FOR THE PERSON THEY LOVED THE MOST
A mellow, bittersweet melody from the grand piano of Austria gently penetrated the crisp brick walls of the kitchen, tuning out the stillness of the room and the solitude of Chibitalia. Piles of plates of different sizes, glass wares and silver wares were stacked in one side for the small nation to clean up without the aid of Hungary. It was an accident that she tripped and splashed water on the musical piece that Austria was working on. While Chibitalia was scrubbing off the food stains with her small, chubby hands, teardrops trickled down her amber eyes and descended lost to the pool of froth in the sink. She wished she could disappear like her tears when Austria was bellowing at her way back to the piano room, in spite of Hungary's pleas and protests, and Holy Rome's silent, bone chilling looks towards the furious Austrian.
"I want to go home… I miss Grandpa… I miss brother…" Chibitalia sniffed; never had she felt so much pity in herself until she was placed in Austria's custody for the meantime. She believed that Austria was a kind man like Spain but she was wrong, and today was one of the worst memories that she had upon living in the same roof with Roderich Edelstein. "I just want to go home already…" She continued crying while she solely washed the dishes that she never heard the gentle knocks on the door and the intrusion of a blond boy. He stood quietly behind the figure he adored and loved since he lain his eyes on her, no words summed together could explain the pain he was feeling at the moment as he eavesdropped on Chibitalia's confessions in the placidity of the night. "Grandpa Rome… Lovi… I miss you two… I want to go home" Chibitalia placed the plate absentmindedly on the other side of the sink and it slipped off from her slippery hands.
"Are you all right, Italia?" Holy Rome caught the plate seconds before it could crash, saving the girl he loved from another serious predicament from certain, mercurial Austrian. Chibitalia barely registered the presence of Holy Rome, physical and emotional exhaustion took her to some extent. "Are you okay, Italia?" Worry and indescribable passion softened his once unfriendly demeanor; his striking cerulean eyes met Chibitalia's wide warm honey-colored eyes. She flinched from the intensity of his gaze and never did she know how much that hurts to Holy Rome.
"Th-thank you so much, Holy Rome!" Chibitalia stuttered; she flushed at the thought that the blond nation heard her. Holy Rome placed a stool beside Chibitalia and he helped her in rinsing and drying of the dishes and the rest of the utensils. "Mister Austria will get mad to us if he sees you doing the dishes"
"Austria was absolutely ridiculous and unreasonable, Italia. I do not care if he sees me in this state. I-I…" Holy Rome trailed off; good thing Chibitalia could not see him blushing like an idiot in the pale heavenly beam casted by the moon. "I want to help you, Italia…" Holy Rome went on, his head bent, feeling the familiar nervousness claw its way up his throat whenever Chibitalia was around.
"Thank you for doing this, Holy Rome. It means so much for me"
"Not at all, Chibitalia. After all, Austria was undeniably irrational. He should not have done that to you. For such a simple mistake his making it a big fuss" Holy Rome rinsed the glass given to him by the nation beside him and he dried with a towel before he set it aside.
"I was clumsy, Holy Rome. If I weren't, then Austria still has that musical piece he was composing"
"Do not make yourself feel bad, Italia. All of us create mistakes whether we like it or not"
"But Holy Rome… That piece is for next week's event"
"Austria is a musical genius, Italia. He could compose another wonderful song from scratch. Don't trouble yourself anymore. Miss Hungary will kick some sense on that man" Holy Rome chuckled on the thought of Hungary literally kicking Austria on his ass. "I just want to help… I cannot stand anymore how he treats you, Italia. I want to protect you" He flushed scarlet and his face reflected that of someone truly and madly in love. Chibitalia blushed furiously, she felt a sweet little tremor in her heart and she looked at him shyly.
"Protect, huh? I know you can protect the people you cherished the most, Holy Rome. I know you can be a strong, powerful nation someday. Why Austria bothers raising you if he could not see that potential on you" Chibitalia commented airily and she smiled at him. It was in that magical moment that made Holy Rome realized again that Italy was irreplaceable, and he could not love another the way he loved her.
