I own Hetalia…in my dreams. Hetalia belongs to Hidekaz Himaruya
Eoth
Chapter Two: Qwesha
Feliciano stumbled to the garden and went to a place where she could be alone. She usually didn't like being alone, but right now, another person would just jumble up her thoughts. Marriage? Sure, Antonio seemed pretty nice and handsome but…She had never thought of an arranged marriage.
She wanted to choose someone herself, and wait for him to propose. Plus, another problem, she blushed in thought. She had already found someone she wanted all that with. As if on cue, a tall man with blonde slicked back hair wearing the Eoth royal guard uniform came up to her. His usual piercing eyes filled with worry.
"Her Highness and I have been looking for you, please do not go off like that. I don't know what kind of animals Queen Rosa has allowed in the castle grounds." His gruff voice was low but soothing. Feliciano loved his voice.
Feliciano laughed a little. The Royal Palace garden of Eoth was more like a haven for domestic animals and even some snakes, raccoons and some venomous frogs.
When Queen Rosa died, her will consisted of mainly animal right laws that she thought of on her deathbed, and an absolute order that no one was to kill an animal in the castle grounds. No matter how dangerous they may be. She even added that she would haunt them for life for such an act. She had always been a childish Queen.
Queen Rosa also moved many people to be vegetarians, and only allowed meat in the castle if they were properly apologized to. Lovino thought it was kind of stupid, apologizing to a dead animal, but after seeing pigs and chickens roaming around in the castle, she slowly stopped eating meat.
Feliciano was a born Vegetarian, ever since she was little, she would reject meat, saying it was bad and hugging a little cow toy she brought with her everywhere. Feliciano smiled at the memory. The toy was now buried with her father.
She got up on her feet and grinned at the guard.
"I'm fine Ludwig, I'm sorry I made you worry."
"As long as you're saf-"
"FELI!" Ludwig winced at Lovino's large booming voice as she desperately searched for her sister. Feliciano giggled and answered in an equally large voice, only higher.
"I'm here Sorella~" Lovino followed the coo, and let out a sigh of relief. You never know if some crazy raccoon full of rabies will come out of nowhere and bite someone. She went up to her and ordered Ludwig to leave for a while, he nodded, bowed and left, leaving the two sisters alone. The elder spoke first.
"I'm sorry I fought with your mother again, I know you don't like it but, really? An arranged marriage? You're only sixteen! Listen if you don't want this marriage I will do everything in my power to stop-"
"Is it good for Eoth?" Feliciana interrupted, surprising Lovino.
"Well…"
"Is it?" She pried further. Lovino frowned. It was. Syre and Eoth were close for many years until the death of their father. It would join the two countries, in turn strengthening their alliance.
Feliciano was growing impatient. She knew her mother, and her mother would definitely not introduce her to someone unless he could benefit her or the country in some way. She just needed confirmation. She started pouting which made Lovino groan inside. Not the puppy dog eyes, she thought.
"It is good for our country, for both countries actually." Feliciano 'oohed'.
"B-but it's not like you have to go through with it!" Lovino quickly added to try to convince her it was a bad idea, but it had the opposite effect.
"I'll do it."
Feliciano left a while ago to tell the queen while Lovino was in deep thought. Feliciano said she'd do it, but her eyes and everything else screams she doesn't want to. As she was walking back and forth the last person she wanted to see popped up with the largest shit-eating grin she'd ever seen. Prince of Syre, Antonio. The man who wanted to steal her innocent little sister. The bastard.
"Dammit!" she yelled, causing Antonio to jump a little. Lovino turned on her heel and glared at Antonio. If only looks could kill.
"It's all your fault! If you weren't born as a second Prince then your brother or sister or whoever took the damn throne would be the only one! You won't be marrying my baby sister! Vaffanculo! Bastardo!"
She kept spewing a bunch of Eothian curses until a man came out and scared her from a bush. He had startled the prince as well.
"Taa daa!"
Lovino jumped back at the surprise when the armoured man jumped out of the bushes, coming out with a huge Cheshire grin on his face. It took Lovino a few seconds to assess the stranger. The man was crown Prince of Beshire. He was to be crowned after his marriage, which was in a month from now. His fiancé was a beautiful and educated lady from Yiemr, although she was chosen by his parents, they grew fond of each other and both had no objection to the marriage from the day they met.
"So, how's my cute little sister doing?" He asked, slinging his heavy arm over her shoulders, causing her to growl. Antonio stared at the Beshiren. He knew the man, they had met before but he did not like that he was close to Lovino. Despite the fact that he said 'sister'.
"I'm not your little sister, Adrian." She mumbled, shaking off his arm and glaring at him. The carefree man just laughed.
"I missed you too!"
"Why'd they let you in anyways?" Lovino peered, annoyed at the guards.
"Aww come on! I'm the Prince of Beshire! I'm practically family." It was –sort of- true. Beshire and Eoth had been close for many years and have come to the point where the royals just visit each other's castle like it's their own home. Well, only Adrian did that, other members would call to arrange a suitable time.
Adrian turned to look at Antonio, his eyes narrowing but there was a noticeable glint in his eyes.
"Prince of Syren! Tonio! How you doing?" He greeted, moving towards Antonio. The brunette grinned.
"Good, how are you?"
"I'm doing great! So, why are you in the great castle of Eoth?"
"I was invited by the queen, I have an engagement with Feliciano."
