Numerous days turned into agonizing weeks has passed and the condition of North Italy remained the same much to the sorrow of Turkey. Royal physicians worked day and night to alleviate the suffering of the former representative of Italy. Turkey was used to seeing his people get sick and die either from illness or old age; but seeing Feliciana lying unconsciously without reassurance that she will be all right on the succeeding days was a torture on him. Turkey wondered if the sickness of Feliciana was a result of his love towards the ex-nation. He knew from the beginning the deadly warning set upon the personifications. They must not fall in love with a human or else a cruel fate will befall on them. Turkey smiled wistfully as he gazed upon the sleeping figure of North Italy whose fever and convulsions finally lessened. He brushed off some strands of hair to reveal the fair face of North, taking pleasure in memorizing her delicate features. You are remarkably beautiful even while you are sleeping, Feli. Turkey gently touched Italy's face, treasuring to his heart's content the fleeting moment that only in the deepest depth of the lonely night can be revisited. Can Turkey really ignore his heart's desire?
"Good Evening, Sadik! I'm sorry I let myself in. I thought no one was inside" Mirra was apologetic as she placed the basin on the bedside table. Sadik stood up and allowed the old woman to tend to Feliciana.
"I'm much indebted to your kindness, Mirra. Even if I not told you to care for Yesenia, you gladly help her recover from her sickness" Turkey watched Mirra damped the wet cloth onto the forehead of Feliciana.
"Lady Yesenia reminds me of my own children" Mirra spoke with a tinge of sadness in her voice. Her mind wandered back to that ill-fated day when they were ambushed by mercenaries before they could reach the Ottoman Empire. Mirra and her family were refugees who left their hometown because of the never ending conflict with a neighboring nation. Not more than twenty from the group of refugees did survive the onslaught until they were rescued by Sadik and his escort. And those twenty joined the household of Sadik out of pity of the nation to the refugees.
"Your presence is much comforting during these challenging times, Mirra. I am much more preoccupied than before that there is less time for me to spend with Yesenia" Turkey sighed, he looked terribly exhausted from all the political and military works he needed to attend to now that the influence of Holy Roman Empire was spreading throughout the continent.
"Please take good care of your health Sadik. Lady Yesenia needs you more than anyone in this world" Mirra gently chided the tall nation. "Even the strongest needs to rest for a bit" She added with a hint of mirth. Turkey grinned sheepishly. He was guilty of neglecting his health. How could he protect Feliciana if he cannot take good care of himself. He needed to become stronger ever than before. He needed to keep Feliciana by his side – away from the entire world, away from Holy Rome.
"Please look over Yesenia for me, Mirra. Please tell her that I'll be busy for awhile. I might not be by her side once she wakes up" Turkey adjusted the blanket of North Italy, gazing at her sleeping figure. As much as he wanted to prolong his stay he had so much things to accomplish. He had now a reason to keep on fighting and become the strongest nation – for North Italy and his people! Mirra nodded and watched in silence Turkey saying good night to the Italian. The two exchanged courtesies and Turkey left the room leaving Mirra behind to watch over Feliciana. Deafening eerie silence greeted Sadik after stepping out from the warmth room of the Italian. The sparsely decorated hallway looked menacing during the night but not for Turkey who was already used with it's ghastly appearance. He loved the quietness of the night – when all the bustling activities of the palace was gone, freed from his overwhelming duties as a representative for a brief period of time, and was just an ordinary man who wanted to be with the person he cherished the most. Finding his way back to his private quarter he passed by the vast garden of the palace, and strong scents of roses welcomed him. Turkey felt a sense of nostalgia as he beheld the newly bloomed roses near his bedroom.
"Feliciana would be delighted to see these roses" Turkey noted to pick some flowers for Feliciana before seeing his boss tomorrow morning. His heart was beating excitedly as he can't wait for his Italian to wake up. He missed seeing Italy's warm brown eyes that sparkled with mirth and life, and her voice that sounded like a sweet music of early spring to his ears. "Maybe I should ask my gardeners to plant flowers outside Feli's room. Yes, Italy will love that!" Turkey grinned like a happy child as he welcomingly immersed himself at a pleasant memory with Italy.
"So what is this surprise you are talking about, Sadik?" North Italy chirped enthusiastically. She looked at the tall nation wtih childlike curiosity on her wide eyes, her smile was contagious and made the heart of Turkey skipped a beat.
"Impatient are we?" Turkey chortled. He was never been this happy. He never knew that he had a vibrant personality and he owed it to his Italian companion right now. "I don't know if you will like it. But I hope you will" Turkey laughed nervously.
