Okay, so this chapter idea came to me while I was writing Maxon drunk, chapter 48 to be exact, and just take note that I have never played poker in my life.


Photo #72: Boys Playing Poker

If there was one (out of many) pieces of advice Eadlyn has heard multiple times from her mother, it would be, 'Never ever gamble.' Her mother would never have to worry about Eadlyn gambling since she never saw a point to doing so. You either win everything or you lose it all, mostly the latter if you make a mistake or get too cocky.

The next picture has Eadlyn grinning a little. Everything looked so casual: her father, Mr. Woodwork, and Mr. Ledger were all sitting around a table. All of them were smiling, dressed in their everyday clothes - they looked like those friends you'd find in the city and not in the castle. Their faces were not only filled with glee but with a pride towards the cards in their hands and the pile of poker chips in front of them.

If there was one person her mother really had to be cautious about gambling, it was her father - especially with what he gambled at the time...

-o-

The night just started. Maxon would host the occasional poker night in whatever library or conference room was available and not needed for the next day. Today's game is Aspen's turn to bring the snacks and Carter the cards.

"I brought all the reinforcements - sweet and salty snacks and drinks!" Aspen says, setting down all the items he listed. He turns around and sees America, Marlee, and Lucy standing behind him. "Oh, and our wives are here too."

The three women take their seats on a nearby couch. This is supposed to be a boys night but the boys don't really care much about them being there since they're so invested in their card game that they never really notice their wives being there, even when they're talking throughout the whole game.

"I don't get this game," America tells her girlfriends as Carter deals the cards for himself and the other boys.

"Sometimes the maids and guards would play this in-between shifts," Lucy says.

"Are you any good?"

"Not at all. This game is all bluffing and strategy."

The girls sit and watch the boys. One game consisted of multiple cards being flipped over, chips being tossed, glass bottles from beers tapping against the table, eyebrow raised, pending glares, cocky statements - and even though it's been only one game, it's been a few hours.

"This is boring," Marlee comments, "even Monopoly or Scrabble end quicker than this."

Marlee looks over at America and Lucy. Both of them were asleep on each other's shoulders. Marlee smirks as she goes back to watching the poker game. Based on what she's already seen of the game, she could try to piece together what's going on and how to play, but she doesn't want to strain her brain over the extent of its ability.

"I think you're bluffing," Carter says as he examines Maxon's face.

"Carter, we've been playing cards long enough in this one game to know that everyone is bluffing," Aspen says. "I'd hate to say this but Maxon might win this hand overall."

"This is stressing me more that it should."

Maxon laughs a little to himself. "Don't stress, it's a waste of energy and remember that even if things don't go how you hope, nobody can take your worth from you."

"How considerate of you to boost my self-esteem." Carter quickly glances at his own cards. "I'll take your bluff and just tell you that my hand will be better."

"I'd say mine is superior to both of yours," Aspen counteracts.

Tensions builds with all these bluffs. Marlee, the only woman currently awake, still doesn't understand this game or why it suddenly feels so tense.

"I bet my kingdom," Maxon says firmly.

Perfect timing for America and Lucy to wake up. After rubbing their eyes, they see Marlee's jaw dropped with bulging eyes and Carter and Aspen choking on their drinks, all while Maxon has a dashingly over-confident smirk on his face as he mockingly fans himself with his oh-so-perfect hand of cards.

"You better be bluffing," America says, unsure if she's using that word correctly.

"I'm not," Maxon replies. "I'll even throw this in the pot."

Maxon slides his signet ring off and places it in the pile of poker chips. America jumps up from the couch and looks at Maxon's cards to make sure he's only doing this because he has the best possible hand of cards. Sadly, she isn't sure what the best cards are so she just slaps the back of Maxon's head.

"Are they good cards?" Aspen asks America.

"Dear, don't tell him!" Maxon exclaims at his wide.

America shrugs. "I don't know, they're all red."

"Aspen's got red and black," Lucy says, now standing over Aspen's shoulder.

"So does Carter," Marlee adds, doing the same for Carter.

The boys don't say anything since the girls really don't know how poker works. Then again, the girls also don't care how this game works.

"Full house," Carter says, showing his cards which consisted of three 5s and a pair of 7s. Marlee cheers since the term 'full house'.

America glares at Maxon because if he loses Illéa over a full house of cards, she will never forgive Maxon. However, her glare softens a little when she sees that Maxon's face hasn't shown the slightest bit of concern for his own cards. She puts her hands on his shiulder and Maxon turns back to smirk at her. His grimace is saying, 'I got this' while her sharp eyebrows reply with, 'you better.'

"Four of a kind," Aspen says, showing all four 6s from the deck.

Carter grumbles in defeat as Aspen takes all his poker chips. Aspen eyes Maxon, ready to see what lies on the other side of those cards. In his dreams, Aspen sees himself winning Illéa even though he will never actually claim that prize because he wouldn't want to be the new king only because the old king got cocky when it came to playing poker. Although those thoughts will only be dreams as he sees Maxon's hand.

"Royal flush," Maxon says victoriously, showing off an ace, king, queen, jack, and a ten all of hearts.

America claps cheerfully as Maxon proudly puts his signet ring back on. Carter and Aspen both narrow their eyes at him. Of course Maxon would only bet his kingdom when he knew he would win due to the best hand one could ever have in poker.

"Better luck next time," Maxon tells them as he puts his signet ring back on.

"I want a rematch," Carter says.

"I'll cut the deck," Aspen says, gathering all the cards again. He starts to shuffle them.

The girls gather at their couch again with full glasses of wine. They clink their glasses at the sound of round two.


I would be the girls in this because I don't understand poker. I've read the instructions a few times for multiple stories and I just don't get it. I just realized that a good portion of the chapters I write are about things I don't even understand myself.

Stay Tuned - "I think we look best with this filter." (Self-Promo again)