Hello! :D I'm practically inactive for almost a year now, aren't I? But fret not, I will continue this 'mess' I've started and I will finish it even if it's the last thing I do. Now, without anymore further more setbacks, I bring you—"Chapter IX."
CHAPTER IX
"Ship of Fools"
"You're all living in a ship full of fools~ Everyone realizes this one way or another. "
The answer was always yes…
Alfred looked at his hands …. His firm and calloused hands that held more than the sword he was given by Fates but also the very hand that he desperately and anxiously trying to hold—The Queen's hand. How different can their hands be? For starters, he was pale… almost porcelain like with how that skin of his seemed all too soft and smooth...and there was always something that yells about him being fragile, which was the complete opposite of his venomous tongue and his rather clumsy attitude. Maybe it was the grace that he often had whenever he would speak his mind in meetings, or that aura he would have whenever he would grace his garden with his presence, or… was it the fact that he loved and adored him that was enough to have him see everything of Arthur as perfect?
Did love go like this?
It seemed a little persuasive… but it seems all too fitting… He couldn't fight it.
The morning sun was making its radiance known by peeking through the curtains of the room and those very rays signifying the light outside made Alfred frown. It was like the fates have heard him... It was almost like Fates was warning him of everything but he didn't dare falter. He took his sleeping Queen's hand and kissed it dearly as if his life depended on it and glared at the seemingly attention seeking sun. Perhaps he was just paranoid… perhaps he was just over thinking but having Arthur taken away by anything, most specially by the fates, was something he cannot afford…
Where this fear comes from was something he didn't know… or how it even crossed his mind… He just doesn't know… but he feared him being taken even a second away from him…He feared him disappearing from his sight! If Arthur would be taken by the fates as well… along with his normal life as the farmer he used to be… He wouldn't know what to do… He wouldn't know what to say…
Be it love or Arthur's effect alone… "I can't live without you…" He whispered upon the very hand before shutting his eyes tightly and leaning on the bed. Or was it the fact that he had not yet slept be the case? He grew too worried of his Queen… He grew too worried for his love… enough to wake him in any form of sleepiness and tiredness he felt from the party. He couldn't understand why Arthur would go so far like that! He knew his limit… He knew it better than anyone else yet why does he pursue and insist on something beyond it?
Ah, maybe it was alike with Arthur as well… That moment earlier that seemed to wake him from the truth of any monarchy. The dreaded crossing of his Ace's sword with that of the Knave of Clubs—that certain moment that he seemed to not know what to do. He was made to face the circumstances that he was clueless of. The situation when he was useless and knew nothing of—when literal blood can be seen just a few meters from you and as King you need to endure every bit of it as a norm—It was a scary feeling.
"Alfred…" Ah, that voice made him snapped back to reality and looked at the bearer of his voice. His name almost lay foreign upon his ear with how it rolled upon his beloved's lips. He was sitting on the floor without a wink of sleep because of worry for his beloved but then one word from his lips and suddenly everything didn't seem to matter anymore.
"Here… always here…" He responded as he knelt on the floor to have a better view of him, giving his hand a tender squeeze to emphasize his presence. By Fates, those eyes which his Queen possessed were just gorgeous. There was no other word which would fit but if he was forced to say a word other than that, then he will chose 'unworldly.' Those enthralling jade eyes that were full of life—the way they focused and gazed at him just seem to render him speechless.
A tender squeeze back on his hand pulled him back from the trance his eyes had upon him. If his fascination for his Queen wasn't enough, his mind went blank when his most beloved Queen kissed his hand softly. "Good morning, King…" He greeted and that was enough for Alfred to leaned over to him and kiss those wondrous lips, silencing him of anything more to say for his selfish reasons of loving him further. It would have sounded better if Arthur used his given name and not the title he desperate want to be worthy of but still… for him to be greeted like this with such affection who was he to just let it slip?
Arthur let out a soft sound in such a kiss shared so early in this fine morning before them. He was even forced to close his eyes once more to savor such a kiss… that makes both of them as Alfred clearly made all efforts he could just to pull away from his lips.