"Don't get your spirits down, Sadik. Of course, I will like it!"
"You haven't seen it yet. How come you like it already?" Turkey raised his eyebrows at North Italy as if he was challenging her.
"So where is your surprise Sadik? I can't wait!" North Italy kept on bugging Turkey. Turkey smiled and he led Feliciana to their vast garden.
"Did Mirra tell you about the secret garden within this garden?" Sadik asked Feliciana. It piqued the interest of the Italian.
"A garden within this garden? Wow! Never thought you have such a grandiose garden" Feliciana was amazed at this newfound discovery. After a series of hallways, corridors and staircases, they finally reached their destination. The vast garden of Turkey never fail to amaze North Italy even if it will be a thousandth time she visited the place. Multitudinous flowers of striking colors and pleasant fragrances enveloped the two of them as they walked closely together. Feliciana was lost in awe, trapped in a kaleidoscopic world of flora, that she did not noticed that they have reached the end. In front of them was a pair of small black ornate gate with green vines crawling through it. Turkey opened the gate and Feliciana followed behind. At long last they finally reached the place that Turkey was dying to show to her. Strong scents of roses greeted them and Feliciana was struck with what she was seeing.
"Did I disappoint you, Yesenia?" Turkey laughed nervously.
"Sadik… It's so beautiful!" North Italy exclaimed. She was mesmerized with all the full bloomed roses in the garden – a spectacle to behold! "Why did you only show this rose garden today?" North Italy pouted.
"I'm glad you loved it. I assumed you are not fond of flowers so I did not tell you about this place" Turkey was more than glad to see Feliciana head-over-heels with the roses. It take years for Sadik and his gardeners to cultivate such roses within the palace, like an oasis in the middle of a desert.
"Thank you Sadik! This, by far, the most wonderful surprise that you gave to me!" North Italy beamed. She was never been this happy in her life after losing her status as a nation.
"I'll make you the happiest woman in this world, Italy. We'll create new memories, travel to far flung places and eat lots of good food. So please wake up Italy… I missed you so much" Turkey beheld the rose garden, lost in his train of thoughts. You will never be alone, Feliciana. Even if you are no longer a nation I will stay by your side. Your loved ones already left you and your own people has forsaken you. We will become stronger, Italy. Much stronger than the Roman and Holy Roman Empires! You don't need Holy Rome in your life. He failed to protect you, Feliciana. He failed to protect you…
The grandfather clock chimed for the tenth time in the evening getting the attention of a young man deeply absorbed in paper works. His blond hair disheveled and his steel blue eyes reflect exhaustion. He sighed as he stared at his never ending tasks as it kept on piling one after another. He stretched his arms and legs, his entire body was aching from sitting for hours. He closed his eyes to rest for awhile and a young girl in a green dress appeared.
"Italia" Holy Rome kept on whispering the name, expecting the girl he loved since the 900 stepped out from the shadow and comfort him as she usually do when they were children. "Italia… Where are you?" A sudden pang of heart ache shook every fibre of his being. Tears swelled up in his eyes, the loneliness he felt in the stillness of the night was overwhelming. He was the great Holy Rome and yet he could not find the girl he loved the most. Now that he was strong enough to protect North Italy, much stronger than the Roman Empire, the personification disappeared. Even his favorite brother, Prussia, had difficulties searching for North Italy. All his struggles to become the most powerful nation would be meaningless if Italy was gone. Holy Rome opened the bottom drawer of his study table and took out a small painting of Italy and several letters before their communication was cut-off. "This is the only memory I had of you, Italy" The young nation stared at the almost washed-out portrait of his childhood love. Every caress to the painting was a supplication of undying love, a desperate yearning of a soul for it's other half. "Italy, please don't go somewhere where I cannot follow you…"
Soft knocks on the door alerted the nation. He wiped off his tears and quickly tucked away the only memoirs of the Italian. While he was organizing all the maps, documents and reports to conclude his day, Prussia entered the room with a tray of hot chocolate and Holy Rome's favorite snack.
"Don't overworked yourself, Holy Rome" Prussia put down the tray in the study table, his piercing crimson eyes surveyed his brother beaten down by political and military duties. "If you need help in all those stuff you know you can count on me. I am your brother" Prussia grinned proudly and he ruffled the already tousled hair of his younger brother, much to the annoyance of Holy Rome.
"I need to finish everything, Prussia. I must find North Italy! She's the very reason why I strived hard to become the most powerful nation" Prussia empathized the situation of Holy Rome. The Prussian knew that North Italy was not that strong to defend and fight for herself. "I just want to protect Italy" Holy Rome drank the hot chocolate. The warmth of the hot drink was comforting but not enough to drive away the coldness left behind by North Italy.
