Vienna, 1693.

"Mon Dieu! Why do you resist so much?" France's exasperated yelling could be heard from the hallway. "Why do you care about Spain so much, what's the point in keeping him around? He's virtually useless now!"

"Perhaps because, unlike some of us in this room, I don't lack a concept of a thing such as loyalty! Why are you here? Don't you have another gaudy palace to construct?" Austria shot back. His face was red from the screaming they'd been doing.

Hungary sat on the couch, watching them. She shook her head and tried in vain to return to her book. If they kept this up, they would lose their voices completely. They'd already carried on for the past two hours.

"Is this really what you want to go to war over? What good has he done you recently?" France had switched to pleading, trying a softer approach. "To have your territory spread out in such a way, it makes no sense. If I have Spain than I can take better care of him than you ever could. L'Autriche, I'm doing you a favor!" He clasped Austria's shoulder in his hand, smiling with hostility.

Austria shrugged him off, stiffening his back upright. "I reject your rather crass insinuation, Frankreich. You would be well-advised to mind your manners in my home. I don't care how important you think you are; you will respect me."

"Then perhaps we can make a deal? You give me something I want in return for propping up your precious husband."

"What could the man who has everything possibly want from me?" Austria rubbed the bridge of his nose. Dealing with France was always an exercise in patience and futility.

"Nothing, but it's important to make you pay." Francis' eyes traveled the room. Eventually they settled on the third person in the room. He licked his lips. "Oh, Hungary. I had no idea you were here." He glided over towards her, bowing theatrically before her. "I hope I didn't offend such a resplendent woman."

Nauseating. Hungary and Austria shared a look of mutual contempt for the man. "No offense taken. Please don't mind me." She attempted to go back to her book. She could feel him still staring at her with such intensity. Irritation prickled at her skin. She huffed and looked back up at him. "Can I help you?"

A sudden realization overtook Austria. His fury increased tenfold. "Absolutely not, you bastard! You ask for too much!"

Ignoring him, France suddenly took Hungary's hand and brought it to his lips. He gazed up at her from behind his eyelashes, a slight smile dancing on his lips. "I never noticed it before, but your eyes shine wonderfully in the light. Like two glistening emeralds. I don't believe I've ever encountered a more beautiful woman, and one who glows outwardly with such confidence." In a fluid motion, he sat down beside her, a hand resting gently on her knee. "I could show you wonders beyond your wildest dreams, show you the best and brightest the world has to offer."

Erzsébet inched away from him, finding herself trapped between him and the arm of the chair. She began trying to formulate an escape. "You're too kind. Paris is too far from Budapest; I would never wish to be that far from my people." She laughed, nervous from him being too close. "Choosing between the two of you isn't much choice at all, is it?"

Francis' eyes hardened. His blue eyes crashed into hers, becoming steely. The smile never left his face. "Interesting you'd resist so much. Would you care to help me? Are these rumors of dalliances with Gilbert true? It seems odd that a woman who so freely brings various men to her bed would put up such resistance."

Erzsébet looked at Roderich, silently begging for him to intercede. He remained in his spot, watching them. His arms folded over his chest and shrugged, communicating that he believed Francis had a fair point. She was isolated. "You give too much credence to rumors. There is nothing between us. Gilbert and I are only good friends." She snuck one arm behind her, grasping around for something, anything, to force him away from her.

"Mm, I'm sure." He rolled his eyes, stifling a laugh in disbelief. "Regardless, I'm sure you can be persuaded. I know what a woman wants, I know her desires. You will find I'm incomparable to any man be-" he yelped, letting out a loud string of expletives. Hungary removed the letter opener she had thrusted into his side as he leapt away from her. "You whore! Why would you do such a thing?"

"Why would you find it appropriate to invade a lady's space and insinuate all sorts of horrible things before her, her-" she stumbled, unsure what exactly to consider Austria. Their relationship status confused her. "-her Roderich!" That would suffice.

France trembled in pain and fury. He glared between Austria and Hungary, unsure of who to unleash his wrath upon. He winced, feeling the wound throb. They could wait, dealing with the hole in his gut would take priority. "Fine then! Have it your way, we'll settle this on the battlefield."

Once Francis had hurried out, Erzsébet turned her ire on Roderich, who now sat at his desk. "What's your problem? Did you not care about what he was doing?" She strode over to him, leaning down so she obstructed his view of his papers. "Were you really going to only stand there and watch?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about. I saw nothing." Ignoring her, Roderich scribbled out a few letters. "And if I had, perhaps he brings up a good point. Sleeping around with some backwoods upstart certainly can run you into trouble with others. More tact would be advisable."

"You would really feed me to the lions simply because of conjecture? I've been completely faithful to you ever since you dragged me to this hellhole! Whatever may have happened when we were kids is none of your concern!" This was ridiculous. She couldn't believe they were having this conversation. "That doesn't matter anyways because you're married to Antonio! Why expect me to be playing the faithful maiden when you have a different set of rules!"

"Forget what I said to Francis, the marriage is imploding. Charles is the worst thing to have happened to us. That's not important though. I'm more concerned with elevating your status than maintaining Antonio's place besides me. Which is why this matters, I can't have you undermining the whole plan before it happens." Roderich looked up at her, meeting her gaze with a disapproving look. "If you're out whoring yourself to a country bumkin than I already look weak. I would recommend that you cease undermining me in such a way."

Erzsébet was livid. Disgust filled her down to her very core. "You're not listening to me at all! I've shrugged him off every chance I could've taken - and believe me there were plenty!" He gave her a look filled to the brim with such disbelief. Her blood boiled. A twisted laugh bubbled from her lips. "My god, you're all the same? You'll believe Francis over me despite anything I say to the contrary? Fine, then. Have it your way, Roderich." She knocked over his inkwell and began storming out the room.

"Get back here and clean this mess up at once! Where do you think you're going!"

"Berlin. I apparently have some unfinished business to attend to." A devilish smile danced across her lips. Two could play at this game.