disclaimer for bad author

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

"You may leave if you want to, my dear," Alfred said, touching her knee gently as to not startle her. Having broken the news to Matthew and Yao already, he wasn't sure he could stand so much heartbreak. "There's nothing holding you back from that. Not even me."

"Bu…but you are," Emma sniffled, rubbing her pink nose with her handkerchief. "I really do care for you, Alfred! And…and even though, sniff, my brother is gone and I should be with Tim and the rest of my family, I can't leave you now. There's…there's a lot of things I don't want to remember there."

She shut her green eyes and let her head loll onto Alfred's shoulder, reveling in his warmth before letting out another sob.

"Father? What kind of magic is that? Not even Mother can do that!" Emma giggled, running her hands through her short, wavy brown hair.

"E-Em? Oh, my sweetness, you shouldn't be here. It's secret work," Emma's father said, tilting his gaze fondly to his only daughter. She noticed his arm slackened immediately, crumpling to his side before he greeted her.

"Does Tim know?" she asked, crawling onto her father's knee. Even though he was preoccupied with work as her mother had suddenly swollen up and seemed to be carrying a basketball on her belly, she loved spending time with her parents, even if they weren't her big brother.

"No, sweet, not even your brother knows yet," her father laughed. "Your mama does, even though Fates knows what she's doing with the rebels. That sort of manipulation could hurt your little brother, you know. Bless her, those meetings aren't good for her health."

"Meetings?"

"He was only nine when…when…Alfred, why did they have to choose him?"

"These rebels will do anything to get at us. They don't like that they've been constrained – but, Em, I don't know, I just…"

But she did know. She remembered it as vividly as it had happened yesterday; how her whole family watched Louis be sentenced to death just for existing.

One Month Before the Deciding

"All right, settle down, all of you! Jan, what's the issue today?"

Emma fidgeted in her seat, her short brown hair barely scratching the surface of the dark seat. Tim exchanged looks with her, continuing to stare harshly at her father. Her mother, her blonde hair pulled into a ponytail unlike her usual bun, was sitting next to Louis, their little brother. Her father, however, had asked an audience with the leader of the Joker Rebels.

By the Fates, from what her father had told her, she was one of the most powerful people in Cards. He had said that she was even stronger than of the Clubs royalty, which were – well, royalty! Even though they were said to be the weakest in magic.

But it wasn't the usual type of strength, her mother had added. It was something beyond the time manipulation of Spades and Diamonds' life altering powers. They called it the signature power of the First Joker…

…bending reality itself.

"You just said your daughter and eldest son couldn't do anything as children," the leader said, pulling on her jet-black robes tighter. "What I advise, Jan, take your wife and your kids home and keep this war effort against us."

"Louis is different – he was conceived right when the renewal of the First Law. The thing we've been fighting for all along. The ability should be stronger with him than the rest of my family."

"What about the other two, then?" the leader sighed, giving Emma and Tim a once over. Her brother folded his arms and simply stared down at her. Emma didn't say anything, merely looking back at her. All this sitting around, and for what? Her mother should be going home and filling in those Deciding forms that had come in the mail the other night (even though they cost a fortune, but she would be happy to give up a year of schooling anyway!) Ah, Prince Alfred of Spades…

"She's a little dreamier than I would expect coming as your daughter, Milla," the leader snorted, her bangles falling down her face as she leaned forward. "She does look like you when you first joined, hmm?"

"She's no fighter in the traditional way, that's for sure," her mother said. Emma flinched at those words, was she that useless? Didn't her mother herself say that her children were to play no part in the rebels' fight?

"Mom, you can't say that! You said yourself we couldn't-" she began to retort, but her mother simply nodded her head and continued to speak.

"You see, since there are three Decidings going on this year, we've heard about your little plan to infiltrate them."

"It's one of the more peaceful ways to achieve the repeal of the First Law. I'm not too certain about our odds, though. Those smarms in the Holding Facilities will take all the places."

"My daughter would be interested in a form," her mother said silkily, turning around to give her daughter a demure gaze. "Especially with her interest in the Spadian kingdom, I think it would be better to give her a hand in the cause instead of sitting at school and being…thoroughly brainwashed by people who are taught to believe that the First Law is necessary."

"Mom!" Emma gaped, her brown hair flying out behind her. "There's no cha-"

"Well, if you see fit, Milla, you have a point. I'll contact the smugglers tomorrow."

"Very well. But Louis," she continued.

The leader cut her off with a swish of her hand.

"But in the meantime, let's see how dangerous your son is. The main attraction, no?"

"I can't just leave you, Alfred," she sobbed. With a rush of exhilaration, she felt his touch envelop hers. The fur of the gloves felt a little more comforting than the harsh winter air. "You're so close, and it's just such an amazing experience being with you. The two of us would be perfect together - I know that I can't give you up like this, can't I?"

