"They're not coming, Aileen,"

Her rage was distinctive from the brightly coloured Spades flags and the seemingly unending joy of the summer solstice celebrations. Her colleagues were no better, though the atmosphere in the room soured immediately once she unsealed the letter and started to read it again.

"In the interest of stabilising the Spades country, we have decided to not take your commission. Please find attached the cheque for the proposed payment. If there is anything else we can help you with, do let us know."

She gripped the white envelope, the colour matching her knuckles as she slammed it down on the table. "You told me that they were to be trusted! The game would have been given up if I didn't intercept this missive. We're this close to ridding the country of a monarchy, and giving power back to us. What exactly did you tell them to do? I just needed them to come in, and that was the end of it."

"I wrote down exactly what you told me to. Lady Aileen, maybe we should just go back to the party, we'll be missed-"

"No, we…" she trailed off, pushing her hands into her hair as she paced around the missive. "I cannot believe you were the one to suggest it, and yet you had the group pretending as if they were saints."

The three advisors exchanged a glance, the light from outside not quite reaching their purple lapels. "So," one of them started, his gaze casted onto the floor, "What do we do now?"

"There's nothing to do," Aileen bit out, grasping the handle of the door, "Other than to hope for a miracle to bring them down."

The night of the said ball, it reminded Arthur of the one during the Meeting – the only major difference being the assorted masks being given to them before the event, and the torrential rain that morning.

"It is summer season. It means that it rains a lot, right?" Sakura tilted at her mask as they spoke briefly about it – all the Chosen from Spades had been given one that afternoon when they'd come back from lunch. Afterwards, Arthur and his friends had given Kiku a tour of the Spades library before they were called back to prep for the ball at six.

"I think so."

"At least the festivities were outdoors yesterday instead of today," Kiku said. "With all the hard work the Chosen in the Spades palace have done, it would really be a shame if it was all rained on."

"And not everyone's invited to the, like, the dance today, so it would have majorly sucked. Em would have died if she didn't get to wear her new blue dress."

"Leon, you say that like I'm unique! You would have been pretty disappointed if you didn't get to wear your new waistcoat. Arthur's matching with you too."

"Ah…I didn't really think about that," he admitted, tugging self consciously at his white waistcoat, which indeed matched with Leon's. The colour went well with the dark blue shirt and tie, and Anna had a great sense of coordination, so once again he needed to rely on her talents to look good. Kiku, being from Hearts, donned a black waistcoat with a light red shirt underneath, coupled with a tiny heart shaped pin, which glinted in the sunset as he turned to him. "But yes, it would be a shame after how hard our maids have worked for tonight."

The five of them chatted briefly, milling around the corridor until Sakura's maid came to fetch them, ensuring they made it to the ballroom in time.

By the time the five of them had gotten there, the party was in full swing. Perhaps to make sure the ballroom filled up adequately, attendees were assigned to come in kingdoms, with visitors and royals alike having to wait for their kingdom's turn. Naturally, being the host kingdom, the Spades Chosen and the royals were the last to enter the packed room.

Despite this, it seemed as if news was brewing as soon as Arthur and his friends walked in, past the guards who were distributing fancy masks to everyone who hadn't had one in the entrance. "What's he been asking everyone?" Arthur overheard Clare's impatient question as soon as Natalya stood next to her, her face giving nothing away. In contrast, Clare's face was almost overly animated, "What did he tell you, Nat? Was it something romantic?"

"For the last time, it's Natalya, not just 'Nat'," the other girl replied frostily, "Anyway, it's not as exciting as you think it is. He just asked me how I was feeling in the palace, and I told him how I felt. Then when the last dance ended, he asked me whether I was happy to continue staying in the palace," she arranged her mask so she could actually speak clearly, "And to which I told him yes. That's all. Now can you stop with that damned bouncing and talk to him if you so wish?'

"Jeez, okay, you don't have to be so ruder to get your way," Clare huffed. As if to make a point, she finished off her small drink, adjusted her mask, and tilted her glass in such a way that allowed her to examine her face before striding out to the dance floor. Try as the prince might, being a royal meant that Alfred was by far one of the most recognisable people in the room, meaning that even when he'd worn contacts and put on a mask, Clare managed to find him effortlessly, putting out her hand and requesting a dance. The two of them chatted with what seemed like complete ease to Arthur before Alfred took her hand, leading her out into the center.

"You know, you don't have to stare so blatantly," Natalya's words cut over his staring. About to ask how she knew who he was, owing to the fact that there were so many blond haired males with blue masks, she gestured to the top of his face where a little of his eyebrows were peeking out. "As much as your masks hides your eyebrows, they're still a little bit thick. Not to mention, Sir Kiku's standing right next to you."

Kiku, having been mentioned, peered at her. "Does the same reasoning apply to identifying me as well?'

"You took it off a few moments ago to have a drink," she said. "That's all. Regardless, Arthur, you could just ask instead of looking at him all the time. Just because you decided to spend the past five days with your best friend instead of him doesn't mean he hates you. After, if even Leon isn't angry," she snorted, "I doubt the prince will be."

"Leon isn't mad," Arthur said, feeling defensive as he folded his arms. Then again, he was surprised she hadn't called into question whether or not Alfred would have been angry with him earlier. After all, with both Clare and Marianne more than happy to speak with him about it, not to mention Thomas's concern, Arthur seemed like an easy target right about now.

