"You know, this isn't exactly what I had in mind."
"It's not?"
"Well…" Lovino scanned the perimeter of the room, his gaze crossing over shelves upon shelves of books. Most of them were old and worn, their pages yellowed by the passing of time.
"Typically, nobody is allowed in the Atheneum without express permission from the King or me," Kiku explained. "So, take this as a rare opportunity."
"Right." Lovino continued to marvel at his surroundings, taking in every single little detail. The windows were wide and tall, obviously crafted with both practicality and appearance in mind. Sunlight spilled through the skylight in the center of the ceiling, casting a warm, natural glow onto the room below.
"It's a charming little place indeed," said Kiku, noting how in-awe Lovino looked.
Lovino snorted. "Little?"
Kiku let out a small laugh. "I suppose that would be a slight understatement."
He's right, though.
The libraries back in the real world are so boring.
But this place…
For what felt like the first time in forever, Lovino took a step forward without hesitation.
It's so…
So…
He truly didn't know how to describe it.
Warm?
Yeah, close enough.
While the architecture wasn't exactly sleek and modern, the antiquity of the so-called Atheneum actually heightened its appeal.
It reminded Lovino of home.
Not Las Vegas.
Italy.
His breath hitched.
"Lovino? Are you— is anything wrong?"
Lovino blinked and touched his own cheek.
It was wet.
I'm crying.
Lovino just stood there for a while in silence, until the realization finally settled in.
I'm fucking crying.
Crying because I'm homesick.
What the hell am I doing?
Get a grip, dammit! Lovino Vargas doesn't cry!
This is so embarrassing…
"I— I'm fine!" Lovino quickly wiped away the remaining tears with the back of his hand and cleared his throat. "Just pretend that never happened, okay?"
But it did happen.
And the Queen of Hearts had seen it happen.
"About your earlier request..." Kiku walked forward, his footsteps echoing on the polished marble. He began perusing through the bookshelf, selecting one book and drawing it out. "It would seem like an awfully ambitious desire; meeting with the Queen of Spades. Especially on such short notice." His chin rose a few inches, allowing brown eyes to meet with hazel. "But…"
Lovino raised an eyebrow. "But?"
"I believe there is an exception." Kiku placed the book on a table firmly and motioned for Lovino to come closer. "The Kingdom of Diamonds is hosting a small get-together at the end of the month." He chuckled dryly. "Though I'm sure calling it 'small' would be quite misleading, knowing Diamonds."
Lovino approached where Kiku was standing, his curiosity piqued. "Really?"
"Yes. A… soirée is what they call it, in their language," Kiku elaborated. "Soirée des fleurs is celebrated annually in Diamonds in the last week of April to celebrate the blooming of the flowers."
That's French.
So…
Lovino shuddered.
Would that mean the King of Diamonds is… him?
It made sense, really. Everyone else in the Realm of Suits was someone Lovino had already met before back in the real world. Ludwig was the King of Hearts, Feliciano was the Jack of Hearts, and Kiku was the Queen of Hearts.
And the only French person Lovino had met before was a lecherous, perverted, wine-slurping man who went by the name of Francis Bonnefoy.
"Are you alright?" Kiku asked, slightly concerned.
"Um— I guess." An image of a naked Francis posing on the throne with a crown on his head made Lovino want to barf.
"Okay, then…" Kiku slid the book across the table. "I'd like you to read through this if you don't mind."
Lovino pursed his lips and read the title.
Essential Knowledge: The Realm of Suits.
"It's… a history book?"
Kiku nodded. "Yes. It was meant to educate young children, so the information should be relatively easy to digest."
Lovino frowned.
So, when it comes to the Realm of Suits, I know about as much as a child.
"Well, that sounds reassuring," Lovino retorted sarcastically before sitting down in a bright red upholstered chair.
"It is necessary for you to have a decent grasp on how our realm operates, first, so…" Kiku trailed off and gestured wordlessly towards the book.
Lovino took a closer look at the book's cover, which was primarily black with four sleek emblems: Hearts, Spades, Diamonds, Clubs.
He opened the book.
A map, Lovino noted. Just like the one I saw on the ship earlier.
There was a blurb underneath the map written in a small font.
