Woah, another update? *le gasp*
No one is more surprised than I am!
A huge hug and many thanks go to Austrian Artemis for her beautiful words of encouragement and praise. I never would have updated so quickly if it wasn't for you!
I do not own Hetalia.
Enjoy!
-X-
After tucking the exhausted little Italian into bed, promising she would make pasta especially for him the next day, Elizaveta crept toward Roderich's study, fully intending to eavesdrop.
The door was tightly shut, but she could see a small sliver of golden candlelight in the crack under the door. She checked to see if anyone was around, listening intently. Satisfied she was alone, Elizaveta gently pressed her right ear to the keyhole.
"—don't see what the issue is, Edelstein." It was the voice of one of the generals. "The letter is clear. If we don't go we risk open war."
"We can't avoid it either," Elizaveta had to concentrate to hear Herakles' soft voice. "It is upon us whether we'd like it or not."
"Herakles is right, Amigo," Elizaveta couldn't tell if the Spaniard was addressing Roderich or the melodramatic general. "In the end, it all comes down to what Señor Edelstein thinks is right."
There was silence then. The only sound was a pair of boots' muffled steps on the rug.
"I need time to think." It was Roderich.
The thin line of light under the door was disrupted as the boots came closer. The door handle began to turn and Elizaveta, terrified she might be caught, sped off as swiftly and silently as her feet could carry her.
-X-
He tossed and turned all night. Vaguely he could remember watching the moon rise, but now the sky was turning from indigo to murky lavender, signifying sun's return to power. Had it really been that long? He didn't remember falling asleep, and he certainly didn't remember waking up. That must mean he didn't sleep.
Time to think indeed.
Sighing heavily, Roderich finally accepted the inevitable. He would meet with Sadiq and discuss matters that had merely been put off for twenty years.
The sky was a blend or orange and pink now; the same color as the flower Elizaveta put in her hair.
Many innocent lives would be lost today if the conversation runs a dark course. And Sadiq wouldn't stop at the soldiers attending the meeting, no. He would kill them all—down to the lowliest private—and make him watch.
Putting his glasses on, Roderich looked out his window. The sun had risen.
Time is up.
-X-
Elizaveta knocked on the door to the music room, tray in hand full of breakfast for Roderich.
There was no response. No calm "enter" from her master.
She slowly opened the door, confused and a little frightened. It was empty.
Right as she was about to head for Roderich's study, Elizaveta heard footsteps coming down the marble stairs. She turned, gasped, and nearly dropped her heavily-laden tray on the floor.
Roderich descended, adjusting one of the cuffs on his long white overcoat. His brows were angled sharply downward and his eyes fierce, glaring at something Elizaveta could not see. She wanted to cry out at the sight of the rifle strapped to his back and the blade on his hip. Roderich, who grew pale and queasy at the sight of Feliciano's blood after he fell, who grew angry when he caught her practicing with a sword, for fear she might hurt herself, and loved sweets more than a child, was carrying weapons. Not gorgeous ceremonial weapons, either. These were honed instruments of death—not at all like his beloved piano, which was an instrument of beauty and grace.
Mouth and throat horribly dry, and chest excruciatingly tight, Elizaveta could only rasp, "Why?"
His eyes grew sad; he obviously didn't want to explain himself.
He stared at her levelly, as if to predict her reaction. Heavily, he responded, "It would have been foolish to deny Sadiq his request. To do so would give him an excuse to strike first. By acquiescing, we agree to be civil, for the moment, at least, and may succeed in lessening our…losses." Roderich seemed to find it difficult to say the last word, as if uttering it aloud may bring about tragedy.
"So you're giving up?" Elizaveta demanded, incredulous. Her eyes were wild with rage and disappointment.
His gaze grew stern in response. "It's not a surrender. It's a discussion of terms."
"Terms," she huffed. Anger loosened her tongue and unleashed the river of previously private thoughts. "Terms of what? Division of the spoils of war? That may not be what Sadiq told you, but believe me when I say that's exactly how he's going to treat this. Going to this meeting will lower your status in his eyes! He will see you as nothing more than—"
"That is enough." Elizaveta stopped her incessant stream at Roderich's icy tone. "Do you think I don't know that? Do you think I would go if there was any other option?" He demanded.
Elizaveta wasn't finished with him yet. "What could possibly be important enough to you for you to contemplate surrender?" She demanded incredulously.
Roderich stiffened. "Never you mind," he retorted, indignant.
Elizaveta's face grew hot, and for the first time, she was embarrassed by her employer's behavior.
"Aren't the things you love worth fighting for?"
At this, Roderich's eyes widened; she had caught him completely off guard. Isn't that what he had been doing all this time? Fighting? But that's not how she saw it. She thought him cowardly.
He would never be a man in her eyes.
"Roderich." It was the gruff voice of one of the generals. "Time to go."
Roderich nodded stiffly and, donning his hat, marched swiftly out the door.
Only Elizaveta could see his hands shake.
-X-
Sorry for the shortness again. I think the next chapter will be a long one, though.
I pretty much have the rest of this planned out, but I have no idea how many chapters are left, though it may be getting close to the end…But don't listen to me now!
Always,
~Kaiya