Author's Note: I love this story! I'd love it more if you guys reviewed it! I'd love it even more if you guys would REVIEW IT! I DO NOT OWN HETALIA!
A cool hand nudged my shoulder and shook me till I opened my eyes. Sitting up and making a quick glance to the right, I noticed a nightstand on the side of the bed with a messy bed spread. Was I back home? Was it all just a dream to begin with? I looked at the foot of the bed to see a familiar face, a girl who appeared in her early twenties with blonde hair. Lili? So it wasn't a dream. Thank God!
"Hey Lizzy! Did you get your voice back?" I tried to say 'I don't know', but all I could do was mouth the words. "I take that as a 'no'. Do you know sign language?" I nodded. Where was she going with this? "How was last night? Maria Theresa didn't even share her bed with him and they were engaged!"
Could somebody remind me what was a dream? I tried my best to speak, even though it would probably be a failed attempt. "Where is he?" I asked. It was scratchy but just enough to know what I was asking.
"Oh my goodness! Roderich!" Lili called, running out of the room. I want to beat her!
Roderich appeared in the doorway in an instant, trying to regain his breath. I covered my chest with the blankets, embarrased about my attire. He chuckled before he spoke. "Don't fret. I've already seen it all!" I gasped and slammed him against a wall.
"What did you do to me?" I shouted.
"You did it to me first! We layed down to fall asleep, you hugged me, I woke up an hour ago and hugged you back for a little bit. That nightgown of yours is as thin and see-through as a wet piece of paper!" I looked down to see he was right. Using my arms to cover myself, I ran to the nearest corner of the room and hid in the darkness. It was obvious he could still see me. "After breakfast, we'll continue your lessons!" He disappeared out of the room as Lili was going through the closet.
She pulled out the dress that I arrived in and looked at it strangely. "You wore this?" I nodded. "That's depressing!" She pulled out a burgundy dress and held it against me. "As a matter of fact, wear that one!" Lili pointed to the dress she just insulted.
"First you insult my style, and then you make me wear it anyway. Why?" I asked.
"Because after lessons today, you're getting pampered from head to toe!" I sighed and began getting dressed. She did have to help put the corset on as the white sleeves began just barely off of my shoulders. "You have a nice figure!"
"Thank you!"
We walked straight to the dining room where everyone waited for us. Once we walked in, Antonio and Roderich rose to their feet. I blushed but Lili looked used to it. I noticed Antonio pulled Lili's chair out for her. This is very different! I went to sit down and Roderich did the same thing, which only made me blush more. He pushed the chair against my legs and I sat down as Roderich took his seat. He looked so handsome this morning. Must've been the nice night we shared last night.
"Elizaveta, would you like to continue your lessons today?" Roderich asked.
"Sorry little bro, she can't! She needs to practice dancing for the ball tonight!" Antonio interrupted. Since when do I have a schedule to follow?
"Ich denke, es kann nicht geholfen werden," Roderich said under his breath, poking at his breakfast with his fork. (AN: He said: I guess it can't be helped.)
I didn't understand what he said, but I knew he was complaining because Antonio was chuckling to himself. "Someone is stingy over our new guest!" Antonio whispered. My hand didn't grab the cup on the table as I intended for. Instead, my hand tipped the cup over and water pooled everywhere. Everyone pulled their seats away so they didn't get wet. However, I stood up and began drying it up with my napkins.
"Elizaveta, we have maids for that," Lili told me.
"I made it! They shouldn't have to clean up after me!" I replied. Once it was cleaned up, I sat back down and began digging into my breakfast. It was different than the meals in Prussia. This actually had flavor and it was delicious! Lili and I finished our breakfast at the same time and she escorted me to the dance instructor, I could feel Roderich's eyes on me. Antonio clearing his throat told me so. We disappeared out of the doorway and the two brothers went into a conversation.
"You like her, don't you?" Antonio asked.
"What's not to like? She's my own personal, damsel in distress. I get the feeling that if she went back to her husband, she would die if I don't protect her. How can you love someone so much and then refuse it just so she could still be happy?" Roderich spoke.
"Beats me! Lili and I were made for each other! But if you love her, you'd fight for her! If you don't, I will grab the bull by the horns myself!"
"She's married to another man, Antonio! And lord knows she has a child!"
"Do you want to finally settle down or continue longing after a woman you just met a couple days ago?"
"If all of this was different I would be out there now, going after her. For now, I'll just... I don't know, wait and see if this is what she wants for herself. It's her choice, after all."
Back to Lili and I, we arrived at the dance studio and I saw a young lady with big knockers. "Miss Yekaterina Braginskaya, could you please teach Elizaveta to dance? Things like turns, the waltz, and dips!"
"Just leave her to me! I'll take good care of her!" Yekaterina announced, cracking her knuckles. Something was telling me I wasn't going to make it through the night. Class lasted two hours. I wasn't exactly sweating, but I was finding it hard to breathe. "Go take a bath! Our hair dresser will be here soon to take care of you!" I nodded and walked towards the bathroom. On my way there, I saw Antonio talking to someone.
"It has to be tonight! So prepare the dress on page nine and we will get him falling to his knees for her!" I knew he was talking to Lili about Roderich and me. I cleared my throat and got his attention.
"Where... is the bathroom?" I asked.
"Lili will show you. She needs to help you with that corset."