In the center of the vast Oriental Sea is an unnamed island. To which kingdom this island belongs is still up for debate; explorers from the Kingdoms of Spades and Clubs were the first to formally discover it in 1085, but there is a massive amount of evidence pointing to Hearts and Diamonds Ancestry in the area. While it may be small, this disputed territory is coveted by all four kingdoms because of its richness in valuable minerals, such as iron, cobalt, copper, silver, and titanium. Additionally, the island is home to the Grand Deck meeting hall and the Royal Flush Casino, with neither being exclusive to a single kingdom. This makes both locations frequented by diplomacy and conflict alike.
Disputed territory… that's what Feli called it.
And the casino is still called 'Royal Flush' in this realm, just like back in Vegas.
THE REALM OF SUITS has a rich history, consisting of four kingdoms: Spades, Diamonds, Hearts, and Clubs. The Kingdom of Spades has great military strength, particularly in the Navy. They are longtime rivals with the Kingdom of Clubs, which is notorious for its harsher weather and relatively strict ruling. The Kingdom of Clubs also employs a less lenient border policy, making tourism very rare. The Kingdom of Diamonds possesses great wealth; its architecture is opulent and beautiful. The Kingdom of Hearts is said to be the most artistic nation of the four Suits. It is also rumored that the Hearts Kingdom is the best place to find true love, making Amourille (the kingdom's capital) a very popular destination for travel.
True love, huh?
He rolled his eyes.
What bullshit.
But if it keeps the money coming, I guess I'll just stay quiet.
There's one custom that makes the Realm of Suits unlike any other: Gambling. Gambling is used to settle practically everything, from minor contentions to major conflicts. This detail shifts most of the responsibility from the soldiers to the nobles, who must gamble amongst one another when necessary.
However, military action can be employed instead of gambling when required.
A kingdom's power is not determined by the number of troops they have or the proficiency of said troops, but rather the gambling prowess of their leaders.
The Royal Flush Casino is located in the disputed territory and is used as an alternative for battlegrounds. It dates back to the very beginnings of the Suites Realm, although it has been restored to match modern-day architectural traits. On days where the casino isn't reserved for the monarchs, other members of Deck nobility are welcome to use it.
Gambling also takes place outside the palace, although it isn't as strictly regulated as it used to be. Subjects of the Suits Realm engage in gambling matches solely for entertainment value or just to earn some more money. The Royals of the Grand Deck oftentimes spectate particularly intense matches and like to place bets on them for their own amusement.
A figurative lightbulb went off in Lovino's brain.
Oh.
OH!
That's why they asked if I knew…
That's why!
It was all coming together.
The strange hierarchy of Kings, Queens, Jacks, and Aces— the fact that each kingdom was named after a suit in a deck of cards—
Damn.
Well, this is…
A small smirk found its way onto Lovino's face.
Great, actually.
I'm one of the best goddamn gamblers ever!
If they need me to gamble at this stupid 'soirée' or whatever, I'll crush it!
Lovino continued to read, with a newfound sense of excitement coursing through his veins.
Essentially, in the Realm of Suits, the Marking is what determines royal status. These Markings correspond to each suit - black for spades/clubs, and red for hearts/diamonds. The Markings are not limited to those in the royal family- anyone could have them. They are used to select heirs to the throne, as there are some occasions when the selected King and Queen aren't able to reproduce (for example, when both royals are male.)
A Marking appears on the Chosen's skin on the Summer Solstice (June 20th) at any given time of the day, on the year of the prospective King's 18th birthday (although the circumstances occasionally vary.) This day is referred to as "The Great Re-Shuffling," when the Deck is shuffled once again and new rulers are chosen.
The placement of the Marking varies based on noble ranking.
The Jack's marking appears on the right wrist.
The Ace's marking appears on the left wrist.
The King's marking appears on the chest.
The Queen's marking appears on the back of the neck.
Getting a tattoo/skin design to imitate a Marking is FORBIDDEN in all four kingdoms, and being caught receiving and/or giving one is a crime punishable by death. There were a few instances in the past where Markings were forged (like Aurielle Cosette, who claimed to possess the Queen Marking of Diamonds,) and the Royal parliament and law enforcement are determined to not let such an instance occur ever again.
Lovino looked up from the book, sparing a brief glance at his own 'Marking.'
