More and more mysteries come up as Arthur gets to stay Queen longer. Welcome to the sixth chapter!

Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia, Cardverse!Hetalia or any character that has copyright. I only own the plot and the dialogues involved. Some references had been used, but they are not fanfics from any author.

Warning: In contrast to what I normally do, I will put this in Rating T because of lack of violence, gore, strong language and mature themes. I hope it stays that way.

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I am the Queen

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Arthur Kirkland, a male- a merchant- now a sorcerer. He seemed to have all sorts of irregular pieces of identity which contradict the very definition of what a Queen of Spades should be, and it kept on surprising everyone.

However, Alfred decided to know for himself if Arthur could be trusted before risking his life to disturb the oracles. Soon, they seemed to be convinced that they need to protect the Queen from the actions of the great council.

More than that, it was revealed to the King that Arthur was way more important than just a crowned queen. He seemed to be a needed piece in reversing the premonition that was told for more than nineteen years ago.

And now, it's time for Arthur to know what he is to the eyes of Spades and the whole Land.

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I am the Queen

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Every move of his muscles caused pang to run across his body. Arthur was lying down his bed, still covered in multiple cuts that were inflicted by the whips back when he was held by the great council. It did seem that being a sorcerer was a crime by itself, but shouldn't 'not knowing' alleviate it a bit?

Instead of the other attending maids, Alfred was there cleaning the body of his Queen. Blood was slowly oozing from his cuts, and minutes more, it could get infected. Arthur could only look down at his bleeding chest and tear in pain as Alfred ran the cloth over his body. The King then reached out to caress the other's face, "Don't worry, Arthur; I'll help you. Just wait for me to finish cleaning you."

"What are you going to do?" The Queen whispered, restraining his chest to move much because of breathing. However, Alfred didn't answer. He became too busy attending to the blood. But his eyes and mouth were smiling, orbs glistening and lips curved with fascination and excitement. After some more minutes, the King finished and dropped another bloodied cloth on the floor next to a bucket filled with warm water. It seemed like Arthur's body was ready for the next step.

It was supposed to be unnecessary, but Alfred started stripping off his vest, tie and shirt to Arthur's bewilderment. The Queen was only watching his 'husband' climbed on top of him, soon caressing his sweaty forehead.

"Listen, Arthur. What I'm going to do is a secret we have to keep from everyone else. Even Yao doesn't know about this. But in order to keep my stand under the protection of the oracles, I have to keep you alive and well. And that means- having the time reverse the damages to your body." Alfred leaned down to kiss the Queen's forehead before pulling back. He flattened his right palm against his chest, only to pull out a blue orb at the size of his hand from it. The blue orb then morphed into a blue spade-shaped clock with hands that were moving slowly, clockwise.

Arthur stared at the clock intently, only to notice its hands began to move counter-clockwise. At the same time, a big circle with foreign symbols descended from the height of the King's head. The same circle drew on the King's chest with blood, the center where the clock came from. In the process, Alfred's eyes lit bright blue- like how a sorcerer's eyes would as they cast a spell.

The circle descended to Arthur, and his wounds started to heal faster than it should- even with a magical regeneration. He could also feel the pain from the open wounds receding, the lightheadedness dissipating. He was feeling healthy like how he would feel hours before the battle: completely well.

The clock stopped moving, and its image faded back into the King's chest as well as the two circles. Alfred gave a heavy sigh and ended up sitting on Arthur's legs in fatigue. His body slouched and weakened, his breathing appearing to be harder than usual. Sweat began to drip from his forehead; the King's vigor was drained in seconds.

Arthur tried to lift his torso to attend to the King, finding it easier to move. His body's energy was also restored, but his mood was still down because of the toll on Alfred's body. He then reached out to hold Alfred's face but stopped halfway, "Alfred? Are you alright?"

