Author's Note: I'm currently obsessed with the cardverse idea and desperately needed an outlet, but of course I twisted the norm a little. This was originally a oneshot that got helplessly out of control, and I'm not sure how long it'll be now. I'm gonna put up a guide as to the rulers of the kingdoms and stuff to make it less confusing, though I'm sure most if not all of you know it...? I also made a few alterations.
Spades: King: Christian Harris (Australia, btw, I had to come up with a name for him), Queen: Amelia F. Jones, Jack: Yao Wang
Clubs: King: Ivan Braginski, Queen: Elizabeta Héderváry , Jack: Roderich Eidelstein
Diamonds: King: Francis Bonnefoy, Queen: Lilli Zwingli , Jack: Vasch Zwingli
Hearts: King: Ludwig Beilschmidt, Queen: Feliciano Vargas, Jack: Kiku Honda
As an infant, Amelia was the precious anomaly that symbolized a new hope for a failing country.
As a child, her parents told her of her duties and promised their young daughter that when she was old enough, the famines would stop, the wars would end, and the Kingdom of Spades would finally be at peace after nearly half a century of bad luck and spoiled riches.
As a teenager, the Queen of Spades died of old age, leaving the country without a crowned ruler, and Amelia's parents brought their daughter forth after many years of secrecy, presenting her to the Spades Council of Eights.
And as a young woman, Amelia found herself denied her rightful place as King of Spades, simply because she was, in fact, a woman.
The Council of Eights could hide whatever they pleased, so it wasn't terribly difficult to find a replacement for the person they deemed to be an unfit ruler on the sly. Amelia and her parents were sworn into secrecy, though it was only because of her desire for peace in the nation that she held true to her oath. A son of one of the highest ranking court officials was picked to be the new King, a fake King tattoo inked onto his arm while Amelia was given the tattoo of a Queen on the back of her right hand.
To avoid anyone finding out that she was the rightful King, Amelia was given the task of bathing and dressing herself everyday without the aid of servants, lest someone see the King's mark just above her left breast. She had no problem with that, only found it difficult to arrange her multitude of petticoats and strings in a presentable fashion on her own, but she hated looking at her own reflection, despised the mark that had been forced upon her out of sheer ignorance and old-fashioned ideals.
The coronation she'd been dreaming of her whole life was suddenly something to dread, and Amelia looked on from her position beside the Jack of Spades as the crown that should have been her own was placed on someone else's head. It had been raining throughout the country that day, and she'd watched every drop fall outside the windows, knowing that they were the manifestations of her inner despair.
It was widespread knowledge that the whole of a Kingdom reacted if the King's emotions were powerful enough, and those gathered looked on in confusion as the newly crowned ruler held his head high and made promises of a brighter tomorrow amidst the elemental onslaught going on outside.
They missed the desolate demeanor of their new Queen completely.
Amelia found it difficult to interact with the other Queens, especially when she knew peace negotiations were going on just on the other side of the palace.
"We'll finally have a moment of rest after all these miserable years." Elizabeta Héderváry, the Queen of Clubs, sighed heavily into her teacup. She was Amelia's favorite of all the Queens gathered; the young ruler found herself enthralled with the fiery spark in the woman's emerald eyes, recognized the instilled feeling of devotion to her country. Amelia had yet to see that spark in the King's eyes. She would never find peace with Parliament's decision until she did. "To think the Peacekeeper of the Cards caused so much dissension among us."
"Peacekeeper?" Amelia echoed. "Is that the title of Spades?"
"But of course." Lilli Zwingli, the Queen of Diamonds, trilled from her spot on Amelia's left side. She was a blonde woman of small stature, an ideal Queen, and Amelia often felt out of place beside her, understood that she was more heavy-set than the other three Queens. Her body type was obviously that of a King, thick and strong to lead her country into battle, but no one else seemed to realize that. "That is how it has always been. One would assume the Hearts Kingdom to be the Peacekeeper, though they're usually the ones who start mischief."
"Only because passion is so hard to contain!" Feliciano Vargas, the Queen of Hearts, cried indignantly, though the other three only laughed quietly into their cups. Feliciano was one of only three recorded male Queens in the Hearts Kingdom, and Amelia felt as if she understood him to some degree. Gender roles were heavy amongst the land, and any ideal Kingdom had a male King and female Queen, as the Clubs and Diamonds had. Feliciano seemed to be a happy-go-lucky man, though Amelia saw depth when she looked into his eyes, the look of a ruler who had seen far too much. "When you feel strongly enough, it's difficult to sit back and do nothing."
