i literally just realized we hit 60 chapters here oops

and thank you for all those very kind words! it really means a lot to me, and i'm so honoured people are still reading this haha. this fic has been a part of my life since...i'm not sure, around two years now? it seems like forever lmao.

i'll finally get to replies this time - i double set my phone's notifications i swear

as always, i do not own the selection nor hetalia. these belong to kiera cass and himaruya hidekaz respectively.

disclaimer for second person in the last paragraph!

also. i'm not going to talk about what happened in the US, but alfred f jones deserves better tho

The next day, Alfred woke up later than usual. Then he forgot his shirt, prompting his poor maid to turn bright red and quickly escort herself out of his room. To top it all off, he'd had to be dragged by Matthew to breakfast since he could barely keep his eyes open, but secretly felt thankful for his brother once he noticed Yao's exasperated face.

"What are you going to do with that young lady?" he asked quietly as soon as he took his place next to him, watching Natalya stick a fork in her pancakes and slowly chew.

Of course, Yao being Yao required a mountain of paperwork and answers after their discovery about Natalya, and threatened to throw her in jail four times.

Needless to say, it was kind of the reason he had a bad time sleeping.

"Natalya, well, sort of runs her own agenda. I just think we should let her do her own thing and leave as soon as possible," he muttered, casting a look to her. She was poised as always, her expression tight but not strained, but seemed a little more relaxed as usual as she and Arthur talked for a moment before returning to their breakfasts.

In fact, all of the Elite looked a little less stressed as they dug into their breakfasts. They had all settled for warmer foods now the winter chill was starting to set in, and the light snowfall was a picturesque view to sit against. Alfred mentally reminded himself to look after Hero's paws; they got tender after the marble floors in the palace and the snow banks outside got freezing.

"Uh, so everyone," he announced after breakfast, to a smiling audience. "There's not really a lot prepared today, so you'll be free to do whatever you want. There's a lesson at three with the Jack, so I guess if you want to do well in the magic trials then you should come."

"Of course," a voice piped up. The others quickly joined in, some slower than others, but Alfred didn't think about it much as he sat back down to chat to Yao for a few more moments.

"If you're ready to talk to me, bring Lady Natalya and meet me – and Matthew - in my office at seven tonight, all right?" Yao said. "I have some things that I have to look after, so you don't need to worry about it. I'll see if I can contact the Clubs Primary Suit if I have to."

"I, uh, talked with the King yesterday. He is already preparing to send her home."

A strange emotion appeared on Yao's face for a moment before he nodded quietly.

"I think you might want to talk to the others. They're wanting to talk to you, we'll discuss her later."

"Is it all right if we talk about the Trials again? You said you found a good spo-"

"What? Yes, yes," came the suddenly distracted reply, and Alfred watched in confusion as Yao quickly went back to his room.

Was it because he was that much of a pain to be with nowadays?

"Any reason for not spending time with the Elite today?" Matthew asked quietly, folding his arms in a questioning gesture. "And why your bedroom?"

"Just a lot of things I'm confused about," Alfred said, sounding tired. "I'm just…well. I don't like the process which we have to go through to choose my queen. And Yao…Yao's been acting weird."

"I mean, Yao's busy as always. I'll look after him soon. Deciding? Well, I guess you have a point. Dating thirty people at once sounds like a horrible nightmare," Matthew scoffed. "You even think about falling in love before?"

"I was thinking about that the other night…I'm attached to so many people that I don't think I can break their heart when I'm forced to." Alfred sighed, his mouth twisting into a frown. Matthew instantly knew that he was being dead serious.

"Look. What do you need help with? Yao's almost found the spot for the trials, if all goes well we'll finish the week before Christmas. That still on par with your plan?"

"What does it feel like to love with no strings attached?" his brother said quietly, suddenly sounding a world away. "Without the world fixated on your golden boy status and harder and harder choices to be made? What does it feel like to meet – to know your soulmate?"