"There you go. Honestly, I don't agree with a lot of the things Marianne says," she said, reminding Arthur about their conversation, "But she's right about the pining, or staring, or whatever."

"I haven't forgotten our agreement, you know."

"Neither have I. Anyway. You chose to hang out with Sir Kiku instead of finding time with him, so there's not really anyone else to blame instead of you. Not just me who's bene unsympathetic towards you within our fellow Chosen either, so don't quote me on that. Sakura doesn't quite understand why, but she respects your decision. If you want to spend it with your friend, then that's fine, but don't blame anyone but yourself."

With that, she melted back into the crowd, leaving Kiku and Arthur to stare awkwardly at each other, even over the din of the packed ballroom.

"Art…is it true? That you have been forgoing spending time with His Highness in order to…" Kiku trailed off, not quite sure what to say as he rubbed at his forearm. "Have I ruined anything? His Highness did not seem very angry with us when we ran into him, so I thought that it was appropriate to continue spending time together."

The troubled look on his best friend's face sent a guilty pang in Arthur's chest. "No, don't feel bad, please, Kiku. It's just that I thought with the one on one date outside we had last week, he wanted to spend time with the other Chosen," he confessed, "And it's been so bloody long since we saw each other."

Inbetween the conversation, Arthur noticed that Alfred kept on looking at something behind Arthur's shoulder, something he didn't quite understand.

Kiku nodded. "That is true, however I cannot but worry. Did he give any indication of unhappiness to you whilst I was not around?"

"No, we spoke together recently – remember Saturday? He didn't give a single indication that he was unhappy in the slightest."

Adjusting the nose bridge of his mask, sidestepping a person who was getting to the refreshments table, he continued. "But I…Kiku, how do I put this. Natalya – Lady Natalya – isn't the first person to hint at my behaviour being inappropriate."

"Who else has spoken about you not spending time with His Highness in favour of spending time with me?" Kiku looked alarmed – so much so to the point where it garnered a months old memory. That night in the gardens, speaking with Alfred after dinner, Arthur had talked about Kiku and Heracles, but chose to keep their identities secret just in case it would cause scandal back in the Hearts palace. Well, I can tell you about a love story, but I mustn't give away their names…

What Kiku said next confirmed his suspicions on what his best friend was thinking. "Art, if this is truly an issue, we must stop spending so much time together before I leave. If you need, you could request an audience with His Highness, where I can explain everything. I can take full responsibility and apologise for my actions. I do not wish for it to be an issue later, in case it is misinterpreted."

Now they were away from the refreshment table and the tempting smell of the foods, they were able to speak a little louder over the crowd and the lilting music that was currently playing. Arthur understood what he was trying to convey with the first point, but the second point eluded him. "Misinterpreted? How so?"

Kiku's expression hardened underneath his feathered mask. "I am afraid Prince Alfred may mistake our friendship to be something that is possibly…romantic."

Arthur's heart dropped into his stomach. "What?" he said hoarsely, forgetting his manners. Taking a deep breath, he repeated the word. "He…what if he would think it would be…"

"Yes," Kiku said, pulling uncomfortably at his shirt collar. "I am worried. At least, when we were studying the coverage of past Decidings, it is not the first time that Chosen have been caught in romantic affairs. Of course, it would not usually be a problem as there are more platonic Decidings than romantic ones, but this time, I fear that if someone starts an unscrupulous rumour, you may be caught in it, and it may be my fault."

"Kiku, don't blame yourself for it," Arthur said quickly. "There's no need for you to apologise; its just that we haven't seen each other for so long, and Alfred – His Highness – would understand that, I know it."

His best friend's troubled expression relented, but only a little. "But what about the other Chosen? Are they aware of it?"

Arthur shook his head, at least as much as the mask would allow him to. "Leon, Emma and Sakura know of our friendship, but I don't think I've particularly had time to tell them about it much. I'm sorry, if you were to get caught up in unscrupulous rumours because of me as well-"

"Art, no, I have wanted to-" Kiku broke off when he noticed the music was winding down and the current dancers had slowed. "Do you want to seek his company now?"

"I can't, we have to…we have to figure this out first," Arthur insisted, not turning around to face Alfred, his head spinning too fast. "When he asks for me, which I hope he will, I'll gladly come to him, but I'm sure he's too busy dancing with someone else more important."

"Is there truly someone more important to him than you in this moment?" Kiku pressed his lips in a thin line, unsure whether to press further about why his best friend was so oblivious to the obvious favour Alfred wanted to show him, if only Arthur would allow him to.

"Of course," Arthur said – the way he said it implied that he wholeheartedly believed it, and Kiku opted to not increase his distress.

Neither of them caught Alfred's searching gaze, whisking through the crowd, looking for their whereabouts. When he couldn't find them, he simply had to move on, taking up Alfonso's hand as the music started up once more.

Once Kiku and Arthur had stood a considerable distance away from the party and the other Chosen, their conversation resumed at a similar volume.

"See?" Arthur said, poking at the edge of his dark blue mask, fighting to keep his tone light when no Alfred materialised. "He's busy with the others. Listen, Kiku, there's no need to request an audience with him to talk about our friendship – there's no misunderstanding between us two. I understand your concerns about the other Chosen," he took in his friend's troubled gaze lighting up his normally calm eyes, "It's just with all the summer solstice prep, we haven't had a chance to talk about it. Not to mention we didn't get much time to discuss my date together, which everyone usually makes a big point of doing after every single one, so I suppose they're frustrated about that. I'm considered reserved and private as it is, so they would be frustrated."