"I will become strong, Italia. I will protect my family, Austria, Hungary and especially you, Italia. I will be strong for everyone… I will be strong for you"
"I have complete faith on you, Holy Rome" Chibitalia beamed at him, she surely know how to tug a certain blond boy's heart. In less than another half-hour, they were almost done with the chore and they were placing everything to its proper cupboards and drawers. "That's it! We're done!" Chibitalia chirped happily to Holy Rome, her doe-eyed soft chocolate eyes twinkled with delight and appreciation to the least person she never expected to help her. "I guess you're tired, Holy Rome. I believe you never done such things like this"
"Well… I-I… Honestly I never did something like that before, Italia. Never did someone let me do the dishes, especially Austria" Holy Rome fidgeted on his place, the soft light from the moon in the inky black sky mantled Chibitalia in an ethereal, celestial glow that looked like she stepped out from a dream, quickening more his already fast beating heart. "And it feels gratifyingly satisfying especially I've done it with you… Italia" The smitten blond boy ran out of words to say and it was a stunning clarity for him that it was his chance to express his affection for her or there might not be a second time around to do so. He plucked up courage from nowhere and an unspoken, familiar expression finally found its way again to his face, albeit there was still a vestige of his strict upbringing on his visage.
"Holy Rome?" Chibitalia's singsong voice asked the blond boy, happiness absolutely suited Holy Rome, if only he would frequently smile rather than his all the time smug countenance. At that precise moment when he was about to articulate sweet words of love to her the door burst open and Austria with his usual lord-of-the-manor haughtiness came in uninvited, closely followed behind by Hungary. Chibitalia and Holy Rome hastily moved apart surprised with the sudden intrusion.
"Am I interrupting something?" Austria asked with one eyebrow arched, red raw of annoyance flitted across the once smiling face of Holy Rome and Chibitalia might seemed to die in shame and fear upon being discovered by Austria in such a coquettish situation.
"Of course you are! My, my, my Austria… You have such a bad habit of barging in every important matter" Hungary stated firmly, Austria was abashed.
"Not at all! I am looking for Holy Roman Empire" Austria looked quizzically from Chibitalia to Holy Rome. "What're you doing here?" He asked to the blond nation with one of his arched eyebrow.
"Well, good night Italia" Holy Rome bid farewell to Italia, begrudgingly. I will become strong to protect you… I promise, he vowed to himself. He left the room; Austria was immediately on his wake.
"Damn that Roderich Edelstein! He promised he'll say sorry to you, Chibitalia" Hungary laughed self-consciously and she went on, Chibitalia was listening to every word the adult nation conveys, "Austria wanted to apologize for his unpleasant behavior, Italia. He admitted that he was pressured with the next week's ball. And you have my word that if ever he treats you like that I'll literally kick his ass"
"If I weren't being so clumsy Austria will never have to start all over again"
"Actually, I really wanted to burn his composition when it begun to take all of his time. All I heard from him was that musical piece of his. I never heard anything from him except that bloody composition" Hungary stated the words rapidly; she was annoyed that it wasn't her that had the honor to destroy the piece. "You're done? It looks like Holy Rome helped you" She surveyed the sparkling clean kitchen with amusement; everything was tidied together by Chibitalia and Holy Rome. "I never thought that Holy Rome could do household chores" She grinned impishly, her plan was a total success!
"Is there anything Mister Austria wants me to do?" Chibitalia rubbed her eyes, her bones were dead tired from physical work and her feet were giving away, she wanted to submit to the call of slumber.
"Oh right, before I forgot, Austria agreed that you could rest tomorrow" Hungary said, her soothing voice was like an oasis in the middle of the desert, and the world seemed to become a lovely, cozy place to live again for Chibitalia. Chibitalia barely registered the wonderful news of Hungary, grogginess was clouding her vision.
"I hope Mister Austria is not mad to me tomorrow, Miss Hungary"
"He won't. Austria is a kind man, Chibitalia. Though I cannot deny he can be frustrating sometimes" Hungary replied, like a mother comforting her child. Chibitalia nodded, fatigue made her lost in words. Hungary held a hand of Chibitalia who was on the verge of falling asleep and they both left the room leaving behind the memories of the shared time of Holy Rome and Chibitalia, the pale moon in the vast night sky was the sole witness of the unfolding romance between the two young nations.
"My sweet Italia…" Holy Rome stared longingly at the old push broom that belonged to Chibitalia safely tucked in one corner of his room, away from the prying eyes of Germania and his brothers. His heart once again took the memory lane as he gazed lovingly at the memento, a last minute gift from Chibitalia before he left the mansion of Austria. Sadness filled his azure eyes as he painstakingly remembered how short-lived his moments with the cheerful, sweet Italian he loved the most when Germania came back for him. He held the push broom close to his heart, summoning the memories of her gentle touch and her familiar scents of pastries and wildflowers, but none came – their lengthy separations erased all of them. "I'm scared Italia… I'm scared of losing you… I'm scared enough that my memories of you are dwindling and that I might forget you" Holy Rome barely touched his lips on the handle of the broom when Prussia entered his room, barely thinking of knocking first.
