Chapter Three: I had an important meeting with the Queen of Spades and the Lady of Diamonds.
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Later that day I had a meeting with the Queen of Spades and the Lady of Diamonds. I think it went well, but I'm not so sure about their opinions on the matter, not that I would care too much to find out. I'm not that nosy.
It's nice that I'm not the only male queen, though. It makes me feel better about my position in court somehow. Even if it is an insult put onto me by my father. No matter, Queen Arthur of Spades changed how I saw myself the first time we met. I like to think that we have gotten along well ever since, maybe even to this day.
He's a nice man, a gentleman in his opinion, whatever that may be. He wore and probably still wears nice top hats... Come to think of it, that girl's cousin used to work for him. Made him hats. Anyway, Arthur-san was close to me from back when I first joined court life, and he taught me how to be a lady. As strange as that sounds, it made sense at the time.
Then there is the Lady of Diamonds, Lili-chan. She's a real cutie, and has the brightest of blue eyes; it's hard not to be jealous of her adorable nature! At the time she was only the 'Lady' of Diamonds because she had yet to be married to the King. Her and her mercenary brother had been mere peasants until the fateful day the King of Diamonds spotted eyes on her. Alas, that is a story for another time.
To get to the point, both of these people were important 'Queen' figures for half of the suites of our land. Queen Elizaveta Héderváry of Clubs could not attend this meeting due to political matters at the time.
These two figures arrived at midday, a little after I was done considering the hat concept. I had already dressed appropriately in a more formal kimono, and had a fan at the hand for the hot weather that had appeared during that particular day. I waited with a pot of freshly brewed tea out in one of the more secluded gardens behind the castle.
Tsukiko brought my guests into the maze, bowed her head, and left without a word like the very well trained maidservant she was. I smiled warmly at the two before welcoming them to sit down with me.
"It has been too long since I have been able to see your wonderful garden, Kiku," Arthur began our conversation. The girl nodded her agreement, still being somewhat stunned by all the pleasantries that came with the higher card rank. I let her impassive nature pass as she was new to court. I remembered a time where I was in her shoes.
"Ah, as it has been too long to have you in them, old friend," I responded with complete sincerity. "Tell me, how has your kingdom fared in these days?" I asked politely while pouring them both a cup of tea.
"Fine, everything seems to be going along smoothly, though Alfred's proving to be a handful."
"As we all have feared," I laughed lightly before taking a sip of my tea. Arthur hummed his agreement. "And what about you?" I asked, after the cup left my lips to return to the table, to Lili-chan. "How are you managing now that you live in your castle?"
"Oh, umm," The girl mumbled, blushing into her cup. Her yellow locks tried and failed to cover her face, emphasizing its red tint. "I-I suppose I'm doing fine, as well."
"You suppose?" Arthur-san questioned with concern. Early in a correspondence to me, he had told me how he was worried for this young girl in such a 'perverted, older man's clutches'.
"Y-Yes, well... It's different, is all. I have a hard time keeping up with everyone sometimes."
"Ah, Lili-chan, don't fret. You will get comfortable with it all soon enough," I encouraged her with another smile.
"Th-Thank you, Queen Kiku."
"Please, misu, call me Kiku like Arthur does. You are soon to become one of us, anyway."
"A-As you wish, Ki-ku," She sounded out my name, making both me and Arthur smile at her sheer cuteness.
It continued in this fashion until the pot was empty of its tea, and the dormouse was hanging out in the kitchen to watch the food receive it's last touch-ups of deliciousness. Especially those German pastries Ludwig had brought with him from his home in Clubs. I absolutely love those; he makes them himself when he can, but I don't think he did that day. There was too much work to spend any great deal of time in the kitchen. Understandably so.
That evening we were hurried upstairs to my apartments by my ladies-in-waiting, all very pushy women with too much time on their hands, and corralled into even more formal outfits to wear. It was suggested at one point that I should wear a more Western look, and I almost chocked that particular person, but restrained myself. Instead, I told them that Tsukiko would lead them to the Comfort Room to think about how they could better their lives. In such awkward words it doesn't sound as good as how Queen Arthur and Lady Lili must have heard it. They were very happy to hear about how I liked to make sure my ladies got the best out of their lives by encouraging them to branch out into the world. Honestly, though, I just wanted her to branch out of my apartments. In any case, we left those rooms to the dining hall that had all the silverware already placed at the table, and the appetizer in the hands of the servants by the kitchen door, waiting for the meal to begin.