"M-Morning…" Alfred uttered against his lips as he set his forehead upon his. Again, those green eyes greeted him with such familiarity. He felt his Queen's hand upon his cheek, making him lean upon it as if it was his one and only support in this world. It even made him kiss it just to say how thankful he was to see him first in this fine morning…in this fine life… in this fine state. "How are you feeling?" It was always first upon his mind the very moment he knew that he had a rather weak constitution.
"Splendid, thank you…" Arthur replied before kissing his forehead rather shyly as if to comply on the kiss upon his palms. If only he knew just how much those words meant to him… How much relief he felt when he said he was fine or anything related or synonymous with that word. Arthur's cheeks seemingly burning a bit crimson with how his gaze seemed to give out his embarrassed state, "B-But Alfred…why are you still on the bloody floor?"
Ah, he'd forgotten about that didn't he? When Arthur fell asleep last night, he could have sworn the man he loved was laying next to him, on the bed and comfortable but now… he was just back on the floor again! Alfred just gave him that cheeky smile of his before tapping the tip of his nose gently. "Darling, I'm not suited to even be near you like this…" And it seemed like he didn't forget about the deal regarding on him being called by nicknames whenever he cursed, much to his dismay.
"Ugh…" Arthur let out and Alfred merely set his chin on the bed to watch how easily his expression changed from being all shy and flustered to being annoyed and snappy. The King of spades didn't dare sleep beside him for once reason only… He didn't know if he could control himself. Arthur, his Queen, was that precious to him… that even if Fates assured that it was safe to hold him that way because of a ritual, he still found it a bit repulsive to be done. "Your teasing is far scheduled far too early, isn't it?" Arthur closed one eye and looked at him all huffy and proud while his arms crossed over his chest despite the fact that he was still very much laying on the bed.
If only he knew…. If only he knew how much he had to endure just to survive a night with him so tempted to touch him so. Was it because Arthur was his Queen? Or was it because he really wanted to touch him? Fates, he was much more of a mess inside that anyone could ever imagine but he'd hidden it quite well with that chidish façade of his which seemed to full a good majority of those around him.
"Not too early for you…" The King whispered before pecking on his lips and standing up with on good stretch of his arms above him the next. "Nhhgh! Surely is a great way to start the day, wouldn't you say so Queen?" Someone help him. Someone help him to change the way he was thinking or he might forget that his Queen was fairly exhausted last night and—
"HOW MANY TIMES MUST I TELL YOU TO NOT CALL ME QUEEN?!"
Another beautiful morning it was then…
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"Oww… He really doesn't show any mercy, huh?" Alfred let out as he rubbed the back of his head while facing the mirror. He had just finished a good bath and it still hurt. That's what he got for calling Arthur by his title… And he thought it would have been fine already since they were growing quite close and affectionate. He sighed and smiled a bit, "That just proves that Arthur is comfortable with me and that's more than I could ever hope for…"
Ah, silly him. He was that smitten with his Queen and it seemed like the confession he did before the party was just a small part of his affection for him—The confession that ultimately changed their lives and allowed him to be this close to the Queen he oh so adored. He looked at the mirror and dropped the smile almost immediately. He looked at himself straight in the eye, seemingly cornering himself with the facts and truths that were in his grasps.
Now wasn't the time to be smitten unfortunately… He had more reasons to be the King he aspired to be. He had more reason to become the King everyone expects him to be. He had more reason to fulfill the Kingship he desire to have. He may be young… He may not be knowledgeable as any of his predecessor but he had something that they didn't have. He had the love of the Queen… and a Queen of spades too. That alone was enough for him to move… to achieve… to aspire in much greater heights that none of them could ever attain.
He had to be the King who was strong enough to rule… He had to be the King who was strong enough to balance…. He had to be the King who was strong enough to forgive… It was the basic rule on being a King. He will set aside the things that were made obvious last night with how the Knave of clubs acted towards his Ace. It was clear disrespect but he will set it aside… He will set it aside to not fuel something that was very clear as any day to him with Arthur by his side.
He was sure what other Kingdoms grew weary because of his Ace's appearance and he was sure that this disrupts the so called Balance the Herzen had set up for the four Kingdoms. There are only two possibilities that he could think of right now… Either other Kingdoms would strive to get their own Ace if they ever did find out how since everyone is spades doesn't even know how that came about or the other Kingdoms would see this as a threat and would start being weary of them. He'd gotten a good impression that it was the second option because of what Clubs did. It was always that guy's kingdom or was it that guy and by he meant the King of Clubs, King Ivan. He didn't particularly favor him or even want to think of him but things had the tendency to get messy whenever he was involved and even a simple chess game. Yes, he has still yet to recover from that game…and the words he uttered through all that.
