"Lovi… do you know how to gamble?"
Lovino's jaw clicked shut. He could almost feel the weight of a thousand eyes staring at him.

Lovino didn't just know how to gamble.

He loved to gamble.

But why would those bastards want to know? It's none of their business!

Instead of answering the question, Lovino decided to use a generic response. "What do you mean?"

Ludwig cleared his throat authoritatively. "Feliciano means exactly what he says." He laced his fingers together, placing both hands on the table. "Do you know how to gamble?"

The conversation was beginning to feel more and more like an interrogation, and Lovino did not like it.

Lovino narrowed his eyes, glaring at the King of Hearts with contempt. "What is this, the Inquisition? My hobbies are none of your business!"

Feliciano tilted his head, visibly confused. "Ve~ what's the Inquisition?"

"Nevermind that," Ludwig muttered under his breath. "So, you're implying that gambling is one of your hobbies?"

Lovino felt like slamming his head against the table.

How did I let that one slip through?

And how did kraut-breath catch on?

Now, it was clear that there was no way out. Continuing to refuse the question would evoke more suspicion among the already-suspicious crowd.

"Maybe," Lovino said quietly after a long silence. "Maybe it is."

The crease between Ludwig's eyebrows softened slightly. "I see. Now, I believe it's time we answer your previous question regarding the Ace's role."

Lovino scoffed. "As if I'd want to hear it from you! Just listening to that stupid accent of yours makes me sick!"

Ludwig frowned but didn't counter. It was obvious that he'd already gotten used to Lovino's defamatory remarks. "Fine, then. I'm sure the Jack would be willing to—"

"That will not be necessary."

Lovino's head practically did a full 180.

Standing in the now-open doorway was a short man with choppy black hair and fair skin. His eyes were brown and sparkled with wisdom, making him look somewhat older than he actually was. Silk robes were draped over his small figure, though they looked very different from the ones Ludwig and Feliciano were wearing.

It's another one of my stupid brother's friends.

The man (whom Lovino recognized to be Kiku Honda) scanned the room with his eyes. His gaze lingered on Lovino for a few seconds longer than what was necessary.

Lovino stared back, his face still set in an angry frown.

And I thought Kiku was the only normal one out of their group.

"Ah— you're here," the King said awkwardly.

The Queen nodded. "Naturally."

Lovino nudged Feliciano, who was peering at the other two with an odd look. "Hey. What's going on?"

Feliciano flinched as if he'd been caught doing something he wasn't supposed to. "O-oh! Um, that's Kiku. He's the Queen of Hearts, but I think you already knew that."

Lovino sighed in exasperation. "Of course I already knew that, dumbass! I was wondering why you look like someone just pissed in your pasta."

If Feliciano was a little more quick-witted, he would have replied with a sarcastic 'well you're one to talk.'

"What?" Feliciano asked, feigning innocence. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Right, and I speak German. You know exactly what I'm talking about, dammit!"

Ludwig spared them a short glance but quickly looked back as if the bickering was normal and continued his hushed conversation with Kiku.

Feliciano squirmed as he tried to come up with an explanation, though his babbles were more or less incoherent.

Lovino rolled his eyes, resting both elbows on the table in what would be considered 'uncouth' in court. "It's him, isn't it?"

"Who?"

Lovino said nothing but nodded his head in Ludwig's direction.

"I— I think we should talk about it later," Feliciano suggested quickly, his words almost unintelligible.

Lovino would have pressed further into the situation, but he already knew all he needed to know.

Damn, that really does suck.

Being the third-wheel all the time.

Lost in his thoughts, Lovino failed to notice the Queen steadily approaching him.

"Lovino Vargas."

"H-huh?" Lovino looked up, making eye contact with Kiku.

"Walk with me."

If it had been anyone else, Lovino would have crossed his arms and refused. However, there was something about the Queen of Hearts that just demanded respect, though it wasn't achieved through physical strength or stature.

So, Lovino stood up from the cushioned seat, his legs a bit shaky from all the stress.

Still, he wasn't about to blindly comply with whatever Kiku said.

"Where?" Lovino asked. "Why?"

"Around the palace," Kiku responded. "You are seeking answers, correct?"

"Well, yeah…"

"Then I am more than happy to provide them for you. There are also a few questions I would like to ask, if you don't mind."

Lovino recalled the interrogation-like nature of Ludwig's questioning earlier. "Actually, I think I might mind."

Kiku chuckled quietly. "I assure you, it will not be a cross-examination." He folded his hands in front of his torso, his chin pointing upwards ever-so-slightly. "Unless you want it to be."

Lovino gulped. Even Kiku— quiet, polite, manga-loving, Kiku— could be daunting when he wanted to be.

It was actually kind of impressive.

"I get it, I get it!"

"Good. Now, we'll be off." Kiku turned on his heel and began making his departure.

