Woah this chapter is significantly shorter. The good news: We get a villian! The bad news: It's England. Sorry England lovers.

Honestly, I'm psyched for the next chapter. Spamano is so close I can taste it.

Hey, so question. Would anyone be against it is I added a Spain/Romano smut scene (much) later in the story? Don't be afraid to review with your answer ^.^

The next morning, Feliciano woke up in a good mood.

Not even the lecture from Ludwig on the way home could dampen his spirit. Besides, he had given it some thought, and he realized that if he came up with some other way to save the kingdom- then he wouldn't have to get married at all!

But someone else in the castle was not so happy.

Arthur Kirkland was livid. "Married? The prince is getting married? To whom?"

His minions both started talking at once, producing an incoherent answer. Arthur rolled his eyes. This is why you shouldn't use black magic to produce minions; you get brainless fools.

Finally, the brighter of the two sorted her thoughts out enough to be understood. "To Prince Antonio, sir, of Spain"

"What?!" Arthur exclaimed. He had thought it was bad, but this was worse. Prince Antonio of Spain- damn that man.

When he had returned from his long journey to search for wealth and prosperity for the kingdom, he did not anticipate to hear that the queen had made an executive decision without him, her trusty adviser. And if Prince Feliciano was going to be married to that fool, all his plans, all his work to rise to power in the past years he had lived in the bloody kingdom, would be for not.

He couldn't let that happen.

"I need a plan" Arthur snapped, massaging his head. "If this wedding goes through, my sponsor will kill me. You two!" He pointed at his minions, who immediately started running amuck, trying to please their master. "Start brainstorming!"

"Kill the prince!" The first minion shouted, looking quite pleased with herself.

"No!" The other one interjected. Arthur wished he had given them names. "Fill the castle with grape jelly!"

Well, as usual the two were no help.

"I'm screwed" He moaned into his hands.

Suddenly, Arthur cocked his head to the side as if someone, or something, was whispering to him. "Kidnap Prince Feliciano..." He muttered in a voice that wasn't his own.

And just like that, his trance broke and he jumped to his feet. "I've got it!" He cried. "I'll kidnap the prince!"

His minions stared at him and he scowled. "What are you standing there for? Write this down!" The two scrambled to find an ink well and paper, something that wasn't scare in Arthur's basement lair which was filled with magic runes, spell books, and the occasional mythical animal.

"Once the prince has gone spontaneously missing," Arthur started. "and the kingdom gives up hope, I'll miraculously find him. The queen will be so grateful she'll offer her son's hand in marriage. After all, how could she possibly refuse?"

Arthur gave a self satisfied smile, waiting for the applause. When none came, he sent his minions a pointed look.

Thankfully, they got the idea.

"Oh! Very good master!"

"Such genius!"

Arthur grinned. "Now I just have a little task for the two of you"

[=]

Feliciano was the first to the throne room that morning, running the entire way. He was hardly out of breath thanks to his family's natural gift for running toward things they want and away from things they didn't.

"Mother!" He called, bursting into the room. "I need to speak with-"

"Darling!" His mother exclaimed, cutting him off quickly. "Your just in time to meet our guests. I present Prince Antonio of Spain and his adviser Francis Bonnefoy. They traveled a long way to be here"

Feliciano froze. They were here, already. He tried to swallow but his mouth was dry and his eyes stung. Across the room, both young men turned to inspect the Italian Prince. Feliciano stared right back.

Antonio was taller than Feliciano remembered, and more muscular too. The last time Feliciano had seen him, he always wore commoners clothes, but now he had fully adopted the proper attire of a prince. His hair was dark brown and curly, but his green eyes sparkled the same as ever. His smile, too, was exactly the same.

Feliciano couldn't stand to look at him.

Instead, he turned his attention to Francis.

He looked like more of a man than before. It was probably the little stubble of a beard he let grow. His hair was still long, but at least he wore pants. Feliciano shuddered. No more accidental flashing.

The queen, unfortunately, noticed the way he couldn't make eye contact and ushered him over.

"Feli, dear, come sit near me." She beamed at their guests. "All formal introductions will be made at dinner. But for now, let's play catch up, shall we? Antonio, how is your father?"

Francis coughed, mumbling something to Antonio. Antonio waved him off.

"My father is fine, thank you. And how is your husband, Queen Katerina?"

The room fell silent, all eyes on the prince, but Francis jumped to cover Antonio's mistake. "I'm terribly sorry, your majesty. King- Prince Antonio misspoke. He did not mean anything by it"

"No, no. That's alright" The queen forgave. She glanced at Feliciano, like he was the cause of the problem. "Not everyone knows I'm afraid. To answer your question, Antonio; the king has been missing for quite some time."

