Chapter Text
The wind blew through the windows, rustling the silk curtain. Elizaveta was perched above a dull coloured basket, folding the laundry. She was but a maid at Holy Rome’s house, having to spend the rest of her life indefinitely performing cold, hard, labour.
The moment she finished folding the last fabric, she’d set it gently in the basket upon garments of the same type. She’d sigh, at least she had the easy work this evening.
She rose to her feet, scooping up the basket full of folded clothing. She turned on her heel, her skirt rustling ever so slightly. With a lack of usual enthusiasm, she’d walk through the desolate hall, basket in her grasp.
It was a slow, soulless day. Not even the usual sound of Mr. Edelstein’s piano, or perhaps the giggles of Feli.
The warm sun hit her skin as she entered the room, the piano in the corner left untouched. Rather, the brunet she was so fond of was perched over the window, looking solemn.
With a quiet motion, she’d set the basket on the nearest flat surface. Clearing her throat, she’d take a step closer. The man standing in front of her would turn.
“Ah, Elizaveta.” The Austrian would speak, just before she could even attempt to.
“Mister Roderich! I wasn’t expecting you to be here today.” She’d reply, a smile on her face– forcing her own joy. Truthfully, it was hard to maintain a smile on such a moody day.
“Well, I am.” He’d reply, a light pink brushing his pale cheeks. She could see the side of his lips resisting the urge to curl up into a smile. Somehow her joy could always spread to him, even when it was false.
“Great! Where’s Feli?” She’d ask the Austrian, seeing disappointment flash in those violet eyes for but a moment. It was almost cute.
“Down the hall cleaning the dining room.” Roderich would reply, shuffling his feet slightly.
“Oh, I can get her to help put the laundry away! I was wondering where she was, thank you!” She’d turn, grabbing the basket from where she set it. She could still feel Roderich’s eyes on her, but not in a bad way. If anything, it felt normal.
“Yeah.” He’d reply, still standing by the window. As she turned around to face him once more, emerald eyes would meet his enchanting violet ones, and she was almost awestruck for only a moment.
“I’ll see you later, Mister Roderich!” She’d smile at him, giving him a wink before turning around and leaving the room, basket in hand.
“Bye.” Was the last thing she heard from the Austrian before she was completely out of earshot, heading towards where he had told her Feli was. She could distantly hear the birds outside, the rustle of the leaves.
With a hum, she’d turn the corner, seeing the little girl with a broom. Feliciano. She wasn’t doing the greatest job sweeping the dining room, but at least she was trying. Elizaveta would have to help her later.
“Feliciano!” The Hungarian would call, and the small Italian girl would jump up in surprise, and as soon as Feli spotted the brunette a bright smile of childlike innocence would grace her features. Elizaveta would set the basket down.
“Miss Elizaveta!” Feliciano would run towards the woman, broom still in hand. Elizaveta would crouch down to be eye level with the Italian, smiling at the little girl who was a fellow maid.
“Here, I can help you sweep, okay?” She’d ruffle Feliciano’s brown hair, rising to her feet. The small Italian would nod in response.
“Be right back!” Elizaveta would turn, having to go acquire a broom from the supply closet.
As she exited the dining hall, the hallway seemed oddly quiet. Too quiet, if she had to say so herself. The quiet was usual, but not this much silence.
Something felt wrong.
She soon reached the supply closet, grabbing the broom with the pink bow tied onto the end she usually grabbed, as long as Feliciano hadn’t gotten to it first. She had tied the pink ribbon onto the broom a long while ago, before Feliciano had became a maid with her.
With a hum, she’d head back to the dining hall, a slight bounce in her step as she went back to where Feliciano stood.
Feliciano had gone back to sweeping, doing an okay job. Elizaveta would let out a fond sigh, walking up to Feliciano. “Boo!” Feli, of course, in response, would jump and turn around.
“Oh! You scared me, Miss Elizabeta!” The Italian’s face would light up, a happy, childish smile appearing on her face as she looked up at the Hungarian.
“Hehe, sorry, Feli.” She’d chuckle, twirling her broom slightly.
“Are you sure we won’t get in trouble for working together?” Feliciano would ask, and Elizaveta would only wonder where she got that idea from.
“When have we ever?” She’d reply, sweeping the ground with her broom. Truthfully, she just wanted to get done with her chores. “I dunno!” Feliciano would start sweeping, too, and before they knew it they were done- not without constant chatter, of course.
“Yayyy! We’re done!” The Italian would announce excitedly. In response, Elizaveta would simply let out a ‘mhm’, not trying to match Feli’s enthusiasm.
“Thanks for helping me, Miss Elizaveta!” Feli would hug the Hungarian’s legs, and Elizaveta would smile a motherly smile, patting the child’s head.
“Well, I’d better get back to putting the laundry away.. You have fun, okay?” As Feliciano let go, she’d walk to the table the laundry basket had rested upon for a while.
“Okay!” Feli would reply, and the Hungarian was already out of the dining hall, carrying a full basket of laundry once more. The room was empty when Elizaveta entered, and she’d set the basket on the ground.
She’d hum as she put the clothes away. The wind blew through the open window, and the sunlight would shine on her and just her.
“Elizaveta.” A voice she didn’t quite recognize would call her name, too deep to be anyone who lived in the manor. How did it know her name? She’d whip her head around, but nothing was there.
“Spread my word.” The booming voice would start, and she'd glance around in a confused, somewhat scared manner.
“What word…?” She'd mutter to herself, holding a rag to her chest.
“The gospel.” She'd pause the moment she heard that, half believing she's hallucinating.
“Wha.. God?” She'd ask, tilting her head even though it wasn't like someone was by her.
“Yes, my child. Spread my word.” With a sudden change in light, it'd go quiet. The sun would stop shining on her, and she'd rub her eye.
With a glance back towards the dresser she was putting stuff away in, she'd get on her feet and headed towards her room, leaving the laundry behind.