~~After A Nice Warm Bath~~
Lili was at my side after I wrapped a towel around me to place ointment on my back. I gasped at the cold touch and she placed her hand at my shoulder. "This is nothing compared to what you're going to go through tonight," Lili spoke.
"What do you mean?" I was afraid to ask.
"Roderich, if he's not too lazy, will have to do this tonight after the ball!" I shut my eyes tightly, praying this was a dream! Lili walked out for a few minutes, and was back with a corset, dress, and petticoat. She wrapped the corset over my breasts and stomach and tied it tightly. Placing the petticoat on the floor, I stepped over it and she brought it to my hips and hooked it in place. "Ready for the dress?"
"As I'll ever be!"
"Get on your knees and raise your arms above your head!" I did as she told and she slipped it over my head and pulled it into place. It was burgundy and a corset styled dress with a golden embroidery along it. The skirt poofed out but my ass didn't look as fat as it did. It was strapless and it looked gorgeous! She pulled burgundy sleeves up onto my upper arms but didn't hide my shoulders. It was tight on my upper arm and before it reached my elbow, gold fabric began and it poofed out a little. There was one for both arms. Each print on the dress that was burgundy was gold. I loved it so much!
A man with blonde, wavy hair, a purple jacket with a cloak on the edge that didn't go too far with red pants appeared behind us. "Who are you?" I asked.
"I am your worst nightmare... Syke! My name is Francis and I will be welding you to make you look beautiful!" He pulled out an enormous case. It was no bigger than a suitcase but I was dying to know what was inside! He unhooked the locks and opened it. Inside were hair ornaments, make up, and ribbons. "So who is your date?"
"I... don't have one," I replied.
"She is Roderich Edelstein's date! She is just too nervous to admit it!" Lili announced.
"Lucky bitch!" Francis commented. I closed my eyes and kept them sealed until it was absolutely necessary. When I did, I was done and pampered. My hair was tied back in a burgundy ribbon and tiny fake, red rose buds were in my hair that draped over my left shoulder. My lips were painted red and my eye lashes were black. That Francis guy really is a master! I resembled the porcelain dolls my father would give me when I was younger. "Oh, so you're awake now?" Francis asked.
"What do you mean?" I asked. Turning to see Lili dressed and ready to go.
"Elizaveta, we must hurry! The guests are all in the ballroom! Royal family members are going to be announced. The guys already went so we'll be going very soon!" She ran off and I sighed before attempting to leave.
"Now don't you look beautiful!" I heard a familiar voice call. Turning around, Arthur was standing before me. "I've come to warn you. The last day that you have is in three days!" He disappeared in an instant and I began running towards the ballroom.
"Ladies and Gentlemen! Princess Lili!" the announcer called. Arriving next to the announcer, I whispered my name to him. "Next, Princess Elizaveta!"
Descending the stairs, Roderich's eyes were locked on mine. He waited at the base of the stairs with an outstretched hand. I took it gently and he wound my arm with his. "Now the vorst part is over!" he spoke with an Austrian accent. "And you look beautiful!"
I smiled before whispering "thank you."
Antonio was at my side and began to tow me away, Lili pulling on Roderich. "Don't worry lil bro, I'm just gonna dance with her!" The song playing by the band seemed pretty fast. I placed my right hand at his shoulder and his right hand met my waist and we began spinning around in turns, one after the other. I noticed a smile was on his face and mine as well! I couldn't help it, I was having so much fun! What surprised me the most was that they were passing the ladies around the room with different partners. Antonio handed me to his father and he appeared to have just as much fun. Lili was now dancing with Antonio. They stopped spinning and began to walk around in a circle around the room.
"Elizaveta, this is just as much as my business as it is yours. Do you love my son? Roderich, that is," he asked. I looked at him surprised. Is Roderich the only one who doesn't know? I nodded and he spun me around once and let me go. I was standing in the middle of the dance floor, all feelings lost. My heart beat was the only thing I could feel at the moment. A hand met mine and turned me around to meet violet orbs through glasses.
"Shall we, Miss Elizaveta?" he asked. I smiled and we joined the group of dancers that carried on with their fun.
The music began to slow down to a steady pace. Miss Braginskaya showed me the differences between music. This was the waltz. I wrapped my left arm along his right arm which held my waist and his left hand grabbed my right. We began circling the room including Antonio and Lili, Francis and Maria, and Roderich's dad was dancing with a young lady I didn't recognize.
"Roderich? Why did you share your bed with me last night?" I asked as we swayed with the other three couples.
"Because you couldn't sleep on your back so I had to watch over you."
"But you were engaged to Maria Theresa and she still didn't get to sleep with you!" I noticed that everyone else was dancing with us and we got lost in the crowd till we found a dead section in the room. I was pinned against the wall with Roderich's body.
"That's because I had my doubts about her! Now just drop it!"
"No! Please tell me!" I urged.
A hand covered my mouth as he pushed against me more. He removed his hand and smoldered me with his violet eyes. I felt loose against him and stroked his left cheek. His hand met my waist and his face began to lean closer to mine. Could this be it? I leaned in towards him as well, just wanting one kiss. His forehead met my shoulder with an abrupt sigh. Is he weakening? I placed my hand at the back of his head as my arm wound around his back. The main thing he needs right now is a hug. The one thing I need right now is his kiss!