"So you are saying that…Art, I still do not know," Kiku said, twisting his fingers in his left palm, "I would regret it very much if something terrible happened to you because of me, and our friendship. And of course, I wish to not tell the royals about Heracles, but if things get so bad…Art, you must tell me if you need my assistance. I know you hold back."

"The prince wouldn't suspect me, and I will tell the others after the summer solstice," Arthur promised. "Yet…I hope he isn't truly upset. Then again, he hasn't asked me for my company at all, at least after the date. Perhaps he's gotten sick of my company-" Arthur's voice tried to stay light, but faltered as he mulled the possibility over, and even more so when he caught sight of Kiku's unimpressed expression. He had to ask about it. "Kiku? What is the issue?"

"Honestly, you and your self deprecation never cease to both frustrate and amaze me," Kiku titled his mask higher up on his face as if to prove his point, reminding Arthur of the glasses he wore before bed. "Art, it is not difficult to see how much affection he holds for you. Many royals that have undergone this process would not put so much attention and affection on someone who was, may I say, not the friendliest candidate at the very start of the process. I remember writing that I was disappointed that I did not get to see you on cameras much, then you decided to step up your efforts. Yet some would have not complied with your request-"

"Oh, excuse us, we would just like to pass through, thank you. Sorry, do continue."

"You could have just told him that you wanted to spend more time on the cameras, but he could have ignored you, or said that it was up to you to get the screen time of your own accord that you missed out on before. From this alone, not to mention all the things you have written to me about him, he truly seems like a kind person."

The two of them slowed their footsteps to take refuge on an empty bench, taking a breather from the hectic party.

"So are you saying you approve him for me?" Arthur tried to bring at least a moment of enthusiasm into their conversation. To his relief, they were so in sync that Kiku understood what he was trying to do.

"It is a difficult process, I will admit, the Deciding," Kiku said, and Arthur couldn't help but nod, dislodging his mask slightly in the process. "From what we have had to study in the holding facilities, you are lucky to find someone as worth as him. I do think you two will be…" he hid a knowing smile behind his sleeve. "Satisfied in marriage."

"Satisfied in marriage…" Arthur was far too curious in that moment to avoid asking further, "You mean in terms of work, or governing the palace. Or even…or even…"

"Er, that is to-" Kiku broke off to cough in his fist, looking incredibly embarrassed. The colour of the shadows brought on behind his red mask tinted a dark scarlet. "We are not having this conversation about…it again. I cannot believe you would want to, even after the talk with Heracles when he first came to visit! I thought you would want to save this chat for tonight…"

"Nothing's wrong with asking the two of you to use protection when he came to our dormitory," Arthur retorted, though he was experiencing his own neck prickle. "And Heracles didn't seem to mind. I will be honest, though," his expression softened as the two of them turned back to the front of the room, "The moment he shrugged and said it was up to you and what you wanted, I approved of him. So now I suppose it has come full circle, for you to be able to approve of someone who's finally wanted me."

"Said someone being the most eligible bachelor in Cards, not to mention the future King of Spades. Quite a catch, I must say."

"I…I suppose, yes. But when we are together, it doesn't feel like that most of the time," Arthur admitted. Wistfully, when he thought Kiku was not looking, he dared to glance at Alfred's direction, trying to remember the way Alfred's eyes had caught the chandelier lights the last time they had danced together.

To his surprise, after the last notes from the orchestra had petered out, the prince wasn't looking to find another dance partner or chat up a storm around the room, rather he adjusted his tie and ducked back into the crowd. Unconsciously, Arthur instantly tried to find him, weaving inbetween their fellow partygoers as Kiku followed, gripping onto his mask as he did so. The two boys only came to a stop when they caught sight of Alfred ducking into the back door that he'd gone through during the Meeting.

"Art, do you want to go after him? I am not sure if he is upset or not," Kiku stuffed his hands into his pockets, "I think it would not be the best idea for me to be there with His Highness."

"Would that be all right with you?"

"Yes, I will wait for you two when you return. Please, take your time."

Giving Kiku a quick nod, Arthur adjusted his waistcoat and went after him, edging out a group of diplomats to push out the door and walk the path where he was certain Alfred was.

"I'm here," Arthur whispered into the dark, not sure whether he was even there at all. Surely with the new arrivals and the other Primary Suit royals coming back, he'd be preoccupied with them instead of skulking in the gardens – or he had a tendency for melodramatics, and the prince had simply gone to the bathroom.

Not sure what to do, he wound his green mask inbetween his fingers, standing on top of the uneven rock pathway. Behind him, the sounds of overlapping chatter accompanied by lilting strings threatened to lure him back to the party, yet as always the calming allure of the gardens enticed him further. Not to mention, unless Alfred had gone off to his room, to the bathroom or he'd somehow mistook his cowlick for something else, he would probably be here.

Just as he was about to give up and go back to the palace, the familiar crunch of boots on gravel made him stop in his tracks. A rush of relief wormed its way out of him in the form of an exhale as Alfred emerged from the dark, still wearing his blue mask.

"Hey, didn't know you'd come looking for me," he said. His suit jacket was folded on his arm probably due to the heat, but he didn't sound out of breath as he jogged to Arthur's side, who half heartedly put back on the mask whilst he was waiting.

