Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia.

Chapter 13

Matthew hissed and flinched as the alcohol burned through his right foot. Yao looked up at him in apology.

"Sorry," he said. "I know it hurts, but we need to make sure it doesn't get infected."

That morning, Matthew had realised that someone had put shards of glass in his shoes. He had wanted to take them out, but someone had been lurking in the door, as though watching to see if he would dare remove the glass or the shoes. Too afraid to see who it could be and what they would have done otherwise, Matthew put on the shoes, knowing that it would cause extreme injury to him. And he was right.

Yao had noticed that Matthew was moving with difficulty, and after confronting Matthew about it, had forced him to return to their shared room so that Yao could tend to Matthew's wounds.

"I don't understand it," Matthew said. "Why are you still being so nice to me?"

Yao's hands paused, and for a few seconds he stayed like that before he continued to disinfect Matthew's wounds.

"I don't agree with any of this," Yao said. "But it's not my place to say anything, so I can only help you however I can."

"You're probably the only one here who doesn't hate me," Matthew said. "Thank you."

"I can never hate you," Yao whispered.

The words struck a chord in Matthew, but before he could say anything else, someone knocked on the door. Both turned to see who it was and Yao immediately straightened, his hands going behind his back.

"Master Romulus wishes to see you," Arthur said. His eyes flickered to Matthew's feet before returning to his face. He completely ignored Yao. "Don't put on your shoes. He might be pleased if he sees you are still being punished."

Matthew could feel himself start to tremble. He had kept himself out of master Romulus's sight since his punishment two weeks ago. His back still ached, and it was impossible for him to do certain tasks. He had been given a single day to recover in his bed afterwards, but one day hadn't been enough.

"W-why does he want to s-see me?" Matthew asked.

"I don't know," Arthur admitted. "He's in his study."

Matthew's breath stopped. That was the room that he had avoided more than any other, even before he and Feliciano were discovered. Whatever was going to happen in that room, Matthew doubted that it would be good for him.

But even worse would be for him to leave master Romulus waiting. So he pushed himself to his feet, hissing at the pain. Yao moved to help him, but Matthew shook his head. He didn't want Yao to get into trouble for helping him.

Arthur led the way through the servant passages. It served the purpose of allowing Matthew some privacy from most of the other servants, but the harsh wood underneath his feet was pure agony.

Arthur opened the passage into the hallway, and Matthew's stomach dropped as he saw the door that led to master Romulus's study.

"Chin up," Arthur whispered. "And tread carefully. Master Romulus is a dangerous man to cross."

Matthew's back pricked, as though agreeing with Arthur's observation. Arthur eyed Matthew for a moment longer before he knocked on the door.

"Master Romulus, I brought him," Arthur said.

"Enter."

That one word was enough to send shivers down Matthew's back. Arthur shot him a look before opening the door. He gestured for Matthew to enter first, which he did, keeping his head low. He was too afraid to look up.

"Leave us," master Romulus said.

"…Yes, sir," Arthur said.

Matthew's chest tightened when he heard the door close. He didn't want Arthur to leave, but neither of them could disobey master Romulus.

Matthew remained there as he waited for master Romulus to say something. He clenched his fists in an effort to stop himself from trembling, before he hid them behind his back. He didn't want master Romulus to misinterpret the gesture.

"Somehow, some of my associates know what you have done with my son," master Romulus said. His footsteps were growing closer, and Matthew had to stop himself from attempting to run away. "And they spread the word further. Now, the Vargas name has become an object of disgust. And you are to blame."

Matthew gasped as a hand suddenly closed around his neck, and he was pushed up against the door.

"Because of you, my business is suffering," master Romulus growled. "You seduced Feliciano and caused him to embarrass the family."

"I-I'm sorry," Matthew stammered. "I-I didn't…"

The grip around his throat tightened, and his words died.

"I should kill you," Romulus hissed. "That is one way to make you atone for your crimes."

Matthew clawed at Romulus's hand, but the older man was far too strong.

"You will never see Feliciano again," Romulus said. "Mark my words."

Tears stung Matthew's eyes. He wanted this nightmare to end. His back pressed against the door, and his vision started to swim. He knew that master Romulus wouldn't hesitate to kill him.

The grip around his neck released, and Matthew had only a moment to take in one breath before master Romulus grabbed a fistful of his hair, tilting his head back and summoning a gasp of pain.

"Look at me," master Romulus growled.

Matthew hadn't even realised that he closed his eyes. He opened them, though it was hard to see master Romulus through the tears.

"You're pretty, I'll give you that," master Romulus said. "If you were a woman, I could see how Feliciano could be seduced by you. That makes you at least somewhat valuable."

Matthew couldn't ponder the words. Master Romulus dragged him towards his desk, and Matthew gasped as several strands of hair were pulled out.

"What else do you have to give you value?" master Romulus asked after he pushed Matthew into a chair across from his own chair behind the desk.