She knew somewhere, somehow, in her heart, that it wasn't freak luck. She had been chosen, somehow, by hundreds of thousands all over the country just to come here. Yes, there were other people, but what did they matter? Even if Alfonso and Arthur were also interested in Alfred, they couldn't possibly be feeling the same way about him than she did.

"Hello, Erin…is Dylan available? Or is it time for bed? I'm not quite sure, since we're so close to the border…" Arthur said, trailing off as he noticed the exhausted Jack close the door with a bang. It was unusual for the Jack to behave so wearily since he was always so proper and regal, but he understood that everyone had their bad days, royal or not.

"We only have around an hour time difference from here, so he's just gotten out of the tub," Erin's reply was muted compared to usual squealing and boy talk – although she sounded a lot clearer. Maybe it was because of the new phone they had gotten that Christian had mentioned in his post? "Is the girl with the little brother…"

"She's…well…she's taking it hard. Um, let's just say that's why I want to speak to him tonight?"

"It could have been him, right?" his sister said all of a sudden. "If the rebels are targeting anyone – Fates, Artie, be safe there."

"I doubt that the palace combined would let me get hurt," Arthur said quietly. And, well, Alfred…

"Never mind. Ah, he's here – no, silly tyke, Cormac put that towel around you for a reason! Cormac!" he heard Erin bellow. "Finish your job and look after your brother!"

"Wee tyke won't sit still!" he heard Cormac's voice come over the receiver as well, and heard a distant Arthur? before it faded away. There was a mess of static, and then the sound of the loudspeaker being turned on in the Kirkland house echoed around the room.

"Artie! It's been too long since you phoned!" he laughed, and Arthur felt himself relax and let out a relieved smile. Even though all this trauma and confusion, his little brother had stayed exactly the same.

"Dylan! How's it been? Have you been behaving good at home and school?" Fates, Arthur, you sound old. As in bloody ancient.

"Hey, don't ask me about boring school," he could practically hear Dylan's pout over the phone. "Tell me how you and the prince have been doing!"

"Oh, dear, have you been talking with Erin recently?" Arthur sighed, sputtering to his sister's offended cry. "Well, we're doing as fine as we could." He blushed a little, remembering the heated kiss and Alfred's cosy embrace last night, underneath the banister. "But I'm not worried about you? Are you all safe at home?"

"Well…Allistor was worried about a lot of stuff on the telly," Dylan said. "But there's nothing weird. There's some more guys with jackets near the fence place, but that's it."

Guards? Arthur thought, but quickly remembered what the advisor from earlier on had said with a release of his tightened chest. The rebels were advancing alongside the borders that Spades shared with Diamonds. His family lived in the Spades – Hearts borders, but reinforcements weren't the best news he'd have liked to hear.

"They're just practicing things, I guess. You'll be all right. Um, I've got to go now," Arthur mumbled, noticing that the Jack had re entered the room, his smart hat adjusted and his robes neatly tucked in and looking a lot more relaxed than his flurried state. "Please be safe and listen to what Allistor and Erin says. Don't eat too many almond cookies, all right?"

"Yep, Artie! We miss you – but Erin says don't come home!" his little brother said, sending two very loud kisses through the intercom.

"Don't come home unless you're inviting us to your wedding to Prince Alfred!" Erin laughed. "We miss you, no matter what Christian says!"

"Hey! No, she's lying, we don't, Artiekins. Just…don't do anything reckless. Or wild. With him, of course. Don't forget to use prote-" Christian butted in cheekily.

"That's rich, coming from you!" Cormac grumbled, but Allistor's grumpy voice drowned them all out. Arthur sputtered, his brother hadn't gotten any forward with these few months…

"ALL RIGHT, Christian, you've forgotten that there are young ears here. Fates, thank you, Cormac. Goodnight, Arthur!"

The Next Day

"Umm…Yao, can I come in?" Matthew said quietly, tiptoeing into the Jack of Spades' study. It was getting rather late, at eleven pm, and he'd rather all the fuss with Alfred calm down before he talked to his mentor. Since he had so much on his plate nowadays, there was barely any time to account for the most hardworking of them.

He couldn't really see his appearance except for his raven black hair falling in a ponytail against his coat, but there was a sunflower pot near his desk. Matthew found it a little odd, but quickly positioned himself behind the door and knocked once, a little timidly.

Yao jumped, brushing two or three pieces of paper aside as he did so He stood up immediately, his pulse picking up speed as he swept the papers to the front again and placed Ivan's sunflower back into the pot. He squarely placed it on his desk, straightened out his outfit for what felt like the nth time as he turned to face Matthew with a large smile on his face, careful to keep his arms slack as to not intimidate his liege.

"Umm, Yao, I would like to-" he began quietly.

Unfortunately, this quiet and peace was timely ruined by someone (namely Crown Prince Alfred Fitzgerald Jones) bursting into the room, his blond hair flying out behind him as he went straight for the hug.

