RussiaXReader: King Ivan

You carried the bucket of water through the cold halls of the sparrow's nest, the new cook had made a meal that was not to his highness's liking. Naturally he drops the plate of food on the floor, and orders someone to clean it, while the cook tries again. Out of all the maids in the room he picks you to clean it up. Also knowing that the new cook had no idea how to even make the food from his highness's country which was the only food he would eat. On top of that the newbie did not know just how the king liked his dishes, if it was even slightly off he dumped it on the floor.

You knelt down and began to pick up the broken shards of porcelain off the carpet. You noticed he had dismissed all of the other maids. The one day he let the maids out before finishing dinner and dessert, he makes you clean up the food he turned his over sized nose up at, just your luck.
As you reached for a large shards of porcelain by the kings foot, he purposefully kicked it under the table. He sarcastically said, "Oops, go fetch it."
You glared up at him, not moving.
He growled, "Well go get it, what if I cut my royal foot on it?"
You stood up and said, "Well if you don't want to cut your royal foot, perhaps you shouldn't kick Sharp objects out of the reach of someone who is trying to pick it up; so you don't cut your dainty feet on them."
You fetched it from under the table before returning to the mess.
He said, "I will let you get away with such insolence this time wench." Fiddling with his silver wear.
You sighed, "Thank you your highness and I apologize for my insolence." Knowing he would make you pay for not apologizing.
You scooped the food up into a dust pan and put it in another bucket, before scrubbing the carpets. The king smirked, and began to fiddle with your hair.
When you got the stains out you stood up and waited be the king's side as the cook brought a new plate of food for the king.

The king looked at you and said, "You may go now wench."
You hated it how he treated you, he normally treated war trophies with care, but he mistreated you, a princess from a country his armies conquered. It was demeaning and unfair, he had yelled at you the other day when he accidentally knocked of the scrap of metal he called his most precious war trophy off his desk.
You said, "No my lord, if that dish is not to your liking then you'll dump it out on the carpet and if no one cleans it there will be stains, and all the staff will be punished." As you watched him take a bite and his expression turn sour.
He held the plate over the carpet and let it drop, you dove for it. You caught it before it hit the floor, you blurted a loud, "HA!"
He looked at you and gently smacked the plate out of your had.
You growled, "I hate you right now my lord."
He smirked at you and retorted, "No you don't, you love me."
You sighed and began to scrub the carpets, he grazed his fingers up your spine, as he said, "it might help if you used soap."
You shrugged, "Can't it gives me a rash."
He grumbled, "hm I see, your hair is soft." Letting your hair slip through his fingers.

The next day guests arrived at the castle, you had to avoid one of the guests for as long as possible. It was prince Antonio, your ex fianće you feared he would laugh at you or sympathize you for your pathetic situation. You, the last living member of your country's proud royal family, working as a maid for the Conqueror, who killed your father, and your brothers in the battle for your country. You knew your ancestors were revolving in their graves right now over the humiliation you brought to the family.

At dinner you hid your face and avoided Antonio's gaze, praying he would not recognize you. However he recognized you instantly, he cried, "Princess ___________! Is that you!" Standing up so quickly he knocked his chair off its feet.
You did not look at him, you feared the look on the king's face. You knew he had forgotten you were a spoil of war, and would not hesitate to have you punished.
Antonio made you look at him and said, "It's me Antonio, _________, don't you recognize me!"
You held back your tears, and whispered, "Yes, and don't make a scene."
He frowned, but let you go while his brothers gave you a sympathetic look. The king looked annoyed, but confused, he said, "You are all excused for the dinner services." To the maids, you quickly filed out of the dining hall.
The head maid grabbed you, dragged you to an empty room, and demanded that you explain yourself.
You mumbled, "I am (1st name) (Last name), the last member of the (last name) royal family from (country's name) brought here as a spoil of war after King Braginski conquered it. Antonio, prince of Spain was my fiance, but since I no longer sit on a throne I cannot marry him."
She grumbled, "That would explain a lot about you, the allergic to heavy duty soaps, the pride, how picky you are, how you passed the etiquette courses so fast, and why we had to teach you to do the basic cleaning techniques. Alright go to your room, and take the night off. Knowing you, you're very upset."
You thanked her and went to your room.

