My first story ever! I hope it is to your liking! This is largely based on the plot to Servant of Evil but I have added my own little flair to it. Or I at least tried (fail...) This is in Lovino's point of view because I enjoy writing about him. Why? Not sure.

The setting is around the medieval times in my fictional country of Cuore e L'anima which means 'heart and soul' in Italian.

Warnings: Death, blood, language, violence, Spamano in later chapters so leave now if you are against this

Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia or Servant of Evil

Chapter One

Inadequate

"My lord, it is time for you to wake up," I drew back the large curtains and sunlight flooded the room, causing my master to stir. He grumbled in annoyance, cursing the sun before pulling the covers over his head. I chuckled and a small smile crept across my face as I tied the curtains back.

"Master, you cannot simply sleep the day away. There are important matters that need to be taken care of," I opened the other set of curtains, keeping that amused smile on my face.

"They can be dealt with later. Just five more minutes," he groaned. "I need my sleep…!"

"My lord, you know I would but this is Her Majesty's command," I sighed lightly. "And I waited to finish my other tasks before coming to wake you. She will be expecting you any moment now."

"Lovino," my master sat up and tugged the silk blanket from his head, revealing his disheveled appearance, "stop with the formalities. You know how much I detest them, especially when it's coming from my own brother."

My young prince, or rather my brother, smiled at me then, his golden orbs shining as bright as his youth.

"Forgive me, sir. Force of habit," I stared at the floor, a sign of submission.

He sighed and placed his hands on my shoulders for me to look at him, "Stop it. Honestly, you worry too much about what Mother and the others will say. You're not a child anymore- you're a grown man! Whenever you're with me, we're on a first name basis, okay?"

"I know; you don't have to remind me, my lor- I mean, Feliciano," I nodded, moving to prepare his outfit for the day. I laid it neatly on the bed as I did every morning, almost mechanically.

"Then do it! I'm reminding you because you don't do it!" he laughed, slapping me on the back playfully. "Oh and I'll dress myself today. I know you're busy. So what's for breakfast, fratello? Is it good?"

I sighed to myself in relief at the name. I hadn't been acknowledged as his brother in so long…

"We have a lightly poached salmon with a delicate mint salad. There is also toast, scones, or French bread. Which would you care for this morning?" I replied monotonously.

"Hmm," he looked thoughtful and suddenly grinned. "Toast! All that fancy food gives me a stomachache…"

"Feliciano, I-" the name was like poison on my tongue. I wasn't supposed to speak it. It was forbidden.

It… burned.

"Yes?" he looked at me curiously. "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing. I'll tell Mother you're awake and I shall be waiting for you at the dining table shortly after," I bowed before taking my leave and kept my eyes downcast to avoid the reprimanding stare I knew Feliciano was giving me.

Seventeen years of servitude certainly made situations like these difficult to handle- either go against my younger brother who was prince or defy the basic principles I had been taught since infancy. I was nothing but an empty shell of my former self. Their method of enforcing rules was a bit too effective in my opinion.

Ah, but I mustn't forget… I have no opinion.

I have no voice.

All I am to do is to act as nothing more than a shadow and obey my prince, as every loyal servant should. A rather inadequate title for someone born of the same royal blood that runs through his veins. However, I cannot complain. I have no reason to.

I am with my brother.

That is all I ask for.

Arriving at the drawing room, I politely knocked on the door and waited for Her Majesty.

"Enter," was the reply and I slipped inside the room and bowed before her.

"Your Majesty, the young prince is awake. He shall be in the dining room momentarily," I announced, glancing at the queen every few moments.

"Thank you, Lovino. I'm so glad to have you here. You're the only one Feliciano seems to respond to," she smiled as she stood from her chair and made her way towards me. Her curls that cascaded down her back like an auburn waterfall rippled as she walked and her emerald eyes shimmered… just as mine did.

My mother, Annalisa, the queen of Cuore e L'anima, placed her hand on my shoulder in a comforting manner. It was as if looking in a mirror. I was the very image of this land's queen. But she did not see me in the same light, that much I knew was true despite her words of affection towards me.

"It is nothing worthy of your praise… I am simply doing what I have been told," I said, once again keeping my eyes downcast.

"And that is all we ask of you," she smiled. "And another thing, did you take your medication this morning? We can't keep sending you to the doctor knowing they can't help you."

"Yes, I have, as I do every morning. I have yet to forget, Your Majesty," I hoped adding her elite title would compensate for the short tone that had leaked into my voice. She constantly reminded me that the physicians were unable to cure what I had been born with.

"Very good," she nodded.

"If you'll excuse me, Your Majesty, I must wait for the young prince at the dining table," I headed towards the door and out of her gentle grasp.

"Lovino."

I turned to meet her gaze, to meet the eyes that were mine.

"I love you- so much," she treaded over the words carefully so that prying ears could not hear. "You realize why we had to do this, do you not? Please tell me you understand."

"I understand perfectly and with all due respect, I do not wish to be coddled. If I may speak freely, Your Highness, I have been forced to understand since childhood but even then I still question what has already been answered. My health complications are what prevented me from rising to the throne and to save the life of your oldest son and to preserve the kingdom, you made him servant to his youngest twin. Please, correct me if I am wrong," my skin burned as I felt my blood begin to boil instinctively.

"You are dismissed, Lovino," she looked away and out the window, more astonished than upset at my way of speaking to her.

I bowed once more and exited, hastily heading towards the dining room to serve my prince.

Standing to his left, I waited for the prince to ask anything he might need, as every servant should. Other helpers were preparing coffee and tea, and were prepared to give whatever was desired.

