A Storm of Sunflowers

***It would seem that everyone spells Ivan's last name with either an 'i' or an 'y'. I chose to use the 'i' ending instead. If I am 100% wrong let me know on either one.

Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia. I am making no money off of this story. It is for pure enjoyment.

Enjoy!

Chapter 2

Alfred quietly snuck around the inside of the cabin, filling a small sack with his extra clothes. He didn’t want to take any of Matthew’s soup or the bread they had left. He bent down and tightened his bootstraps before going over to the wooden table. Alfred knew Arthur kept some paper around here so he started to look for it. He grinned when he found the writing box and luckily there were some papers left, a bit of ink, and a quill. Now Alfred had fairly poor writing skills. Arthur tried to teach him but he just got bored at how hard it was and only learned to spell his first and last name well. He had a rough idea of what to write so he dipped the pen in the ink and started writing.After leaving the note on the table he slung the sack over his shoulder and went to the door. He stopped to smile as he looked back at his friends and family before silently slipping out the door.

“Don’t worry guys…everything will be okay. You’ll see!” He hurried to the stables and took one of the three horses. This was the only riding horse they had. The other two were workhorses. Alfred put the saddle on and buckled it then put on the reigns. He climbed onto its back and walked it out of the stables. He kicked it into a slight trot before stopping and looking back at his farm. Alfred smiled softly, wondering if he would ever see it again. What is he saying? Of course he’d see it again! He’d see them all again! He wiped away a quick couple of tears before riding off to the path.

Alfred rode his horse straight through the night, never stopping to break. If you break for less than a couple of minutes on the traveling roads at night, you were likely to end up robbed or dead. He had to depend strongly on his horse to be his eyes for him. The dark woods were still making it hard for him to see. By early sunrise he slowed the horse to a walk and had come upon the city. From where he stood atop his horse he could make out a large manor on the opposite side of the city. Alfred groaned.

“Oh sure, leave it to me to come up from the WRONG side.”

He rested his horse and himself for a while on the side of the road, chewing on a piece of long grass. He watched the clouds go by and tried to see what they look like. However, that was on thing he couldn’t do because of his vision problem. The clouds always looked like blurry streaks of white, but he tried anyway!

When they had finished their rest, Alfred set atop the horse and walked off again, asking directions to the manor. It took Alfred nearly all day to make his way to the manor and by that time he was ready to fall off his horse. Behind him the sun was setting and he was feeling the strain of no sleep in his eyes and body. But what he saw awed and surprised him. He looked up at the large black iron gates with a dark gray stonewall. Two guards crossed their spears as they spotted him.

“Halt boy! What business do you have here at Lord Braginski’s noble house?”

“Lord Braga-what?” Alfred lifted his eyebrow then shook his head, getting off his horse. “Oh, hi there. Um, is this the same lord that rules over this area of land and city?” The guards laughed at each other.

“Not to bright are you, kid? What does a flea-bitten runt like you want here?”

“I’m not a runt and I’m not flea-bitten! My name is Alfred Jones and I would like to see the lord and ask for a job or something like that.” The guards laughed again.

“Lord Braginski doesn’t have time for poor little boys. Go sell some newspapers. Or with that cute face, you can find MANY jobs around here that are willing to hire you!”

“Yes! A pretty boy like you doesn’t need to starve!” Alfred grit his teeth as he knew they were referring to prostitution. “Just wait a day or two for those bruises to go down.” They laughed again and Alfred went up to them.

“I want an honest job! I insist that I see the Lord of this Manor!”

“I think you misunderstood us, little boy! We said Lord Braginski doesn’t want to see dirty little brats begging for food!”

“But it will be for my family! Please, you’ve got to let me see him! PLEASE?” He flashed them his big, blue puppy dog eyes that always seemed to make Arthur give in so maybe it would work on the guards. “What harm could I do? I’m skin and bones and worn out! I just want to see the Lord. Pretty please?”

“Uh...” the guards looked at each other then back to those big round eyes. “Uh…sure. I’ll take you in.”

The other guard opened the gates and Alfred thanked them, walking his horse in with them. The front courtyard was solid coble stone unlike any Alfred had ever seen. There was a water fountain in the middle with a large swan spraying water from its beak. Alfred kept looking at it as they walked on through the courtyard. Many of the aristocrats were staring curiously at him but he didn’t notice. He was too busy looking at all the window box gardens at each window.