"Go find yourself a woman not a push broom. You're disgusting, Holy Rome!" Prussia jumped on the king-sized bed of his younger brother, half-mocking Holy Rome amidst his vibrant cusses against him.
"Don't you know how to knock, big brother?" Holy Rome shouted and was furiously scarlet. If his stares could kill he could already murder the lying white-haired nation who was grinning at him from ear to ear.
"Look at you dear brother. You're almost a grown-up man. I now understand why so many ladies are head over heels to you!" Prussia commented gaily. Holy Rome did grow up as a fine young man whose attractiveness made him the apple of the eye of every lady in town and the envy of the male society.
"Shut up, Prussia!" Holy Rome gently placed back to push broom to its hiding place, giving it one last loving look before he shifted his attention to the unwanted visitor, who was the lone occupant of his already disheveled bed.
"So you still keep Chibitalia's push broom after all these years?" Prussia said wistfully. It was now his heart's turn to have a walk down the memory's lane. He may not have a personal memento like the push broom of Italia, however the only remembrance that his heart forever treasured was the memories of Hungary – the only one Prussia's heart belonged to, someone who was unable for him to have.
"Always…" Holy Rome sighed; he was absolutely lovesick for Chibitalia. "Is there any way you could persuade Germania? I really want to see Italia, dear brother" He looked at Prussia with sad eyes, and the albino saw a sea of raw emotions reflected in his brother's ocean-blue eyes. Prussia loved someone but his love was not reciprocated unlike Holy Rome whose loved had been requited but they must be physically separated, it was like Holy Rome was slowly losing Chibitalia given with their current situation.
"I will do what I can do, Holy Rome" Prussia said firmly even if he was positive that Germania will not tolerate the reunion of Holy Rome and Chibitalia much more their relationship. A feud was going on between Ancient Rome and Germania.
"I will give anything just to see her again, Prussia. I feel like she is slipping away from me, and it scares me" Holy Rome remembered they were in constant exchanges of letters when Italy suddenly stopped replying; hence he never heard anything from her. "I want to know if she is all right. I want to see her even if she is happily with someone else" Holy Rome smiled poignantly, he never knew sadness was until his happiness was lost, her whereabouts unknown. He lied beside Prussia; they were both staring at the ceiling, lost in their shared thoughts and melodrama.
"We will find her. We just need…" Prussia trailed off, unsure what to say. Holy Rome was his most favorite brother and the closest to him, and he understood his situation because he had loved also. Only those who loved deeply could actually understand the sorrow and joy of true love even if they were not meant to be in the end, just like him and Hungary. "We just need the right time, Holy Rome"
"When will it be the right time? It's killing me, Prussia. It's like a poison that laggardly spread throughout my veins" A gentle Sunday afternoon breeze permeated the extravagant room, unexpected scent of wildflowers were caught in the wind, and it startled Holy Rome.
"What's the matter, Holy Rome?"
"Why does every time I remember Italia there is something that makes my heart ache more"
"You're so cryptic. Can you just speak bluntly?"
"Wildflowers…"
"Wildflowers?" Prussia repeated; his eyebrows scrunched and he was utterly lost in Holy Rome's deep symbolism of his undying love for Italy.
"It was the scent of Italia, dear brother" Realization dawned on the confused face of Prussia. "She used to spend time in the meadows at the back of the mansion of Austria" Holy Rome vividly recalled his memories with Chibitalia in the meadows with the enticing fragrance of the wildflowers surrounding them; how she taught him to weave flower crowns and sometimes they just lay under the giant oak tree watching in silence the shapeless, clouds sky drifted past them until both of them fall asleep.
"You are one hell case of a hopeless lover" Prussia chuckled, Holy Rome look annoyed again.
"As if you'd never become a total lovesick for Hungary" Holy Rome smirked playfully, Prussia was abashed.
"I'm not!" Prussia threw a pillow at Holy Rome but the latter blocked it.
"Oh yeah? You always bother me with your incessant talks, even to the point of waking me up in the middle of the night for your supposed undying love for Miss Hungary and how you hated Austria for stealing her from you"
"I didn't say that!" Prussia roared back, scandalized.
"Dear brother, you were also a love poet way back then. Stop acting you aren't" Holy Rome teased, shielding himself from another pillow of Prussia. He nearly fell off from his bed trying to avoid Prussia. They didn't know they were already making a ruckus when Bavaria entered the room unannounced.
"What's going on? Your voices could be heard downstairs" Bavaria, who almost looked like Prussia but taller with blond-haired and cerulean eyes, looked at them with keen amusement.