"Lovino, why don't you sit down next to me and have something to eat? I know you must be starving," Feliciano offered with a sincere smile as he bit into his toast.

And in reality, I was.

The small breakfast I made each morning as the sun barely peeked over the horizon had never been enough. The suggestion was more than tempting and it whispered in my head to agree.

"My lord, I couldn't possibly-"

"Feliciano, you know better than to offer a servant to sit at the table with us. If you continue this, they will forget their place and do as they please," the queen spat and never took her fiery green eyes off of me, even when she sat down at the head of the table. The other servants and I bowed in greeting to our queen.

"Thank you for your generous offer, my lord, but I must decline," I said in an almost hushed tone to appease the one we called mother.

My defiant side that I had been forced to retain for the past seventeen years was beginning to rear its ugly head but I withheld my tongue. Feliciano, on the other hand, argued on my behalf. A notion I appreciated but wished he hadn't done.

"Why can't he sit with us? He's my brother and he's your first born son! Please do not begin to tell me that your head has become so clouded with the luxury of nobility to dispute the claim that he, also, is of the royal family! Father would never-!"

"Your father was a coward who could not handle the pressures of ruling a kingdom and stepped down because of it. Now he hides in shame across the ocean and left you here with me to live a life of fortune. What could I possibly do to meet your expectations?" Mother's placid demeanor did not falter but her voice wavered with frustration and sarcasm.

Feliciano's eyes glowed with amber fire, "Allow Lovino to sit with us- to be a part of this family and assume the throne since it is, after all, his birthright."

"The decision was made long ago and is set in stone. You are to be king on your eighteenth birthday and then we will find you a suitable bride to take my place as queen," Mother started cutting into the salmon that Feliciano had yet to touch.

"What if I don't want to king? Let Lovino! He is the oldest!"

"You know very well why Lovino can't be king! If he were to become king and you threw away your inheritance to the throne, there would be no one left to rule! Everything would fall into chaos! Hear me out when I say this but Lovino is dying. With each passing day, his luck is living a shorter and shorter life. It's only a matter of time before-"

"I've heard enough! Lovino is just fine! He's healthy! He's alive! And if you don't want recognize that, then so be it but you will reap what you have sown," Feliciano growled. "Now if you'll excuse me, Mother, I'm afraid you'll be enjoying breakfast in solitude."

He swiftly left the table and stormed down the long corridor, beckoning me to follow him.

And I could only comply.

"She makes me so sick sometimes!" Feliciano threw his hands up in frustration once we had reached his room and I closed the door behind me and remained by it. "I know she's our mother, but the way she views things just… ugh! I cannot even speak!"

This caught me by surprise to say the least. Feliciano was hardly ever angry and ceased from expressing it if he was.

"My lord, you must try to calm down. She is your mother and the queen," I spoke out of term but Feliciano paid no mind. "You mustn't say such things."

"She is your mother, too," he corrected me.

"She disowned me, sir," I added.

"Ah, how can I forget? God forbid her having a servant as a son lest it scar the precious family name," Feliciano gazed out the window and into the country of Cuore e L'anima . He began breathing easier as he watched the villagers bustle about their everyday lives.

It… calmed him somehow. A flock of pigeons suddenly burst into flight by the window and fading into the distance with determination to reach their next destination.

"Lovino, do you ever wonder what it would be like to be a bird? Able to go and do whatever you please?" he asked, not turning from the window.

I would be lying if I said the question didn't catch me off guard, "I, um, never considered it, sir."

"I want to be a bird. This place is like a cage… I hate it here."

I wanted to say that I understood because I truly did. But I allowed him to have this moment to himself, to clear his head. A few minutes of comfortable silence was all that was needed before Feliciano could no longer bear it and spoke.

"Lovino," Feliciano turned to me, beaming. "Would you care to accompany me in visiting the town? We need to get of here."

"If that is what you wish of me, my lord. I shall go wherever you desire," was my automatic and involuntary response.

Feliciano raised an eyebrow at me.

I allowed a small smile begin to dance itself along my face, hesitant but gradually growing more confident in each step it took, "Of course. I'll get your horse ready."

"Leave it be. I need some exercise and I'm not going to get it that way. Besides, I feel all high and mighty when I'm on a horse. For once, I want to be just like everyone else," Feliciano began dressing into the clothes of the villagers, staying true to his words.

He laced his boots and spun around so I could observe all of him. After rotating twice, he smiled at me and took on the exaggerated posture of a noble, "Well? How do I look?"

I chuckled to myself.

"You look…" I paused for effect, knowing his dislike for it, "as common as they come, sir."

He rolled his eyes playfully and pulled on a cloak, "Hurry and get changed. We need to go before we are caught up in some other unnecessary business and I'd rather not deal with the queen."

Children ran freely down the roads, mindful of the activity but still maintaining their reckless attitudes. Feliciano happily greeted everyone, and seemed pleased at the fact that they weren't noticing he was prince. He had made sure that he smiled warmly so has not to arouse suspicion due to his hooded appearance. He had planned this for so long.

"Oh wow!" Feliciano exclaimed, asking a group of children if he could play football with them. This caught the attention of nearby townsfolk and they too, watched in amusement.

Feliciano waved me over to join but I shook my head, barely noticeable to those not paying attention. My brother continued reliving his childhood with those he wished he could be like again and not carry the weight of the kingdom on his shoulders.

And in all honesty… he deserved it.

I hope you enjoyed!

Please review and let me know if I should continue :)

Thanks for reading~!

-NightSociety