"It's a normal thing to happen. My body couldn't handle magic that long. Besides, it was basically a high grade spell; I'm just lucky I didn't collapse." Alfred almost whispered while trying to catch up to the sudden exhaustion. After talking, he got off the Queen and lied down next to him, "Looks like taking care of you was quite a task."

"This will be the only time." Arthur frowned at the King's sudden change in tone. However, he proceeded to sit up before caressing Alfred's locks that stuck to his sweaty head, "I'm really sorry. You wouldn't need to do this the next time."

Alfred only stared at him with a small smile before closing his eyes. Before they knew it, Alfred's consciousness drifted away.

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I am the Queen

Rei Haruno -Sakura no Imooto

Chapter 6: The Sorcerers of Spades

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It was the ever-familiar stoned walls of the secret room in time and space. Arthur was standing before three mirrors yet again, holding a candle as he waited for the presence of the three other queens. He knew he had a lot to explain to them, yet he had to know what the other queens were up to in relation to the feared siege planned by his very own King, Alfred.

Light came from the one to his left, the young Lili decorating her sweet face with a warm smile. She then spoke in glee, "I'm glad to see you again, Arthur. I feared you were slain by your own Crown. But then again, where were you all this time? Two months had passed since we last talked."

"I apologize, Lili. There were things I had to attend to."

Another light came by before him, and Elizabeta stood before him speechless. Her eyes had mixed emotions, and glee was not one of them. Her hand holding the candle was slightly shaken, and her lips were pressed in a line. She did acknowledge Lili by nodding towards her, but her gaze went straight and pinned at Arthur.

"I am aware why you eye at me like that, Elizabeta." Arthur spoke as he broke the silent tension rising from the two queens of the Black Suits. Lili only stood there in worry about the two queens on her side mirrors.

Soon, the last mirror was lit with Kiku's candle, and they went transported in a more fantastical room where they were thought to physically interact with each other. Likewise Elizabeta, Kiku was quiet and left gazing at Arthur. Both silent queens had thoughts ready to be translated into words, yet they seemed to hesitate.

"Arthur, I don't understand. Did something happen between you, Elizabeta and Kiku in such short span of time since we three last talked?" Lili voiced her confusion, demand evident in her voice. Arthur turned to her with a bitter smile, "Spades and Clubs clashed again around our borders, but an accident happened and-"

"How, Arthur? How were you able to wield such creatures born from sorcery?" Elizabeta interrupted the male queen, her hands balling into tight fists. Needless to say, Lili gasped in surprise, and Kiku flung her gaze from Elizabeta to Arthur and back to the Clubbish queen again. Arthur caught Kiku's action, making him twitch because of a thought.

However, he decided to deal with the presented matter at hand, "I- I have no answer for that. It just happened. Apparently, I- I am a sorcerer, but I swear I had no knowledge of that."

"Arthur's a sorcerer-" Lili whimpered in fear and denial. The only consolation he could give the child was an averted gaze.

"I don't understand. Sorcerers were supposed to be gone years ago. They were all wiped out during the campaign of Crowning." Elizabeta frowned as she loosened her guard. She then turned to Kiku to ask, "The only people who wield special powers left are the fortune-tellers, am I wrong?"

Kiku only nodded in response, and she eyed at Arthur again, "Things are getting clearer now- and more dangerous than what we all ever imagined. Having a queen of such descent and power, Spades is indeed trying to take over. With a sorcerer by their side, their military power would double, and they would be more brutal and blood-hungry than they are now."

"Pardon me, Kiku, but it seemed like you wanted to say more than that. You were also shaken, but you know not about my being. What is causing you fear?" The Spadanian queen responded to the Heartenese queen's supposed encrypted message. Kiku could only avert her gaze and shake her head in disappointment.

"Arthur, I saw it. The dream Queen Sakuya had dreamt before."

"The one with the man from Spades?"