"We will find Italy, no matter what happens" Prussia reassured his brother.
"I do not want to live if something happened to Italy" North Italy was the last hope of Holy Rome that kept him sane all throughout the years they've never been together.
"Don't say that Holy Rome! Italy is alive. She's just somewhere else" Prussia reminded Holy Rome that they were at war. "Rome is protecting North Italy so he will do what he can to safeguard her from danger, especially from us" Prussia cringed at the last part. He never expected that Rome will be selfish enough to hide North Italy from Holy Rome. Yet he can't blame the ancient nation now that Rome and Germania was in a deadly feud. Likewise, Germania undoubtedly will not approve the relationship. "Italy is also yearning for you, Holy Rome. After you left the house of Austria to follow your ambition to become the greatest nation, Hungary narrated to me that Italia became less livelier. Even the strict Austria was worried that Italia's health might be declining" Holy Rome was elated to hear that North Italy was missing him but it hurt him at the same time that with his absence the brunette was fading.
"Tell me more about Italy, brother!" Holy Rome never felt much alive after he left Italy. Sometimes, he regret leaving Italy for he knew their future does not hold promises – whether he could fulfill his promises to Italy and return to her side so they can rule together; or they will be forever apart in this lifetime.
"After Germania came for you Italy continued living her life as it is, helping Hungary manage Austria's household. As years lengthened, Italy realized the weight of your words. Hungary told me that Italy blamed herself for being weak. If only Italy was as strong as her Grandfather you won't need to pursue such a daring dream" Prussia fell silent and so was Holy Rome. Prussia continued on, "Italy was terrified that it might kill you while you are pursuing your own glory" An uncomfortable silence dawned on them. They knew that Italy was right. If Holy Rome was careless enough in his own ambition it would be his greatest downfall. He was grateful that he had brothers to lean on even if Germania had high hopes on him.
"Did you happen to talk to Italia?" Holy Rome was keen to find out more about North Italy. His hope came crashing down when Prussia told him that North Italy had left the residence and went back to her country. Since then they never saw Feliciana again. "Do you think Italy hates me after all these years?" Holy Rome recalled exchanging letters with Italy, and her letters reminded him that Italy was still waiting for him. It was all in those letters that he always found courage to face his days, those encouraging words written with love and understanding – a vow that she will always wait for him no matter how many years will go by.
"She will never hate you, Holy Rome. There is no place for hate in a heart that loves you sincerely" Holy Rome heaved a sigh of relief for the genuine advice coming from Prussia. Who would've thought that the fearless, bloodthirsty and warfreak Prussia could give such comforting words. Yet Holy Rome could not shake off the sense of foreboding that he always felt whenever North Italy came to mind.
"When I said I want to be the greatest nation, I meant to be the strongest empire whose strength is recognized. A nation that can protect Italy so her country will be safe from superior nations" Holy Rome whispered sadly. It has never been his intention to conquer lands and nations in the first place. Yet in pursuing his noble aspiration it went too far and there was no turning back. Everything was inevitable.
"Perhaps that is our fate as nations. There are certain circumstances that we cannot elude. And those circumstances are often the most painful episodes that leave us permanent scars and we will never be the same. What we can only do is to keep on living and hope for a world where everyone can leave in peace" Prussia recalled fighting countless bloody and causeless wars witnessing thousands of lives perished in his hands. Clouds of dread hung above them as he shuddered with fear for the incoming calamity. He believed that history would repeat itself with Germania as the leading cause. "Do you have a free day this week?" Prussia changed the subject. A brilliant idea popped to his mind that his dearest brother will surely like.
"I don't know. Father keeps on pestering me with more military duties" Holy Rome's handsome face contorted with straight annoyance. "Why did you ask?" The study table was finally freed from the mess. He could now retire to his room and drown himself with the thoughts of North Italy.
"I have an offer that you might not resist" Prussia smiled mischievously, his red eyes glinting with excitement.
"Pray tell me it's not something one of your crazy antics" Holy Rome shook his head in disbelief.
"Of course not! I will be visiting Austria's residence anytime this week. We can start finding out about the whereabouts of Italy. I'll get Father's permission" Prussia winked at his favorite brother. Realization dawned on Holy Rome and he agreed wholeheartedly.
"What did I do to deserve such a brother like you, Prussia?" Holy Rome was glad to have Prussia as a brother.
"Nah! Just remain as my cute little brother! Kesesese!"
Dearest Italia, at last I'm coming home. We'll be together after all these years we've been apart. I will never leave your side anymore. Wherever you are please remember that you will always have my heart.
