Chapter Ten: The cake was eaten and a grave message was told.

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After desert had ended, and Elizaveta-chan was the only one eating a small slice of richly laid, layer cake. She stabbed it with a fork as she looked up at the sound of her husband deeply inhaling.

"So," Ivan-san said with a pleasant smile and a hand on his stomach. He seemed at ease in his decoratively cushioned chair. "What were you going to tell us before desert? I don't believe I understand your urgency," He questioned my King, who was trying to settle the large amount of icecream he had just devoured. He felt almost blotted from the meal.

"Ah, ja, about that," He sat up so that he could look at everyone at the table. Even Edelstein-san seemed to have an interest in what he was about to say. "I'm sure you all have noticed my sudden shrunken state-"

"What?" Edelstein-san cut in. "When did you shrink? You still look as big and unfathomably muscular as the day we shipped you out." The man looked down at my husband through his slender glasses. "Though your back does seem a bit... Stand," He ordered, pushing his chair away from the table.

Ludwig meerly sighed, and turned his chair so he could slip out. Looking up at Jack Roderich, he felt like all of his manlihood just seeped away. Edelstein-san had to be at least 50 cm taller then him, if not more. What was the world coming to when he had to look up at the Jack of Clubs?

"Oh, you certainly have shrunk, haven't you," Edelstein-san commented, making a half circle around Ludwig. Satisified with his new perspective of my King, he asked for them to sit down once more. Relieved, Ludwig gladly complied.

"What happened, darling?" Elizaveta-chan asked gently, worry clear as day in her eyes.

"My Queen had me sign a Form of False Resignation," Ludwig replied slouching forward onto the table where he folded his fingers together in almost a mimic of Elizaveta-chan's earlier prayer.

"False Resignation? What is that?" Elizaveta-chan asked.

"It's when a King gives up almost all of his legal rites of rule to the Queen," Ivan-san cut in. He leaned forward, resting his head on his hands. "A Queen can also sign such a form, and a Jack as well. Normally it is signed closer to ones' death so that a healthy Royal can legally take up their position until a replacement can be found. Tell me Ludwig, are you close to death?" He asked happily, swaying side to side in his chair. It was evident on her face that Queen Elizaveta did not like the tone her husband was taking up, but she said nothing.

"Not to my knowledge," Ludwig looked off to the side.

"Then why did you sign it?" Ivan-san asked contemptly. A slow drop in the man's facade was easy for everyone to see.

"I have my reasons," Ludwig bypassed the question.

"Those reasons being?" Ivan-san was growing a stiff grip on his hands, like clenched fists.

"Affairs of the state," Ludwig smoothly answered, readying himself for an explosion from the other side of the table. Ivan-san was known for his hot temper and sharp hand.

"Okay then," Was Ivan-san's only response as he stood up and left the room to retire to his chambers.

A light silence followed, but was quickly broken when the Jack asked, "Is that all?"

"We have been made aware that you do not approve of us, Jack Roderich," Ludwig turned to the other man. Almost on the same eye-level now, Ludwig felt more secure connecting eyes with him. "My wife has made me sign this form, and you have spoken ill of us-"

"No, just her," Edelstein-san interjected before sipping his last drops of cold coffee.

"Listen, Edelstein. Something is going to happen. And if I know right," Ludwig glanced over at Elizaveta-chan. "You will be caught in the middle," She tightened her lip, and looked worriedly over at Edlestein-san.

He meerily shrugged. "I am not worried. I'm sure your Queen will make the right decesion. He is a level-headed man. As for myself-" He rose to his feet while grabbing at his cane. "-I have some errands to run. I wish you both a good night," He walked away from the table with his cane in the corner of his elbow as he put on his gloves. His tapping only started once he was on the other side of the door.

"Deary," Elizaveta-chan whispered lightly to my husband. "Are you concerned?"

A servant came to clear the room. "I don't know what to think anymore," He trailed off as he watched the green-clad man push the pilled cart away. "Of course I'm concerned. Why shouldn't I be? If you can excuse me, I fear I must also take to my bed now."

"It's the same room as it has always been," She told him with a small smile. "Just remember. Even though we sent you to him to make an alliance," She stood up to touch his shoulder. "Ivan also saw for you to be a fine ruler. He wanted you to be a czar, Ludwig."

My husband grimaced at the thought. "I know. But Kiku matters more than that." He looked up into her clouded green eyes. "He deserves more than this." With these last words, he stood up from the table and left Queen Elizaveta to her own thoughts. He had told her all he had wanted to.

Under the table a black devil's tail twitched.

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