Adrian's eyes widened. He turned to Lovino who reluctantly nodded.
"Woah, Queen Diana is so wicked."
"Shush, someone might hear you." Lovino scolded, but she agreed in her mind. A tense silence fell over the three until Adrian's fiancé ran up to them. Her large chest bouncing up and down at the motion. There were slight tears in her eyes.
"Lina~" She tackled the poor Eothian with a huge hug, rubbing the princess's head against her …breasts. Adrian eventually had to pry his love off of Lovino to prevent her from suffocating. Katyusha, the soon to be Queen of Beshire, smiled warmly at her 'adopted' sister and brushed some brown locks out of her face.
"You've grown, Lina." She complimented, making Lovino blush. Katyusha had always acted motherly in front of the Eothian and even though Adrian and Katyusha claimed that they were her elder brother and sister. Those two were the closest people to foster parents for Lovino. Only five years apart but still enough to keep Lovino feeling loved. She really did love them, no matter how many times she had cussed at them.
"How are you Kat?" The princess asked, still a little pink, unaware of Antonio's watch.
"We're fine!" Adrian replied enthusiastically. Pulling the Yiemish closer to his metal chest, creating a soft 'thunk'. Lovino rolled her eyes and turned her body so that she was facing Antonio, realizing that he had been quite left out in the whole ordeal.
"What did you want you bast- your highness?" She kept the insults in, not wanting to be scolded by the Queen again. Antonio didn't seem to mind.
"Actually I was hoping that I would get to speak with y-" before Antonio could finish speaking a servant ran up to them in a frantic voice.
"Princess Lovino, Her majesty wishes to speak with you. Immediately." Lovino twitched and sighed.
She said goodbye to the Royal Beshirens and told Antonio that she will meet him later. Can't keep that old hag waiting she thought to herself.
Antonio sighed as Lovino followed the frantic servant. He missed his chance again. He wanted to make a bargain. Instead of marrying Feliciano, marry her. He knew she hated him, but he didn't want to marry Feliciano, not only was she too young but a little dull personality wise.
Lovino was beautiful, and Antonio wanted to know more about her, what does she hide beneath that tough exterior? How would she react if he told her that she was the most beautiful woman he's ever seen? Would she blush like before? What would she look like if she smiled? A thousand questions could be extracted from Antonio's mind, as he carelessly walked in any direction he deemed fit. Easily getting lost. The man had always been an airhead.
He's been at the Eothian Castle many times, but never alone. He gulped as he recalled Ludwig's words to watch out for dangerous animals. He nervously walked around the now forest like place and sniffed. The smell of oak wood and leaves filled his nose as he pondered how to get back.
"I hope I don't get mauled by a bear." He said out loud.
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Lovino waited impatiently in front of the two large doors of the throne room and the tapping of her feet got faster and louder as time passed, creating a rushed atmosphere around the hall. Servants whizzed passed nervously, not daring to calm their princess down.
"Stupid Queen not letting me in, B*TCH called ME."
She continued to fume in front of the door and a few minutes later she was finally motioned in.
"Dear! Come in, I have a task for you." A sickening happy voice called from within.
Lovino raised her eyebrow, highly suspicious of the Queen.
"Just what are you planning now?" Lovino accused. She expected a growl or a retort but the Queen just smiled her unreadable smile and continued speaking.
"Well, it's time for our monthly visit to Qwesha, and I would like you to go this month."
Lovino's eyes widened. Qwesha? She wants ME to go to Qwesha? How funny…and strange.
"May I ask what possessed you to give me such an important task that you give to Feliciano every month? Surely you're not going to get them married behind my back?"
She asked carefully, reading every single twitch that the Queen made. Careful, cautious, and untrusting.
The Queen just simply chuckled. Smiling even more board and spoke with a singsong voice.
"She's only sixteen, she's not even at the legal age for marriage. I'm not a blood royal, I cannot change laws and besides, do you think I'm a monster? I would never marry her at such a young age. I simply want you to go to Qwesha this time. You're the crown princess after all."
Lovino gritted her teeth.
"Bullshit! You plan to give the throne to Feliciano, tell me the truth!"
The Queen's eyes narrowed and she fixed her glare on her stepdaughter, annoyed at her sharpness.
"Either you will go voluntarily or I will force you to go, don't talk back to me again, young little princess, both your father and mother are gone now. You're just an orphan." The queen spat the last few words out like they were venom. Lovino clenched her teeth and balled her hands into fists.
She hated it when the queen used that against her. Not only did it feel like her heart was breaking into a million pieces, she couldn't say anything back. She couldn't deny it, she is technically an orphan and no way was she going to ever accept that wretched woman as anything close to a mother. Another reason was that it also made her cry, not in front of the Queen but she hated crying nonetheless. It's a show of weakness, and she never wanted to show that side of her to anyone.
"Fine I'll go."
A/N: (〜 ̄)〜 (Chap 2 down! So If people don't recognize some of the characters please ask (review) me, I'm too lazy to mention them here, my hands hurt from typing. It's a valid excuse shush. Sorry there isn't enough romance for the ppl who came for da lovin. Pls review to tell me what you think! It will come soon! Ps. Do u really want the trans for the Italian swear words?)
Vaffanculo: F*ck you – Italian
Bastardo: Bastard (really what did you expect) – Italian
Many Thanks to Kumabe for being my (awesome) beta reader :)