"Spades symbolize Peace and Strength, Clubs Strategy and Intelligence, Diamonds Wealth and Values, and Hearts Passion and Positivity. But that is just the meaning of our respective suits. Our Kingdoms themselves each have their own tropes." Elizabeta continued, setting her cup onto the glass table that they were all circled around, flipping the long, brunette tresses of her hair over her shoulder as she settled back in her seat. "I don't mean to be rude, but shouldn't you know all of this, Queen Amelia?"
"Well – " Amelia had been taught a lot while growing up, but her parents' knowledge was limited and the Council restricted her in regards to what she was allowed to know. She'd been raised a King, not a Queen, and she felt herself a fumbling idiot as she went through her daily routines. Her cheeks burned with shame as the other Queens regarded her quietly, expecting an answer. "To be honest, I'm at a loss as to what a Queen is supposed to do."
Feliciano laughed heartily at that, earning himself an exasperated glance from Elizabeta, while Lilli placed a glove-clothed hand over Amelia's, just above her fake tattoo. "It's okay to be uncertain. Everyone knows you grew up the daughter of farmers, so you needn't feel ashamed that your knowledge is somewhat limited at this point."
Amelia smiled ruefully. "Yes, of course."
"I'd say a Queen's responsibility is to take care of the King." Feliciano said, and the unreserved smile on his face wiped away all irritations Amelia felt for having been laughed at before. She didn't know much about Ludwig Beilschmidt, the King of Hearts, but he had to be a kind person for Feliciano to always speak so fondly of him. "Queens embody rationality and love. It's our duty to keep our Kings happy and in check."
"But that's not all." Lilli continued passionately, her grip on Amelia's hand tightening slightly. It was obvious that she took her duties as Queen seriously. "A King is the lifeblood of his Kingdom. If something were to happen to the King before a successor is born, then the nation will be plunged into chaos."
"Like what happened to Spades." Amelia murmured, almost to herself. It had been nearly half a century since then, but there had once been a King that died before a successor was born, before Amelia was born. Crops refused to grow, droughts struck every corner of the nation, and the remaining Kingdoms had tried to step in and take what rightfully belonged to Spades amidst the chaos, thus starting the war.
Lilli nodded sadly. "Unfortunately, the Queen was too late to save her King, and the balance of Spades was disrupted. The Queen was able to maintain some semblance of control over the country, but until your current King was born, there was little she could do. Luckily, King Christian was of age by the time your old Queen died."
"… Are you saying the Queen could have saved the King's life?"
"We are all bound to our respective Kings, mind, body, and soul." Elizabeta explained. "A Queen's duty is to serve his or her Kingdom, but our partners are of the utmost importance. If a King starts to die prematurely, the Queen can give up a part of his or her being to prolong the King's life."
"Perhaps it takes a few years off our own life-span, but it's worth it in the long run." Feliciano added, and although a warm wind from the east was bearing down on them, Amelia felt chilled to the bone. "As a Kingdom cannot truly exist without its King, so a King cannot exist without his Queen."
Taking her silence as personal reflection, the other Queens took up a new conversation, commenting on how it was odd that Amelia at least was not allowed to take part in the peace negotiations, especially considering they were being held in her own Kingdom.
Apparently a Queen could sit in on such meetings if they were held in his or her own Kingdom, but Amelia had been prohibited from the meeting for obvious reasons. The Court was trying to keep her in line and out of the way, so of course she was being kept in the dark politically.
But Amelia hardly thought about any of that. If what the other Queens said was true, Spades needed both its rightful King and Queen to ascend the throne together. Perhaps Amelia was now in a position of power, but the nation had yet to prosper, and the people were starting to riot.
Nothing would be accomplished until the rightful Queen was found, but Amelia was completely at a loss as to how to find her partner.
With continued nation-wide crisis came dissension, and soon Amelia was told she would be given a personal guard to ensure her safety.
"I can take care of myself just fine on my own." She said indignantly, arms crossed over her chest as she glared up at her country's King. "Unlike you, I was raised to be a King and trained in self-defense by my father and uncle."
"I know, Amelia, but – " The man groaned in agitation, running a hand through his brown hair, tousling it even more than it had been previously. "With all I have going on, I can't see to your safety as much as I would like."
Christian wasn't a bad man nor did Amelia blame him for her predicament, but sometimes she tended to take her frustrations out on him when it all became too much. He was a kind man and a fair ruler, but something told Amelia he'd never wanted the kingship in the first place, only took the duties upon himself to appease his father. He wasn't born for this life and was obviously struggling, and Amelia pitied him that.
