Alfred F. Jones paced – strike that – Sir Alfred F. Jones paced the dressing room, cape wiping behind him. His twin, Sir Matthieu Williams – their parents had a messy divorce, don't ask – sighed again.
"Why are you so worried? They will choose you to be crown prince." Sir Matthieu whispered in his way.
"That's exactly why I'm worried, Matt!" Sir Alfred groaned, hands covering his face but unable to muffle his voice, "I do not wish for that insane kind of responsibility, I am no good when it comes to not making big mistakes. They should crown you. I am fine with being just an Ace."
"Al, you know that's not true and honestly, you know how all forget me. One day, if I were King, they would forget once again and you would end up King anyways." Sir Matthieu stated. Sir Alfred plummeted into a chair.
"I would be worse. I am no good at decisions that matter. I will end up causing us to be at war just because I misread a letter." Sir Alfred shook his head.
"You are a better leader than you believe." Sir Matthieu muttered.
"As are you!" Sir Alfred snapped, "Besides, we are only twelve!"
"Only? Lower classes who are twelve are getting, if not already are, married and having children. Princes and Princesses are as well. The only reason neither of us are betrothed is because we are knights and possible heirs to the Throne." Sir Matthieu pointed out.
"Oh g-ds! Do not even make me think of marriage. It is almost as frightful as being crowned!" Sir Alfred cried. Sir Matthieu just shook his head. A knock came from the door and the Knights jumped to their feet, preparing their best bows. The door opened, revealing a young man with dark hair and eyes, about the Twin Knights' height. They bowed toward him.
"Is it time, Sir Jack?" Sir Matthieu asked.
"Yes, the King bids me to bring you both to the Throne, aru." The Jack said. The knights nodded and fell in step with one another but a pace behind the Jack. Sir Alfred crossed his fingers and his mind repeated the prayer of 'Please don't make me King. Please don't make me Kings. Oh g-ds, please.'
The Twin Knights entered through two sturdy yew doors whose knobs were each a half of an upside-down heart. The room was separated by a single blue, golden trimmed carpet that led from the doors, across the room and up the stairs to the Thrones. Above the Thrones, directly in the middle was a banner that held the same kind of upside down heart as the door knobs but this confused heart was made from golden gears, laying on a worktable of midnight blue. Seated in the left – from the audience's view – gold painted, wooden Throne was a man with curly, browning, gray locks and gentle ocean blue eyes the sparkled behind a pair of monocles that had been melted together. Though he smiled honestly, his eyes held a small piece of sadness whenever they flickered to the vacant seat beside him. The people had gossiped about why he did not take a new Queen. He had eventually announced his reason to his kingdom.
He had said, "I shall not take another Queen for I know not when my own life will cease and I do not intend to allow one I loved to be married and bedded by my predecessor."
Now, the great King smiled at the twins that were now before his Throne, kneeling. He stood, "My people, today is the day when I shall name the next King and Ace of our wonderful Kingdom! Some of you may have thought that one or the other would be from the old, powerful house of Kirkland as I have but I must disappoint those of you who felt such. I have chosen my heir from another, but equally great house and I hope you will give him the same kindness you have given me."
The room was silent, though Sir Alfred could swear he felt someone mentally cursing him as they melted a hole into his back by a poisonous glower. Most likely one of the King's natural heirs. The twins heard the King chuckled gently as he crouched down to them. Blue met purple and then the younger set of blue. The King placed a hand on each of the Knights before him. He stood slightly, voice echoing, "Stand, Sir Matthieu Williams, Ace of the Spade Kingdom."
Sir – Ace Matthieu stood, beaming and thanked the King profusely. Sir Alfred's stomach plummeted. Oh g-ds no, that meant he was Crown Prince. Oh please, please let this be a nightmare. Sir Alfred was commanded to stand as now dubbed Crown Prince and he did so, feeling hollow as his mind was taken over by a twister. He softly thanked the King for the "honor" bestowed upon him while mentally cursing the kind man before him, the only train of thought actually working. Crown Prince Alfred gulped and turned to the kingdom that would eventually be his. He found the terrifying poisonous glare almost immediately. Crown Prince Alfred wished he had his twin's ability to simply vanish as a smaller, less ornate of the King's crown was placed unto his head.
[|]
"Oi! 'Crown Prince'!" A very angry voice stopped the new Prince in his tracks. Crown Prince Alfred turned warily to the voice.
"I assume you are not here to congratulate me, Sir Kirkland." Prince Alfred raised a tired brow.
"That crown and title should be mine." The angry teen – roughly fifteen years of age – with emeralds for eyes growled.
Crown Prince Alfred shrugged, took off the crown and held it out to the other boy, "Take it then, I do not wish to be Prince nor King."
