Elizeveta got out of that cell as soon as she could and went up to their bedroom – Ludwigs' damning words still rushing around inside her head and dredging up sickening memories.
He's right, I was an unfaithful wife, but wouldn't anyone else be if they were in my situation? Being stuck in a loveless, forced marriage to a man such as Roderich?
She barged into the room and headed straight into the on-suite; the only place she could cry freely without alerting anyone else in the vicinity. Bundling up the towel and pressing it to her face to muffle the sounds, Elizeveta finally allowed herself to sob as the dark thoughts came flooding back at her in full force.
The proposal was so long ago now, yet I still remember it clearly. Roderich, distant and cold, placing a letter of marriage approval in my hand and leaving. I joyously told him that I accept, but he just relayed in no uncertain terms that he was forced to do it. I was such a silly young girl back then that I did not see much past those exquisite good looks and I more or less ignored his last comment. He'll change once we're married, I always told myself.
After the small wedding, I was made to leave Hungary and live in Austria with my new husband. That was when I first met Ludwig. Evil, abhorrent Ludwig.
Standing at least 6 inches higher than me and possessing a great muscled build, Ludwig intimidated me from the offset and he knew it. He approached me with calm civility and bowed to kiss my hand; I will never forget how cold those lips felt and how strong his grip on my fingers was. I curtseyed politely and looked into those ice blue eyes for the first time – their piercing stare sending chills up my spine.
"Welcome to the household, Mrs Edelstein."
I bade him thanks and quickly turned my attention to the ghostly white figure walking past the hallway. I asked who it was.
"That is mein other Bruder Gilbert. He is an albino, hence his freakish appearance."
It was from then that I saw how horrible Ludwig and Roderich were to Gil – starting off by just making silly jokes about how he reminded them of a rabbit with his odd eyes and white skin, then progressing onto nastier jibes at how he'll never get a wife . On occasion, they've been known to slap him about a bit, but yet he still did not rise to their bait. Oh how I admired his braveness…
She hugged the towel tighter.
Gilbert was the only one in Austria that I could call 'friend' – I was not allowed to go outside or write to my loved ones back in Hungary, on Roderichs' orders. I was alone for two years, until that wonderful day I struck up conversation with him in the rose garden after helping him fit a bird feeder to the Fir tree. I still remember how he tenderly fed the little yellow canaries that flocked to his open palm and how one wouldn't leave him alone.
"You can't stay on my palm the rest of your life, fatty." He joked, placing the plump canary on his shoulder. I laughed at how silly he looked with a little fat bird pulling on his silvery hair and for the first time in years, I felt truly happy.
For so many years, we became firm friends, allies even, in that dysfunctional household that represented our countries' joint empire. When Ludwigs' taunts went too far, I'd be there to comfort him and when Roderich was giving me verbal abuse, Gilbert would step in and give abuse back, thereby taking the focus off of me. We'd spend countless evenings in the garden together, just talking about our respective lands and how much we missed them. He always wanted to take me to Prussia, the country he represented, and show me the sights – one day, I'd always say, when we're both out of here.
Of course, I should have seen it coming that both Roderich and Ludwig would get suspicious of us, but I was too happy to care. So happy in fact, that I did not see the trap they had laid for me on that faithful night…
It was Monday and I was instructed to pack both Roderichs' and Ludwigs' cases for the world meeting that was to be held in Germany the next day. I remember finding it strange that both Gilbert and I were not invited, seeing how all countries had to be there, but I was soon assured by Roderich that he was to represent both our countries.
"I entrust the house to you, Elizeveta, please look after it whilst we are gone." He said, as he got into his chauffeur-driven car. Ludwig trailed after him and told me to stay out of trouble – I really should have seen it there and then what those two were planning but I was just glad to see the back of them.
As soon as the car sped off and the doors were locked, Gilbert and I felt truly free. We ate as we pleased and I was finally able to play the piano – my favourite past time as a girl back in Hungary. All night, I regaled him with soft love songs and I tried to teach him to play, but he kept messing up on the keys. I must admit, I did laugh, but then soon bit my tongue in case he felt as if I was taunting him.
"It's impossible for you to taunt me – there's simply no malice in your heart, Liz." He smiled, those ruby-red eyes twinkling with affection. It was no small wonder that there and then, we confessed our long-hidden feelings and eventually found ourselves falling into bed with each other.
He laid me down gently on his bed and I confessed to him that I was still a virgin. How ashamed I was admitting that my own husband had never consummated our marriage.
"I promise I wont hurt you, Elizeveta." He murmured, stroking my hair and kissing me on the forehead. He let his hand slide down to my private area and gently caressed me, taking his time to make sure that I'd be ready for later. I had never experienced foreplay before, so I was close to orgasm after only a few minutes of his deft fingering.
"We can stop here if you want to."
I told him that I was ready and braced myself for the resulting pain of him entering me, but was surprised to find that there was none. I lay back and allowed myself to indulge in the sublime pleasures that Gilbert was granting me - the fact that I was letting another man take my virginity did not even cross my mind as we made love in the darkness of his room.
At the end, we were so wrapped up in our post-coital bliss that we fell asleep in each others' arms, not realising that the doors downstairs were unlocked and footsteps were coming up the grand staircase.
I still recall the sing-song voice in which Roderich called out for me, I woke with a start and hurried to put on my clothes, but it was no use – Ludwig had found me.
"Ach nein, Elizeveta…I would have thought you'd have better tastes than this." He sighed, shaking his head and throwing on the lights. Roderich joined him at the threshold of the room and his face was of pure fury.
"I fucking knew it! I leave you alone for half a day and you go off and fuck my brother, you filthy whore!" he spat with drunken fury, ripping off the bedcovers and revealing our naked forms. He dragged me from the bed by my arm and grabbed my cheeks.
"There wasn't really a world meeting, you know. We just made that up so that we could catch you in the act – very good idea of Ludwigs, I must say!" He suddenly slapped me hard across the mouth "I stood up for you, you fucking bitch! When mein Bruder told me that he suspected you two were involved with each other, I called him a liar and an idiot! Now look at me! I'm the idiot with a liar for a wife!"
"Keep your fucking hands off of her, Roderich!" Gilbert warned, advancing forward.
My heart sank when my bastard husband turned on my poor Gilbert, who had at least clothed himself, and launched into a tirade.
"And as for you, mein younger bruder, I won't even begin to say how disgusted I am! You cannot get a woman, so you have to steal mine? How pathetic!
Ludwig stood and watched this the whole time; I did not look at him, but to this day I know that he was grinning wide at the spectacle before him. I also think that he deliberately got Roderich drunk so that he could goad him into more unstable, violent acts. It was only after Roderich was turning to leave in disgust that Ludwig finally spoke up.
"What an ungrateful bruder we have, Roderich! He stays in your home, fucks your wife, then he goes to strike you!" He was winding him up on purpose "I think we should teach the both of them a lesson they wont forget!"