It was a wonderful morning as Elizabeta decided to venture through the gardens. For days, heavy rain had poured down in the most brutal manner Britain could offer. The blooming flowers had caught her attention for days and now the female had time to observe them closely in the dry environment. She had left some minutes for herself before Miss Marguerite would plan the supper with her.
She quickly returned when she heard noises in the kitchen. It was strange; the other servants had long left the kitchen after they had finished their meals. Elizabeta had eaten before the other maids had. The female did not consider herself above others – unlike a certain Prussian – but preferred to eat her food alone. Surprisingly, no one was present, as she entered the room.
"Where is that noise coming from?" She muttered to herself before hearing another sound. It came from the hall and the brunette was unsure to walk towards the small ruckus. Maybe it was one of the servants; although they knew better than to created noises. Since the incident with Gilbert Beilschmidt, the woman had been hesitant to leave the servants' quarters. Not that she was intimidated by the odd Prussian man – she thought him extremely annoying and for some days he had been very present in the Kirkland mansion; He was practically following her but Elizabeta decided that her imagination was exaggerating. A respectable General could not be obsessed with a mere servant, could he? 'He wants to irritate me,' she concluded. She ascended the servant's stairs to the hall, watching if one member of the family was present. None was, and the woman felt more at ease. After the Prussian General had apologised days ago, Elizabeta avoided him and the main rooms in the mansion – she did not want to take any risks and she was not allowed to enter them without reason. The moment from three days ago, when he was awkwardly asking her to dance with him while she was tainted with flour, was strange. She was certain that the man was mocking her, especially when the younger Mr Beilschmidt approached them and apologised on his older brother's account. In her eyes, the blonde German was agreeable and had exquisite manners. The complete opposite of the white-haired arrogant General.
"Good morning, Miss Elizabeta Héderváry."
She did not need to turn around; the voice was too familiar; it had haunted her since he had entered the house one week ago. ,Oh no,' she thought, spinning around; her non-verbal communication signalling her defensive frame after she quickly bowed – she did not forget the rules of the etiquette. "Mr Beilschmidt," she acknowledged sternly. The man stood in front of her, one hand supporting his body on the wall while his other held a bouquet of flowers. 'Why in God's name is he always in the possession of bouquets?' the female asked herself. To say she was happy about this occurrence was an understatement, to be faced with a man who positioned himself in the room as if he was ruling the world while his smirk suggested his increasing arrogance, was too much to bear for the Hungarian. The day was far too early for such sights. "If you would please excuse me, I must tend to my duties."
Gilbert had waited days to see her – both he and Ludwig had decided to stay some days as visitors in the Kirkland mansion after the weather had prevented them to return to their summerhouse. Since the occurrence, where his brother had interrupted them, the man had been nervous and worried. He did not show it openly, of course, the General had to uphold a reputation after all – not to mention that he despised to express his true feelings and women in his circle of acquaintances liked strong and confidant men. Nonetheless he was content to have seen her this morning. The Prussian had to admit that he was smitten by her and tried his utmost to win her. But seeing her turning around to avoid him was unnerving him. The flowers in his hand were for her after all. "W-Wait, Miss, these are for you."
Elizabeta stopped dead in her tracks when he was offering her the bouquet. Again. "Thank you, but I must decline."
The general stared at her, his hand outstretched. It started to shake and Gilbert grew a little annoying by her rejections. "Excuse me. You can't deny them. I have bought them for you." Her brows shot up and he rethought his words. Before he could say anything else, Elizabeta spoke harshly. "Why are you mocking me? It's highly improper to offer flowers to a woman who is supposed to cook your food. I know to prefer to irritate me. Please stop with your offending actions."
Gilbert's frown deepened; he did not understand why she thought he would ridicule her in the most improper manner. She misunderstood his intentions completely. Although for most people in possession of a high rank, Gilbert's behaviour was odd. For servants it was an uncommon circumstance. "I-I apologise, I did mean to hurt you, but you misunderstood," he muttered, stepping towards the woman who did not approve his nearing form. "Gilbert?"
Elizabeta was glad to hear Ludwig's voice; the blonde man had just entered the hall when he saw the cook with his brother. He held a letter in his hand which his valet had brought him minutes ago. "What are you doing?" He questioned his oldest sibling with a raised eyebrow. The addressed man remained silent.
"I hope he did not upset you," Ludwig apologised sincerely, seeing the flowers in his brother's hand. Elizabeta replied with a shake of her head, "I am sorry but I need to prepare food." With that, the female disappeared in the servant's stairway.
"Brother. . . You are annoying her and she does not feel comfortable. In addition to that you cannot stop her from performing her duties."
Gilbert glared at his brother before masking his disappointment with his usual arrogant smile. "Most women would be content to be in my company," he laughed. Ludwig shook his head; his movement accompanied with a loud sigh, before going back to the drawing room. It was early and the servants were beginning to clean the house; they were a little baffled as they had sighted the siblings. Being used to wake early in order to train was an uncommon situation in the Kirkland house; but for the brothers, it was normal. Especially Ludwig disliked staying late in bed. Plus the Prussian hoped seeing Elizabeta in the early hours of the day, which caused his energy to increase at seven o'clock than any other day before. He was aware of her hate towards him but he refused to acknowledge it.
"She befriended Miss Honda," he announced quietly, "I must talk to her."