"Are all my brothers does not know how to knock?" Holy Rome exclaimed half-mockingly, feigning annoyance on the lack of privacy of his siblings.
"Consider yourself lucky, Holy Rome. If Germania is not summoning us I will side with Prussia and tackle you until you surrender" Bavaria laughed, mischief managed.
"Why's Father summoning us?" Holy Rome queried all the traces of their laughter and nostalgia that afternoon vanished in an instance. Prussia jumped out of the bed, Germania will not call all of them if it wasn't any related to political and military matters.
"Our soldiers stationed at the northern section caught an Italian spy" Holy Rome and Prussia exchanged glances.
"An Italian spy?" Holy Rome repeated the last words, eyes wide shocked. Italia…
"Yes. Surprisingly, the man has escaped; like he vanished into thin air. No indications of his departure!" Prussia and Holy Rome followed Bavaria; both were craving to hear more news. "And I may add that they are stalwart enough to send undercovers here" Bavaria spoke enthusiastically, no one ever dared to insult them except a feisty Italian. "Mind you, that Italian slipped right through our noses! Italians are indeed foxy!" The trio stopped in front of a huge paneled double-door with brass door handles shaped of an eagle. Bavaria knocked three times and the doors swung open. A well-lit rectangular room with a huge imperial yellow flag with a black eagle on it hung proudly at the middle wall of the chamber welcoming them. Glorious sunshine penetrated the mirror-length glass windows on the right side of the room leading to a veranda overlooking the grand garden splendidly decorated of a thousand-colored flowers rich in various fragrances. On the center of the room was a long quadrilateral table with fifteen chairs, only three seats were left vacant. Saxony, Hesse and the rest of the officers regarded the newcomers except for a lone figure seated at the head of the table; his head was bowed and his hands were clasped together like he was in a deep prayer – the very best friend turned traitor of Ancient Rome, Germania.
"If we haven't sent Bavaria to fetch the two of, you'll not find out that we had already been intruded" Saxony spoke coldly, eyes remain glued on paper works as Prussia sat on the left side of Germania while Holy Rome took the empty seat of the ancient nation's right side.
"Saxony that's not a good way to vent out your anger to your siblings" Hesse gently chided him, earning the former a murderous glare from the Saxonian.
"Why was Saxony so upset?" Prussia whispered to Hesse, they felt the death stares of the nation they were talking about who was seating at their opposites.
"He was the commander of the northern section" Hesse whispered back and he quickly shifted his attention to the sprawled papers before him; Saxony and Germania shared the same icy, authoritative looks that only Holy Rome could withstand. Everyone in the room stiffened when Germania finally moved from his position. Eyes of the deepest depths of the cold Mediterranean Sea gazed upon them, as if judgment had been already decided. No one dared to utter even Saxony and Holy Rome was tongue-tied.
"So the Italian agent left no trace whatsoever?" Germania asked to nowhere, Saxony felt the tremendous responsibility he slacked off. "Saxony?" He now directed his question to the officer-in-charge when no one responded, not even glancing at the Saxonian.
"He was gone, Sir. He skillfully eluded our soldiers and fled out of our country. I already relieved the guarding officers from their positions and dispersed more civilian guards throughout our state" Saxony explained breathlessly, not making eye contact with Germania.
"You failed me, Saxony…" The temperature of the room dropped suddenly despite the warm weather outside. "Do you not know the value of information that spy had collected, much more it was an Italian!" Germania emphasized the last word with cold fury; he should not be fooled by anyone more than an Italian! Romulus Vargas… How dare you?!
"Let's dispatch a team to capture the spy" suggested Bavaria, bravely.
"There's no need to send a team!" Another deadly silence followed, no one opted to say a suggestion fearing the wrath of Germania. "Rome should by now gathering alliances against us. And one of the strongest allies he could win over is the Ottoman Empire"
"Then let's roll the dice, Fa—Sir, I mean" said Holy Rome, he hated being the catalyst of their grand plan but he needed to become closer to finding Italia even if he will be the one to suggest such bold proposals.
"What can your brilliant mind think of?" Germania stood behind the chair of their youngest with his calculating smile, and everyone was now looking at Holy Rome.
"I propose we should occupy our nearby nations, submit to our will those small countries particularly their representatives the soonest possible time. In this way we could at least cut Rome to establish more alliances"
"So be it. I know you will not fail me, Holy Rome" Germania beamed at him proudly and he nodded towards the occupants of the fourteen chairs, they should make the first move before Rome could strike.