After the dinner service, you were summoned to the king's study. He was leaning back in his desk chair, glaring at and drumming his fingers on the arm rest, glaring up at you. You gulped before stopping at the center of the carpet where maids were supposed to stop.
He growled, "What did he mean by princess _________, I was told you were just a maid from (your country)."
You shook your head and said, "What Prince Antonio said was correct, I am princess __________ the last living direct descendant of the first King of (C N), I am no maid from (c n)."
"Why did that Spaniard instantly recognize you?" He asked in the same threatening tone.
You sighed, "It's a long story."
His expression softened for a moment, before it turned back into cold emotionless one he normally wore.
He pointed at the chair on your side of the desk and rumbled, "We've got all night, sit."

You searched his eyes to see if he was merely toying with you to pass the time. When you saw no amusement in his eyes you sat down in the chair and said, "Antonio was my childhood friend, and my fiancee. However in the battle for (cn) all of my brothers and my father were killed, putting me in the throne. As an unmarried woman on the throne I had complete power over the military. Which was in a very poor condition after long month of battles. A message arrived that said if I surrendered no one else would die and my people would be treated well. I had a decision to make, I was unwilling to surrender, but when I looked at the castle staff. I knew that I had to it was for the good of my people. The day I was put on the throne I had to step down, I had everything taken from me, my dignity, my crown, my home, and my family, by you." You were trying not to sound upset, and trying not to let him see you cry.

He murmured, "And what of your mother?"
You looked at the floor and sobbed, "She was killed right in front of me by one of your assassins when I was eleven, when the war first broke out."
He stood up and walked around his desk, and said, "Do you know why I attacked your country?"
You shook your head trying to control your sorrow and anger, you knew that you were no match for him if you fought him. He was six foot seven after all, and you barely went up to his chin.
He shrugged, "I had heard that the king of (CN) had a very beautiful daughter. I had heard rumors that her beauty was superficial, but I had also heard rumors that she was very kind. When I asked your father if I could visit on terms of trade, he turned me down. He knew I had other things on my mind than trade, and that there were rumors about his daughter floating about. I knew it'd be an easy take over, and thought your father after a few months worth of fighting would surrender to my armies. When the stubborn old fool refused,~"
Before you knew it you were on your feet, and your hand had struck him, you cried, "Don't you dare talk about my father like that, you horrible cruel man. You had my mother slaughtered in front of my eyes, and your armies killed my people, and my family do you really think there is forgiveness for your actions. I have heard enough of your lies, good bye."