He planned to approach the Japanese in order to receive information of Elizabeta. It was not only for that purpose that he wanted to have a conversation with her; he liked the company of the Asian woman.
As opposed to Gilbert's intention of approaching Elizabeta as often as possible, Sakura wanted to avoid the person she had hurt by her action. Although the man could walk properly again, she felt as if Mr Kirkland was disapproving her more as the days before. After the youngest Beilschmidt brother had helped her with her dancing steps, the English man had frowned all evening. She had noticed his change in his mood and suspected that she was the cause of his unsettlement. Since then, the Japanese had been more silent towards him than before. Of course the female had apologised several times and it was the only topic she and the British man had shared. Ludwig had offered to dance with her on his upcoming ball. Without hesitation, the petite woman had agreed. She found a reliable confident in the blonde German and was glad to address him as a friend. In spite of his brother's extraordinary antics, she also felt a connection to Gilbert; he was gentle towards her and complimented her talent for martial arts which flustered her greatly but her smile showed her pride and appreciation.
As if luck was on his side, Alfred suggested the idea of taking a walk. After staying in the house for days, the American appreciated the sunlight and fresh air. Typically English weather was not his most favourite one. The afternoon was therefore spent with a walk through the park.
During their stroll, Sakura walked next to her uncle. After some minutes, Alfred joined them in order to strike a conversation with Sakura's uncle, while she avoided a certain English man whose eyes were observing her intensively. Why he was watching her in such a manner was a question she did not dare to ask. Sakura was certain that every step was reminding him of his once injured foot. It must have caused him to dislike more of her than she could imagine. It troubled her to assume such things; however she could not explain his frowning expression, intense stares and his temper – although the latter was often directed towards Mr Jones. It had all began the day she had injured him.
The Japanese was too clouded by her unsettled mind, to notice that Arthur had paced next to her. After his cousin had decided to converse with her uncle, the British man took advantage of this situation and approached the petite female. For days she had avoided him – apart from her apologies – and it confounded him more than he cared to admit. He missed talking to her but he could not deny that he was envious of Ludwig Beilschmidt. The German had spent a lot of his free time with her; they shared laughter during her dancing lessons, dined in company. For most people this was a friendly acquaintanceship but for someone like Arthur, who tended to have a proclivity for jealousy, it was a disaster – She had even promised Ludwig a dance. He wanted to be the one who taught her dancing. Although he had made the experience with her martial arts technics at first hand, he was not upset with her. Not at all. The man was more offended by her attempt of ignoring him; was he such an ill-tempered host?
"Miss Honda?" Arthur asked extremely softly, avoiding frightening her.
Sakura was startled when he had called her; her worries were claiming her thoughts. "Y-Yes?" the woman replied, waiting some seconds before looking into his soft eyes.
"Are you feeling unwell?" He had never been unkind towards her and always asked after her health. If it was out of politeness or worry, she did not exactly know; she assumed the former because the latter seemed to be mostly uncommon for her. "N-no, I am all right."
This answer did not satisfy him but he did not want to force her on telling him her feelings. She stopped in her tracks, causing him to mimic her actions. "I hope you are not too affronted by the occurrence from three days ago," she murmured, her eyes facing the ground. "I am aware of how improper it was; such disagreeable behaviour. I must have shocked you deeply."
"At first I was astonished, but not in a negative manner," he admitted quietly, "You should not blame yourself on my account. It was an accident and I am not affronted." Arthur smiled after his last sentence. 'So that was the reason. She was afraid of upsetting me,' he thought. Her eyes gazed into his after his statement. While he wore a gentle smile, she blushed and Arthur had to admit that he could never be angry with her; his heart forbad it. "It's all forgiven, although there was never a reason to forgive," he added. After clearing the misunderstanding, his nerves were at ease, just like hers.
Before Sakura continued her walking, he offered her his arm. She accepted it with a gentle smile. Both were comfortable during the conversation. It was becoming a natural feeling for both to be in that position; in each other's company.
Unbeknownst to the couple, Alfred observed them with Yao, approving this development. The American had become worried after witnessing Arthur's temper for days. It was crystal clear that the British Gentleman was attached to Sakura. It was calming Alfred to know that she too was comfortable in his cousin's company.
"What did you say?" Gilbert asked his brother as the two were following their party in the park. Ludwig sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose with his fingers. "Cousin Roderich wants to pay a visit. He will arrive in some days. He had written a letter which my valet brought me this morning when you were occupied with your new occupation of annoying Miss Héderváry."
"I-I was not bothering her," he whispered harshly before raising his voice, "But when cousin Roderich comes, it will be boring."
Before the youngest of them could defend the Austrian cousin, Gilbert rushed towards his friend – who seemed extremely impatient upon seeing the Prussian interrupt his and Sakura's conversation – claiming to have an important question for Sakura. He still had to ask her about Elizabeta's interests.
His commitment to win the Hungarian's heart was exhausting – but his closest friends seemed to be more tired by it than Gilbert himself. "May I?" he then inquired, offering the Japanese an arm, before presenting her to his most important topic: Miss Elizabeta Héderváry.
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[A/N: Gilbert's attempt to win Lizzie's heart goes into the next round :D and Iggy is jealous :3 (I live for Iggy's jealousy xD). Next chapter will contain Austria :D; It will be very ... exhausting for Prussia xD.]