But Queens are to be sacrificed all the time.
Alfred can never allow such a thing to happen—be it him who suffers but not his Queen. Never will he take those thoughts back.
He nodded to himself upon the conclusion in mind. He will prove to them that he was a King worth the account of protecting not only his people and monarchy but also his Queen whom he loved and will love ever so dearly. Yes, that's what he will go and set his standards too.
'I won't let my affections be noticed…' he thought to himself as he took one last glance at the mirror. 'He's the only thing I've got now… and I will not allow him to be in any form of danger.'
He took one of the long sleeved-shirt from the side and set it over his shoulders. He walked to the door and turned the knob so he could finish getting dressed outside of the bathroom. Heck, he was now in his room so he can practically walked around naked in there unless Yao decided to be absurd like a few days ago and barged right in without being announced.
The moment he opened the door, something strange had befallen the air around him. It was almost like pressure… Like the air suddenly became thicker and making it hard to breathe. He set his hand over to the wall as if he suddenly grew limp of it. His glasses… His glasses… Where was it? Thought still in doubt that it was the fault of his eyes being away from his glasses for a bit of time, he pushed himself to take the glasses from the wooden box where he kept most of his precious belongings in. It may look old and barren but it's the only thing he brought with him from his home. It's the item that was closest to being his real home and putting in a gift from his most precious person was every bit ideal for him to do so.
Still, with the surroundings now clearer because of his glasses, the air still felt every bit eerie and annoyingly thick! What was happening? Was it always like this or—
"Good morning, your majesty~," Greeted the masked man with silver hair wearing such darkness like that of a moonless sky or was the it the pit of eternal darkness one feels whenever hope wasn't in sight? He wore a mask like that of a jester that seemed to hide his expression though with how those words drew out from his mouth, it was almost clear that that the speaker was amused or somewhat taunting.
Was he the reason to—.
"Hi~" A child clad in red appeared right next to the one wearing black. He too wore a mask but his voice couldn't seem to hide the playfulness he possessed.
Alfred frowned upon this. The atmosphere around them seemed rather different that most of the people he had met before. These beings before him were demanding attention by not only of what they were wearing but also of their very own aura. It was taking him some effort to not succumb to this pressure building up because of their appearance.
One is dressed in darkness and one is dressed in blood: They are jesters of fate whom are sent from above,
Given a message of great importance or summoned by that of an occurrence,
Along with them tails an ailment to be known or a prophecy to be said,
Never has their appearance good for any monarchy's decent.
To come not because of these is truly rare,
But to come because of these is death,
Be guided my dear future King for their tempt is another tale.
Alfred kept his mouth shut tightly when he remembered a few verses from those books their knave, Yao, had him read during his studies. He had to be 'King-ly' and he was serious about what he said to said to Arthur about keeping the Kingdom's face in his every move whenever it involved protocol—even when he just came out of the bathroom! Really, Fates… Really?! He didn't even have time to have himself properly dressed yet.
But then… it's not about the time or the situation they appear. It's the reason behind it that troubled him. It was the first time that he'd seen them and other than that it was just pure literature of their appearance so he didn't exactly know on how to talk to them… yet alone how to deal with them as they were described like that of a plague.
"Greetings from the Kingdom of Spades, Jokers…"Alfred greeted as he kept his ground. His consciousness examining every bit of what surrounds them and what he could gather they were in a sort of distorted dimension where magic was considered nothing and the Kingdom's element rendered useless.
"A new face and a new attitude wouldn't you say so, Black?" said the one wearing red. His voice seemed an octave higher and that of a child so Alfred figured he must be in the age of twelve to thirteen if he was human.
"Yes, yes… Very much so, Red." The black one replied as it was followed by the chuckle. He set his hand over to his mask and removed to show that his eyes were red. Deeply piercing to whoever it gazed and right now it was the King of Spades, he immediately made it vanish upon his finger tips. The left side of his cheek, the area just beneath his eyes, was where the mark of the joker lies.