They came to the front entrance and a stable boy took Alfred’s horse for him. Alfred looked at the heavy wooden door before him as the guard knocked loudly with the iron knocker. The door opened and a well-dressed butler answered.

“A peasant to see the lord.” The guard said and the butler stood aside to let them in.

“My Lord is at breakfast with his wife at the moment. I will send for Mister Toris to deliver whatever message the boy may have. Please wait here.” The butler left and the guard stood quietly with Alfred. Alfred was still amazed by the shear size of this house! High ceilings, crystal chandlers, a winding marble staircase, elaborate woodwork, gorgeous rugs, gold framed pictures, everything was like out of a dream! The butler then came back with a young man with shoulder length brown hair and green eyes. He was dressed in a white overcoat and blue pants. The coat had a few too many buttons on it, Alfred noticed.

“Hello there. I am Lord Braginski’s personal groom and messenger. What can I do for you?” Alfred gulped and folded his hands behind his back.

“Thanks for seeing me. Um…I want to ask the lord for a job here. Tell him I will do anything and everything he wants! I’ll work any job! I just need money to send back to my family at our farm.” The green eyed man smiled softly.

“I’m sorry young man, but I’m afraid Lord Braginsky doesn’t have any job openings.” Alfred felt his heart drop.

“Oh no! Please! I must speak with him! Please let me speak to him! He needs to understand my dilemma! Please Mister Toris!” Toris looked at the boys pleading eyes and sighed.

“Alright…I will tell Lord Braginski that you are here and you wish a personal conference with him. Don’t be upset if he says ‘no’, young man. He doesn’t like to be bothered at this difficult time. Guard, please bring this young man to the gardens and let him wait there.”

“Should I stay with him?” The guard asked and Toris smiled.

“No, I don’t think that would be necessary. Kiku is there tending to the flowers so he can watch him. I really don’t think we have anything to fear from this boy.” Toris smiled and left their presence to deliver the message.

The guard brought Alfred back out the front door and around the perimeter of the manor and through an ivy covered gate which led to the garden. Alfred looked all round at the tall hedges he walked through until he got to the center of the garden which was filled various types of flowers. There was another fountain in the middle, this one a bit smaller but filled with lily pad and fish. Alfred also noticed one area of the garden was growing just sunflowers, which he found curious. Around the farm there were some sunflowers that grew by the sheep pasture but they never lasted long and weren’t very tall. These sunflowers, on the other hand, were very tall and bright.
Sunflowers were nice, but the familiar scent of roses caught his attention. Now roses he liked but he had only seen one kind of red, the one bush that grew by the outer fence of the farm. But these roses were all different colors: pink, white and red. Alfred left the guard’s side to smell one of the pink roses, rubbing its soft petals between his fingers.

“Kiku, the gardener, should be in with the sunflowers right now.” The guard said. “I’ll leave you here but don’t do anything tricky.”

“I won’t. Thanks for letting me in!” he waved as the guard left through the ivy gates. Alfred decided that as much as he liked the roses, he should go and find that Kiku fellow. If he made good friends with him that may be another reference for letting him get a job. Whistling, he walked over to the area with the sunflowers. Most of them were taller than he was and he had to carefully push through them.

“Who’s there?” Came a voice from somewhere in the forest of stems.

“Oh, hey there! Are you Kiku, the gardener?” Alfred asked.

“Uh..yes, yes I am.”

“Great! I can’t really find you right now but I’m waiting to see the lord of the manor! Mister Toris said I could wait out here with you until my message is delivered.”

“Mister Toris sent you? Hold on a minute, I think I see you.” Alfred heard some gentle rustling next to him and saw a dark, short-haired man with gold eyes come through the stems. He was a bit shorter than he was and carrying a small bundle of cut sunflowers. Alfred smiled brightly at him.

“Hi there! I’m Alfred! Alfred Jones!” He held his hand out in a handshake. Kiku looked at him then carefully took his hand.

“Hello Alfred. I’m –“

“I know who you are! You’re Kiku! So you take care of all these flowers?” Kiku nodded. “You do a great job! Especially with the roses! I never knew there were other colors! White and pink and not just red!”

“Oh…yes. W-we also have yellow roses further in the back.”

“Really? Can I see them?”

“Well…okay. Um, come with me.” Kiku led him out of the sunflowers and brought him to another side of the garden, passing by hydrena bushes, wisteria trees, peonies, and lilies. “Here they are.” Alfred almost squealed and rushed to the bush, gently taking one in the palm of his hand.

“Wow! It’s so big! The one red rose bush at my house are pretty small with brown on the tips.”