"The guards are strong enough to guard the palace. I'll be fine, Christian. It's not as if I leave this prison anyway."
The King's olive green eyes were sad as he gazed at her, and Amelia had to look away, fiddling with the jewels on the bodice of her dress, a navy blue in color, as was the color of Spades. "Please, see reason. The Council of Eights think this is a good idea. I may be recognized as this country's ruler, but you are the King of Spades. If something were to happen to you, our nation's plight would only worsen."
"If even you say that I am King, then why am I wearing this ridiculous hat instead of the crown?"
Christian smirked, eyes twinkling with mirth as he reached up to fiddle with the light blue train attached to the side of her head garment. It was an annoying presence, always tickling Amelia in the face and distracting her from her tasks, and she much preferred the simplicity of the King's attire, who had no need for frivolous accessories such as hats with trains or necklaces and rings. So far, Amelia's duties as the replacement Queen consisted of being eye candy, and she was tiring of it quickly.
She missed the days spent on her parents' farm back in the low country, where she could wear pants and loose-fitting shirts and run with her dogs in the pastures without a care in the world. She'd been an exuberant child then, practically a thorn in her parents' sides what with all the trouble she caused, but that side of Amelia had been snuffed out the moment she set foot in the palace. The wild farmer's daughter had been wrangled in with rose-smelling bath salts, restricting petticoats and corsets, and long hours spent in solitude to deter any urges she had to claim what was rightfully hers.
"Everyone knows a woman cannot lead a Kingdom, let alone the Kingdom of Spades." Christian said slowly, as if speaking to a child, and Amelia bit the inside of her cheek and clenched her fists to keep herself from doing something stupid. Christian was a kind man who had just been raised to think such things, so there would be no reasoning with him. "We may be the Peacekeeper of the four nations, but Spades is also the strongest and most likely to win any war. The other Kingdoms fear us because of that, but they would not take us seriously if a woman were in charge. This is for the good of the country, Amelia. You know this, yeah?"
She didn't think that at all, but Amelia was so very tired of fighting. "Yes."
Christian's expression brightened at her resigned response. "Then, it's settled. I will arrange for you to be issued a guard as soon as possible. Do not fret, Amelia. As long as you are alive and present, I'll be able to get this country back on track. I promise."
Amelia forced herself to smile. "Of course."
The young King started to lean toward her then, and Amelia took a step back, thankful when she saw her Jack rounding a corner a little ways down the hall. "Yao!" She called loudly, and the Jack started at her voice, laced with urgency. "There you are. I've been looking for you. Would you mind accompanying me to the gardens for the afternoon?"
"Of course, my Queen." The Jack replied after taking in Amelia and Christian's close proximity. The King stepped aside as the Jack approached, nodding to his Queen slightly before starting off down the hall again, trying to appear as if he weren't somewhat hurt by Amelia's refusal of his affections.
Amelia sighed once Christian was out of sight. "Thank God you came when you did, Yao. I'm running out of excuses."
"I can see that." The man said, offering his arm to Amelia before leading her off in the direction of the garden. "He'll take the hint eventually."
"I guess I feel guilty, is all."
"Your only commitment is to the Queen of Spades, no one else." Yao said firmly, and Amelia grinned, for once thankful for her hat's obnoxious train so Yao's view of her face was obscured. The Jack of Spades was Amelia's only confidant in all the palace, the only person who believed that she was capable of being King. He was quiet and didn't voice his opinions often, though she could tell he was grooming her for the kingship, keeping her informed on the country's politics and whatnot. "Someone should have told Christian this by now."
"Is it possible for a King or Queen to fall in love with someone that isn't his or her partner?"
"I suppose it is, though in all the history of Spades, never has a King such as yourself been forced to live without a Queen. Unfortunately, you may be without a Queen your whole life. As a Jack, I am able to tell when the new rulers of Spades are born, and while I took notice of your birth, I have yet to receive any indication that the next Queen has been born. It is truly puzzling."
"What if they're not compatible and are only bound together by their marks?" Amelia asked worriedly, staring at the fake Queen's tattoo on her hand, trying to ignore the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach at the thought that she was to be the only King forced to live without her partner.
Yao chuckled at that, patting the arm that Amelia had looped through his tenderly. "My dear, all I can say is that once a King and Queen meet, there is no going back."
Nearly a week after Amelia's chat with Christian, she and Yao were interrupted during their daily tea break in the garden.
"Jack Yao." The offending guard said stiffly. Amelia was usually ignored around the palace, and she was slightly miffed by this, wished she could throw her weight around like the King she was and teach them a thing or two about respecting royalty. "The Queen's personal escort has arrived."
