I look out the window at the guards below, I wonder if they have to train to stay standing that long. Will I have to do that when I get older? Man, do I hope not.

"Brother, what ever are you doing?" Pup asks.

"Thinkin'." I don't really know why I'm staring at the guards, probably just want to see if they can feel me looking at them, read that somewhere in a book. Yeesh, I'm tired, my thoughts are getting weird. When was the last time I slept again? Ah well, major sleep deprivation probably killed somebody but hopefully not me.

"Well that's a miracle." Val quips.

"Hey!" Rude. I hear Vig snicker from by her sister.

"Vivian?" Mama's voice calls up the stairs to our little gaming room.

"Yes, Mama?" Pup replies sweetly.

"Valentin?" It's subtle, but my name is spoken in a slightly angrier tone.

"Yeah?"

"Valentin!"

"Yeah, Mama?"

There was a sigh and I smile slightly, success.

"Vigdís, Valdís?"

"We're here too." Val replied for her and her sister. Vig patted the center of the table which we were all gathered around. [Hurry up.]

"Pup, it's your turn." Pup focuses back on his own hand.

"Um... stand."

"Call." Val says automatically, 'Not the right turn, but whatever,' I pass her a card, face down.

[Hit me]. I pass another card to Vig.

"I'll take the chance." I think my chances are pretty good. I flip the top card of the deck, perfect. "Blackjack!" I announce and show my hand, a four, a seven, and a king.

The rest of my siblings boo as I take the candy bets everyone had placed.

"Now let's go see what Mother wants." Val says, I nod usher my siblings down to the main hall.

Mother is waiting there, looking perpetually disgusted with the world, as always.

"Now then, we will be heading out for lunch at Duke Dickerson at a quarter past the hour, pack your things." She says in a manner that dares any of us to be even a moment later than that. "Now go," We all go off to our room, or would've but frantic knocking at the door disrupts us.

The doorman opens the door and a flustered man comes in, I recognize him, he's a newsman, or whatever the word is for someone who delivers news in person, is there a word for that? Ah, well.

"Madam, of Madam, it's terrible!"

"What is it?" Mother asks, slightly disgusted with the man's state and slightly worried.

"Your sister, Empress Marianne vi Britannia has been shot and killed!"

Mother crumples to the ground. "Oh, dear god."

I feel my whole world blank out for a second. Right, how could I have forgotten, this world, it's one I would have called fantasy years before.