The King's grandson stared at the Prince in confusion and surprise before the expression turned back to anger. Flesh against flesh echoed from the corridor's walls. Prince Alfred blinked, one hand holding his hurt cheek whilst the other was starting to bleed from its grip on the crown. The youngest Kirkland glowered at him and hissed, "How dare you dishonor the crown, the kingdom and your family name, you foolish twat!"
The Crown Prince was still watching stars with confusion as the teen turned on his heel and stormed away. Prince Alfred rubbed his cheek, placing the crown back atop his head, "The hell was that about?"
"Alfred, are you coming or-?" Ace Matthieu stopped himself when he saw his twin holding his cheek, "Did someone hit you, brother?"
"No, no, I just walked into a door on accident." Prince Alfred laughed it off, heading toward the dining hall. They were to have a private meal for dinner and supper would be shared with the kingdom. The King watched the Prince and Ace enter and take the seats they were lead to. Crown Prince Alfred looked up at the King as he fidgeted in his chair.
"Something the matter, Prince Alfred?" The King asked, one-overing the twelve year old.
"Not at all, your Majesty." Prince Alfred shook his head.
The King leaned onto the table with a raised brow, "Then why is your off-hand bleeding and your cheek bruising?"
"Your hand is bleedin- Oh maple! Alfred!" Ace Matthieu huffed, waving the server over for a bandage.
"It's nothing, Sire, Matt." Prince Alfred blushed, glancing between the two, "As your Highness said, not everyone is happy that a Kirkland was not chosen to take the crown."
"Ah, Arthur did that, did he?" the King shook his head, "Does look like his work."
"I… I only know he was from your house, Sire." Prince Alfred looked down, "I do not blame him though. I do not believe I deserve the crown either."
"Really? You do not?" the King asked.
"No, Sire, I believe you chose the wrong person to take over for you." Crown Prince Alfred frowned as Ace Matthieu wrapped up his bleeding hand.
"Ah, but I have been keeping a decent eye upon you and your brother and I believe that you have traits that your jobs require." The King stated. The twins looked at him in surprise and he laughed, "How do you think I was supposed to pick? I know that most would just choice their own blood but I have knowledge that Arthur is not to be /King/ nor Ace."
The Ace and Crown Prince frowned thoughtfully and enjoyed their dinner with the King and Jack.
[|]
"Congratulations, once again, Prince Alfred. It's a great honor." The lady curtsied and her lord bowed. Crown Prince Alfred bowed in return. His cheeks were hurting from forcing his lips to smile for hours on end.
"I am supposed to apologize for your hand, Crown Prince. I suppose you told him, then." The teen who'd slapped Prince Alfred crossed his arms.
"He took it to be your 'work', Sir Arthur. I told him not a word." Crown Prince Alfred stated.
"Prince Arthur. Because despite not being elected to be King, I am still in line if you die." Prince Arthur stated mildly. Before the younger prince was able to speak, he was cut off by a hand being held up, "No, I am not conspiring against you. Simply stating a fact, Crown Prince."
"I'm not going to roll over and die so you can gain the crown." Prince Alfred huffed.
"I wasn't – Blast it!" Prince Arthur snapped, turning about and heading off.
"Al, he was trying to apologize." Ace Matthieu sighed.
"He was discussing my death. How was that an apology?" Crown Prince Alfred asked. Ace Matthieu simply shook his head. Prince Alfred's shoulders slumped, "I really wish people would stop congratulating me. I never wanted this."
"I know, but you have to deal with it Al. His word is law, like yours one day will be. Along with your queen's." Ace Matthieu said. The Crown Prince paled, a panicked look taking over his eyes. He glanced around at all the young women with their fathers and brothers as guardians. Crown Prince Alfred looked faint. Ace Matthieu took his brother's arm and lead him to a seat, "Brother, you're not going to be wed until you've become King, there's no need to fret over it now."
"But who will they force down my throat as a betrothed?! Mattie, you don't understand! I will be responsible for not only the whole Kingdom of Spades but also," Prince Al turned bright red and gulped, finishing slowly, "creating heirs."
"Not for at least a decade, Al." Ace Matt attempted.
"But what if she's a royal bitch?" The Crown Prince whispered, "What if we hate each other's guts?"
"I doubt you will find anyone you hate as much as Prince Arthur." The Spades Ace monotoned.
Crown Prince Alfred's eyes immediately fell unto the older blonde, smiling politely and conversing with several women and their chaperons. Many of the ladies looked enchanted as Prince Arthur talked smoothly, causing giggles and blushes around the circle. The teen's emeralds suddenly found the Crown Prince's sapphires and they stared at one another for a moment before Prince Alfred yielded. He looked to his twin, "Very true, Matt."