to do all the work." He looked tired as he went through his own papers.

"I don't mind," she replied. "I do want to let them know that I will be in Berlin, so they don't misdirect their answers. Bitte, Gilbert, let me send one more letter before we go."

He looked up. His eyes were thoughtful, even a little kind. He placed his hands on her shoulders and said, "Liebling, wait for a reply. Besides, they'll know you're in Berlin soon enough. The Kaiser wants to have Emperor Franz Joseph II visit him in a month, so that means Austria will be here. I'm sure Roderich will be happy to tell Elena where she may direct her letters."

Adeladja smiled. "Will Elizabeta come also? I would love to talk to them and find out how my sister is doing and why she isn't writing more often. She's never been such a—"

"Adeladja, enough. You're making my head ache." Prussia 's eyes narrowed and started to turn more red than violet. "Elizabeta will probably stay in Vienna to oversee things while Roderich is here, and we'll be so busy that we might not have time for him to speak to you about her. Besides, I have something else to tell you." He smiled as he squeezed her shoulders. "The Czar has been making sad noises about being left out of this 'meeting of the emperors,' so we may have to invite him also. Of course, that means Russia will show up."

Adeladja recalled one of the best memories from Zopot, when Prussia had said something about letting her speak to Ivan Braginsky about her brother's health and condition. She slipped her arms around his waist and stepped closer. "If he does, will you let me speak to him about Feliks, bitte? You said in Zopot, you would allow that. Bitte, Gilbert," she whispered, her face inches away from his. "It would make me so happy to speak to him and hear how my brother is doing."

For a second, she was convinced that Prussia was going to kiss her. But then he smiled gently and stepped away from her. She watched him return to sorting papers, puzzled at his behavior. "We'll see, Adeladja. I can ask him, but Ivan is unpredictable. He might agree that morning, get his feelings hurt that afternoon, and refuse to see anyone that evening." He darted a little smirk at her. "You of all people should know how Slavs can be."

"At least it wouldn't hurt to ask," Adeladja pleaded. She went over to him behind the desk and stroked his arm. He ignored her. Then she rubbed his back, venturing her hand up his neck, ruffling his hair. She had learned over the past few weeks that he liked that type of caress from her. "Bitte, Gilbert, ask him. I will speak to him in your presence, so you may trust me," she murmured.

She watched Prussia close his eyes and breathe as he pressed into her hand. "Ja, I'll ask him," he sighed. "I'll make sure he is in a good mood and doesn't feel disrespected during his visit, so he will talk to you."

"Danke, Mein Herr," Adeladja whispered in his ear. She then kissed him on his cheek. He turned to her and raised an eyebrow.

"You'll have to wait until tonight, minx. I have to get these papers filed and packed for the porters." He kissed the tip of her nose, and Adeladja pretended to pout. She curtseyed and left his study. As soon as she stepped out of the door, she rolled her eyes. She had felt like a silly girl in there, but she had learned valuable news and had reminded Prussia of his promise. She entered her room and asked the maid to undress her for an afternoon nap.

As she lay in her straitjacket and her bed, she mulled over the past few weeks. Ever since that night when she had cajoled Prussia into getting her a harp, he had seemed different. In public, he was still loud, boastful, bossy, and self-absorbed, with a thin veneer of handsome uniforms and showy manners. But alone with her, he was quiet. Sometimes, he would rest his head against her shoulder or in her lap and speak about his activities. Other times, he was silent, just wanting her to pet him as he played with her hair or fingers. It had been a relief at first, but she grew more and more anxious. Surely he was building up to something, she thought. Surely the other shoe would drop.

That evening, he gently pulled her into his lap and held her there. "Mein Liebling ," he whispered as he caressed her outer thigh and hair. "Mein süßes Mädchen. 1 Isn't it nice that we can just sit here and be pleasant with each other?" Adeladja tried to avoid his gaze. She remembered the first time he had held her like this, when she had been so weak from being away from Danzig so long. Then he had almost managed to fool her. But now she felt stronger, Zopot had happened, and she knew what kind of price his kindness cost.

