Well, I'm finally back.

This chapter is the shortest; I just wanted to put something up so you knew I wasn't dead.

I don't own Hetalia.

-X-

Roderich was in the piano room the next morning. He sat in the seat, staring at the stationary keys that brought him no consolation today.

Looking at the grandfather clock, Roderich remembered he had a strategy meeting with Antonio, Herakles, and their superior officers in an hour.

He brought his hands up to the keys, wanting to feel the magic of his music's beauty, but found he could not. Fingers twitching helplessly over the mute keys, Roderich found himself uncharacteristically missing the company of another beside him on the piano seat.

He was brought out of his melancholy reverie by a knock on the door.

"Come in."

Elizaveta opened the door, balancing a large tray with one hand.

"Breakfast, Mr. Edelstein," she chirped, forcing brightness onto her tone. Roderich moved to help her place the tray on the end table, but Elizaveta beat him to it, waving away his silent offer to assist her.

Eyes sparkling with mischief and laughter unfamiliar to Roderich, Elizaveta said, "I'm more than capable, Mr. Edelstein. Here." She gestured to the tray. Coffee, sweet rolls, and oranges from the orchard filled the space, making Roderich's mouth water.

"Enjoy." She curtsied, and turned to leave.

"Miss Hedervary, wait, please," Roderich asked.

Facing him, she tilted her head slightly in silent inquiry.

Roderich cleared his throat, preparing to say what he had promised himself he would say to her. "I would just like to thank you, Elizaveta, for…last night." He coughed again. "For getting me out of my wretched study, I mean." He said this all quickly, but concisely, and looked Elizaveta straight in her eyes when he finished, confirming his sincerity.

Elizaveta's face softened, making room for a small smile—her first for him and him alone.

She curtsied again, "It was my pleasure, Mr. Edelstein." Her eyes found his and, still wearing her soft smile, she left the room.

Elizaveta was in the kitchen when the messenger came. He was garbed in scarlet, riding a near-black stallion that couldn't stand still, as if it felt it had to run away without a moment's hesitation. He announced his arrival and brandished a letter, calling out for the master of the house.

Unable to ignore the ruckus the young man was making, and the scene that was causing all the guests of the mansion to look nervous, Roderich came out onto the front lawn and addressed the messenger boldly.

"What business does your master have for me?" Roderich questioned proudly.

The messenger looked down at him, wearing an expression akin to disdain. "You are Roderich Edelschtien?" He asked, appraising him. From where she stood by the front door, Elizaveta saw Roderich's shoulders stiffen, and imagined his right eyebrow twitching in irritation at what seemed to be a deliberate mispronunciation of his last name.

"I am Roderich Edelstein," he said, forcefully accentuating his last name.

With a grunt of acknowledgement that could have been hiding a snort, the messenger handed the letter down to Roderich while all the servants, soldiers, and generals looked on with breathless anticipation.

"My master will not accept 'no' for an answer," the messenger huffed brashly. "He says 'time is up.'" With that, he spurred his restless horse and galloped away toward his master.

Once the horse and his rider were out of sight, Roderich inspected the wax seal on the letter. Elizaveta saw his jaw clench and felt her heart sink with dread. Anything that distressed Roderich could not be good news.

Roderich motioned to the generals, and, closely followed by Antonio and Herakles, marched quickly and purposefully back into the mansion.

After a pause, all the mansion's staff and underlings of the officers began to move again, and returned to the task they had been doing before the interruption.

Feliciano came up to Elizaveta, with confusion written all over his cherub-like face.

"What's going to happen, Betta?" He asked softy, as if he didn't want to know the answer.

Elizaveta bent down, gently stroked his copper hair, and sighed, "I don't know, kicsi." Then Feliciano watched in wonder as her delicate gaze grew steely at some thought he could not grasp. "But I'm going to find out."

-X-

Short chapter is short.

You faithful readers deserve more, but all I can give you is my sincerest of apologies. I did not mean to be so negligent of my writing. I won't even bother pestering you all with excuses. But please accept my apology and rest assured I will devote more of my time to my stories—starting with this one.

I will finish this story, and then go to my Pokémon one, then Soul Eater.

They will all be finished. That is the ultimate goal.

Again, I am sorry, and I hope you will continue reading.

Much love,

~Kaiya