So that explains that.
The.. Fates, or whatever, chose me.
Or… whatever version of me who used to be here.
Would that make me a poser, then?
His eyes flew to the page once again.
Just like… Aurielle Cosette?
Within the Deck, there are two fabled entities: the Jokers. Not much is known about these wild cards, and there is no surefire method to summon them. Nobody knows their lifespan, either. However, from what has been recorded previously about them, we know that one of them takes the form of a young boy, while the other has skin and hair as pale as snow. Both Jokers possess shape-shifting abilities and can steal the face of anybody they choose, which makes them even more difficult to discern. Jokers can be very tricky and love causing chaos. They can be incredibly dangerous as well, so it is in everyone's best interest to avoid the risk of summoning or interacting with one.
It is rumored that one of the Jokers has ties to the current King of Hearts, although nothing else about this allegation has been confirmed or denied.
But it doesn't stop there. It's been speculated that long ago, a woman of the Hearts Royalty expressed deep camaraderie for the white-haired Joker. Tales have been told about the unnamed woman, implying that she had written a poem about the Joker. The ending of this story is unclear; there are multiple different versions of it. Some claim that the poem was burned to ashes, while some claim that the poem simply disappeared. Oddly enough, the current King of Hearts has done nothing to quash these rumors.
Lovino perked up at the mention of the Kingdom of Hearts; his kingdom.
That potato-eater is just letting all these conspiracies fly? What a dumbass!
If I was him, I would just…
Oh, wait.
More conspiracy means more curiosity.
More curiosity means more tourism.
More tourism means more money.
Of course.
Lovino rolled his eyes, not wanting to admit to himself that Ludwig's decision was a clever one, and skimmed the paragraph one more time.
A young boy…
Hair and skin as pale as snow…
He rested his head on his chin, deep in thought.
Have I met them before?
Lovino dug through his memories, only to come back with nothing.
"So, we've got a little kid and a knock-off Snow White," Lovino muttered to himself. "Fantastic."
A poem, too, he added, though not out loud.
I really should ask super-studly about it, later. Maybe it'll make this confusion shit a little less confusing.
Still, the Joker's tale wasn't exactly 'essential knowledge,' contrary to the book's title. So, Lovino decided to leave it alone for the time being.
Each Kingdom has one capital city; in this city resides the reigning monarchs in their respective palaces.
Solacé is the capital of Spades. It's known to have unpredictable weather patterns; it could be raining one day and warm the next. Solacé is located right next to the Sapphire River, making fish a prominent source of food.
Treamphis is the capital of Diamonds. The weather in Treamphis is quite neutral, although the winters can be brutal from time to time.
Amourille is the capital of Hearts, located near the Whimsy Woods; it's clear to see why timber is a common export of Hearts.
And, finally, Courroux, the capital of Clubs. Like Amourille, the capital is located near a body of trees— the Evergreen Forest.
Solacé, Treamphis, Amourille, Courroux.
Lovino repeated the four words over and over again in his head, hoping they would stick.
Finally, once he was satisfied with himself, he flipped the page.
Each Kingdom has ten different provinces. The Capital is always located in Ten; which has the highest value in the Deck.
Value/Wealth varies in descending order. For example, living conditions in Nine of Diamonds would typically be better than living conditions in Two of Diamonds.
While there is no formal caste system in place, many subjects of the Realm of Suits tend to respect people living in higher-valued provinces.
Many individuals see province as a major part of their identity. Most will call themselves "Eights," for instance, if they lived in Eight.
Most nobles of the Grand Deck were Tens, to begin with.
Lovino moved his hand to turn the page once more but was interrupted by the loud sound of a door being thrown open followed by a series of footsteps.
Someone cleared their throat.
Lovino looked up to see who that 'someone' was, as did Kiku.
"So." Ludwig approached the table, his gait looking more like a pace than a saunter. "Did you tell him?"
Lovino crossed both arms over his chest, glaring at the King. "Tell me what?"
Kiku shook his head. "I did not."
"What, are you about to tell me I'm adopted?" Lovino joked, a bitter edge to his voice.
Ludwig shifted uncomfortably, the gears turning in his head as he tried to find the best way to respond without angering Lovino. "Not exactly."
"Then?"