"You say that as if you're not the most eligible bachelor in Cards right now," Arthur smiled in spite of himself, seeing Alfred's cowlick emerge behind the roses, his mask blending in with the blue. "Is everything all right?"

He got a nod in response. "Yeah, just…need some air, like last time. It's kinda deja voo, right?" Making a silly face at how he pronounced it, Arthur decided to indulge him nonetheless.

"It's called déjà vu, you dolt."

"Mm. So." Coming to a stop in front of him, Alfred peered closer at Arthur's face. "Wait a sec. You didn't say no."

"Pardon?"

Alfred's smile was so wide that it caused the edges of his mask to prop up. "I asked if you were looking for me, and you didn't deny it, so…"

Arthur cursed all four of the Fates that he wasn't wearing his mask properly – from the residual light of the palace, he knew that Alfred was able to see the hot flush spreading its way all over his pale cheeks. "Pardon…pardon?"

"It's okay," he said, "It's been awhile since our outside date, and you look like you've been busy."

Raising a thick eyebrow, Arthur hoped the other boy understood he was confused about it. "Busy?"

"Your friend, remember? Sir Kiku," Alfred stretched, flexing the muscles in his back, "You guys are pretty close, huh. Haven't been able to get a hold of you for, like, the entire week."

In spite of himself, Arthur felt the familiar, tell-tale burn of his cheeks flushing. The frequency of the burning feeling had increased annoyingly quickly since he'd met Alfred. "I…I suppose. But you must understand. Imagine if you were allowed to live with King Ludwig for most of your life, and then one day had to confront the fact that you weren't allowed to stay together."

"I mean," Alfred said, "He was with me a lot after Dad passed away. With Gilbert being Queen at the time, and their grandfather still being the Joker and staying at Hearts, I think they let Ludwig stay with me a lot. Then he had to plan his Deciding when his grandfather started to grow weaker, so. In a way, I do get what you mean. Then again, we both knew we'd have to get a Deciding eventually. It's just how it happens for two boy kings. That is, one of us grew up faster, and I'm still left in the dust and stuff."

The two of them came to a stop outside the bench where they'd been only last week. "You two are very different from each other," Arthur said, sitting down. He waited for Alfred to place down his fancy mask before he followed suit, the edges of the accessories touching each other. "Growing up's not some sort of checklist."

Knowing he couldn't stop even if he tried, Arthur let himself stare. As usual, Alfred had been working hard tonight, meaning that the outline of his mask drew faint red lines on his tanned skin, his handsome features now being unobscured weakening Arthur's knees. Yet there was something in his eyes that was electric; something that brought him closer – it seemed to always be like this in the gardens, when they were allowed to be alone with one another. Arthur daren't press closer to him to observe his own reflection in those blue eyes, still all too aware of their distance.

"I guess. A Deciding's kinda like a checklist, though." Leaning back against the bench, Alfred clasped his hands to his chest, looking exhausted, all of a sudden. "Y'know, finding someone to love, then making sure they're ready for the job…that they're okay with all of this."

Straightening his back, Arthur focused his gaze on the glow of the ballroom in front of them, taking in the smell of the roses and Alfred's cologne as he leaned away from him. "I suppose. Haven't you done well with the first one?"

"You think so?"

"I can't answer that for you." The conversation died for a moment until Arthur thought back to Natalya and Clare's conversation. "Apparently, the others have been asked about whether or not they've wanted to stay in the palace or not. Have you been waiting for an opportunity to ask me yourself?"

"Oh. I was kinda…I kinda wasn't thinking about that," From the angle Alfred's head was tilted at, Arthur couldn't hear him too clearly, but the tranquillity of the evening didn't disturb that. "Though now you say it, I should ask. Artie…you're happy here, right?"

A touch too blunt, don't you think? "Well, yes."

Alfred exhaled. "I'm glad. But, I gotta ask – please be honest when you're answering this-" The seriousness in his voice was startling from the playful banter they'd been engaging in before, "But are you prepared for the position of queen, eventually? I mean, it wouldn't happen right now, but are you prepared?"

Arthur could barely hear his own reply over the sound of his heartbeat. He couldn't help but turn slightly to see Alfred, his entire body drawn as tense as an arrow. Was he truly making his decision? But it would be reckless, foolish even, for someone like Alfred to waste his chance on him. "…Potentially? It's just a, it's just a scenario, right? Hypothetically?"

At that, Alfred shifted, pushing himself back upwards so their eyes were meeting, their bodies much closer now. He drew in a breath, chest heaving…then he looked away.

"Alfred?" his voice was hoarse, annoyingly betraying all his worry in that moment.

Are you really sure you want to promise yourself to me? When there are still a dozen of us, so many of them better than me?

"Yeah. Yeah, just hypothetically," the way he said it made Arthur's chest twist as if he'd said something wrong, "Just – just hypothetically for now. Sorry about that. But would you be?"

"I'm sure with adequate training, preparation and learning, that I would be…somewhat predisposed to take on the profession," Arthur said. Somehow, he'd felt it necessary to at least try to disguise some of his words in elegant camouflage, hoping Alfred wouldn't sense his fear. "I will admit that the prospect is still daunting for me, and that you and the Jack have been undemanding in terms of barriers that will lead to ascension."