"This definitely isn't anything like Vegas," Lovino hissed under his breath as he rushed to catch up.

Kiku paused for a moment, picking up on Lovino's remark. "Very interesting."

Lovino despised walking— especially in long distances. Why would he use his legs and wear himself out when he could just sit down or take a siesta instead?

But, for some odd reason, this was the exception.

The weather was great— perfect, even. Not to mention just how beautiful everything was. Sure, practically everything in sight was painted in shades of garnet or rose or magenta, but the unconventional color choice actually worked in its own special way.

Kiku had been giving him a silent sort-of tour of the palace grounds, occasionally speaking if a significant building of spot came up.

"There." The Queen pointed to a cluster of trees in the middle of the courtyard. "They are very beautiful."

Makes sense.

"You're right," Lovino said. He had dropped the bitter edge on his words after conversing with Kiku for a while. His petulance was almost like a defense-mechanism, but there wasn't any point in maintaining it with someone who wouldn't really argue with him anyway.

"They are called Sakura."

Sakura.

It was a pretty word; the perfect name for a pretty flower.

The sakura petals were in a gorgeous shade of pink. The wind tousled the tree's branches, sending the delicate blossoms flying like snowflakes.

Kiku walked over to the trees, his steps slow but graceful. He extended his arm, catching a single bloom in the palm of his hand. "Renewal. Mortality." He brought the petal to eye level, studying it closely. "Life is fleeting, don't you agree?"

Lovino raised both eyebrows, surprised at the sudden (and very cryptic) question. "What?"

"I suppose you would not know." Kiku let go of the petal, letting it fall to the ground. "I cannot blame you. I don't know, either. No one does."

Lovino inhaled deeply, taking in the crisp air. He really wasn't accustomed to such profound conversation topics as those.

"Human life is... ephemeral," Kiku said. "It's almost pitiful. This world is so vast— the stars, the oceans, the earth— mankind couldn't hope to explore it all."

I've never thought about it like that.

But I guess we're called 'mortals' for a reason, huh?

"I mean, when you put it like that, it makes it seem pitiful," Lovino pointed out. "Yeah, sure, it's a big world, but doesn't that leave more room for curiosity? Wonder?"

"You make a good point." Kiku turned around. "There is a good acquaintance of mine who would whole-heartedly agree."

"Really?"

Kiku nodded. "Yes. He also believes in the existence of a multiverse." He paused, waiting for Lovino to laugh.

He didn't.

"I didn't anticipate that reaction," Kiku admitted.

"What reaction?" Lovino didn't quite understand. "What did you expect?"

"I… I'm not entirely sure," stammered the Queen. While Kiku himself was able to somewhat believe Arthur's grand postulates, he never would have guessed that Lovino would, too.

"I guess it might sound kind of stupid to anyone else, but…" Lovino let both of his arms drop to his sides and stared at the ground. "I'm the 'gotta-see-it-to-believe-it' type of guy," he explained. "And I think it's safe to say I've already seen it all."

"You have?"

Lovino froze.

Shit.

Did that potato bastard tip him off?

"I- I didn't actually—"

"You're not from here, are you?"

Lovino bit his lip, not sure what he was supposed to say.

Why should he know?

But…

Why shouldn't he know?

"No."

Kiku hummed, his expression unintelligible. "I thought so. You must have slipped through the rupture."

"B-but who told you, anyway? The king?!" Lovino questioned, ignoring the second half of Kiku's statement.

"Nobody told me anything," Kiku said assertively. "I have been meaning to ask ever since your arrival. This was merely a confirmation."

It makes sense, Lovino thought. If he was wondering about me the entire time, why wouldn't he be curious enough to ask?

It's probably my own fault, anyway.

But, really, the whole multiverse thing can't be complete bullshit.

How else would I be here right now? How else could I explain why this realm exists in the first place?

"Fine, you got me. I'm actually an alien from outer space," Lovino retorted sarcastically.

"Is your planet called 'Vegas,' by any chance?"

He heard that, too?

Damn, these people are weird.

"Las Vegas," Lovino clarified. "Nevada. The United States. America. Earth." He smirked. "You recognize any of those?"

"Only the last one, I'm afraid." Kiku chuckled softly. "I'm sure the Queen of Spades would like to hear all about it, though."

The Queen of Spades…

Lovino recalled Feliciano's mention of the Spades Queen at the casino.

He's my only ticket out of this place.

"Would he?"

Kiku nodded. "Certainly."

"Then..." Lovino straightened up his posture, mustering up all the courage he had. "Take me to him."

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Another chapter. I hope you enjoyed it!

Any comments/constructive criticism would be greatly appreciated! (Like, seriously, I'd love to interact with my readers a bit more. It gets kind of lonely on the other side of the screen, sometimes, if you know what I mean.) Your feedback is what keeps these chapters coming!