A/N: Starting from this chapter, the love (hi)story that Queen tells Noelle about consists of the most important flashback scenes that regard it. This will last until the end of the first half of chapter 32. I initially planned on writing these in the first person, but forgot about that concept just as quickly and now the flashback chapters have been written in the third person instead, like the (first) few chapters of the story that take place in the present.

Almost 15 years ago, all of the Dark Worlds lived in the biggest peace and harmony that one could ever imagine, and their many denizens, when combined, would occasionally gather for very important events.

One of those important events was the funeral of the previous Cyber Queen, whose daughter and only biological offspring, who was nearly 19 back then, had to attend a mandatory coronation one week before the former's passing.

It was quite crowded at the funeral, and despite that, the atmosphere was quiet, gloomy and dark, as if a humongous rainstorm was going on there, if not anywhere else.

The denizens of the Card Kingdom were also present among the guests, and they showed sympathy to those of the Cyber World for they had lost a very important monarch.

The open casket of the previous Cyber Queen idly stood in the middle of the large circle of guests, being decorated with hundreds of light blue, white and black roses, which were her favourite kind.

The late monarch herself had been laid in the casket as gracefully and peacefully as possible, with one single light blue rose having been placed in her left hand, which was her dominant hand for which she was also quite remarkable. She looked to be very calm while she passed away many hours ago… the sight was a somewhat beautiful one to behold to the point where most of the guests couldn't help but become very emotional, for they remembered her as one of the best monarchs in the history of the Cyber World.

"Dear denizens of all Dark Worlds" Adam, an orange Addison, started the eulogy. "Recently, we have unfortunately lost Serial Number Q4U3EW6XX1E8N, better known as our beloved previous Cyber Queen. She was a stupendous ruler who radiated nothing but order, strength, willpower, and peace." Some silence. "The entire Cyber World loved her with the entireties of even their existence, and especially the younger generations always looked up to her as a groundbreaking woman."

Serial Number Q5U4EX7YY2E9N, the young and recently coronated Cyber Queen, was visibly devastated about her mother's loss. Even half a second before the eulogy had started, she quietly cried tears that somewhat resembled battery acid, her visor showing two broken heart icons as she did.

Her stepfather, Rolek, a Swatchling dressed in black with slight hints of white and burgundy, held Queen close in his grasp and rubbed her shoulder to somewhat console her.

"Oh, sweetheart…" Rolek whispered to Queen. "It's not easy, is it?"

The young cyber monarch shook her head as she wiped some tears away with the back of her hand.

"Never Has Been…" she quietly brought out.

"I'm truly sorry for you that things had to be rushed like this… this might not be the most helpful form of encouragement, but it's the least I can do."

"Doesn't Mean I Don't Love You Dad…"

Rolek handed Queen a handkerchief to dry her tears with and carefully kissed her cheek.

"I appreciate your acceptance. I love you too, my sweet girl. To the moon and back."

Rolek, who had been the previous Cyber Queen's second husband, was now her widower. He had been married to her since the current Queen was aged 2, which was merely 3 months after the loss of the previous Cyber Queen's first husband, the former Cyber King, whom she lost to the lethal ILOVEYOU virus.

From a previous but very troublesome relationship, Rolek also had a child, Swatch, whom their biological mother didn't want to keep, which is why the two exes broke up very quickly after Swatch's birth.

Swatch themself, who was 17 at the time of the funeral, has never met their biological mother, and had almost immediately been adopted by the previous Cyber Queen ever since she officially started her relationship with Rolek, which was when Swatch was still a baby. At the same time, Rolek also adopted the then-Queen's young daughter as his own, who immediately accepted him as her father as well.

Additionally, Swatch and the current Queen always had a very close bond as stepsiblings since they first met, always being there for one another during even the most difficult times, the time of the funeral absolutely not being an exception.

"Our beloved monarch was an amazing wife for two times, too" Adam continued in the meantime. "At first, to our beloved Serial Number K1I9N96G, better known as the Cyber King, whom we unfortunately lost to a silent killer, the ILOVEYOU virus, nearly 17 years ago. Her second husband, now her widower, is our beloved emperor Rolek, who is additionally an amazing father to Swatch, his own child whom he rescued from a highly troublesome previous relationship, and to whom our beloved monarch was a fantastic mother as well. Rolek was the puzzle piece that completed this very nuclear yet colourful and loving royal family, and brought unusual yet unique colours to our monarch's reign as well."