Matthew was dazed from the pain and the fear, so he didn't quite understand what it was that master Romulus was asking.

"Speak, boy," master Romulus snapped.

"I… I'm sorry," Matthew stammered. "I… I'm not sure what you… what you mean. I'm sorry."

Master Romulus snorted.

"Clearly you didn't seduce my son with your intellect," master Romulus said. "What more do you have to give you value, other than your pretty face?"

And this time, Matthew understood what it was that master Romulus was asking him. He looked at his lap and swallowed.

"I-I can read and write," Matthew said. "A-and I can do mathematics."

"Did Feliciano teach you?" master Romulus asked. His voice didn't sound angry that time. Just curious. Matthew nodded. "I see. Then you wouldn't mind if I tested your capabilities, would you?"

Matthew looked up at his master and blinked. Master Romulus pulled out a newspaper and put it down in front of Matthew.

"Read," he ordered.

Matthew did so, aloud. He had a feeling that master Romulus wouldn't be patient if he read it normally. After three paragraphs, master Romulus ordered him to stop.

"Well, your reading ability seems to be strong," Romulus said. "Let's check your penmanship."

This time, master Romulus placed a pen and a piece of paper in front of Matthew. He rattled off a list of random items which Matthew had to write down. He was glad that, for the moment at least, master Romulus wasn't angry with him.

"You have a very fine hand for a servant," master Romulus said as he read the paper. "I want you to write a letter for me."

"A letter?" Matthew repeated.

"Everything I say, I want you to write on the letter. Understand?"

Another piece of paper was put in front of Matthew, and this one seemed of higher quality than the other. Master Romulus waited for him to be ready.

"At the party I am hosting, I will have an auction to get rid of a nuisance slave," Romulus dictated. "He is eighteen years of age, and can read, write and do arithmancy, and despite being a nuisance, he is a hard worker and easily intimidated. There will only be one slave to auction at this time."

Matthew had suspected that there would be an auction, but to force him to write the letter explaining what would happen was a cruelty that he didn't think even master Romulus was capable of. He continued to write, though he had to be careful not to allow his hand to shake too much. When he was finished, he put the pen aside, and master Romulus took the piece of paper to examine.

"A bit clumsy near the end, but this will do," master Romulus said. "Now, repeat the message nine more times."

Matthew swallowed, before he obeyed. Every time he wrote the words, it was as though they were being carved within his flesh. He wrote the same letter nine times, and when he finished, he hoped that it was the last of it, and that master Romulus was finished with him.

"The party is in one month," master Romulus said. "You will not convey any of this to Feliciano, in any way. If I see you near his room, you will be punished again. And if you run away, then I will make sure to tell Feliciano that you abandoned him, and I will send some of my people after you. You wouldn't want them to come after you. Are we clear?"

Matthew nodded. His voice failed him. When master Romulus said that he would never see Feliciano again… he intended to make sure of that.

"Now, get out of my sight, and I don't want to see you causing any more trouble for me," master Romulus said. "If you do anything to drag my family's name farther through the mud than you already have, then I will make you beg for death. Are we clear?"

Matthew nodded again. He stood and fled from the room. Master Romulus didn't call after him. He needed to find a place where he could be left in peace for a while.

When he stopped, he realised that he had gone to Feliciano's room. He placed his hand on the familiar doorhandle, before he removed his hand again. Inside, he could hear Feliciano crying. Matthew was the reason why Feliciano was suffering. He'd seen the food sent to Feliciano's room. It wasn't enough.

Somehow, Matthew needed to convey a different type of message to Feliciano. He didn't think that he could tell Feliciano about the auction. He just needed to tell Feliciano that…

"What are you doing there?"

Matthew yelped and ran off. Master Romulus had seen him.

"Don't ever let me catch you near this room again!" master Romulus called after him.

"Matteo?" Feliciano called, muffled through the door.

"Quiet! I don't want to hear from you either."

Matthew ran until his feet demanded for him to rest. He sat down on the floor and sobbed. He had ruined everything.

He permitted himself to cry until he could no longer cry. He sniffed and wiped away the tears, and for the first time, actually looked at where he was. He was in front of Lovino's study, and master Lovino was sitting there, watching him.

"I-I'm sorry," Matthew stammered as he scrambled to his feet. "I didn't realise where… I-I'll just…"

"He misses you, you know?" Lovino said suddenly.

"What?"

"Feliciano. He really misses you. And I can tell that you miss him."

Matthew just stared at Lovino. It wasn't the first time that Feliciano's elder brother had spoken to him, but it was the first time there was a hint of kindness in his voice. It was all confusing.

"You need to talk to him," Lovino continued.

"I-I can't," Matthew said. "Master Romulus… doesn't want to see me near Feliciano's room."

"Then leave him letters. I know my brother taught you to write. So, use that."

"But, I don't have…"

Lovino picked up a stack of papers and a pencil and handed them to Matthew.

"Keep them hidden," Lovino muttered. "Let Feliciano at least know that you're doing fine, while you can."