"Why so cold, kochanie?"2 When Prussia asked her, she pursed her lips. You know why, she wanted to retort. "I promised you your harp, an interview with Russia, and a trip to Vienna for Christmas," he continued. "Would you like a trip back to Danzig? It'll keep your strength up and you can meet with your mortals and know what they are doing. Would you like that?"

"Tak," she replied.3 Now she turned to face him, surveying his expectant face coolly. "I would like to go in late September or October, before it turns too cold."

Prussia smiled at her. "Then we'll go. We'll see that your house is in good order and that your mortal leaders are doing well. It'll be pleasant to be along the coast then, ja?"

Adeladja nodded, surprised and relieved that he had not put any conditions to their visit. But she still could not trust him or let him off the hook. He closed his eyes and kissed her neck softly; she studied his dark lashes, bitter at how much handsomeness had been wasted on such a cruel, deceptive nation.

"Kochanie, your pulse is racing like a little bird's," he murmured against her neck. "I'm afraid you're going to burst a vein. What is it, Adeladja? Are you excited about going to Danzig?"

She nodded, and to her dismay, Prussia squeezed her closer to him, kissing her throat more forcefully. "Dobry!"4 He said. He tilted her head to make her face him. His eyes sparkled a triumphant red-violet. "Then how about a kiss to show some gratitude." Before she could pull away, he placed his lips on hers, forcing her mouth open. Adeladja considered fighting a little, but then surrendered. After all, she reasoned, he had not demanded any other conditions.

When she broke off the kiss, he studied her. He looked irritated but also sad. Adeladja tried to make herself look as neutral as possible and stifle her growing anxiety.

"Adeladja, why don't you relax with me? You've been so good and pleasant for the past few weeks and now you seem so cold again." Prussia traced his fingers along her cheek and at the touch, she had to close her eyes. She could feel her stomach begin to churn again, even as the inner voice told her, stay calm and remember to play your part. You didn't get the promise of a harp and a trip to Danzig by being cold. Remember what you got instead?

"Haven't I been kind to you since I returned from Königsberg?" He continued. "Haven't I shown you patience and affection? I've demanded very little from you and I thought you would appreciate that."

"I do, Gilbert," she whispered. She agonized about telling him the fear of his patience's hidden cost, but the voice warned, don't give him any ideas. She could feel two forces rising in her: the sensible voice and a deeper feeling that threatened to break the calm atmosphere. She forced herself to caress his face and hair; he closed his eyes and leaned into her palm, sighing. Te przeklęte łzy, she thought as she blinked them back.5 He didn't deserve them, she reminded herself, after what he had done to her. But here he was, rubbing his cheek against her palm, his jaw trembling under her skin.

"Do you know how much it mattered to me that you took my side against verdammt United Kingdom and Hannover at the Crown Princess's that day?" He managed to whisper. "Do you know why I was so willing to give you that harp?"

"Because hearing me play for you would please you?"

He shook his head against her hand and she saw his closed eyes tighten. "Ja, maybe. But it was because you had been kind to me. You had done what I asked you to do. Kindness is a rare thing in this world, Adeladja, and I lack it." He slid his cheek along her palm and pressed his lips against it.

Boże, Adeladja groaned inside. She remembered his callousness towards the Crown Princess's dead child, his own anger and cruelty towards her at Zopot, and she wanted to draw her hand away from him, but he had pressed his over it. You certainly do lack kindness, she wanted to snap at him, so why should you expect any? Control yourself, the voice warned. He is practically crawling into your lap, begging for affection, and you'd be a fool not to turn this to your advantage.

"Everyone wants kindness," she said, pretending she was involved in a philosophical discussion. "Even those who are not tender-hearted by nature want to be treated kindly. All of us have been thoughtless or even cruel at times during our existence. So why should we hope for kindness? What conditions need to be met before we can receive it?"

Prussia's eyes opened as he withdrew his lips from her palm. Mein Gott, you are a fool, the voice groaned, he is alert now, thanks to your philosophizing. "What are you talking about?" He asked. She was surprised to see his puzzled expression.