"That's You Dad…" the young Queen said. "You Completed My Life And I Would Still Be Very Much Lost Without You…" She somewhat smiled through her tears.

"No matter what'll happen" Rolek said, "I'll always be there for you, sweetheart. Even if you had to become the new Cyber Queen too early, I'll support you through thick and thin…!" He, too, had burst out in tears by now, and couldn't help but let out a typical Swatchling scream in between his sobs. "E-excuse me…!"

Queen immediately handed the handkerchief back to Rolek so that he could wipe his tears and blow his nose with it now.

Swatch, who was equally devastated about the loss of their stepmother, quietly watched the interaction between their father and stepsister happen while they sat at the piano, scheduled to play a funeral song once the eulogy would be over.

"One month ago, however" Adam still continued, "while spending her free time in the big, lively Cyber City - her sanctuary, as she always called it -, our beloved monarch had apparently met with a very unfortunate fate. In an alleyway, while trying to enter her favourite go-to spot, she got hacked in one of the sneakiest fashions, by a suspicious yet anonymous Poppup, who pretended to offer a grand upgrade to her… which, in fact, was a computer bug that they had worked on for a long time. This bug had slowly but surely manifested into the Conficker virus, which additionally caused our beloved monarch's core to overheat all of a sudden. No matter how hard our trusty, confident and hard-working Ambyu-Lances had tried to cool it down… nothing had worked, unfortunately. Not even the strongest, cooling remedies available. Our dear monarch swiftly started malfunctioning, but always refused to give up her fight nonetheless. Her most important last wish was last week's coronation of her only daughter, Serial Number Q5U4EX7YY2E9N, whom we now know as our current and most recent Cyber Queen."

The young King of Spades from the Card Kingdom, who was 20 at the time of the funeral, as well as the youngest of all four kings of said kingdom, was visibly startled upon having heard this part of the eulogy. How could that nasty impostor do such a gut-wrenching thing to such a groundbreaking, orderly woman?! Especially her daughter didn't deserve to indirectly experience this at such a young age!

Her daughter… yes, the new Cyber Queen. She… she was… pretty for a young queen?

"We do hope that our current Cyber Queen will be as much as a stupendous queen as our former Cyber Queen has been. Dear Serial Number Q5U4EX7YY2E9N, my condolences go out to you during this very difficult time. May your beloved mother rest in all peace, and seek order, strength, willpower and peace in the afterlife as well, until the two of you meet again."

Queen somewhat bristled upon being referred to by her full name. Nobody ever referred to her that way during important events. Usually, she'd only be addressed that way whenever her mother would think she was guilty of something grand, or made a similar big mistake.

She then meekly stepped out of Rolek's grasp, towards the pedestal where Adam stood, since it was her turn to do her personal eulogy now.

"I…" Queen started. "My Mother Has Been: A Hero. A Grand Example. The Peacekeeper Of The Cyber World. A Book Of Which Nobody Judged Its Cover. And So Much More." She took a deep breath. "She Loved Everyone And Treated Them Equally As If She Had More Family Than Just Me Swatch And Dad. She Always Knew When To Stop The Chaos No Matter Where It Happened, Of Which Everyone Highly Approved. But Most Importantly She Was A Warrior And Would Never Stop Fighting No Matter How Intense The Battle Would Be…" Some silence. "Including The Most Recent One She Fought But Unfortunately Lost… I Will Miss My Mother Forever And Cherish The Memories With Her In The Deepest Part Of: My Heart… May She Rest In Peace Until We Meet Again…!" In tears, she left the pedestal and sought comfort in Rolek's grasp again.

"You did great, my dear…!" the gentle, monochrome Swatch whispered. "You have proven that you'll be a great Cyber Queen to this very kingdom… I hate to break the peace, but it's my turn to have the speech now…"

"That's Okay Dad Please Go Ahead…!"

While Rolek headed towards the same pedestal, Swatch briefly stepped off of their piano stool to comfort their stepsister.