“Where is your house?” Kiku judged by the look of his clothes and his smell he was probably a farmer in the country.

“Oh, I live outside the main city on a farm with my family and friends. That’s why I’m here, to get a job and send money back to them.”

“Ah, I see. Taxes hitting them hard?” Kiku asked and Alfred nodded.

“Yeah, big time…some bad things happened and well…well I have to fix them. I’m willing to take any job he will give me. I’m really hard working!” Kiku gave a little smile.

“Yes, I can tell by how rough your hand is. You must do some hard labor.”

“Yeah, lots of it. So, how do you think my chances are at getting a job here? Good? Bad? Strong?”

Kiku looked at Alfred’s big blue eyes and eager face. This man would definitely catch Ivan’s attention. If Alfred was looking to get a laboring job here then he had come to the wrong place. He didn’t want to tell Alfred to expect to end up as one of Ivan’s personal grooms and ‘mistress’ or a groom to his wife, Yao. Yao’s firey personality and jealousy made it hard for him to get another with others and it was hard to keep nobles at his side as servants and grooms. Poor Alfred might get stuck there, with Yao, and if Lord Ivan fancies him then it’s all over for the young boy.

“It’s hard to say. With the war going on Lord Ivan is very busy and stressed.” He smiled softly. “But you seem like a pretty fun, energetic young man. Lord Ivan might find that refreshing.”

“Great! Then I should have a job handed right to me! This is my lucky day!” Alfred grinned proudly then turned back to Kiku. “So is this Lord Ivan a nice guy or an old fuddy-duddy?” Kiku blinked at his words and trembled a bit.

“I…um…well, he can’t be a bit difficult to handle. He can be very friendly at times but he does have a…a mean streak. Usually he doesn’t show it unless someone angers him or insults his wife.”

“Oh, he’s married? Is she nice?”

“Uh, Lord Yao is a man. In polite company he has to be referred to as “Lady Yao” but that upsets him. So remember when you meet him to call him “Lord Yao” instead. Unless he says otherwise.” Alfred smiled.

“Hey, that’s great! I like guys too! Living all alone with five guys on a farm and ladies hard to come by, it isn’t hard to give in to your needs. So I’m fully comfortable with that! I actually prefer it.” Kiku gulped a bit now knowing Alfred preferred the company of males. He could just see Yao taking out a riding crop and chasing Alfred all over the manor with it.

“Presenting, Lord Braginski!” Kiku stood straight at the announcement of Ivan’s presence and Alfred turned around, looking towards the sound as his body trembled with fear and excitement.


Back on the farm, Arthur had risen along with the sun to begin his day. He noticed Alfred wasn’t next to him and frowned. He figured he must still be outside or he had fallen asleep on the porch. Arthur stretched his back and passed the table to get the egg basket when a piece of paper caught his eye. Curious, he raised an eyebrow and picked it up. It was Alfred’s handwriting no doubt and he could see that the boy still wasn’t practicing. It read:

Arther,
Sry to b leving th farm. Gon to lord to fid job to gt monie fr yu giys. I wil c yu agan soon 1 dae.
Alfred Jones

Arthur let go of the paper, letting it float carelessly to the floor. He stared at the wall, playing the words over in his head. Alfred had left? And left to find WORK at Lord Bragnisky’s house?! Arthur trembled at the thought of Alfred being out all alone with his poor sight and his stupid…stupidness! And what’s worse is that he is a handsome young man who is very trusting and willing to please. What if he was picked up by slave traders? Or a prostitution ring? And if he did make it to the manor, then what if he ended up a serving wench or a whore!? Arthur couldn’t stand it, he had to go to the palace and receive Alfred. He didn’t belong there. He belonged here with his family and friends. Arthur grit his teeth as he felt partially responsible for Alfred’s sudden act to prove himself.

“EVERYONE! WAKE UP!” Arthur rang the cowbell loudly, making the other three nearly fall out of their hammocks. “Alfred is gone!”

“W-what?” Matthew asked, still in shock from the cowbell. “What do you mean?”

“I mean he’s gone! He left in the night! I found a note from him this morning saying that he went to Lord Braginsky’s manor to find a job to send us money!” Matthew had tears in his eyes as he watched Arthur gather some things.

“W-why would he leave without telling me?”

“Are you sure you read the note right?” Tino asked, slipping out of the hammock.

“Yes. He said he went there. I don’t even know if he made it there, but it’s the first place I’m going to check!” Berwald looked flatly at him.