"It wouldn't make sense to scare away everyone with the reality of them being queen, the process's only been gradual," Alfred said. Arthur hoped he didn't catch the flicker of surprise registering in his green eyes; he hadn't asked for clarification on what he'd meant. "So you're saying…there's a chance."

"With the right training."

"I know you can do it," he declared, and that seemed to be the end of the conversation as he loosened his tie and sat back. At least, until the prince looked at him once again, his Adam's apple bobbing before he spoke. "Artie, there's something else I have to ask."

Abruptly, the scent of the leftover rain from that morning and the chirping of the summer faded into the background as Alfred's gaze grew intense, and his touches followed suit. They went from having no body contact whatsoever to Alfred's hand brushing against his thigh, Arthur's forearm pressing against his shoulder.

"Alfred-"

"Arthur, please let me speak before you run away," Alfred said, his tone low and serious, yet his lip wobbled. "Just hear me out."

"I'm…" Arthur took a deep breath, then placed his hand on top of Alfred's, absorbing the warmth there. "I'm not running away. Alfred," he breathed out his name, hoping it would somehow bring him some comfort, "Say what you need to."

"What about…your feelings for me?" His cheeks were pink, even pinker against the blue of the roses, "I know we both find it embarrassing to talk about, but I really want to know. It's…I know you like holding back, but I need to make a decision about something, and out of everyone, well. I wanted to hear from you the most. Especially now we're alone, I…" his gaze dropped before reconnecting with his, emotion brimming in those blue depths, "Please, Arthur. Don't hold back this time. I promise I won't, either."

The words resonated around Arthur's frazzled mind. He'd seen Alfred like this only a few times before, but it never failed to send a pang to his heart.

Please, the words echoed feebly in the cavity of his ribcage, bouncing off every crevice.

Arthur nodded, not sure what to say. He settled for making wavering eye contact, one that he was sure that the other boy would not let him break.

"I know…I know I asked about the queen and the royalty stuff just now, but there's also me. In the mix. I know we're both young and it's a lot to ask, but I just want to ask…there's a place in your heart for me, right?"

At that, Arthur couldn't help but stare, utterly dumbfounded. They were five, almost six months into a Deciding, and Alfred was asking whether or not Arthur liked him? In some way, he hoped it was a joke, if it wasn't a way to coax Arthur's feelings from him.

He thought he'd told – or at least shown – Alfred, dozens of times, what he really felt. Of course, it had never come in words between them, not just yet, but Arthur couldn't help but feel neither of them were ready to say them. It made sense – it had been half a year, and they hadn't known each other before, and at the same time Alfred was seeing practically a dozen other people. Not to mention the fact that they hadn't spent much time this week. Arthur doubted Alfred would get sick of him after only one week of scarce interaction, but Marianne's words from yesterday were still ringing in his ears.

According to his logic, it meant that he should keep his answer as reserved as possible in order to not give away too much that could be used against him later. "Yes. Of course," he added hastily, seeing Alfred's smile falter, if not just for a little bit.

"Okay, then," his terse shoulders moved back slightly, sounding as if he were absorbing the sound, "Okay. So you…like me, right? Like, like like?"

That sentence had three too many likes for Arthur's noble interpretation of the common Cards language, so he couldn't help his scowl. "Alfred, I believe I have made it perfectly clear that my attraction to you is not that of a platonic nature. I'd be bloody surprised if my feelings changed."

"Oh. I mean, with that friend of yours – Sir Kiku, I was a little worried, heh. You know, you guys are so close, right?"

Arthur blinked at him. "Pardon?"

"It's…it's normal to not want to settle down with someone right after you've met them, right? So having your, uh, best friend back might have clarified some things from you. I'm not sure if I'm your first-" he broke off from his babbling to mull it over, "Your, uh, boyfriend, let's say that, okay? I'm not sure if I am, and even if I were, not everyone wants to settle down with their first. And I won't lie, the Deciding doesn't have time to stretch on for years, so the way to marriage is a lot faster than usual. I've been asking everyone only to be fair, but…"

"I'm aware of that," Arthur curled his toes in his dress shoes, unsure how to process all of this. "Has…has everyone else given you a satisfactory response?"

"In a way, yeah," Alfred replied, "They know the implications of what it's like to be a Chosen."

"Oh, then that's good, then." That seemed to be the end of his words, until something came to Arthur's mind. "Is there…a reason why you'd want to ask me specifically? Is it just because you're doing the rounds?"

"I…" His words tapered off as he looked at Arthur's face, the same emotion that he'd seen in the carriage when they were alone lingering in his eyes. That blue gaze rove across his eyebrows, the corners of his cheekbones and the moonlight caressing it, dropping for a heartbeat to his lips before their eyes met briefly, green to blue, mirroring the plants around them. In a way, it had felt more intimate than the dance, yet it fizzled out as he dropped his gaze. "If that's what you think, then I guess it's okay for you to say it that way."

"No, Alfred, I want to know why," Arthur insisted, not daring to move from where he was sitting on the bench.

"About what? I thought I told you about everyone else's answers. I didn't talk about that with everyone else."

"I was the last one, wasn't I?"

"…Sure," Alfred pulled back, frustration replacing his previous expression, "But I couldn't get a hold of you the entire evening. So that's why."

"Listen, that was…I thought you understood why I wanted to spend so much time with an old friend," Arthur tightened his waistcoat around his sides, feeling strangely defensive. "I thought you understood. And had no issue with it."

