Austria x Reader: His Fair Mistress

Roderich Edelstein

-x-

You crept down the impressive hallways, letting yourself be guided by the hauntingly beautiful melody which echoed throughout the manor. Finding yourself outside a familiar room, you were pleased to discover that the door had been left slightly ajar, allowing you to slip inside without disturbing its sole inhabitant. His fingers danced across the keys in a tender caress you knew all too well from peaceful days and passionate nights alike, and your heart was overcome by an irrational wave of envy as you watched Roderich’s fingertips kiss his first love.
I’m jealous of an inanimate object, how pathetic.
Despite these feelings, you couldn’t deny how beautifully his mistress sang. You’d once tried to play a simple tune, and all your efforts had achieved was proof (in your own mind at least) that the spiteful creature would cry out her raptures at his touch and his touch alone.

A single note rang out, fading into silence. You realised Roderich’s fingers were frozen, hovering over the grand piano’s keys as she begged him to continue the piece he had abandoned. His violet eyes blinked a few times, as if he were breaking free of a trance, before fixating on your figure which still stood by the door.
“__________, how long have you been here?”
“A while.”
“I see.” You knew the ambiguity of your answer irked him, but you made no move to elaborate. His gaze raked up and down your form before he stood a walked towards you with a small smile twitching at the corner of his mouth. “You look lovely.”
“Don’t I always?” You laughed, stepping forward into his embrace, and shooting a smirk of triumph at the third party in the room who now stood cold and alone.
“__________, ve… need to talk.”
Abort mission. That is never a good conversation starter.
“About?” You tried to pull back from his arms and look him in the eye, but the Austrian only held you closer as he nuzzled your hair. This sudden display of affection was not only unusual, but downright weird. “Roddy?”
“Our relationship.”
“Um… Okay. What about it?” Warning bells resounded ferociously within your skull, but there was nothing you could do to quell your curiosity other than coax an explanation from your lover.
“Do you think this is vorking out?”
“I did-”
“Did? Meaning you don’t anymore. You have doubts.”
“Well I do now!” You pushed your palms against his chest and managed to take a step back, but his hands still rested on your waist. You searched his expression of an inkling of what was going through that complicated mind of his but you found nothing. Your rising anger melted, and your voice was reduced to a faint whisper. “Have I done something wrong?”
“You?” His eyes widened, before a quiet chuckle escaped his lips. “Vhy ever vould you think that?”
“Right now I don’t know what to think.”
“I know I’m confusing you-”
“Just a little, yeah.” You clenched the front of his shirt tightly, attempting to be strong, but the pleading undertone in your voice betrayed you. “What the hell is going on Roderich?”
“Trust me when I say it’s not you, it’s me.”
No. Oh god no.
Your grip on his shirt loosened and your hands fell to your sides as tears began to well up in your eyes.
“Liebe?”
Don’t look at me with those beautiful eyes.
You took a step backwards, and he reached out towards you to brush away the first tear as it trickled down your cheek.
Don’t touch me with those gentle hands.
You swiped his hand away with your own and took another step in retreat. Your vision was already blurred with tears, but that didn’t allow you to miss the pained expression which Roderich’s features now wore.
“__________, please…”
Don’t say my name with that soft voice.
You tried to muffle the whimpers that threatened to escape your lips, but he still heard them. Traversing the space between you, Roderich gathered you up in his arms, and held you close; his lips ghosted over your ear whispering sweet nothings to comfort you as your tears soaked into his clothes. Once your sobs had subsided into the occasional hiccup, the Austrian rested his forehead against yours and your gazes locked.

“I love you.” Each of you mirrored the other’s surprise as the phrase was muttered simultaneously. The first to regain his voice was Roderich.
“You do? But I thought you…”
“I thought you were breaking up with me.” If possible, his shock grew at these words, and you were bathed in a sense of relief as your fears were put to rest by his fervent denial.
“Break up vith you? I vouldn’t dream of it! Never in a million years.”
“Then why even start this conversation?”
“Vell I… that is to say I vas under the impression that you vere…” His discomfort was obvious, so you offered him a watery-eyed smile of encouragement. “I believed you to be unsatisfied.”
“Why on earth would you think that?” One look at his expression however, and you had answered your own question. “Gilbert.”
“Indeed. He alerted me to the possibility that you vould prefer a man who vas perhaps more attentive to your needs.”
“And you believed him?” Observing your lover incredulously, you watched as his mouth opened and closed several times as he searched for words, before hanging his head in defeat.
“Ja.”
“You’re a fool Roddy.” Giving him no time to protest your statement, you pressed your lips lightly against his while your fingers busied themselves with the fine strands of dark auburn hair. Once you pulled away you noticed the dazed expression he wore, as if he were completely in awe of you. Laughing quietly, you straightened his glassed which were now slightly askew, causing him to blush slightly and, much to your amusement, cough into his hand to disguise the fact.
Tucking a few stray strands of hair behind your ear, Roderich planted a fleeting kiss on your forehead and uttered two words.
“Marry me.”

“What?” The word was very unattractive and blunt, but since he had left your mind blank and your heart fluttering in your chest, it was the only word you could manage.
“Marry me.” You gazed at him in shock as he repeated the phrase so simply, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“I know this is a little unorthodox; I haven’t prepared a speech, or even a ring for that matter, but even so…” He took a deep breath, and you imagined he was just as nervous and surprised at his boldness as you were. “_________, I vould be most delighted if you vould allow me the honour of becoming your husband.”
You blinked. You blinked again. Resisting the urge to pinch yourself, you could do nothing but stare at the man who stood before you.
“I’m a selfish man. I don’t vant you to be anyone else’s. Vhen that Prussian told me that you may vant another man I felt more anger than I previously thought to be possible. But then I vondered if vhat he said vas true and I was so scared, terrified even, at the thought of you leaving me that I-”
“Yes.”
“Yes?”
“You just proposed. That’s my answer.”
“Yes?”
“That’s what I said.” You laughed as he abruptly swept you up, spinning you around the room with joy. As your feet returned to the ground, he cupped your face and his lips found yours once more. Your eyes locked onto the piano, and you gave her a gloating glance before immersing yourself in your fiancé’s kisses.
She may be his mistress, but you would be his wife.