Matthew didn't know if Lovino knew about what his fate was to be, but he nodded his head nonetheless. He didn't dare to question why Lovino was doing this for them, and he was afraid of asking. At the very least, he could help ease Feliciano's suffering in the only way he still could.

He just needed to be careful not to get caught.

…

Matthew kept his gaze lowered as the auction continued. One of the people bidding for him was Mathias Kohler, and when he took a chance to look, he saw the exact same look that Mathias had shown him all those years ago. He hoped that it wasn't Mathias that bought him.

"Four hundred thousand!" one of the bidders finally exclaimed.

The bid had been at only forty thousand. Matthew looked up. On one hand, he was relieved to see that it wasn't Mathias Kohler who made the high bid. On the other, he didn't want to know what kind of person would be so desperate to buy him.

"A-are you serious, Francis?" master Romulus asked. Even he was surprised by the bid.

So, the man was Francis Bonnefoy. Matthew had never actually seen this man before. He just knew that Arthur didn't like him much. And now, mister Bonnefoy had made a high bid, far higher than anyone would have tried to pay for a slave under normal circumstances.

Mathias Kohler and two other people attempted a few more times, but every time, Francis Bonnefoy would raise the bid much higher. Finally, the other three couldn't justify spending so much money on Matthew. Matthias Kohler looked truly angry about that.

"Then I guess it's sold, to Francis Bonnefoy," master Romulus said. He grabbed Matthew by the arm and shoved him forward. "Say 'hello' to your new master."

Francis caught him, and Matthew trembled when he saw the lazy smirk. Francis turned him around and walked out of the study with him.

"I will get acquainted with my new toy," Francis said.

A few of the others snickered, and Matthew knew what Francis intended to do. Matthew looked back over his shoulder, towards Lovino, who looked as though he wanted to punch someone. Why he was so angry, Matthew didn't actually understand.

Francis guided him towards one of the bedrooms. Matthew shuddered. This was the same bedroom where he and Feliciano had arranged to meet later that night. Would Matthew have a chance now? He just wanted to see Feliciano one last time. Would he be able to get away from Francis long enough to do so?

He also realised that this was the same room where he had met Mathias Kohler all those years ago.

Francis shut the door behind him, and his smile fell, to be replaced by something that Matthew couldn't quite understand. He took a hold of Matthew's chin and started to examine him. His touch was surprisingly gentle.

"That brute didn't hurt you too much, did he?" Francis asked.

Matthew couldn't answer, too surprised. Francis released him, before pulling him into a hug.

"Mathieu," Francis whispered. "After all this time… My son…"

Matthew's eyes widened. His fear was momentarily abandoned as the words registered.

"W-what?" Matthew asked. "W-what do you…?"

Francis pulled away, and this time, Matthew could see the sorrow in his gaze.

"You of course wouldn't remember me," Francis said. "You were only a baby, after all. You must have believed that your mother's name was Matilde."

Matthew's stomach dropped. It had been so long, but he couldn't forget the woman who had sold him to traffickers.

"H-how do you…?" Matthew asked.

"She was my son's nanny," Francis said. "And then she and an accomplice stole him from me. They asked for money, and we paid. But they never returned our son to us. My wife couldn't bear the sorrow. He was only a year old."

Francis pulled out something from around his neck. Matthew recognised it as a locket, and when Francis opened it, the portrait of a baby greeted him. The baby had blond hair and deep blue eyes, and a curl…

Matthew gasped, before he turned towards the mirror. He had the same curl as the baby, and when he saw himself and Francis standing next to each other, he could see the similarities.

"Mathieu…" Francis muttered. "My son. My dear son."

Matthew stared at Francis, the emotions welling up inside him. Out of everyone that could have bought him… Was this truly…?

Matthew burst into tears, and Francis pulled him closer. Matthew hadn't been held like this in weeks, but Francis's embrace was different from Feliciano's. It was a different type of warmth.

"My precious son," Francis whispered.

The two sat down on the bed, and Francis told him more about himself. He told Matthew about his younger sister, and how Francis's family saw nothing wrong with the type of relationship that Feliciano and Matthew had. Francis also said that Romulus had approached him for a marriage offer.

"I didn't want to accept it at first," Francis said. "I didn't want Camille to be trapped with one of that brute's children. But we can make this work. You see, Camille also has a lover that most of society would disapprove of. So, we just give a match that society will approve of, while allowing you to have the freedom."

Francis explained his plan further, and Matthew smiled for the first time in weeks. He could be with Feliciano, and no one could hurt them.

Eventually, Francis left to allow Matthew to come to terms with everything, and to give Matthew privacy for when Feliciano would finally arrive.

The door opened, and Matthew looked up, expecting Feliciano. But the smile fell, along with his stomach, when he saw who was actually at the door.

"Hello again," Mathias Kohler said as he shut the door behind him.

The flashbacks have ended. Next chapter, we'll return to the modern day.