"I didn't know you both were coming so I have none prepared." Alfred admitted as seemed to have gotten their attention fully this time around, enough of it even to make the red joker laugh every so happily…
"Almost none expects us to ever appear so you're not the first one, King of Spades! Must you prepare anything for us humble servants of fates?" The black Joker said as the red one removed his very own mask.
His eyes were dull but if Alfred wasn't wrong, he had the same features as his Queen if ever he'd seen him as a child. This aroused his interest a bit more about these beings and the mere fact that their power could be sensed in such grounds… they weren't someone to mess with. "If it's the welcoming for the Ace, it was last night… It seems like you've missed it."
"No, no… We're here at the perfect time." The black joker mused as he sat in thin air. It amazed Alfred but his nerves were ones to kick in. Like, seriously? Perfect time when he was barely dressed? Well… he did have his pants and shirt on…That is supposed to be considered as 'perfect' somehow, right?
"Okay…?" Alfred trailed off before sighing. What else was he suppose to say? He didn't know them enough to joke around or even have a conversation with them… Heck, they didn't even seem human with how they were acting. "Could you at least tell me where are we so I don't jump into conclusions here…"
He was becoming worried about Arthur and the others whether they were experiencing the same or it was just him being like this. "Relax, you're still here in Spades… Just in a different dimension of it so no one will interrupt us during our work."
"Work huh?" Alfred shifted a bit in his place and let out a soft sign in relief.
"We were summoned here because of a wish, you could say."
"A wish?" Alfred said in amusement as he looked over to them with a little bit of doubt.
"The Jokers may appear because of two reasons. It's either the fates have given verdict or a prophecy is on its way to warn the monarchy or a wish…" Yao said as he set the book he was reading down to see the King, his student, looking at him with a confused gaze.
"A wish? Common, they don't seem so bad if they grant wishes~"
"Not just any wish will do, your majesty." Yao explained as he frowned, "The wish must be strong enough to have them grant it so it has to be quite a wish…A wish like that could only have such strong will and that is what aides the Jokers to do it along with a price."
"No one has made a wish though..."
"What price must this be?"
"They don't just grant wishes for the heck of it, your majesty… For as how the wish goes, the price goes along with it. Equivalent exchange as they say. Nothing much but nothing less…"
"Like I said before, they don't seem to be bad! They grant wishes… They get paid, seems like a decent way of living if you ask me."
"Then… Is it decent to grant a wish if it involves death?"
Now that was what got his attention. That can't be right… they were the messengers of fates, why would they grant a dark wish like that?! "H-hey.."
"Not all people whose wish is strong enough to summon can't be all for good will, your majesty. You must remember that not everyone here is pure and merciful. Some people want blood and chaos… even death around… but the Jokers don't care about that."
"Why?"
"Because as long as the wish is strong and they are paid with an equivalent price…that's their job."
"You're lying to yourself..." The red joker said followed by another giggle. What was so funny?! Are these beings just genetically born forever amused and laughing if so they should be working for the circus and not for the Fates. He was lying to himself now? He didn't like where this conversation was going by the second… Are they accusing him of having a wish that he himself didn't know?!
"Oh common on, must we play pretense Almighty King of Spades?" The black Joker said before closing his eyes only to open them with a playful glint in them.
"Must it come from us what your most desired wish is for you to admit?" The red joker asked as he raised himself from the ground and floated around all playfully smirking, "Are you afraid to voice out your taboo wish of being with your Queen and saving him from anything that comes to harm?"
I will not allow him to be in any form of danger.
The king froze at that, hands clenched tightly in balls of fists. He was caught right there… and that wish was all so true but was it really taboo to wish for the safety of someone you love?
"Listen, I was the one who confe— " Alfred trailed off before the Black joker walked over to him, wearing that devious smirk of his.
"Jackpot." He said proudly before looking at the one wearing red.
" Looks like we hit the spot, Black..." The red joker said with a chuckle and disappeared, only to reappear in front of the king, " You wish for your Queen's safety... you know it's close to forbidden right?"
"And…what if it is?" Alfred countered with a frown as his eyes clouded by displeasure narrowed at him. "I don't see it ruining people's lives… I'm prepared to take responsibility for it!"