As you stormed across the room he said, "It was not I who ordered your mother to be killed, or my men who killed your brothers and father. It was Antonio's men and assassin who tried turning you against me. He knew he could do nothing about me taking over your country so I could marry you. So he did the only thing he could do, make you hate me. He had assassins kill your family. They snuck into my armies by killing soldiers and taking their places before those fateful battles. The assassin who killed your mother was trying to take you from your home so he could marry you. So he would have control of your land when your father was dead."
When you did not stop he added, "I can prove it, I hunted the assassins down and captured them. However my generals told me you had disappeared, and gave me a maid as a war trophy instead. But when the head maid complained about you not knowing simple cleaning skills I had my suspicions. So I kept the assassins alive, and intercepted all of your letters. Although you did not say your position flat out, I knew. I kept you as a maid till you snapped showed what I thought was under the beautiful exterior. I have been impatiently waiting for it to come, I wanted to hear it from you. I lured Antonio here to confront him about his attempts to make you hate me. Also so it put you in a position where you had to tell me."
You stopped dead in your tracks, you looked at him and said, "I won't believe you till I see the proof."
He smirked, and said "Alright, follow me princess." Quickly closing the space between you two.
He took your hand and led you down to the dungeons, there were four men in cells chained to the wall. You knew all of them, they were Antonio's personal guards when he was young.
They would not look you in the eyes, you squeaked, "How could he, I thought Antonio was my friend, not some power hungry monster willing to kill his friend's family in order to get my country." Sliding down to the cold stone floor.
One of the guards shrugged, "No chica he was your friend, but he changed."
Ivan ordered, "I want Antonio told that we found some bandits with items with the Spanish royal seal on them, and I want him brought down here."
The guard nearest to us nodded his head and went up the steps.
Ivan turned around and said, "_________, a princess should not sit on such dirty floors." Hoisting you to your feet, and added, "If I did not want you to be happy by my side, I would not have wasted my time hunting  these men down, and keeping them alive for so long. I will avenge your family's death ________, I still want you to be my wife. I will take care of you, after all this is over I want to marry you. So while Antonio is here I want you to stay behind me so you hear him with your own ears. Alright?"
You nodded your head the door began to open, you quickly ducked behind his back. You made sure you weren't stepping on his cloak, as Antonio said, "So that is what you called me here for, I didn't know you were the lawful good type. Where are these bandits who stole my things?"
Ivan pointed at Antonio's guards and said, "These are them, they killed some of my men a few years back, but just recently told me who they were. Why did you try to kill her parents, Antonio? And why did you try to pin it on me?"
Antonio snorted, "You really are Naive Ivan, isn't it obvious I knew I couldn't defend the land while her father still ruled over it, so I merely sped up the process of collecting it. The beautiful fiancee having no where else to go coming and being my wife was just a bonus prize.
Ivan chuckled, "Too bad for you that her father did not die from your assassin's blow instantly or you would still have a fiancee."
Antonio said, "What do you mean by that amigo?"
Ivan pulled out a piece of paper and laughed, "I knew you were playing games long before the games even began, Antonio. So I carried her father off the battlefield ordered my own assassin to get yours while I had her father's wounds treated. He did not believe that you would try to kill him, he did not want you, an under handed coward to marry his daughter. He has promised me her hand in marriage if I expose your wrong doings, and conquer your land. Which I have taken over your economy, and your government from the inside out. Check and mate, guards throw him in the cell with his assassins they will be executed at dawn in two days."
Antonio struggled against the guards and shouted, "_______ will never believe you if you tell her!"
Ivan snorted, "I have already thought of that Antonio so I let you tell her." Stepping aside letting Antonio see you.
Antonio gasped, "_______! No please don't leave me!"
You said, "Antonio, I thought you were my friend, how could you kill my family like that. How could you take the lives of my family and leave me to face the down fall of the country my forefathers built and defended with their own blood, you sicken me." Then you turned around and went with Ivan back upstairs.

Once in the hallway Ivan said, " believe me now, _____?"
You glared at him and growled, "Don't even talk to me I am just as mad at you as I am at Antonio."
He blurted, "What did I do?"
You fished through your apron pocket, and pulled out the list of annoying things he did and handed it to him. His face fell when he read them, you had to admit it was pretty cute though. When he finished the list he hissed, "You think your cute don't you?"
You grinned and said, "Yes, I rather do, and so do you so don't even try to act mad at me. Since you are the one who wants to marry me you ought to get used to it." Walking past him, giving his rear end a pinch.
He yelped, "I thought you were mad at me!" Covering his back side with his hands.
You looked over your shoulder at him giving him a rather coolly regal glance, and chuckled, "I have gotten it all off my chest now, so no not any more. I was, but most of that stuff is what you did when you let me go on being a maid, which I have not added to that list."
He groaned, "But you look so cute in that apron!" As you took it off.
You looked at it and sighed, "let me guess you have an apron fetish?"
He grumbled, "Not exactly, its more of a ~" trailing off into growl.
You said, "Ivan, you should not execute those guards, Antonio probably threatened to kill their families. They are still good men, and their families are probably worried. You should just let them go."
He nodded his head, and shrugged, "I know, I have let them contact their families over the years, they are expecting them soon."

You stopped and smiled at him, he blushed as he snapped, "What is it now?"
You giggled, "Your actually nice under your grumpy exterior."
He muttered, "I was only like that because I thought I would have to break you of the temper you were rumored to have."
You snorted, "Temper? Oh they must have gotten Natalie princess of Belarus mixed up, she once threw a knife at me." As he kept on your tail.
He smiled, and laughed, "That is something Bela would do, I know how true that is, she is my sister after all."

You stopped dead in your tracks, and squeaked, "Sister?" In fear of that Belarusian she devil's wrath.
Ivan pulled you into his arms and purred, "Fret not my sunflower, I will protect you from her." In your ear, running his fingers down yours neck, giving you goose bumps.
You hurried your face into his shoulder and mumbled, "You better, and thank you."
he leaned down and kissed you.