I rushed, only slightly, to sit next to my king at the head of the table. Arthur-san glided along with Lili-chan behind him. Arthur-san made a point in sitting to the left of Ludwig, as it seemed, but in reality probably had no idea that that particular seat was purely for the Jack and that the Jack of Hearts was not in the correct position to sit with us at dinner. To say the least, I was pleased that Arthur-san took his normally empty spot at the table. Lili-chan just sat next to him, and all of the annoying people of both mine and the king's entourage filed in to fill the numerous of other empty seats left at the dauntingly long table. It's rich cherrywood gleamed from its countless hours of polish.
The course began, and all of the servants pooled out into the room with their shiny platters of mouth watering delights. During the meal I chatted pleasantly with the royals, and tried my best to ignore the man next to me who kept trying to talk to me about how unfair the price rise of certain food items was. It set my nerves on end.
Halfway through, Tsukiko appeared to take away what was left of my main course. I gave her my plate along with her letter hidden neatly under the platter. Arthur-san gave me a strange look, and I tried to beam him a happy smile. I told him that I had something along the same lines to tell him after supper, which only peaked his curiosity.
After desert, I squeezed Ludwig's hand that was on the table as a sign that I would be leaving soon. He turned his attention to me, and gave me a curt nod before ending his previous conversation with Queen Arthur. After I stood, the other two Queen figures followed my step into the corridor. Many of the ladies-in-waiting also tried to follow us, but I made sure to take a series of complicated turns along the way to lose them. All the while, the other two were quietly watching my back. It was a nice walk.
I slowed down considerable in a very abandoned-looking area of the castle, and let them walk in the same pace as my own. Finally, I let out my thought. "How would you both like to consider continuing your stay at Lovers' Castle?"
"You mean past this week?" Arthur-san asked.
"Hai, awhile past. Perhaps a couple of months so? I haven't had such good company here ever since..." I trailed off, even though neither of them knew exactly what I was talking about.
"Your Jack?" Lili-chan asked innocently. "Did something happen to him?"
"Ah-," I paused, not sure how to answer. "Well, let's just say he is very close to his deathbed."
Queen Arthur gasped, but stifled himself when I gave him a quick glance. Not necessarily a glare, but something that could be taken as such if one was open to such a thought. "How so?" He finally asked.
"Affairs of the state," I remarked the automatic answer to something that was uncomfortable to talk about with the royals from the other suites. Lili-chan looked a little confused, but Arthur-san understood, letting the question drop.
"I'm not entirely sure Alfred would appreciate me staying away for such a long time, but since you are in something of dire need... I would be completely agreeable with spending a few months here at your home with you," Arthur-san reassured me.
"But for me to stay here so soon to..." Lili-chan paused under the scrutiny of me and Arthur-san's watchful eyes. "It would be a burden to Vash and Francis if I stayed so long. You understand, don't you Kiku?"
I pondered this thoughtfully as we walked down a half open corridor that had an outside pavilion in full view. A fountain carved from ruby sprinkled white water that ran down rounded spheres to a heart shaped bowl in the center of the beautiful scene. "I would think that they can manage the details of the thing by themselves. They are both reasonable men, and can balance out the other's extravagant ways. I can make sure that you get back in time for all the rehearsals and such," I suggested to her, not looking it, but desperate to have her in my company along with Arthur-san.
She looked out beyond the pillars and considered this. "Yes, I suppose they are." Then she smiled at me, "How about I send a letter home to ask? If anything, I can stay here for at least a month before they will start to miss me at Riches'."
I smiled back at her, "Hai, that sounds like an excellent idea. How about you both write letters to your castles to talk about extending your stay. I will have carriers to send them for you tomorrow."
Thus, it was agreed upon that they would ask for the permission of their respective castles to remain with me. And it just so happened that the both received approving letters from their respective castles a couple days later.
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Foreign Languages' English Translations
-san is a Japanese title that is almost, but not quite the same to the English titles 'Mister or Miss.' It is added at the end of names of people one knows vaguely and/or respects.
-chan is a cutesy Japanese title added normally at the end of female names.
misu is a Japanese term that is meant to mimic the English word 'miss'
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