Rain fell hard against the windows, the threatening clouds showing no signs of mercy as Roderich sifted through an old box that belonged to his soon to be former wife. The two were still in undying love with each other, and for that reason they had been forced to isolate from each other. Each time they met there was no talking, just Elizabeta's tears and one long embrace The experience became too traumatizing for them, and they stuck to packing Eliza's things in private.
The world had plunged into war and like always, they had to suffer the consequences. Austria had lost ninety-five percent of his army men, but that wasn't by far the worst of it. The Austro-Hungarian Empire was due to collapse no matter how much he tried to remain ignorant to the ominous fact. And now it was time to face the truth that they held off for so long. Roderich found it difficult to retain the normally calm display he had built up for himself as he shuffled through Hungary's first suitcase.
Buried beneath several layers of clothing was a letter, addressed to no one. Its edges were torn and the paper was stained, but it was most certainly her hand writing. His eyes scanned over the worn paper as his mouth began to hang open in frightening realization.
"I hate being married to that egotistical Austrian. How can they expect me to love a man whose only concerns revolve around himself? I doubt he is capable of love, not that I care. I'll never love him, not if we're married for a million years. These are, no doubt, the worst years of my life." The letter read.
Doubt clouded his mind as he looked at his hands, now shaking with emotion. As we know, the letter was a thing of the past and no longer detained any truth. But the Austrian had no way of knowing it was no longer how she felt, his world collapsing around him. However, he also felt a sense of relief. While he truly loved her, if she did not return the feelings then he would much rather have her happy and free then depressed and forced to live with him.
"I truly am an idiot." He muttered to himself, turning away from the suitcase, the letter clenched in his hand. "Love? How dare I think she love me? I'm just selfish. How could I have been so ignorant to such an obvious fact? No one could ever love a man whose main trait is arrogance."
For the first time in his life, he felt an overwhelming sense of self-loathing overcome him as he collapsed onto his bed, burying his face in the pillow. She would be leaving fairly anyways. He just had to pull himself together until then.
Several rooms over, Elizabeta finished packing her things. Warm tears fell freely from her eyelids as she buried her head in her hands. It was unfair. But she had to appear strong for her final goodbye, her last words to him as her wife. Breaking down during their last encounter would be unacceptable. So she plucked up the last of her emotional stability and knocked abruptly on his door, opening it slightly, only to find his back to the door, looking out the window.
"R-Roddy? I'm going to be leaving now." She stammered, her eyes darting to the ground when she saw he had no intention of turning around.
"I see. Farewell, Elizabeta." He replied, his voice monotonous and cold, much like during their wedding.
"Um… you know, I could always stay if you want…" she mumbled, looking up at him again.
"No. I understand you've been wanting this day to come for a long time. It would be inappropriate for you to stay here any longer. Please leave. We are not married anymore." Roderich said, turning around and smiling sadly.
Elizabeta didn't know what he was talking about, but nodded, afraid to argue and ran out. Then, realization struck. He had saw the letter, he went through her first suitcase. Regret blocked out her other emotions as she ran up the stair, flinging open his door once again.
"Roderich! The letter! It's—" suddenly she stopped, her eyes wide with shock. Roderich was doing something she had never seen him do before.
He looked at her, tears streaming down his face as he uttered a single word;
"Go."