Once Upon A Time | A Hetalia x Reader

Chapter 44: Lovely

When we had finally arrived to our final destination, which was approximately a few weeks away from Meraghyl, I had been immediately greeted by Elizaveta and Roderich themselves. I was at first shocked, but I later discovered that Feliks contacted them using a messenger bird who must've flown for countless of months without rest.

"(Name)! I'm so glad you came. I heard that a bloodthirsty man had come to snatch you away." Elizaveta began, emphasizing her words with hand gestures that clawed at me from time to time as we walked towards their castle. Roderich was seen to be nodding in utter agreement, muttering how Luciano was a 'fool' to be blinded by such horrid expectations.

"The torture that you must be withholding..." he said to me, staring with sympathy.

"It's alright. Apparently I've been here long enough to just 'get used to it'." I replied, laughing nervously.

Alfred stood by my side the entire way to the castle, looking vigilant to his surroundings. He batted his eye left and right, keeping the distance between me and him quite close, but not too close to look clingy. I smiled lightly at that, knowing that he cares about my safety more than anything. But that doesn't mean I'll worry, though. Is he aware that he has to be safe, too?

"Alfred, we're safe for now. There's no need to be so paranoid," I said in a gentle way as if to calm him down. It seemed that my words soothed him.

"Thank you, princess."

I cringed internally. He's serious.

"For all I know, there may be sandwiches waiting up in the kitchen," I hummed, smiling up to him. "You should know that these lovely people wouldn't forget that you have a huge appetite for such things."

"Aww, she called us lovely!" Elizaveta laughed. "What a precious being you are, (Name). Isn't that right, Roderich?"

Apparently, it took a while for him to respond. And when he did, he sounded meek and shy. "....Yes."

"Look, (Name), he called you precious!"

"Well," I gasped, dramatically emphasizing my flattery. "I suppose that we will be showered in dozens of compliments for today, no?"

Roderich mumbled something under his breath, not facing either of us. Then he began to pace a tad bit faster, as if yearning to go back to his beloved piano to weave a few beautiful tunes upon its keys. Elizaveta continued to laugh away, as if she wasn't stressed about the outside problems at all. I had heard that she and Roderich's kingdom had not been involved in the war. I grew guilty of this, knowing that they are aware of what I planned to ask of them.

...A King and Queen of their own kingdom is yet to be chosen in waging war soon. I am nothing else but a Princess who has come to proclaim my requests. It made me wonder whether or not they're going to be okay with this. They don't seem uncomfortable about it, but I know them to be good actors. The question is, for this lingering moment: Are they acting?

"So, (Name), how has my lessons affected you? Have you used your learnings yet? Have you practiced?" Elizaveta asked, suddenly acting like a mom - How many pairs of parents do I have again? 3? 7? Okay, I'm over-exaggerating, but really! Elizaveta and Roderich are like parents to me, but sometimes I can't stand leaving the fact of having so many parents alone.

I forced a smile, trying to keep my thoughts from side-tracking on me. "The lessons were great! I was able to defend myself at times, but Alfred was here to save the day as always."

"The Hero!" Alfred whispered weakly, pumping up a pathetic fist into the air and smiled a smile that didn't really reach his eyes.

"Yeah, he's my hero," I chuckled, worried whether or not I should empathize with him or joke along. He seemed to have that joking spirit, but it didn't seem like he was...'really into it'.

He's still down in the dumps.

-

I didn't know what was better. The food or the people who made it.

"I wanna try making it!" I chirped, very eager to try out this session myself. New things to learn, meet new things...stuff like that.

"Okay, okay. Wear apron. And wash hands too! You might put germs in foods, aru."

"Haha, alright then."

I began to set up, quite pleased that I was able to help out in the Royal Kitchen. It's been a very long while since I participated in things like this. I never really dreamt of seeing people doing the stuff for me. Despite being a Royal individual, I couldn't help but always wondered where I originated from and grew uncomfortable about not being able to fend for myself. That's when I met Elizaveta and Roderich and countless of other people in the castle.

Yao rushed around the pots and pans, looking for spices and salts. Then he turned back to me and gave me those items, allowing me to start my part of the meal. "Sprinkle this there and here," I mused to myself, grinning. I always had the easiest part in cooking. I was never allowed to cook the meals, only because the chefs assume that I will 'burn it' and 'discard it like it was nothing'.

When he gave me another batch to sprinkle the spices to, I began to hum a tune. He didn't seem to mind, because he seemed to be more focused on chopping the vegetables than to focus on my singing skills.

"Ai-yah... (Name), I think you sprinkled too much pepper on this."

"Oh, did I really?" I asked, looking over to see Yao's distressed face. I smiled reassuringly towards him. "Don't worry. You can cut out the one with the most pepper on it and give that part to me when dinnertime comes around."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah! Not a single piece shall be wasted." I replied, balling up my fist and placing it over my chest. Then I gave my best determined look. Yao shook his head as he looked away, a faint smile on his face.

Food over anything, right?

-

"The only think that will appreciate you for who you are are your loved ones."

-

Who is your loved one(s)?

- Yukina