Corruption of Heart~ APH Fanfiction

“Unfortunate.” Maria finished with disgust. She saw the saddened look of a child and flinched. The tears once again threatened to fall. “Now, these men from a place far away have come to take his place. Please treat them with the same respect as you have for this past year. A few things will change now…I assume you’ve all been learning their language, or a basic image of it. Please continue learning. I appreciate your support. Keep living as you have been. That’s all for now…thank you for listening.”

Maria turned around and walked back into the palace, shutting the balcony doors. The supervisor gave her a friendly smile, extending his hand. “Me llamo Antonio.” He said clearly. Maria mentally translated that and frowned. In the palace, she knew she’d only speak Spanish from now on, though the supervisor had learned her language. It was a disrespect to her, so she couldn’t keep things hidden from him.

“Maria.” She said bitterly, brushing past him. Antonio caught her hand, shaking his head. He gestured to two men standing in the only exit way. “Those are my advisors. They are holy men from the churches of Italy. Soon enough, you savages will learn-“

“We are NOT savages!” Maria hissed, snatching her hand away. One of the men in the doorway, the one with darker hair scowled. “What you are, you are.” He said, not much caring for her. Maria gave him a startled look. “You…don’t say such things to me! I am not a child!” she snarled. The same man’s eyes narrowed. “You’re right. A child would have known when to silence herself.”

Antonio watched the scene play out with amused eyes. “Mi querida.” He said softly. “The man you are speaking to is Lovino. The man beside him is his brother, Feliciano.”

Maria frowned, pushing Lovino slightly as she exited the room. “Well…I hate all of you…” she hissed.

A sudden shout stopped her. The other brother, Feliciano ran up to her smiling. “It’s a pleasure!” he said, voice too joyous for the occasion. Maria felt like puking. “I wish I could say the same.” She said briskly. The holy man seemed confused and didn’t answer. Maria felt her rage build and stormed away. If her world was ending, she would fall with it…she just wouldn’t do it anywhere near them!

                                                                                                ____________

Leila and Jackie were running for their lives, but their faces displayed no signs of fear. They were laughing, joining hands and running from the danger with a smile. “You guys will never get a girlfriend with that approach!” Jackie shouted as one angry follower dove at her feet.  He was definitely a foreign man, as he spoke Spanish. Leila laughed so hard she felt tears form when the man cursed at the sky.

Catching their breath and crawling under a small shelter in an alleyway, Leila and Jackie faced each other and grinned. “Did you see his face!?” Leila said, wiping a tear that had managed to fall. Jackie clutched her stomach, the muscles tight from the constant pull. “Yeah, yeah! Don’t take your anger out on the world!” she said.

Leila rolled over and opened the small poach. “Let’s count the money. Uh let’s see. Ha! This thing was heavy, too! Over twenty gold coins, sis!”

Jackie’s eyes widened. “Over twenty? Score!” she said, peering into the bag. It was true. That was a wealthy man they’d just robbed. They couldn’t help themselves! Everyone was so focused on the princess. What did it matter if they pickpocketed a few people? It wasn’t anything they’d really miss anyway!

The two girls sighed. “So, where to stay tonight?” Jackie said, scratching her head. Leila shrugged. “I don’t know. Anywhere fancy you like, Jacks?” she asked using the older girl’s nickname. Jackie shrugged. “Not really, Lei.”