“You are going to get him?” He asked and Arthur nodded.

“Yes.”

“I’ll come with you!” Matthew offered but Arthur put his hand up.

“No, I don’t need any extra baggage, Matthew. It will be easier for me to sneak in and bring Alfred back. Besides, Berwald and Tino can’t do all the work by themselves! You need to be here to help out. Keep the farm running. I
don’t know how long I will be…”

“What if Alfred doesn’t want to leave the manor?” Tino asked and Arthur paused at that.

“He will…I know he will.”

“Will you get a job too and leave us here?” Tino asked and Arthur just looked at him.

“Listen…I don’t know where Alfred is or what he is doing. So nothing is certain. But I promise to come back…with or without Alfred.” Matthew had tears pooling in his eyes.

“P-please come back with him! I want my brother back!”

“I’ll do all I can, Matthew. Just try to be strong, okay? Hold the fort!” Arthur said before hurrying out of the cabin with a ‘goodbye’ and to the horse stables. He saw that Alfred had taken the running horse already but the Clydesdale would be enough to get him to the manor. He saddled up the horse and kicked it into a run as he too left the farm.

Alfred looked at the man on the stone steps that lead down to the garden from the manor. Alfred had to get closer to clearly see the man. He looked awfully young to be a lord. He had short silvery hair and purple eyes with a sweet little smile. His hands were folded behind his back as he stood perfectly posed. Alfred noticed his attire which he thought was to hot for a summer day like this one. Out of all the colors the nobles could wear this man wore a whole brown suit with high brown boots and what looked like an overcoat. Alfred assumed the various badges on his red sash explained his achievements and status and how he got the title ‘lord’. Alfred didn’t know what to say so he just continued looking at him.

“So you’ve come asking for a job?” The lord asked and Alfred stumbled over his words.

“Uh…ye-yeah! Yeah I did! My name is Alfred Jones and I’ve come a long way from a farm in the country, mister lord, sir!”

“Call me Lord Braginski. Or Lord Ivan.” He smiled and Alfred gulped.

“O-Okay…Lord Ivan. So do you have a job for me?” He folded his hands together in a plea. “Please, Lord Ivan! I don’t usually beg for things but my family has very little money and will starve if I don’t get a job! Your tax collector said you were a very kind man who is willing to listen!” Ivan raised an eyebrow.

“My tax collector? Oh, you mean the rise in taxes for the war.” He smiled. “I understand many of the king’s people are facing hardships. But I don’t have any control over that.”

“I-I know you don’t but you can still get me a job, right? I’ll do anything! I’m a very hard worker! I know how to groom horses and care for livestock! I can clean and sort of cook! I’m good with kids and dogs! Oh, and probably cats too! I can help Kiku in the garden! I can dance and juggle!” Ivan didn’t look impressed and Alfred had to think of more ideas. “I can help out your wife! He probably needs a perfect servant, right? I’d be more than happy to service him or you! Or just you! I can service you! In any way you want!” Alfred didn’t want to offer it up but he pictured his farm and his brother, Arthur, Berwald and Tino, all depending on him. “I can serve you in a pleasurable way too…just tell me what to do, and I’ll do it. I won’t question your decision. But please, please Lord Ivan! Give me a job! Any job!”

Ivan looked at the boy, completely amused and touched by his long ranting of possible jobs. Ivan looked the young man over and noticed his stunning blue eyes pleading with him so honestly. He knew this Alfred meant every word he said and would indeed accept any job Ivan gave him. He smirked as he thought about the ‘pleasurable’ part. Getting this beautiful young man into his bed wouldn’t be a hassle at all. Ivan would actually welcome it. Once he had the boy cleaned up and dressed in normal clothes he would be even more attractive than he already was.

Life in the manor had been boring recently, filled with nothing but war talk and battle tactics. This boy would do nicely with Yao as his manservant and he would be able to see him more frequently that way. His last bed partner that was Yao’s manservant ‘somehow’ fell out a window and landed in the courtyard. It was a huge scandal since the man was a noble and Ivan ended up paying the judges to dismiss the case as an ‘accidental death’. But if this boy met with a mishap, he wouldn’t be missed and no one would question his death.

“Well, Mr. Alfred Jones, I believe your plea has pulled at my heartstring.” He smiled eerily at him and Alfred felt himself cringe a bit at it. “As of today, you will be my wife’s personal manservant. You will receive a steady income that you can send back to your family, but only IF you keep up with your responsibilities and duties no matter how hard they are.” Ivan watched the boys’ eyes sparkle and his smile brighten which actually brought a little warm blush to his face. Once the dirt and grime and bruises were gone from his face, that same look would be worth catching in a painting.