Matthew scowled and looked away, straightening his waistcoat in the meantime. He wished he had Kuma with him right now to hurl at his brother. Or something with the likes of that.

"Oh, Mattie!" he said, patting his brother's shoulder before turning back to Yao. "So, about the Trial plan thing we have-"

"What's the sudden rush, Alfred?" Yao asked warmly, gesturing to Matthew to sit down on his chairs next to his desk. "Of course we may talk about it. It is essential to the process, anyway. Matthew, we'll need your counsel here as well."

Matthew had never felt so helpful for him in that moment, and pulled his chair closer as Yao rummaged in a colour coded folder and took out a few pieces of paper.

"All right, Alfred. These are the three venues we were discussing, right?"

"Uh, I think so…" Alfred said, carefully examining the small stacks of information. His foot was tapping; a sign of blatant impatience, and Matthew wrinkled his nose. While he was off flirting and finding love without restraint, he and Yao had been working tirelessly to make ends meet for this Deciding. Even though it was an effort to find the queen for the kingdom, surely he could have shown a little more respect?

"Al!" he hissed, nudging him in the ribs. "Could you at least thank Yao, if not me? He's been working very hard-"

"I'm…I'm sorry, but I really want to finish this before anyone else gets hurt. But this really means a lot to me, so thank you!"

"Well, then, Matthew's going to have to be your manners coach after you ascend the throne doubly," Yao chuckled, reorganizing the papers before facing them again. "All right. Are you fine with the two phases?"

Alfred nodded steadily, scanning the sheet as he moved along. Matthew folded his arms, but leant over to peer over his shoulder anyway. It wasn't like he would have to ever do this, right?

There were traditionally two parts to Trials – one where the Chosen would perform various feats of magic that were special to the Kingdoms (growth and appearance for Diamonds, life for Hearts, fortune and mental power for Clubs, time manipulation and physical strength), and the other one where the royal would step in to assist them. And, of course, there were the cameras.

"I think if we had to change even the slightest thing about the Deciding process now, the advisors would throw a fit," Alfred laughed, but his tone was a little nervous and Matthew quickly thought about the new lashes on his back, still barely faded. Yao didn't know, of course, but…

"All right, then. Matthew and I will inform you more in detail about the venues individually later, but shall we discuss about the timeframe?"

"To be fair, I was thinking of about a month," Matthew said, arms still folded as he nodded, meeting Yao's gaze with a determined flair. "But since you're in such a rush."

"You're right," Alfred said quietly, twiddling his thumbs in thought. "So…will a week, two weeks be all right? Just before New Years' so the three of us won't have to do any work."

"What about Yao? He's handling the rebels hovering near our borders, not to mention the queen's work and some. I'm all right with my workload, but his stress levels aren't going to take this too well if you rush it."

"Matthew, I appreciate your concern-" the Jack began, sounding a little taken aback, but Alfred leant in and quietly beckoned his brother as well.

"Yao, I honestly don't mind waiting a little longer if it means you and Matthew have a little less stress. I'll be okay with putting it off-"

"Alfred, Matthew," Yao said, smiling. "I want to see the new queen as much as you do. I don't mind taking on a couple of extra responsibilities if it makes you boys happy. You two know better than anyone else how much of a workaholic I am." He stuttered a little on the last sentence, but seemed genuinely cheerful.

"I'm taking on more jobs as well! As the Ace I should be helping you more with the rebels…even if I'm only halfway through that trade alliance agreement we were discussing with Diamonds over Port." Matthew insisted.

"I'll help too! I'll be the hero and help out as much as I can without stopping the Deciding!" Alfred declared. Both Matthew and Yao waited for him to do the same pose he had even when he was little – his index finger thrust into the air, but it didn't come.

"Yao, can I take these papers up to my room? I'll be ready in the morning after breakfast. Thank you so much! Goodnight, Mattie – unless you're coming?"

"Umm, yes, I suppose I am. See you in the morning, Yao," Matthew said quietly as Alfred jogged out of the door into the hallway.

"Wait, Matthew," the Jack said, tapping gently on the table with his pen nib to get his attention before he turned around. "Is it just me, or is Alfred finally…maturing, I suppose? Or is he just subdued from the recent tragedy – well, events?"

Matthew, if you ever were to tell Yao about Al's scars, this would be a very, very good time, he told himself internally, but brushed the thought away. They all had too much on their plates as of right now. But Yao had a point – his stupid, immature older brother had started to change for the good – just a little.

"I think he's maturing a little, although I never thought I'd see the day," Matthew smiled, and Yao chuckled, patting his charge's arm.

"Great, then. Get some rest, and I'll see you in the morning."

"Don't go to sleep over your papers, Yao! Goodnight," Matthew said, and closed the door with a smile on his face.

With everyone in such a cooperative mood, perhaps it would be a good time to ask Katya and secretly write Gilbert again?

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