Alfred's gaze narrowed, his jaw locking. "I thought I didn't until I realised every time I wanted to come see you, you were preoccupied with spending time with him!"

"What about your relations with King Ludwig?" came the retort. "There's no concern amongst the Chosen that there's something going there."

"At the same, I want to know whether or not seeing Sir Kiku changed your mind!" Alfred's tone had grown louder, and with it the hurt within amplified, echoing around the corner of the gardens they had sat in. "It's different for me and Ludwig. You guys know I won't try anything. I've never thought of doing anything but committing to the Deciding, and the person who I chose."

"And so you thought that…that I would run off with someone who's only ever been my best friend? I-" Arthur broke off with a sputter, gripping onto the back of the bench. "Are you out of your mind? He has never been in my heart like that, and I thought the two of us telling you was enough to ease whatever worries you had!"

"You haven't seen him in a long time, and I'm scared!" Alfred's voice cracked as he said it, making him feel all the more worse. "Fates damn it all, I'm scared."

Unable to hold back a scoff, Arthur folded his arms defensively. "Of what? What can you possibly be afraid of? There's one of you, and another ten of me. There is nothing that you are possibly afraid of."

Alfred's eyes were steely underneath his glasses, not shifting as Arthur stood to leave. "Is that what you really think of me?"

"It's not personal," Arthur said, "It's just how the Deciding ends. You fall in love with a member of the Chosen, and they win. That's that. Every other Chosen resumes a life of their own. There can only be one victor, isn't that right?"

"How could you say it's not personal when you just brush off all my worries like that?" Alfred's voice was unusually bitter, and as much as Arthur wanted to break away his walls and be fully honest with him, that noise made him shy away. "I want to make sure you're not making some dumb decision. And if you're really reconsidering your romantic options, I can let you go, just like that, no strings attached."

That got his attention. "What?"

"I'm…I'm being honest, all right?" Abruptly, their heated words disappeared into the cool breeze of the night, and Arthur turned to see Alfred's expression shift. The noise of his panting and the way he wrapped his arms around himself made Arthur come to a standstill, the two of them looking at each other. "I'm being honest. If you…if you wanna go now that Sir Kiku's here," his voice stopped in the middle of his sentence, and he had to swallow before continuing, "I'll let you go-"

"No," Arthur blurted, unable to help speaking over him. As much as he wanted to hold back, he couldn't let this confusion pass. This is what Kiku had been warning him about, but he hadn't noticed how much he'd hurt him… "No, that's…Alfred. Listen to me."

"Arthur, I don't want you to hate me," he breathed, avoiding his gaze this time. "Like you feel like you have to be here because of my feelings for you. It's okay if you don't feel the same after all, I just want to make sure that you're okay with everything. There…there might not be denying a first love of it's – !"

Bending forward and placing one knee on the bench beside Alfred's lap, Arthur's trembling hands segued into his honey blond hair and pulled their faces together, pressing his lips to his. He pushed away the cold of his glasses and the surprised squeak that emanated from the other boy and shut his eyes hastily, hoping that the small movement would communicate what he was feeling. Both the bad – the anger, the frustration, the annoyance that Alfred would believe he would betray him so easily, and the jealousy – Fates, Arthur finally realised that he – both of them – had been jealous. So many Chosen, just one prince – what was he to him?

Yet there was the good – the soft, unyielding affection, the peaceful atmosphere of the gardens, the emotion that drew Arthur to him every time he walked into the room. So foolish, to think that Arthur would leave him the moment he was reminded of his old life, and how peaceful it had been. So foolish.

Hadn't Alfred known that Arthur had thrown away his previously found peace the moment he'd accepted that there was a chance for them to be together?

On and on and on. Arthur lost track of time and his limbs as Alfred's warm hands wrapped around his waist, seizing upon the white cloth to pull him closer, questions and barely disguised yearning behind it. Yet there was nothing that their embrace could accomplish that paltry words wouldn't, as Arthur learned and relearned the taste of Alfred's mouth on his over and over again.

There was just the two of them, growing alongside each other, blooming with each other like a rose garden, inseparable, desperate. Arthur's shaky mouth was incapable of doing anything other than kissing him, and Alfred couldn't think about anything else when Arthur was at his side. For a moment, the dance, how rushed and unsatisfied it might have been for the two of them, faded in the background as the two of them stole a performance of their own.

After what felt like an eternity, Arthur pulled back, his lungs heaving for air. His mind couldn't focus on that, though, now he was presented with the sight of a thoroughly kissed Alfred – saliva limping down from the corner of his lips, cheeks lit alight with desire, and that same burning gaze directed fully at him. Spellbinding.

"You can be such an idiot sometimes, unable to listen to anyone when you panic like that," Arthur gasped between breaths, steadying himself on the bench. Alfred's hands tugging him closer to his surprise, placing him on his lap, the two of them now facing each other.

"You're not in love with him," Alfred whispered, his voice shaky as he did so. Once again, his eyes roved over Arthur's face, but this time his fingers accompanying the action, making it feel all the more potent. "You're really not?"

"I've never been," he insisted. As he spoke, his cold hand wrapped around where Alfred's was currently touching his hair, his cheeks, the underside of his chin. "Do you really trust me that little?"

Alfred hesitated, his hand stilling from where it was about to touch the shell of Arthur's ear. "It's not that simple. I just wanted to make sure that you're a hundred percent you wanna be with me. Again, there's no hard feelings if you felt for someone else, I…I just want to know before I make a decision. Does that make sense?"