"That's horrible" Antonio said. "I had no idea." It might have been the lighting, but to Feliciano he looked a little red.

"Yes, well, there is nothing we can do about it now." Queen Katerina continued. "Just hold on for happier times, yes? And what is happier than a wedding?"

Feliciano coughed. He had hoped she wouldn't bring that up.

The queen ignored him. "No matter! I'm certain you would like to spend some quality time with my son, correct?"

Antonio looked at Feliciano curiously, like he held the answer to something he desperately need but didn't want to ask about. "I certainly would"

"Fantastic. Feliciano, show Antonio the gardens, would you?

Feliciano tried to smile, but it felt strained. "Of course" He hopped off his throne and began toward the gardens. "This way"

[=]

"It's been a long time since I last saw you!" Antonio was saying. "What was it, thirteen years? Fourteen?"

"I can't remember" Feliciano admitted. He tried to avoid Antonio's gaze but it was hard. He felt guilty looking at him.

"Well it's cool to see how much you've grown up!" Antonio exclaimed. "The last time I saw you, you were still wearing that silly traditional dress."

Feliciano cracked a smile. "The dresses weren't that silly. You and Francis wore them!"

"I never wore one." Antonio defended. "It's just an Italian thing I think"

Feliciano almost managed a laugh. That was, until he saw a glimpse of Ludwig through one of the big castle windows. The sight made his heart constrict and he sighed.

"Is something wrong?" Antonio asked.

"Eh? Oh, nothing." Antonio continued to stare at him, perhaps expecting a long drawn out answer with maps and diagrams, and Feliciano relented. "Do you ever wish that you didn't have to do what's good for your kingdom?"

Antonio furrowed his eyebrows. "What do you mean?"

"I just- I mean- nevermind." Somehow, Feliciano knew that explaining this all to Antonio wouldn't get him anywhere.

"Oh" The two lapsed into silence. They continued on for a while like that, until they finally reached the end of the gardens and Feliciano found his excuse to leave.

"I guess I'll see you tonight at dinner" Antonio said.

Feliciano nodded. "That you will"

Antonio gave one last smile toward him, before leaning down to kiss Feliciano on the cheek.

Feliciano froze. His cheek burned from where Antonio had kissed him. Horror welled up in his stomach. He wanted to scream no, he wanted to tell Antonio that he couldn't go through with the wedding. But he couldn't say anything

"I have to go!" Feliciano finally managed, before turning on his heels and running away.

[=]

Moping around wasn't Feliciano's strong suit, but he was getting better and better at it. So far he had spent the last three hours buried under a mountain of pillows.

Hiding from his problems and munching on smuggled chocolates; that was the best he could do about his situation. He did the same thing when his mother came to tell him that his father was never coming back. Until then there was hope that King Romulus would be found. Until now, there had been hope that he could be happy.

"Meow"

Sniffing, Feliciano picked his head up. "What is it, Bacio?"

His kitten mewled in response, prowling in front of his bedroom door. He picked his paw up to scratch at the wood.

"You want to leave too, huh?" Feliciano struggled to move through all his comfort items. "I guess you deserve what I can't have"

The kitten shook its head. Probably as if to say, 'don't be so melodramatic'. But as soon as the door was opened, he ran out at top speed.

Feliciano watched him go, tears pricking behind his eye lids. He turned to curl back under the covers before a screech ripped through the corridor.

"Bacio?" He called out tentatively. Silence greeted him. Maybe everything was alright?

But just as he thought that, hissing and screeching picked up ten fold. It sounded like a cat fight. Feliciano's hand shook and he backed up. He was scared to see what was out there. He wanted to call out to Ludwig for help, to go see what had happened, but before he could, Feliciano realized he couldn't face him.

He had to stop relying on Ludwig because one day, sometime soon, he wouldn't be able to be around him without breaking down.

Steeling himself up, Feliciano took a step down the hall. "Bacio? Here kitty!"

No running kitten feet. "Bacio!"

Feliciano ventured out into the hallway, calling out every few minutes. Down the great stairs, into an empty throne room. The sounds got louder as he went. Finally, he was certain Bacio was right behind the large family tapestry that hung on the south wall.

If he stopped to think about it, he would realize that there shouldn't of been anything behind the fabric, but Feliciano rarely stopped to think.

He reached out a shaking hand and threw back the tapestry-

Suddenly, pain exploded in the back of his head and his vision went dark. The last thing Feliciano saw was two identical faces, grinning down on him.