"Responsibility he says~" The Red joker replied before vanishing again. "Are you really prepared for the price of such a forbidden wish, King of Spades?"
There was a thump in his chest… Was he afraid? He stepped back once as he looked at the two beings before him.
The black joker snickered and lowered himself a little. "The King of Power suddenly felt powerless all of the sudden?" He said softly as if pressing the matter further. "But then again, we came here to tell you we cannot abide a wish like that." He shifted his weight from one foot to another. "Not when it contradicts a path too soon to happen... Can you listen to the prophecy fates has for your Kingdom? "
The King remained silent at that, looking...or at least trying to keep a front before saying, "What prophecy?" His hands still clenched as if that was where he was getting his strength. There was no one here right now… It was just him and these beings… and he was sure that they wouldn't be harming Arthur or anyone for that matter.
At this, the red joker appeared behind him. He chuckled and hovered away a bit to give him a little bit of space."It's nothing special... You might even have known of this." He took a few steps back, his hands behind him as he giggled, "In five springs, winters and autumns—Upon the very month of white, a hue of the monarchy of spear shall fall into eternal slumber with no waking..." He said with his innocent smile turning to a devious one.
Alfred listened to this 'prophecy' that he dictated. Five springs… That could literally translate to five years. The month of white is… winter. Alfred tried to have an open mind but upon the very last words he heard, he felt his mouth go dry…
An eternal slumber... meant death…
" No..." Alfred whispered, fear suddenly shaking his core.
" Oh yes~~" The red joker said as he laughed and appeared beside his companion once more, " Who do you supposed this person would be~?"
It could be anyone…As the monarchy had a wide variety of people but for them to come to him like this and said about not fulfilling his wish. He couldn't say it… His mind suddenly went blank as his face paled. It can't be, right? That's just unfair if… if it was…
"M-my... Queen.." It took him everything to utter those words and how he prayed it wasn't so. How he was shouting in his mind that this was a lie!
"Perfect! I told you, he already knew Black!" The red joker mocked as he grinned widely at him. "Of course, he'll know something he had sealed!"
"He sealed his own Queen's fate with all the taboo things he desires!" The Black Joker said as he laughed mockingly at the despair the King of spades felt.
Upon hearing that, the King of Spades collapsed on his knees, eyes on the floor as a hand over his mouth.
No...
That can't be right at all...
His Arthur...
His most precious Spade...
His Queen… was to be taken from him? His Queen? And the Jokers said it was him who did such a thing? How? Arthur was living his life as the Queen despite how much he despised it and he was doing a splendid job at it as well! Arthur's life was his own person… Just as everyone else's!
Was it the times that he asked him to go out with him in the capital? Was it the times that he pestered him in his gardens? Was it the very times that he asked him to teach him of how the monarchy goes? Was that it?
He was risking his life for him for the beginning just for him to get accustomed to living his new life as King?! How low can he go? How can he not notice the sacrifices he was making all for his selfishness?!
Was it the confession he did? Was it also that? Was everything he did written already and he was just obligated to accomplish it? He felt so confused… He felt everything crumble… He felt his entire soul shaken and his resolve disintegrated…
He was truly a child… A child who knows nothing of the world! If not for the people around him, he would be considered nothing. Maybe it was best for him to not even be the King so everyone shouldn't waste their time on him. Maybe… if he wasn't King, Arthur wouldn't have such a life numbered in only five years…
Despite it all…. Alfred lifted his to face them and looked at them with every inch of pride.
The fates..
Who were them to take the one he loves?
They were the ones who had taken his life as normal person—Who were they to decide something like this and not even consider his feelings or anyone else's for that matter?!
"Just give up, King... You're all living in a ship full of fools~ Everyone realizes this one way or another. "
Why do they have to constantly feel as they were controlled to do something they don't even understand?
"The rest lies upon your next move."Ivan moved his tower as support for his Bishop. Still wearing that gentle smile upon his face, he was eyeing something to get.
"Hey, no fair… you're targeting my pawns" Alfred let out playfully but in obvious displeasure.
"You said so yourself. Your pawns are your power so I'm just doing everything I could to keep them in bay." Ivan replied as he looked at the Red Queen piece which was right behind the pawns. "And look there… there's a prize right behind them as well."
To be continued…