Vienna, 1535.

Spain had been the first.

Well, really Turkey had been the first, but Hungary refused to remember her time under the Ottomans. It's where it all began, her fascination with the horrible thing's states would do to keep and maintain any grip on their power. It's where this experiment began and where she found the roots of her discontent for those who elevated themselves beyond gods.

But Spain was the first, the first she was able to watch in action so intimately. In the 1530s, he had plenty of reason to frequent Vienna often. He was married to Austria and came often to denounce the heretics in England, to proclaim further French treachery, or to brag about his latest conquest in the New World. Hungary always hovered behind the door while he regaled Austria with these stories. She understood that, being recently freed from the Ottomans and taken by rightful conquest, she was the most junior member. Under Ottoman rule, she'd quickly understood a lot about how the powerful view her place.

On this particular visit, Antonio was exuberant. More gold had been discovered somewhere far away, in a land with a name that tasted too foreign on Erzsébet's tongue. Joyful laughter filled the room. She peered around the door frame, catching the two men in an embrace. "Ah, Toni, you're incredible!" She'd never heard Roderich's voice filled with such glee. "You were away for five months and already you found more? You're incredible, you have a supernatural ability for this."

"It's like they say, God blesses us with what we need. Which is why God blessed me with you, mi amor." Antonio leaned in for a kiss before suddenly halting. His eyes met Erzsébet's, who froze with dread. A wide smile cracked across his face. "Ah, it seems we have a visitor! Come in, I don't think I've met you yet!"

Compelled, she shuffled into the room. "We have before, but I don't take offense, I understand that you're busy." She performed a little curtesy, a move she still found strange no matter how much she practiced. "I'm Hungary and I apologize for my rudeness. My curiosity got the better of me." She directed her apology more towards Austria. He was looking at her with an intensity she mistook for infatuation when, in reality, it was derision.

"Don't apologize! It's exciting times we live in, yes? We should all take an interest in what's happening. The world is expanding after all!" He spoke with such genuine warmth, it moved Hungary. He had a quiet magnetism that drew her in, much different than all the other people she'd been around. She never wanted him to leave or stop speaking. "Do you have any opinion on-?"

There was that name again. That damn name that didn't sound like any known language. Still, this was her moment. Hungary wanted to impress, to show that she was a worthwhile nation to such a powerful presence. "Burn the heretics?" It was a line she'd heard before from them so it had to be the right answer.

It did the trick. Spain broke into an easy laugh, smiling at her approvingly. "Smart girl, you understand it. Some people want to go soft on them and for what?" His cheery demeanor slipped away into a more somber tone. "I'm bringing them the gift of God and civilization. If they reject it, what mercy should we show them? The fires of the earth will purify them before they can face the eternal flames of Hell."

"You really mustn't trouble yourself with such matters. You can't save everyone." Austria sounded bored, as if he'd heard these concerns many times and found them tedious. He kissed Spain on the cheek. "There's some work I need to attend to. Please stop by before you leave. I have something I wish to send you off with."

A knowing look quickly passed between them before it was gone, disappearing on Austria's coattails as he exited the room. Hungary took that as her cue. She gave another little curtesy before heading out. Suddenly she felt a firm grasp on her wrist. "You don't have to hurry so soon. I promise, you won't get in trouble." She looked back and met Spain's eyes, swirling with indecipherable emotions. "I make it a habit of talking to the people I meet."

He had a disarming quality to him. Where Erzsébet would've typically felt nervous at such an action, he made her feel accepted and her presence desired. She blushed and cast her gaze to the floor. "As you wish."

He released her, taking a seat at one of the chairs and gesturing for her to do the same. Once she complied, he began speaking. "You didn't always live here, where did you come from?"

She resisted the urge to say Budapest, to say the rolling hills of Hungary, knowing that if she said such a thing to Sadiq or Roderich it would earn her a rebuke. Besides, she knew what he was really asking. "Austria freed my lands and me from Ottoman rule around five years ago."