"Then..." Ludwig looked to Kiku pleadingly.
Kiku sighed. "Lovino, we are all aware that the circumstances of your appearance in this realm are… unusual, to say the least," he said. "But a concern of ours is that if another Kingdom were to find out about this, they would perceive it as a vulnerability. A crack in our armor, if you will."
"And, while we would like to think that our neighboring kingdoms have no motivation to start a conflict with us, there is a very real probability that they could," Ludwig added. "When given the right opportunity, they would."
"Therefore, revealing to the other Suits that our Ace of Hearts has been replaced by a double would be giving said opportunity," finished Kiku.
Lovino laced his hands together, intertwining both sets of fingers, then parted his lips to ask a single burning question: "Why?"
"...what?"
"I said, why? Why is my presence a weakness to you?" Lovino questioned, slightly defensive.
"It's nothing personal," Ludwig responded quickly, not wanting to start another argument. "But, you see, the other you— your… doppelgänger— was…"
"Crazy," Kiku interrupted. "The Ace of Hearts was crazy. Some of the bets he made— they were unbelievable. Gambling really was his raison d'être."
Lovino said nothing.
The 'other me' is crazy?
Like… gambling-crazy?
That really reminds me of—
"It's true," Ludwig confirmed. "The Ace of Hearts was reckless, aggressive, and most likely a gambling-addict. But…" He held up his index finger in emphasis. "That is precisely what made him such an excellent gambler in the first place."
Lovino felt a little burst of pride for his parallel-self.
He's just like me. Exactly like me.
Looks, skills, personality…
"It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the Ace carried the Kingdom of Hearts, in the way of gambling," Kiku commented. "Ludwig and I are mostly proficient gamblers, though we lack that quality of sheer impulsiveness that he had."
"He never lost a single match," Ludwig remarked. "There were a few ties, but that's about it."
A flame of frustration ignited deep inside Lovino's heart.
He slammed both hands against the tabletop, yelling at the top of his lungs. "STOP THAT!"
The King and Queen jumped, startled by Lovino's reaction.
"S-stop what?" Ludwig was brave enough to ask.
"You're—" Lovino pointed an accusing finger at the pair, disregarding the fact that they could have him executed if they wanted to. "You're acting like he's fucking dead! What's the deal with that?!"
Ludwig frowned and tried to intervene. "Well, you're here and he isn't—"
"Doesn't matter!" Lovino pointed out the window. "The Ace of Hearts might not be here now, but he's gotta be out there somewhere! People don't just… disappear, like that!" He lowered his voice slightly. "Besides, you know who is here?" Lovino pointed his thumb towards himself. "Me."
Kiku raised one eyebrow. "What are you suggesting, then?"
"I'll be your Ace. Temporarily," Lovino declared, accentuating the last word. "But, meanwhile, you have to find him. The real Ace of Hearts."
"Oh?"
"Let me go to the soirée. I'll talk with the Queen of Spades, and we can swear him into secrecy or whatever if you're so concerned about vulnerability."
"Vargas, the Soirée des fleurs is a hotbed for gambling," Ludwig stated. "By the end of the night, you'd have gambled with everyone else at least once."
"I was getting there, kraut-breath," Lovino snapped. "And that isn't an issue, anyway. Because gambling's my... raison d'être."
"I don't know about Ludwig, but it will take a little more than that to convince me," Kiku said smoothly. "Let's put those skills of yours to the test."
"Are you challenging me?"
"Precisely." Kiku stood tall and confident, meeting Lovino's gaze with an equal amount of courage. "Gamble with me, Lovino Vargas. Right here, right now."
A/N:
This chapter was a little longer than usual. I hope you enjoyed it!
'Soirée des fleurs' is French for "Evening of the Flowers."
'Raison d'être' basically means reason or justification for one's existence. Like a life's calling.
I'm aware that the canonically supported Cardverse mentions nothing of Aces (because technically, Aces aren't even Face Cards) but I really love the idea of having them in there, so here we go.
The information in the history book that Lovi reads here is right from the book on bookcreator that I made. Check it out here!
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And, finally: PLEASE REVIEW/COMMENT! You've probably heard this a thousand times before, but just one review can go a really long way! They really help motivate me to keep writing, so please review if you can!
Thank you for reading!