"A decision?" Arthur couldn't help but pose the question. "Are you…are you looking to send someone home?"

His response was unflinching. "Yeah, actually. It's no secret that I wanna ascend the throne soon, to lessen everyone's burdens, and now that the competition's heating up and I have to make harder and harder cuts, I didn't want anyone who wasn't certain of wanting their future here to feel like they had to stay."

"I understand that, but what does that have to do with my friendship with Kik – Sir Kiku?"

"I just wanted to make sure. You hold back a lot from me sometimes, and some days I think I get you a hundred percent, and some days I don't seem to get what either of us are doing," he smiled to himself, wringing his hands, "But…maybe we're getting there faster than any of us hoped?"

At that admission, Arthur shifted closer, letting his fingers fall further down on Alfred's arm, nicking on the edge of his black waistcoat. "Perhaps. Yet in some happily foolish way, I am glad that I care…" he looked away, tucking his chin into his chest, muttering out the next sentence. "That I…care…deeply for you."

Arthur's breath hitched as Alfred gently moved his head downwards, locking them much closer, their lips so close they could feel the other's heat. "Look only at me," Alfred whispered fervently, brushing his nose against his, glancing at the tiny freckles on the bridge of his nose. "Then, please, Arthur, just…I want you to see only me."

His next words caught in his breath, stolen away by the way Alfred was looking at him. Unable to help it, Arthur searched in the depth of his eyes for some sort of betrayal, a moment where his defenses wavered, but he didn't find it. As the moments stretched on, Arthur realised that there were no defenses, and he was being completely honest with him – and for once, he didn't resent him for letting it come so easily.

I can't tell you the same thing, because there are so many Chosen who adore you, who would be a better fit for me than you, who could love you better than I ever could. Arthur wasn't sure how intense his green gaze was, but no matter its intensity Alfred didn't falter, still looking at him.

There were hundreds of people at the party tonight, yet Alfred only hoped to be with him, only wanted him…that sort of thinking was incredibly dangerous. So dangerous to the point where Arthur wanted to say the same thing to him. To throw all caution to the wind, to forget about their duties for a heartbeat just to be together.

"Why are you requesting this of me?" It came out like a laugh, and he shifted on Alfred's lap so he could see his expression clearer. "Honestly, idiot. You're the next King of Spades. You could have anyone in the room as you so wished. You could have anything you wanted."

Alfred's voice dropped even lower. "I thought I told you this before, Artie," he said, closing his eyelids, letting Arthur feel the vulnerable flutter against his skin, pressing his forehead against his, "I dunno why it's hard for you to understand, but you know that I l-feel pretty close, even closer to you."

If Arthur wasn't so pressed up against him, so conscious of his every movement, he wouldn't have noticed Alfred's voice hitch on a word, so swift it was non existent. His pragmatic side chose to ignore it for now, and focus on what he could confess without losing his nerve. "You're the next King of Spades," he reiterated, hand following Alfred's as it cupped his chin, hanging onto Alfred's wrist. "Do forgive me if I am disbelieving of the attention you grant to me."

"Only if I can give you your forgiveness like this," Alfred murmured, then his lips were on Arthur's eye crease, then his cheekbones, then his jaw, then just outside of his lips, leaving tiny wet marks as he went. "Arthur…"

Choose me, Arthur wanted to say so badly. Even if he knew the Deciding wouldn't end like this as Alfred wanted to explore his options and do what was just for the other Chosen, the secret bubbled up with every single act of affection Alfred bestowed on him. Shifting closer on his lap, he reciprocated, marking his features with soft caresses of his thumb.

Please choose me. I want you to choose me, above everything.

Eventually, during a lull in the music, the two of them returned to the ballroom, staggering their return so it wouldn't be obvious that they had been together.

Kiku felt as if he'd been driven to rare impatience, and could no longer resist not responding to his friend's complete and utter obliviousness. He gently grasped Arthur's arm and pulled him across the ballroom, ignoring his surprised inhale of breath, and didn't stopped until they reached Alfred, who was standing uncertainly in the middle of the room. It wasn't surprising that Arthur had somehow made his way there, but it was moreso of Kiku's determination to get him to stand in front of Alfred.

"Your Highness," Kiku said, his voice steady. "Is it all right if I request a dance for my best friend, Sir Arthur Kirkland? I understand if you have been busy with the other Chosen and the other guests, but he has been speaking a great deal about wanting to dance with you all evening."

"Ah, Kiku – that's not-" Arthur started to stutter in search of a suitable deflection, but when he saw Alfred's blue eyes light up, rivalling the shine of the jewels on his mask all his default denials faded in his throat. The blue colour was as radiant as he had remembered it to be, so Arthur was cast completely defenceless against the sight once more. "That's, er. I…that is to say…I meant to say-"

"Really?" Alfred's voice was laced with delight, delight that Arthur still couldn't believe every day was meant for him. "Pfft, well. I'm not gonna lie, I was searching for you guys later today, but y'know. There's many people tonight, and there hasn't been much time for me to go looking much."

"That is because everyone is so excited for the event that they could not help but visit," Kiku's compliments came effortlessly, "Regardless, as Arthur's friend," the same emphasis was applied once more, "Not to mention the fact that he is too shy and polite to march up to you and demand a dance, I hope my aid will suffice."