A knowing smile. "That explains why you're so nervous. You have no reason to be, you're among friends now. That's reason to smile, to sit up straight, and have pride in yourself!" Spain's voice grew louder as he spoke in his excitement. "Those damn Moors are a menace to be rid of too. I recently kicked them out of my lands and, let me tell you, that was certainly a project."

Hungary's hands began fidgeting with the fabric of her dress, clumping it into balls in her hands. "I would have more pride if I had been able to free myself. I used to be much stronger." She sighed longingly, remembering her childhood. She had been a terror, running around and getting into fights with whoever dared to look at her the wrong way. She rarely lost back then.

"Don't be! There's no shame in needing assistance. What good would empire be if we didn't help the smallest among us shake off their chains?" Something flashed across his face. Hungary struggled to define it. It was much different than his jovial act prior. It was much more fearsome, much more frightening. "We all benefit from it. You get to be freed of such tyranny and we get to help you step into the role of a proper civilized state. Who doesn't win in that?"

Despite her momentary misgivings, her heart soared. She couldn't stop the grin from spreading across her face. "So that means I'll eventually become independent? Oh, thank you! I've missed that for so long, how good it'll be to work in sync with my people again!"

Unable to stop herself from speaking, Hungary watched as Spain's demeanor shifted. He grew stiff and formed a hardened look in his eyes. "Independence, huh? Now isn't that a concept." He laughed, but there was no joy to the action.

"Did I misunderstand? It sounded like you would help me become independent again."

"To help you do that, I would be going against Roderich." Spain's voice grew stern, like that of a parent lecturing a child slow to understand why their behavior was wrong. His eyes grew so cold she shivered. "To conspire against my husband would be a sin before God and all the world. A spouse is meant to work in harmony with their husband, to do nothing to undermine their authority. Someday you will understand this and not ask for the impossible."

She'd heard words like this before. The tone, the look, the condescension. It all was the same. Why had she allowed herself to be fooled by a man who pretended to be warmer than the sun? Who pretended he had compassion and care for those beneath him? Because he met her eyes and returned her shy smile? That only made the treachery of his true character sting worse. Her mouth dried up, but she forced herself to choke out some words. "My apologies. I suppose I forgot myself." Her voice was devoid of emotion. It had to be otherwise he would feel her rage.

"I suppose you did." Spain smiled, cocking his head to the side. He reminded Hungary of a cat, lazily playing with its prey. "We all have our place in the world. We can't change God's plan for us, but we can accept it and live up to it to the best of our ability." She found herself developing a distaste for cats. "Fighting against it is an exercise in futility, is it not?"

"Perhaps, but it builds up character." Her legs suddenly forced her to rise, anger pounding hot through her veins. "I would recommend it. It helps you learn the true caliber of a person."

"Mm, for someone so willing to suggest it, you sound a lot like the heretics you wish for me to burn. Of course, I would never do such a thing, but it's advisable that you remember who you're talking to now that you're among the best of us. We have a long memory." His eyes begged her to go on, to dig her grave faster. She refused to be baited further, to give into his notion of what she was. He sighed dramatically. "I have to tell Roderich to stop bringing these barbarians home when he goes campaigning east. You people are so much trouble."

Hungary bit down on her tongue. She imagined Austria would be informed of her behavior, that she would be punished for her blatant disrespect. She would not worsen the situation for herself, no matter how much she longed to lash out, to remind this snake what she was really capable of. Instead, she forced on a smile that she knew looked deranged. The idea of herself appearing crazed to a man who tried so hard to appear so decent filled her with some twisted satisfaction. "I'll take my leave now."

No curtesy. She turned on her heel and hustled off, cursing him violently in her head. "I'll remember you, Hungary." His voice carried after her heels. She knew it was meant to be a threat, but she took it as a promise.

"Damn right you'll remember me," she whispered to everyone and no one.