Just wanted to say thanks again, for all the support! I promise things will be explained as the story progresses, but until then...

Enjoy!

Chapter Ten

The night was luckily cool, otherwise Natalia was sure she wouldn't be able to continue on. She preferred cool temperatures over warm ones, which was one of the reasons other than Ivan, she wanted to move out of Kingdom Clubs. The temperature there was too warm. For her anyway.

Ugh, Ivan.

Before he was a Royal, he had been an amazing older brother. Always looking after his "crazy" family. Although, he had strange hobbies. It wasn't normal for someone to stare at sunflowers throughout the day, but Katyusha had always said that Ivan was in deep thought when he did so. Apparently, something had happened when Natalia was young, and she was too young to remember what had happened. When Natalia inquired, she'd never be given a concrete reply. Always something too vague, something that wouldn't make sense. So, the sunflower thing, no matter how weird, was okay. To Natalia and Katyusha at least.

Ivan had watched over the two, despite Katyusha being the oldest. He was the breadwinner, having the job of a merchant. They were good days. Ivan would come home happy, Katyusha would smile as she set the dinner, and Natalia would do her homework while asking Ivan about his day. Then, they'd eat dinner together, sharing stories of their days. Afterwards, they sit by the fireplace, talk some more, and then go to bed. Ivan would tuck Natalia in, and Katyusha would sometimes tell Natalia bedtime stories.

But after becoming a Royal, Ivan's demeanour changed. It was like he was a completely different person. Rumours were spread by Ivan, saying Natalia stalked him. Rumours flew that Katyusha encouraged Natalia, and was responsible for some kind of assassin cult or something. Life became hell, people whispering and staring, being rejected everywhere. The nasty looks people sent them when they passed them on the street slowly became normal for the sisters. Katyusha, unable to handle it, left Kingdom Clubs. She had offered Natalia to come with her, but Natalia declined. She was a fighter. She wasn't going to let her brother win. They got into a fight. Katyusha wanted Natalia to come, Natalia unwilling to. In the end, Katyusha left. Natalia was practically alone in Kingdom Clubs.

Now she was running away from her brother, because knowing him, people were already scouting the area for her so she could be thrown in jail. She felt helpless. The blonde in front of her was unlikely to be helpful. The kid couldn't figure out a simple escape. Honestly.

Well, Matthew was no kid. They were probably the same age, or maybe he was a year older, but that was as large the age gap would get. Though, with her, he'd hopefully man up soon.

What was he even doing at the ball anyway? Natalia had a good reason to be there. She wanted to see Lilli again, after what seemed like forever. They used to be neighbors, but Lilli more like a sister than a neighbor. She hadn't known Natalia's family, she only knew Natalia. Matthew though, was from Kingdom Spades. Only about a quarter of the Kingdom showed up, and Matthew was standing off alone when she approached him. It didn't make sense for him to be present at the ball, why would he be there?

Whatever. It was his business, and as long as he was coming, she didn't care.

The ball wasn't too bad though, until the Ivan part. Everyone seemed happy, except the King of Diamonds, Francis. He seemed tense. Natalia could tell that the boy he described was important to him too, because after the announcement his body language screamed he was tense and worried.

Blonde, violet eyes, glasses, seventeen. That wasn't much to go on.

Hmm… she didn't see anyone wearing glasses there. There were plenty of blonde there, like herself and Matthew. Narrowing it down to violet eyes… Ivan, Roderich and a few others who weren't blonde… and Matthew.

"Hey, Matthew?"

"Hmm?"

"How old are you?"

"Uh, seventeen, you?"

"Yeah, same." Matthew fit the application. Everything but the glasses, but then again, he could be wearing contacts. Maybe even color lenses, though it felt unlikely. Suddenly, Matthew sighed ahead of her.

"Okay, the sun will probably rise in about two hours, so if you want, we could set up camp here. We can rest in those two hours, or longer if you want, before we start to travel again. Kingdom Hearts is far, it'll probably take a day or so to get there, from what you told me anyway. So, what're you good with? Camp or continue?"

Might as well set up at camp. It'll give me a chance to inquire what I need to.

"Let's set up camp, we can take about… six hours. We'll leave early morning instead of daybreak. Kingdom Hearts is a day's journey, so we may as well store some energy."

I'm curious about you Matthew. You've left me with many questions, and I'm not one to stay in the dark.

"So, you wear glasses?" Natalia inquired as she unpacked the food they stole. Matthew stopped tying the horse's ropes to the trees and looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

"That's a… peculiar question." He replied with a frown. "What brought you to it?"

Ugh, he's on to me. What do I say?

"Uh… well I don't know many people with violet eyes other than my brother and some Royals… I was just wondering if those were color lenses or just normal contacts or… something."

"…Well, I'm wearing contacts, the normal ones. I usually wear glasses, I'm nearsighted. And… shoot."

"What happened?"

"I left my glasses at the palace."

"Of course. You are truly a genius." Natalia snorted. Matthew narrowed his eyes.

"I can't wear lenses too long, they'll damage my eyes. These are those special, eye healing lenses that damage your eyes if you wear them too long. I need to take them off within the next hour." Matthew sighed, and went back to tying the final horse to the try. The other one seemed to be asleep.

So, he does wear glasses. He… fits the profile the King of Diamonds was describing… but the King be looking for him..?

It seemed urgent, the way the Francis spoke about Matthew. He seemed desperate. Comparing them both, they seemed alike.

Father and son?

No way, Francis is way too young to have a kid, and even if he did, the kid wouldn't be older than four.

Then what?! What was so urgent that the King of Diamonds had to openly put out a search for Matthew?! Right now, instead of caring weather or not Matthew would bring trouble for her, she was more concerned about the connection between the King and Matthew.

Matthew's from Kingdom Spades! Francis from Diamonds! This doesn't make sense! Why would-

Ace.

Matthew had to be an Ace. The Ace of… Spades. That was it. That was the only connection that made sense.

No wonder the kid (Natalia would have trouble trying to not call him that) hadn't seen much of the Deck. He must always be hidden away, and probably of his free will too. He must have been told so many times what would happen if he were caught, that it must have eaten him alive. The physiological impact on someone's brain with an upbringing that Natalia could only imagine… it was a miracle he was sane and not curled up in a ball, locked away somewhere.

Suddenly, the puzzle was solved.

Francis wanted Matthew because he was the Ace of Spades, and Matthew was so… slow when it came to survival because he was kept too enclosed in his own little world.

Natalia frowned as Matthew pulled away from the horses, sighing once more. Matthew hadn't lived at all. He probably kept to himself in Kingdom Spades. Probably not many friends, in fear of being exposed or something. Paranoia.

Maybe, with her, she could get Matthew to live a little more. Maybe even… live life to the fullest.

Suddenly, she had another goal, other than rescuing Katyusha.

Rescue Matthew from an Ace's life.

Almost didn't update today. Yay me, lol.