"I don't know," Matthew said flatly, his throat constricting with the lie. He did know. Of pale skin and snow-white hair, lopsided grins and slender flicking mischievously from side to side. "But wasn't it mentioned that you-"

"-don't have the luxury of that. It's not up to me the anoint the Mark in the end, the Fates have to do that," Alfred said. "What do I do then?"

"You forget that the Fates confirm your choice, not make it for you," Matthew said. "If you believe in the person that you choose, the Mark should appear."

"I want to go to ask for guidance in the chapel downstairs." Alfred said suddenly, standing up and slamming his fist against Matthew's neat stack of papers.

"That took me hours," Matthew said, but no real venom was in his voice. "If they've really started talking with the Elite, it sounds like a good idea. You should bring one for Hearts, just in case, all right? She's the one you should be sacrificing today."

"Good point," Alfred said, but he was already halfway out the door.

The rays of coloured light were what greeted the prince as he approached the small building. Unlike other castles, the shrine to the Fates of Cards was nestled deep inside the palace for the space.

Slipping off his shoes and straightening out his cape, carefully keeping a grip on his silver tin, he walked inside the room, bare footsteps striking against the marble as he approached the four mats – yellow, green, red and blue in the middle as the main Fate they worshipped.

Alfred approached the statue first, kneeling down in front of the carefully carved shape in a show of respect. The Fate, with his gold flecked hair pulled back in a band seemed to command an army with his one stretched out hand – he was also holding an intricately designed book and seemed to be drawing magic from it.

"My Fate…" Alfred began, and pulled the violet cape from his shoulders, draping it around the figure. "Please take this as an offering to keep magic steady in Cards. We will hold a Trial very soon, and this blessing is needed."

Please, protect Arthur, he thought subconsciously. He doesn't need this haunting him. Make sure his magic doesn't frighten him.

Bowing once more, he laid his fingers against the tome that his Fate held then moved on to the Diamonds, a figure laden with carved jewels and arms encircling his chest, a glassy expression filling his eyes, however beautifully carved his features were. The Clubs Fate was covered with a thick veil that covered her spoken of motherly features, but her arms were outstretched as a mother would to her child that gave a certain type of warmth, almost canceling out the menacingly carved little creature near her feet.

However, these weren't the Fates Alfred needed to sacrifice to today – the one he did need to, the one representing Hearts, was placed near the Spades symbolizing their newly formed bond. (To his amusement, the Clubs was the farthest away from them.)

Her tiny toes were outstretched in her sculpture, and Alfred could see the flutters of her small cape as she reached up, hands tucked neatly behind her back. Her long hair rested against her shoulders, and her childish face was fixed in a joyful expression unlike the other three.

"Hearts," Alfred said hesitatingly, placing down his box and gently opening the lid. "Fate, I'd, um, like to ask something of you." He took out the things from inside – a small bracelet, a music box – little girlish-like things he knew that would bring him favour. "I've been going through a Deciding recently, and there's something I need help with…"

He barely noticed the dimming of the stained glass lights amongst the murals as Matthew opened the door behind him, his expression curious.

You're not the only lovelorn person in this castle, you know.

The snow was falling across the carriage as Natalya sat facing Jamie, her attention fixed on the letter Alfred had left her as she pulled away from the palace.

Dear Natalya,

Thank you for your parting words. You told me that the person that I loved would ruin my life. I thought it was you for a moment, the way that you just seemed to turn it over (well, to be fair, I looked at everyone the same way after you told me), but as we talked for longer and I got to know you better, I knew that you could never think of me that way. And I knew that I couldn't either.

But I don't regret being your friend. You have helped me in so many ways – ways that you don't know yet – and I could only wish I could help you a little longer. But if your place belongs back in Clubs with your brother, I'll let you be. I'm thankful you got to say goodbye to Katya without anyone being suspicious. I'm sorry that I can't mention a lot of things without you being put in a troubling position. Our countries aren't the best of allies, but our friendship has given me faith.