"I'll continue supporting you no matter what you'll be going through…" Swatch whispered more quietly than their father. "Loss, victory, sadness, happiness… anything for you, my sweet sister… I'll be there for you…"

Queen hugged her younger stepsibling tightly and planted a big kiss on their cheek, both as thanks, before sobbing into their chest.

Swatch was such a sweetheart, no matter the circumstance. They were her perfect stepsibling: unique, loving, calm, kind, but most importantly, irreplaceable. She would've never wished for another stepsibling, she was always happy enough with them alone.

A long while of miscellaneous eulogies and Adam's final speech later, Swatch was finally allowed to officialise the funeral with one of the piano pieces that they knew for years.

The previous Cyber Queen's casket had been closed, and was slowly but surely being lowered into her grave by a few strong Swatchlings, accompanied by the dark, slow Funeral March by Fredrick Chopippins, an all-too-well-known classical piece that was often played at any funeral.

Queen felt heartbroken when she saw her mother's casket being lowered into the ground. She couldn't help but burst out in quite loud crying. A very important person was now gone from her life, and she'd never be able to see, hear and sense her again. It felt like ages while that casket was being lowered… too painful…

The young King of Spades, who happened to be nearby, kneeled down next to the crying Queen and rubbed her back with a concerned look on his face.

"Shh…" he whispered. "Your Mum is no longer in pain now… while she rests, she'll be watching over you while you reign the Cyber World in your unique way… and she'll be very happy to see you reach many unique milestones that she most likely wished for herself before…"

"Even When I Must Follow Into Mum's Footsteps Too Hastily…" the young cyber monarch brought out, "I'll Do My Best To Do It Correctly…" She sobbed, but then gasped and looked the way from which the previous voice came. "Huh? I… I…" Her visor then suddenly showed the text 'Serial Number Q5U4EX7YY2E9N .exe has stopped working'.

"Are you alright, milady? Would you like me to get anyone?"

No answer.

"Queen? Hello? Are you feeling well?"

It took at least 15 seconds before Queen's visor suddenly showed heart icons, her mouth agape with astonishment and her cheeks having turned as pink as bubblegum while her not-directly-visible eyes were directly locked with King's.

"I… Oh My Gosh How Is This…"

Then suddenly, the King of Spades had started blushing just as deeply, and the now fully-grown mouth on his stomach had started salivating out of equal astonishment, while he felt non-existent butterflies flutter around down there as well.

"I n-never felt this way before…!" King stammered quickly.

"Neither Have I…!" Queen brought out.

"Is this… is th-this what they c-call… love?"

Once again, the young cyber monarch's visor showed the text 'Serial Number Q5U4EX7YY2E9N .exe has stopped working', but she did not stop blushing or close her mouth while the error message remained.

"Goodness… c-could it be? Sh-she's stunned with… love? J-just like me?"

In the background, Rolek, Swatch (who had finished playing the piano by now), 15-year-old Tasque Manager, an intern maid from the Cyber World, 16-year-old Rouxls Kaard, an intern servant from the Card Kingdom, and the three other kings - of Hearts, Clubs and Diamonds - could not believe their eyes.

Did the young Cyber Queen and the King of Spades just… fall in love with one another?

Swatch couldn't help but let out a typical Swatchling scream from disbelief. Their own sister suddenly falling in love after having been so heartbroken all day?! How could that be possible?!

"So y-you're the new Cyber Queen, huh?" the King of Spades shyly asked.

"Correct" Queen replied. "I Am Known As Serial Number Q5U4EX7YY2E9N, But You My Most Recent And First Ever Crush May Call Me: Queen."

"You… I… uh… I… I'm th-the King of S-Spades? B-but you can refer t-to me as just King, too, if y-you're more comfortable with th-that…"

"My Sweet King Of Spades It's A Pleasure To Meet You."

"Um, i-it's a pleasure to m-meet you, too… um, hi?"

Queen immediately squeezed King into a tight hug and felt her core warm up with infatuation and trust before starting to speak at quite a hasty speed.

"Thank You So Much For Supporting Me During This Horrific Time I Have Been Inconsolable Until You Suddenly Showed Up And Your Pretty Face Apparently Cheered Me Up In An Instant How Could I Possibly Thank You For Such A Simple Thing You Have Done!"