"Indeed, Elizabeta. Only clearer and more vivid." Kiku then eyed back at the Spadanian queen, "Arthur, it was indeed the King of Spades, Alfred Jones, who raised an army to overthrow every kingdom, even his own, in our Land. It was he who will bring forth a world of chaos. He must be stopped now; he must be killed."

"Unbelievable. Alfred will never destroy the reality he adored more than his own life. All he ever wanted was to cease the war- by winning it." Arthur frowned at the revelation, defending the vision of his own king, "This war had been detrimental to everyone born under its reign. How would someone who envisions such order bring forth chaos to ruin everything we ever knew?"

The three other queens looked at each other before Elizabeta answering, "Arthur, you're no aristocrat to see the odorous world we thrived in. Nothing could be as pure as what you think. Spades only craved for power and nothing more. Your Crown would nonchalantly coat their greed with visions of peace and order."

Arthur disconnected gaze with the three other queens before him. She was right when she said he did not know the Spadanian Crown enough. However, he eyed at them with stubborn eyes, "You're correct. I might be wrong, but I might be right as well. You cannot taint my loyalty to Alfred by mere discussions and sheer belief. I will protect him at all costs!"

The Clubbish and Heartenese queens exchanged looks before gazing back at the Spadanian one. The Diamonden queen then spoke, "We understand the value you hold in protecting your king, Arthur, but we still wanted you to consider what's happening. If we are right, it will mean destruction to each of us living in the Land."

"I will stop him if he would be heading that way, but I wished to do it without the need to spill his blood."

"You could wish for that, Arthur, but you must not forget you could be against the king of evil."

"I am the queen of knowledge. I will have a way around him." Arthur gave Elizabeta a smug grin along with his sly remark.

"No matter how powerful he could be, the King of Spades is nothing but a human. One human could not withstand a battle with a sorcerer without intervention. Even if it comes to that, you had a higher chance in overcoming his power." Kiku hummed as she voiced her faint belief in Arthur, "Arthur, please remember we are nothing less than queens who aim for peace and order in our own lands. The death of the King of Spades is the only way to protect our subjects, yet you kept on insisting there is another way. I believe in the existence of a way we do not see for now, but I could only hope it would not go as far as putting yourself in harm's way."

"That-" Arthur curved his lips with a bitter smile, "That is something I cannot promise."

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I am the Queen

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The sun had fled and hid behind the clouds, making way for the night to conquer the Lands. Dinner was served in the dining hall yet the two royalties failed to make it there, causing Yao to make the maids deliver the food to the room of the King.

Inside the room, Alfred and Arthur were asleep. The Queen only roused as he heard the door creak open along with the chatters of the maids. The Jack stood there to silently direct the servants. Dressed in his white shirt and trousers, the Queen sat up and earned the attention of the Jack.

"My Queen, did we wake you up aru?"

"I guess. Anyway, could you bring me my plate?" Arthur spoke as he hesitantly reached out. A maid came to serve him his dinner while still seated in bed.

The Jack walked towards the other bedside, seeing Alfred so deep in slumber. He asked the maids to leave them before asking Arthur, "Arthur, what happened to him? Alfred looked like life was drained from him aru. Did you do something aru?"

"I could only apologize, Yao." Arthur answered before he remembered asking something, "By the way, Yao. I just noticed everyone was so scared of sorcerers. I have not read about them in books I helped myself with in the library. Would you like to enlighten me?"

"Ah, it's been a really long while since I last heard of them aru. I could only tell what I know about them, Arthur." Yao sat down on the edge of Alfred's bedside, "Listen carefully aru; this might help you deal with the expected reaction from everyone else who knew you were a sorcerer aru."

Centuries ago, sorcerers walked the Land with the humans who were enslaved by them. The sorcerers were blood-hungry and cruel; they basically kept humans as pets and tools. However, no one really ruled this race until someone named Destro came into existence. He commanded every sorcerer who worshipped him to destroy all of humanity, clearing the world of such inferior species and starting a new world order.

