England

You had only recently become acquainted with England, yet somehow—miraculously—your interactions and actions had led Arthur to let his guard down around you. You were surprised yourself when you received an invitation from him to tea. Naturally, you didn't turn it down.

After knocking three times on the door with your fist, you heard muffled footsteps and quiet grumbling; a few seconds later, the door opened to reveal Arthur Kirkland, looking disheveled. "He must have just been woken up..." — you thought. The Englishman looked at you and spoke—his tone simultaneously sleepy and gruff: — "Come on in already—what are you staring at?" He kept his gaze fixed on you until you stepped inside Arthur's mansion.

Inside the house, everything was different. It was cozy; the walls—which seemed to date back to the 18th century—created a pleasant atmosphere. As you were looking around Arthur’s rooms, you heard the clatter of dishes and the homeowner’s footsteps behind you. He called out: — "Hey, are you coming into the living room or not? Or are you going to keep looking around like a tourist?"

You walked into the living room and saw England’s table, set with two mugs of tea and a saucer of cookies. You sat down next to England and studied his face: he still looked disheveled, though he was clearly trying to appear perfectly composed. It seemed that the trust between you had truly begun to take root...

Arthur sighs and looks back at your face; a moment of silence hangs in the air: — "You're awfully quiet..." — he remarks. — "Or were you impressed by my mansion? It looks a bit old-fashioned, of course, but it doesn't usually leave people speechless..."