~Clubs~
"The Queen of Spades has passed." A soldier reported.
"Is that all?" The soldier nodded. "Then you may go."
"Why must you do that?" A gentlemen clad in formal wear of the kingdom of club's asked.
"What must be done to protect my people must be done." The king answered. "I did what I did for my people."
"And that's why I'm asking. Why was it necessary to do that. The queen meant no harm to our people. There was no danger."
The man just simply did not understand. What harm has the queen posed? What harm could he pose?He was just a simple man. Nothing more, nothing less. Surely enough, he was loved. The king's smile filled with childish innocence rose. Though he probably meant no harm, the smile itself sent shivers down many spines. It was no different for this man.
"Why would you ask such a question?" The king asked in that childish manner he was known for. "Do you question me as your king?"
"That is not what I mean…! It is simply a question of curiosity.!"
"Then do not ask again… I do not want to hear of it, after all, curiosity killed the cat."
"No. I am within my rights to address this matter and—"
"Your position."
"W-what?" The man was slightly taken aback by the king's abrupt interruption.
"I'm asking what is your position."
The man's eyes slightly widened from the question. No, not a question — an order. He narrowed his eyes and straightened himself up before answering.
"I am Roderich. The Knight of Clubs, Roderich."
"Exactly." The king announced. "You are a Jack."
A derogative term for the knight, yet the correct title for what he is. Roderich is but a jack in the political world. Though status is quite high, it is nowhere near that of the king. He had no chance to win over the king.
The king got off his throne and steadily headed towards his jack. In a dangerous tone, he whispered into the ear of the jack.
"Know your place."
"I heard the Queen of Spades had fallen. Is this true, Ivan."
A woman clad from head to toe in armor approached the king. She had been away for a long while only to return because of the news of a kingdom's queen's departure. It was a shock really. It threw the world off balance. Accusing and being accused only led each other to war. And that's exactly what they were heading towards, as the Kingdom of Clubs is the victim of such accusation.
"Elizabeta…" The smile he always carried wavered for a millisecond, but it was long enough for the queen to catch. "We are going to war soon. We must prepare for their attack."
The king walked past the queen, only to be stopped by the metal gauntlet of the queen.
"Wait." She commanded. "We need to talk."
"Talking isn't necessary." The king said. Quiet as he usually does, but maybe it was too quiet. But that does not mean it's a good thing. However it did not make the queen back down anymore than she felt necessary.
"Then give me an answer!" She shouted.
Rage. Fear. Haste. It was all possible behind her sudden need for an answer. But maybe it was a sudden need, but a natural curiosity. The king did not turn around to answer. Quiet and cold was his answer. It was so different from all those times before where he would do things on a childish whim. It was as if he was a different person.
"An answer is not necessary."
Not now.
The king left, and the queen stood there in fear? Anger? Awe? Even the queen herself did not know what it was. She could not contemplate how cold Ivan had become. More so than he usually is. At least then he didn't mean it, now…
Shock. It was shock she was in. It wasn't until a soldier came by that the queen snapped out of her mindless state. Well, more or less.
"Oh, Toris. It's you. Good morning. How was your day?"
The soldier, Toris, smiled. A king and gentle smile. It wasn't something someone so accustomed to war could pull off, yet he could. It relieved the queen somewhat from her stress. But not completely.
"Same as always. But more importantly you should rest, your majesty. You've just returned home from so long. I'm sure you must be tired."
The queen didn't object nor did she agree. She simply let the man take her to her room.
"I'll leave you to your rest, your majesty." The soldier bowed and closed the door behind him. "Ah, good day to you, sir. The queen is currently resting but…—"
The man halted him from speaking any further.
"It's alright. She would be glad to see me after all this time. Thank you for looking after her, Toris. I appreciate it." The man said before entering the room.
The room was gallant. Almost fit for a king. Too big for one person alone. However that's all the inhabitants there is. The queen's own little room. Decorated to feel at home. That's the impression it gave, however the resident of the room was too important to make it so.
No matter how roomy, or how welcoming, the queen's presence was too overwhelming, and she hated it. The queen adored company. She desperately wanted company. Only a few would feel welcome to enter as they please, however they are not company, but soldiers of the same rank. More specifically, the Knights of the Trump.
"Elizabeta. How are you doing?"
The queen sat up from her laid back position to greet the man who had entered her little special place.
"Roderich. It's been too long since I last saw you. How are you?"
The guest, Roderich, smiled as he approached the queen. And on on knee, he took the queen's hand and kissed her ring.
"Same as always I see." Elizabeta laughed and flopped back down onto her bed again. "You never change do you. Such a gentleman." She chuckled and sighed. "Ivan's not talking, if that's what you want to know."
"Well, not anymore… How was your trip?"
"You always do that. You really don't change." She sat up to look at the man. Loving eyes stared at the other. "You haven't changed at all. And it makes me wonder…do you still love me?"
"What about you?"
"I asked you first."
Roderich let out a small laugh.
"I—"
"Mr. Roderich…! M-Mr. R-Roderich!"
Another soldier, smaller than Toris, came barging into the room. He was young and frightened. But that didn't seem to be anything new.
"Ravis, is everything alright?" The queen asked.
"Ravis, come out and play with me."
In came another soldier. With features similar to the king, but so different.
"Anya!" Roderich exclaimed. "This is the queen's room. Please do not come in so abruptly." He scolded.
"But…Ravis looked so terrified. I just wanted to comfort him."
"That is no reason to come barging in. Ravis, you should know better."
The child soldier was still clinging to the queen, frightened of the other intruder. The queen softly petted his head and chuckled at the sight.
The Knights of the Trump are not company. No, they're family.
A/N: READ THIS! Okay so, yea, kinda obvious im basing this off of the cards that came with artestella. Damn me for coming too late and not ordering them before it became like $200. still want it tho. IMPORTANT: in the deck of cards that came with the special edition are the characters and their suits. the characters on the face cards appear twice, so remebering there's the nyotalia version, im using them in their place. and as for their names, i'll either use what himaruya likes or something that sounds similiar to their country name.
Fem!Russia = Anya(fan made, but himaruya liked it)