"Kiku, please," Arthur started again, trying to fight off the heat in his cheeks until he realised what a service his best friend was trying to do for him. Not only was he firmly defining their relationship as nothing more than platonic, but he was about to read into Arthur's feelings seemingly effortlessly. Now even the background music had quietened, leaving Arthur to stumble around in his mind for an appropriate response. "Thank…thank you. We can definitely catch up later, if that's all right with you?"

Nodding, Kiku retreated with a knowing smile behind them, leaving Alfred and Arthur alone on the now attentive dance floor.

"So, Sir Arthur?" Surprisingly, even Alfred's smile was quiet as he held out his gloved hand expectantly. "Can I have this dance?"

"You," he cleared his throat, steadying himself. "You may," Arthur replied, exhaling before taking his gloved hand.

"Finally managed to get a moment of your time," Alfred commented as the music started and they were put through their paces. Instinctively, Arthur hunted for anger, resentment, frustration, anything really, but Alfred's tone was as cheerful as always.

"Your tie is completely loose," he said in way of greeting. In response, Alfred unhooked his hand from his waist and touched Arthur's fringe, a smirk playing on his lips. "What is it, dolt?"

"Did you not forget you watched me loosen it, huh? It's just a dance. Enjoy for a bit while we can, yeah?"

The two of them came to circle around the middle of the marble floor, their masks catching the crystal of the chandelier above them. Now there were a lot less Chosen running amok even with the Hearts members, it was easy for the guests and the cameras to find Alfred and his masked partner tangled in the center.

As they moved, the papier mâché bridge of their masks brushed against each other as they turned around, making the contact feel much closer than it actually had. Though for the moment they were disguised inbetween the sheer number of bodies on the dance floor, it still sent Arthur's heartbeat racing.

Normally, Arthur would be searching for the fastest way to make himself invisible in any packed room, but this time it was different. With Kiku's confidence, the looming possibility of his improvement in the ranks and a taste of what it would be to be Alfred's queen, it was all right to be in his arms so publicly, at least for now.

Arthur had no idea where to look with his eyes, where to touch with his fingers, where to take in the scent of his cologne with his nose. Alfred, in all his state, was truly untouchable.

One hand gently cupped his lower back, pulling him closer. Barely hidden under his jewelled mask, Arthur could see Alfred's smile soften, asking him a tantalising question without parting his lips. As usual, he was too disarming, hastily fanning away the poorly fortified walls Arthur had put up between them that night. Sure, his protective barriers worked excellently on everyone else, but with Alfred, it was no good.

"This sort of thing happens awfully often at balls, doesn't it?" Arthur tried to make a joke, yet it came out breathless as if he'd ran a lap around the palace.

"I guess you could say that. But," Alfred's breath hitched when Arthur's hands started to settle on the small button of his black waistcoat, "I can only say that about you."

"You say an awful lot of things about me, Your Highness."

The sparkle in Alfred's eyes was even less obscured by the holes of the mask. "Maybe I should stop talking then?"

It was his swan song, his last warning. Arthur's biggest secret he'd ever kept in his life so far, something that had been half a year in the making, would be unleashed if he answered his question. There would be no more peace for either of them, and there was no turning back.

Arthur allowed him to savour their secrecy for another moment longer, holding it in his mind like he had before their first kiss. He thought of the child he had been scarcely months ago, not brave enough to step out into the world with someone as prominent as the future King of Spades by his side. Whatever peace he'd desperately clung to would be destroyed if he continued.

Taking a deep breath, he continued. "Then perhaps with your lips," his gloved fingers curled against Alfred's chest, where he could feel the prince's heart pounding, coming to life underneath his touch, "You could do something else."

Alfred's trembling fingers eased Arthur's mask off his face, then he pulled him close, the hard edge of his mask colliding with his soft nose as their lips melded to each other's.

In that moment, between their embrace and Arthur's soles lifting him back down to Cards, it seemed as if everything else had dissolved. No watching guests, no upbeat tunes, no clinking of glasses, no feverish gossip. Just the two of them, the universe under their feet, completely consumed.

"Holy fuck," Leon blurted out before he could stop himself, slapping a hand to his mouth as he said it. Even though he sounded out of breath, as if he'd run all the way back to the ballroom, and his mask was askew, his surprise was reflected in the blunt words. "Shit, sorry."

"Oh my," Sakura murmured, turning pink underneath her mask. In the background, someone's glass shattered, but the four of them were too busy watching the two of them on the floor. "That is…Arthur is quite bold, is he not?"

"I don't want to look, but at the same time I do," Emma was blushing furiously, hiding her face in her friend's shoulder, "Fates, they knew the cameras were all going to be here! Man, Arthur's a dark horse for sure."

Kiku didn't say anything, simply smiled knowingly behind his glass, glad to know that his intervention had helped after all. Even if the party continued for hours on end much merriment was to be had, the kiss – and consequently, the young Chosen member Arthur Kirkland – was the talk of the celebrations afterward.

"Yao!" Almost whizzing past the Jack's study, Alfred used one hand to anchor himself back to the doorway. "Hey, you free right now?"

"Just for a bit, then I suppose we have to get back to the party." Observing his liege's flushed expression, Yao couldn't help but feel his stern expression collapse into a fond smile. "You're unusually – well, chipper than usual. What do you need?"

Alfred sprinted in to speak, unaware that they were not alone: "What's left for us to do to finish the Deciding?"