That was when some humans, especially a King's hand with four sons, rose for the survival of mankind. It was a century of war- a war worth every life shed for freedom and order. The world was rid of sorcerers instead, and that world was marked by the crowning of the four sons as kings of the Land which was ruled by their father. The four sons partitioned the lands into what were known as its great kingdoms.

Three centuries had passed since the Crowning, and seeing a live sorcerer could spark another reign of terror in the hearts of the humans. The War of Colors was enough to frighten the people; a sorcerer could do more than just frighten them. The news might have not yet reached the Spadanian commoners and merchants, but Arthur should beware of anyone else to know this secret.

It only took Yao an hour to explain things to the intelligent Spadanian queen. Right then, Arthur was curled up in his bed, staring at his King's sleeping face. Alfred had not moved since he finished healing the Queen; the other queens were already too busy to loiter in the Maze by then. Arthur had nothing to do, nothing to think of without him being left confused, and certainly nothing beneficial to occupy himself with.

All he could do was to watch Alfred- every breath he took.

Giving up on just waiting, Arthur decided to take a stroll around the castle, seeing it at night for the first time in a while. He got up from the bed and left Alfred with just a kiss on his cheek. Putting his vest and coat on, the Queen walked out of his room and onto the halls.

The gigantic windows of their castle showed the utter darkness of the late evening in Spades. There were virtually no stars up in the sky thanks to the thin clouds which accentuated the darkness. The castle looked much gloomier and sinister under the moonless heaven. Most rooms had no lights, and most guards were in their posts in a more alerted state. Bonfires were at crucial points, and no castle staffs were to be seen.

"I believe you should not be walking around on your own, Your Majesty."

A voice spoke from Arthur's side, making the Queen turn to his right to see the head of the Queen's maid. She was wearing her cold stare, trying to not let her discomfort and scorn show. However, Arthur could feel it perfectly. He gave a small smile to the woman, "I'm sorry, I cannot sleep."

"Would you like to see the Queen's garden, Your Majesty? Perhaps it could help you relax your mind."

"Yes, please."

The head maid then gestured for him to follow her. The woman did not talk to the Queen the whole time they were walking, and the movement of her eyes often indicated she would not like to walk next to the sorcerer queen. Arthur was left to think how they would treat a normal queen- like the ones before him.

Soon, they reached the Queen's garden. It was a vast plain covered in beautiful roses and other vibrant-colored flowers. They were all swaying with the feeble wind blowing across the place. Arthur was undoubtedly marveled by the view, yet the coldness of the night and company made him feel less excited. With a quick glance at the woman, he began to walk across the field.

"Stories had it this place is Queen Amebeth's favorite resting place. Whenever she would doubt the oracles' wishes, she would sneak the young King Alfred in here for a story." The woman started to speak; her voice had become mellower upon speaking the deceased Queen's name, "These flowers witnessed the most of Queen Amebeth's time in the castle- as well as her uncovered plans to relay to the young king. King Alfred was not yet crowned by then, but he was treated more like a royalty during the reign of Queen Amebeth and her infamous sister, Queen Elizia. That was a reason why none of us had doubted King Alfred's skills as the King of Spades. We had always known he was destined to be a very great King."

"The queens under his reign- do you know why they died?" Arthur asked as he kneeled down to check the reddest roses in the whole garden. The head maid then looked around before answering, "Their deaths were accidents even though some said they were sacrifices to the King's major victories. There were also stories which describe their deaths as omens."

"Omens of what?" Arthur turned to the woman who walked towards him.

"Omens of the oracles' judgment. They said the oracles were looking for the rightful Queen to come and rise. They said the oracles were searching for the one who was perfect for the throne in this dreadful phase of the war. Whispers everywhere said the War of Colors is already coming to an end, and every kingdom is trying to put their best royalties in front lines."

"Whispers everywhere?"

"They knew, Your Majesty. They knew the man in the prophecy is already walking among us."

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End of Chapter 6

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