"Whoa, whoa, easy now, I d-didn't catch every single w-word of that…" The youngest king was left flustered, but as soon as he felt his crush's core's warmth somewhat radiate into his own chest, a smile crept up both of his mouths, and for a while, it felt like he found himself into a dream of sorts.

"I'm So Glad You Came Into My Life…! I Want To Spend The Rest Of It With: You!"

"I… k-kinda want that, too…?"

Queen burst out into tears once again, but of a whole cocktail of feelings this time, the most prominent one being joy.

"Shh, shh… it's okay… th-this isn't goodbye or a-anything…!" King awkwardly rubbed his newly-recruited crush's back and caressed one of her tear-stained cheeks with two of his fingers. "We c-can keep in touch w-with one another, right?"

"Oh We Definitely Should! For I Have Developed: FOMO!"

"Wh-what?"

"Fear Of Missing Out! I Don't Wanna Miss Anything Out About You My Sweet King!"

"Y-yeah… I guess so? Well, in c-case you want to s-send me telegrams, or, uh, c-call me, I'm always… um… a-available."

"Goodness Telegrams Are So Old-Fashioned! I Shall Call You Instead!"

"A-alright then… sh-shall we exchange ph… phone numbers?"

"Definitely. Come With Me."

The two crushes went back inside of the mansion, where the vast majority of the funeral's guests were present now, and settled down in one of the more secluded corners, where they exchanged one another's telephone numbers on a few napkins.

Afterwards, they helped themselves to a tiny slice of cake and an equally small glass of juice, to not stand out from the rest of the others too much.

"You know…" King said. "Back when we w-were still a mere p-prince and princess… when I f-first saw you over a d-decade ago… I… I n-never even dared to speak t-to you…!"

"And Yet Here We Are" Queen chuckled. "You Were Very Brave To Have Spoken To Me Today When I Really Needed It. When Did You First See Me Though?"

"I th… I think it w-was… when J-Jevil, the court jester, g-got locked up in our b-basement?" King laughed a little.

"Ah That Was Such A Boring Day! I Remember Sneaking Out With My Stepsibling Swatch So We Could Play In The Castle Courtyard Until Some Of The Rudinn Rangers Noticed Us While We Were Only Just Playing Hide-And-Seek Like Normal Kids!"

"Ah, that's why! I was already wondering wh-why you were suddenly gone… all this time, I th-thought it was because of… well, me…"

"I Never Even Noticed You Back There! Now I Definitely Wish I Could've Invited You To Play Too!"

"Shall we catch up on that once the next grand event involving both Card Kingdom and the Cyber Kingdom is there?"

"Oh I Suck At Promises But I Will Definitely Say: Yes."

"Hopefully that day won't be too far away…"

With a sweet smile, Queen put her arm around King's shoulder and huddled a little into him, leaving the both of them blushing in the process.

"Thou hath to get a room" Rouxls, who had sneaked behind the two, whispered in an eerie tone, startling the two newly-recruited crushes with a yelp.

"Don't Just Scare Us Like That You Big Noob!" Queen shouted, subsequently not being able to help but burst out in laughter at the silly insult she just threw.

"Noob? What art the meaningeth of that?"

"Oh Nothing Special Nevermind. Come On Kingy Wingy Let's Go."

Queen and King left, leaving the young intern servant flabbergasted and confused.

"Hey, don't worry about it too much" Swatch said as they came towards Rouxls. "She's always overprotective of the ones she loves, including me."

"Then how art thou related to the Queene?"

"I'm her stepsibling. My name is Swatch, the previous queen's widower's child; pleasure to meet you."

"I art known as Rouxls Kaard, servant-in-training at Card Castle."

"Your accent is funny."

"That's… I meaneth, that art not an accent. That art just the typicalest me."

"Alright, if you say so. Would you like to help yourself to something to drink? Some tea, or coffee, or plain water, perhaps?"

"Some tea, pretty I pray thou."

"Alright." Swatch let Rouxls sit down at the nearest table before pouring him and themself some tea to have a little break with.

Despite all of the still ongoing sadness that day, there were at least a few who could still have a redeeming time to not feel that sad anymore.