"Ah, yes." Yao said distractedly, waving off a pair of butterflies that refused to leave him to his peace. "Fetch him and bring him to us, please."
The man nodded before disappearing again, and Amelia shifted in her seat, glancing at her Jack. "So, what's this guy like?"
"I do believe I've told you multiple times that I have never met the man." Yao pointed out, quirking an eyebrow at her. "Are you feeling okay, King? You've been out of sorts all morning."
Amelia shrugged, tugging on a strand of her dirty-blonde hair. "I'm just… nervous, I suppose. I'm about to meet the person I'm supposed to spend all my time with from now on. What if he's… "
"A massive douche-bag?" Yao supplied, ignoring Amelia's incredulous expression. "I doubt that will be the case. Christian is an imbecile, but he cares for you deeply. He most likely saw to the choosing of your guard personally. There is no need to worry."
"But – " Amelia started to protest before the glass doors over by the patio opened once again.
The guard had returned, bringing with him a man of slighter build and stature that Amelia had a hard time believing was supposed to protect her; but she was so astounded by his appearance that she didn't much care. He was obviously a well-kept man with a clean, navy waistcoat, crisp slacks, and flowing tailcoat, the only unruly thing about him being his considerable eyebrows and that mop of blonde hair.
His eyes were surprisingly the last things she noticed, an emerald green that resembled Queen Elizabeta's but just a shade brighter. Amelia stiffened slightly when the man's gaze met her own, and suddenly she no longer doubted that he would be able to protect her. There was something unhinged in his expression, something dark and formidable, and Amelia was as intrigued as she was terrified.
"Good afternoon." Yao said, standing up and motioning for Amelia to do the same when she stayed seated a moment too long. "I am Yao Wang, the Jack of Spades, and this is Amelia F. Jones, the Queen of Spades."
"A pleasure." The man said in a voice considerably deeper than Yao's but just a bit shy of Christian's formidable baritone. His expression was disinterested, though his eyes were ever alert. "I am Arthur Kirkland, though I fear I have no titles of grandeur to offer you."
Yao was silent, an annoyed frown set upon his face, and Amelia snorted, unable to contain herself. Arthur's gaze flicked back to her, and she smiled. "It's good to meet you, Arthur. I guess we'll be spending a good amount of time together from now on."
His mouth twitched as if he were fighting off a smile. "Indeed."
"Jack Yao." The forgotten guard said suddenly. "Diamonds has proposed a trading arrangement and the Council wishes to consult with you and King Christian about the best course of action."
"Oh, very well." Yao sighed, glancing over at Amelia. "You'll be fine without me?"
"Of course. I have Arthur now, don't I?" Amelia said, though her thoughts were elsewhere, considering the mention of a trading agreement. It would be beneficial if Diamonds was offering even a bit of their wealth, though Amelia couldn't imagine King Francis doing such a thing, especially since Spades had nothing to offer except the crops its citizens so desperately needed.
Yao didn't look convinced, giving Arthur a once over as he passed him, heading back inside with the guard. Once the patio doors closed, Arthur's shoulders slumped a little, and Amelia was surprised to see the guarded expression leave the man's face, replaced with unabashed amusement. "I do apologize for my behavior, Queen Amelia." He said with a slight laugh. "I was encouraged to make a formidable first impression when it came to your Jack if I wanted any semblance of respect. I had hoped you wouldn't be present for that, however."
"It takes a lot to shake me up." Amelia assured him, though that wasn't quite the truth. While Arthur's face was now pleasant, that look in his eyes was still the same. They'd softened some, but something was still lurking in those irises. "Though I was a bit disappointed."
"Oh?"
"Well, I'd hoped for a guardian who wasn't the hard-ass that Yao usually is."
Arthur chuckled at that. "Well, I can't promise to be as free-spirited as you seem to be, though I will assure you that I am by no means as stiff as your Jack." He took a few steps closer before dropping down onto one knee before Amelia, and she blinked in surprise. "Perhaps we should reintroduce ourselves. I am Sir Arthur Kirkland, son of the Duke of Twos, and I promise to protect you with my life, my Queen."
Amelia smiled to herself, swelling with pride that such a man was a member of Spades, her beloved country. Whether Arthur knew it or not, Amelia was going to protect him with her life as well, him and every one of her subjects, no matter what Christian or the Council of Eights said.
"And I am Amelia Jones, the crowned Queen of Spades. It's an absolute pleasure to meet you, Sir Arthur of Twos."