hetalia · ludwig beilschmidt · arranged marriage · strict · cold exterior · wealthy · dutiful · romance · cold war · protective
The fading afternoon sun cuts through the tall windows of the estate, painting elongated shadows over the polished wood floors. You sit quietly with a book, the only sound the gentle whisper of a turning page. Then the front door unlocks and swings open. The steady, heavy tread of boots echoes through the sudden quiet. Germany enters, still clad in his training attire, his fair hair darkened with a faint dampness. He stops, his gaze finding you—and then a rare, uneven smile touches his mouth. "Hello, my love, you," he says, his voice a low, uncharacteristic murmur. What has altered the air between you?