"Kindness," she replied, feeling as confused as he looked. "How we all want it, even if we don't have it in ourselves."

Prussia narrowed his eyes. "Where did that come from?" He blew out a breath and looked exasperated. "Mein Gott, I meant that I lack kindness in my life, du dumme Polin, not that I am not kind!6 Haven't I been good to you over the past few days, offering you that interview with Russia and now a trip to Danzig? How can you misunderstand me?" He looked at her , his eyes narrowing.

Salvage this, the voice whispered. Adeladja swallowed hard. "Ja, you have been very kind to me, very patient and generous. I misunderstood what you meant; the word 'lack' confused me. I guess I just see how deferential everyone is to you and I couldn't imagine anyone not being kind to you." She babbled, blushing at her cowardice, "Bitte Gilbert, I thought you meant something else and I see I was wrong."

"You saw all too well how Hannover, the United Kingdom, and even my own Crown Princess treated me," he grumbled. "My sister picks quarrels with me. And do you think meeting with Russia and Austria and the other German states will be a picnic? Russia might be tolerable, but Roderich will snipe at me under his breath. Saxony and Bavaria will fawn on him and jab at me, unless they're too busy trying to turn the German Empire against me. And they are supposed to be my peers, my allies. Imagine what France thinks of me!" He pouted and his fingers dug into Adeladja's thigh and shoulder. For a second, she thought he was going to shove her off his lap and begin yelling at her, but he squeezed her closer to him. He studied the carpet.

"Adeladja," he said softly, "I don't mind fighting to get what I need and to protect my mortals and their interests. I never had the kind of land or resources to use trade to my advantage, but I could fight and I am good at it. But in my own home, I want peace." He turned to look at her and she noted how tired he looked. "I want someone who will listen to what I have been through, who will sympathize and understand. Someone who will give me the strength to return to the fray." He reached up to touch her cheek and Adeladja willed herself not to cringe. She felt a cold shiver run through her body as he smiled at her. "That's why I wanted you here, and not serving me in Danzig," he continued. "To give me that peace and kindness, like a good Nebenfrau, ja?" He gazed expectantly at her and she made herself nod. "Everything was so nice, so gemütlich, a few minutes ago, but then you had to spoil it with your cold airs and strange comments.7 I try to be nice to you, try to confide in you, so why can't you be at ease with me and do the same?"

You wouldn't like me to confide in you, Adeladja thought, as he continued to smile at her. If I were to tell you about the anger and grief I feel about what you did to me at Zopot, what would you do? She thought about his temper, his ability to turn things against her, just like he was doing now, and she despaired of ever hearing him apologize to her. Then don't tell him, the voice said. Give him what he wants and reap the rewards. What rewards, Adeladja thought wearily. The pleasure of acting as if I enjoy being with him? The pleasure of fooling him , the voice replied. He thinks he's so clever at sniffing out Poles and their plots. Why not be the one that deceives him so completely that he doesn't know he's been duped until it's too late?

Adeladja returned Prussia's gaze. This time as she smiled, she didn't feel it was forced. She wasn't pretending to be grateful or affectionate now; she was seeing him like a wolf lured into a trap by a hunter. "I guess it is our past history that makes me so hesitant at times," she murmured.

"The past is the past," he replied. "You're mine now, Adeladja, and you are part of the most important kingdom in a promising new empire. Enjoy that, Liebling."

Adeladja put her arms around him, imagining the wolf trapped by nets, his frantic attempts to escape entangling him further. She could hear the hunter shouting in triumph, aiming for the kill shot. She looked into Prussia's eyes, pleased at their dark burgundy color, the sign that he was calm and vulnerable before her. "I shall do my best, from now on," she said sweetly, as her lips descended upon his.

So what do you think of "the voice's" advice to Adeladja and her realization? Does Prussia seem too naive? I thank you for your patience and look forward to hearing from you!

1 German: my sweet girl

2 Polish: darling, sweetheart

3 Polish: yes

4 Polish: Good!

5 Polish: These accursed tears

6 German: you silly, stupid Polishwoman

7 German: cozy, pleasant, homey, comfortable