“Oh thank you, Lord Ivan! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” Alfred got on his hands and knees and bowed low. “I promise you won’t be disappointed! I will please and care for your wife and abide to his every need! I swear it!” Ivan chuckled.

“Keep up that fighting spirit, you are going to need it.” Alfred didn’t quite know what that meant but he wasn’t going to question anything. “You have a bit of learning to do first and we need to get you cleaned up and properly dressed. Toris?”

“Yes, Lord Ivan?”

“Take young Mr. Alfred to the servant’s bathing quarters. Call Feliciano to help bathe and dress him. He will also show him around and help introduce Mr. Alfred to Yao.” Toris nodded and then turned to Alfred.

“Come along then, and welcome aboard.” Alfred thanked Ivan again and practically ran up the steps to Toris.

“I promise you won’t regret your decision!” Ivan smiled at him again.

“I’m sure I won’t.” Ivan watched as Toris escorted Alfred up one of the staircases. He smirked as he thought how much more interesting things were going to be around here. He hoped that Alfred didn’t prove to be a let down for him. But something in the back of his mind was telling him not to worry.

Alfred sat in the four-legged ceramic tub, surrounded in sweet smelling bubbles and oils. He had a pile of bubbles that he put on his head and practically squealed as he splashed in the water like a child. A bucket of the water was poured over his head and he sputtered and coughed. Feliciano chuckled at that as he placed the bucket back next to the tub.

“Ve~I should have warned you. Sorry Alfred. But we need to wash that straw hair of yours!”

“I can’t remember the last time I washed this nice before. Scented wet herbs don’t really do the trick.” Alfred told him as he watched Feliciano take a bottle off one of the shelves.

“Oh, I should ask first. Which scent would you like? Rose, lemon, or ginger?” Alfred’s eyes brightened.

“Rose, please! Thanks Feliciano.”

“Call me ‘Feli’, it’s shorter to say.” He smiled and brought the bottle over, dumping a dollop of it on Alfred’s head. Feliciano hummed a merry tune as he thoroughly scrubbed Alfred’s head with the balls of his fingers. Alfred moaned as Feli’s fingers massaged his scalp perfectly and he relaxed into the water. “Alright, get ready for a dunking!” Feliciano laughed as he shoved Alfred under the water, his legs coming up the other end. He let him come back up, spitting and coughing again. “I warned you!”

“That was mean!” Alfred whined. “You could have just used the bucket like before!”

“Ah, but I need to use the bucket again anyway to get every bit of soap out. Just wait until you see yourself, Mister Alfred! You look like a whole new person with all that dirt washed off of you!” Alfred looked down at his skin and noticed it was a shade lighter than before. Feliciano finished rinsing out the rest of Alfred’s hair and he could see the once clear, bubbly water now brown and gray with his farm grime.

“Alright, hold on as you stand up, I have a towel ready for you.” Alfred did so and carefully stepped out of the tub as Feliciano wrapped the towel around him. “I’m sure this manor is a bit drafty for you. It’s all the marble and stone.”

“Oh no, it’s actually very refreshing! The summer is very hot this year and this is a treat!”

“Ve~then I don’t have to rush the oil rub! I always spill it because it’s so cold and it needs to be done fast.”

“Oil rub?” Feli smiled.

“Yes! You can’t take a bath without some after-bath oil! Shall I get a rose scented one?” Alfred nodded, drying his hair with the plush white towel. Feliciano brought over a pink bottle and shook some onto his hands, rubbing it into Alfred’s skin, starting with his arm.

“I can do it.” Feliciano smiled.

“No, it’s okay! I like doing things like this! We will be working together with Lord Yao, you know.” Alfred smiled.

“Really? That’s great! You’re really nice and I wouldn’t mind working with you!”

“Ve~ I’m glad you think so! I don’t mind working with you either! I’m sure we’ll be fast friends!” The two laughed together as Feliciano finished rubbing the oil over Alfred’s body. “Okay, now for you new clothes! We need to match, it is Lord Yao’s orders.”

“Whatever Lord Yao wants, Lord Yao gets!”

Alfred held his arms up as Feliciano slipped a thin white tunic top over his head. He tied the chest straps before helping him into a pair of slightly tight black pants and tucking the shirt in. Next came the thin, waist length over coat that was a golden yellow and reminded Alfred of the sunflowers. He let Feliciano button up the stream of buttons on the left side of his chest.