You mentioned those little dolls the first time we talked. Matroyshka, I think the Jack of Spades said they were. If it's not too much of a problem, could you send one over? I know you laughed at me before, but…if the time's right, I think it could be a nice engagement gift, just in case my stupid mouth can't say anything right.

Even if I'm not one hundred percent sure who it's for just yet, I think you know. You gave me that smirk, said his name, his face you wouldn't stop picking out. I think you were rooting for him in the beginning. It's just a gut feeling that you went after her but not him…but you're smarter than I am when it comes to love, I know. I'm guessing you still have someone at home…?

Don't tell me who I'll choose in the end, though. I need to find out by myself.

Thank you again.

Alfred.

Clubs.

He is standing in the hallway.

He's lost his tie and waistcoat in favour of a thick winter coat, not so different from her own as her carriage pulls up to the front door and Jamie hops out, shivering for a moment before timidly reaching out for Natalya.

Wrapped in her shawl, she tries to not search, but as soon as she can sense him, she can't help but choke out a sob as she hears the thud of books against the pedestal where they propped up books against as children.

She knows where she is going as she pelts across the room, kicking off her heels and sprinting against the freezing marble.

Jamie nods, falling back to stay with the carriage, but she runs into the palace leaving him behind just this once.

He is there, sitting forlornly at the ebony piano of their youth, his fingers tickling the keys, drawing out a sweet melody. But the only one Natalya needs to hear is his voice.

"Eduard," she says quietly, her hands falling to her sides in a rare moment of vulnerability.

You're right, Alfred. I do.

He freezes, then turns around, the clap of his shoes against the surface making her heart beat that little bit faster.

A sound. "Natalya…Natalya!"

In that moment, she does not care if her brother were to storm in the room, which she knows he will not. Just.

Just, the sensation of her Eduard is enough for her to start laughing as she has not done for years, at the way he clings to his thick coat and begins to cry happy tears, his glasses lopsided and stained with glossed over eyes.

"Marry me," she blurts out before she realizes it, feels his crying stop for a moment. Aquamarine meets ice blue, and the world is so still for just another heartbeat.

Then he resumes weeping, sobbing yes yes yes, as she repeats the phrase in disbelief as the two of them collapse on the floor.

Alfred…find this happiness like I have. You deserve all of it.

replies

tomato talks - hello tomato. i'm sorry i forgot to put you in the soup i was cooking tonight lmao. thank you, i'm super flattered you called it a masterpiece haha.

pastaaddict - i think they actually would! i don't think we've seen the last of the princess yet.

overworldly - yes, it's the final four! even i have some trouble remembering sometimes haha. whether it'll appear on arthur, though...that's a secret for now ;)

russia says hello - i was kind of looking for another way to portray aph belarus as more than a psycho/like i see her in lots of fics? i feel like she's a really in depth character and i was more than happy to explore this side of her!

kittymagician - :') that means a lot as a writer. there's been some times where i just feel like my writing isn't good enough, etc. but thank you ;u;

sumaluma - omg bless you. and i prewrite chapters as i go on, and (my phone notes are getting so long) so i don't think i'll be thinking of abandoning any time soon!

- regine no, exams cards lol. i mean last chapter it wasn't really hinted who she was rooting for so i hope it's going to be a bit more obvious with this one! and they, well...still have a bit of healing to go, especially between the king and the soon to be king haha. and i don't think natalya knows exactly what happened to ivan/yao, or another purpose that ivan secretly sent her for...

hearthorse11 - ah please don't be sorry! i understand everyone's super busy (i should be writing english thesis paper oops) so please take your time - i just hope you're still enjoying the story i'm putting out.

broken together - wow your username sounds like a couple that's going to be in p hot water when this fic ends (feel free to guess LMFAO) but THANK YOU - i hope what happens won't disappoint you ;)

your words are all so nice. motivation and faith restored, i feel more like i'm writing this for everyone's enjoyment and not just, you know, for me, three trash bins (also me but more powerful) and a chair (not me.)

reviews, favourites and follows are what will keep me writing, so please go ahead and leave them!