“Why this yellow?”

“Ah, well Lord Yao likes us to wear colors for the seasons and this is very summery for him. Sit down, lets get the boots on.” Alfred did so and the boots were a tad bit tight around his feet but he would get used to them. They easily fit over the pants and then Feliciano helped him put on silky black gloves.

“If you don’t mind me asking…where did you get that cut on your chest and those marks on your face?”

“Eh…it’s not important. Just got into a stupid fight. I heal quick.”

“Oh…okay. Well, you’re all finished! Let me just comb back your hair…and done!” He brought Alfred over to the body mirror. “You look beautiful!”

Alfred stared at himself in bewilderment in the mirror. He couldn’t believe he was the same person! Alfred Jones was now dressed in rich fabrics and serving a LORD! He spun himself around to get a better view of himself. The pants slimmed his body down more than it was but they shaped his rump just right.

“Damn, I look good!” Feliciano chuckled at that.

“We’re not done yet!” He opened a box and took out a black belt that he tightened around Alfred’s thin waist, followed by a red ruby necklace. Alfred counted them: SIX rubies! All six perfectly separated and rest against his chest! “Hmm…actually, I don’t think the rubies suit you.” Alfred looked at him in confusion as Feliciano pulled him out of the room and into a small closet. “This is our private closet with all the clothes and accessories we would ever need to wear to represent Lord Yao.” He took a box off a high shelf and opened it, revealing the same necklace but with sapphires instead. “Here, try this.” Alfred replaced the ruby one with the sapphire one and Feliciano gasped.

“What? Did I break it?”

“No! But it brings out your eyes beautifully! I was right in my choice! See, I wear Amber, it matches my eyes! Sapphires match yours! Perfect! Now come on! I’ll take you to meet Lord Yao!” Alfred gulped as Feliciano took his hand and lead him down the long corridor to a large wooden door with a guard posted outside. This was it…his big moment. His new job and new life at Lord Ivan Braginski’s Manor. He wondered what kind of surprises waited for him behind that door…

By the time Arthur had arrived at the manor, the moon was already high in the sky and the streets were dark. He had hitched a ride on a royal trading wagon, trading them his horse for a ride to the manor. Six horses got him through the city faster than his old Clydesdale could. The merchant wagon had stopped him nearby the manor and he leapt off, giving them a “thanks” before pulling his cloak tighter around him. He covered his head with his hood as he made his way silently through the dark areas and perimeter of the manor.

Arthur found some thick, heavy vine sprouting out from over the stone wall. Backing up to get a running start, Arthur ran to the wall, leapt up, and grabbed the ivy. Gritting his teeth he pulled his weight up and over the wall, falling to the other side. He cursed and rubbed his lower back before standing up, quickly alert. He scanned the area and noticed all the flowers. This must be the garden. The garden was dark so he silently moved through the various hedges and bushes, looking for any way into the manor.

Luckily, Arthur spotted more vines that grew up along the walls. There were various windows around the vines and hopefully one was empty where he could slip through. He had to at least try so he spit in his palms and leapt onto the vines. He climbed to the first window and saw that it was opened slightly. His nose caught the fresh, hot scent of baked bread and seasoned meats. His mouth watered and he leaned forward, attracted blindly to the delicious smells. He saw he couldn’t get in from the right so he climbed over the top of the window, heading for the left side. But while he leaned forward to catch the smell of roasted pork, the vines ripped off and he went flying forward, crashing into the closed window.

“What the hell?!” Came a surprised voice as someone suddenly grabbed him by the waist and started pulling him in.

“L-LET GO OF ME!” Arthur shouted as he kicked his feet frantically.

“Hold still or you’ll fall!”

The man said again and pulled him all the way in, snapping off the rest of the vines. Arthur fell forward and into his savor’s body, both of them crashing onto the floor. Arthur hissed and opened his eyes to be met with a pair of light blue ones. For a second he thought it was Alfred but the voice was completely different, and Alfred didn’t have long wavy blonde hair and stubble. He continued to stare down at the stranger like a frightened deer. ‘Oh no…I’m caught. I’m caught! I screwed everything up!’ He tried to get up but the man gripped his arms and held him tight.

“Hello there. I’m Francis, Lord Ivan’s favorite chef. And you are?” Francis smiled at him and Arthur just stared, dumbfounded.

“Uh…Arthur? I’m Arthur.”

End Chapter 2