Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia.

Through the next days, the Court started to set up the projects. Only a month later, the citizens were actually working on the roads. A month after that, you could really see the changes in Spades. Another month passed, Alfred and Arthur were still getting along. Twenty questions were now a regular and prized part of their day. Arthur still had Rachel and yes, Alfred did have his maids but overall both could finally state that they were friends. On their sixth 'anniversary' Alfred gave Arthur a colt named Dash. At times, it seemed that the King and Queen would be at each other's throats but the tension would evaporate.

Time passed and it was now a year since Arthur ran away. Even though an entire year went by, the two still looked the same. The only thing that changed was that Alfred and Arthur's bond grew. They could tell each other anything. That included times with the maids and Rachel. The Kingdom benefited from this union greatly. The economy was thriving and so were the people, who now for the most part read and write as Alfred set up schools.

It was now early morning and Arthur was woken up by some movement. Opening his eyes, he saw that Rachel had shifted out of his arms. For the last month or so, the servant had been sleeping in his chambers.

Arthur smiled down at her, petting her soft hair gently. He liked her very much, and had gotten closer to the maid, closer than he expected. Even kissing her wasn't as bad as it used to be. She was a very sweet girl, loyal too. He was happy that he had someone like her to be with. She was funny and helpful, and thoughtful. She would never let someone in need go unnoticed.

Looking over to the widow, Arthur saw that it was time to get up. With a groan Arthur sat up in bed. He shook Rachel softly and kissed her cheek softly. "Wake up, Poppet."

Rachel yawned, before slowly opening her eyes and smiling. "Morning, handsome."

The Queen smiled warmly. "Morning, Poppet. It's time for breakfast."

Rachel nodded, sluggishly starting to get dressed. Arthur did the same, deciding to go for a bit more relaxing attire than usual.

A knock came from the door. "My Queen?"

Arthur knew it was Toris because he brought them their breakfast every morning. "Come in!"

Toris entered, bringing a fresh breakfast of some bacon, omelets, and fruit.

Arthur grinned. "Thank you, Toris."

The servant nodded, "Of course."

He bowed to Rachel as well. "How are you my Lady?"

Rachel laughed and shook her head. "You don't have to do that."

Arthur laughed, preparing a dish for his Luv. Another thing he liked about Rachel was she bated formal talk continuously. It was amusing to see her deny being called Lady, ad if she wasn't one.

Toris shrugged. They went through this every morning. "I don't have to but I want to my Lady."

"It's just a habit, Rachel," the Queen of Spades smiled. "Don't think too much about it."

Rachel just nodded and sat down at the desk table for breakfast. "Okay."

Toris bowed again and left without a word.

"Have a good night's rest, darling?" He asked as he placed her plate in front of her.

"Yes." Rachel said simply. "And yours?"

"Of course." He sat down across from her. "I'm afraid Alfred and I will be spending all afternoon preparing for the Deck Meeting and their arrivals tomorrow, so I won't see you until after or during dinner."

Rachel nodded. "That's fine. Today is busy day."

"True. I assume you'll be extra busy as well."

"I have to clean our room and this wing." Rachel responded.

"Damn." He tore off a few grapes from the plate. "That's quite a lot. Do you have help?"

The female replied, "Yes, Sarah and Mei."

"Okay." He recalled both girls being Alfred's maids, and they were actually very nice girls. "How have they been?"

"Okay, Sarah had a pregnancy scare though, but her moon's blood was just late."

"Oh my." Yes, it was safe to say he had changed. He pitied the maids, and was even on friendly terms with some, like Sarah. "Hope it's all better now."

"It was just a minor scare."

Arthur nodded, and was about to speak before his eyes fell on the clock. "I'm sorry, Luv, must run now." He pecked her cheek and pushed some hair away from her face. "Love you my sweet."

Rachel gave him a bright smile. It was only recently that he told her that. "I love you too, my Queen."

He gave Illumine his food, sent Freedom off with his letter (America was only a day away from home, and he was prepared to declare his love to England), he dressed himself in his proper attire, gathered the papers he needed, and went to meet Alfred to start their twenty questions walk. He found the King by the grand staircase.

"Artie!" Alfred called happily.

Arthur grinned. "Hello, Al. Good morning."

"Ready for our favorite game?"

"Always."

"Do you want to start or me?"

The Queen thought about it. He had answered the questions first, when they had met yesterday. "I'll ask them first. Is that alright?'

Alfred had a blank face on. "No."

The Queen was taken aback by how blunt he was, but shrugged. "Alright then. Ask away."

The King laughed and wrapped an arm around Arthur's shoulders. "Ya need to chill dude! I was just kidding!"

The older laughed. "Okay, then, Mister Joker." The two began to walk. "First question, how are you?"

Alfred rolled his eyes. Arthur always asked that question first. "Great! I slept very well last night."

He nodded with a smile. "Alright, here's a new question. Whot are your worries for the Deck Meeting in two days?"

"Clubs, they are our allies but Ivan and I don't get along." Alfred said looking up. "Clubs just has all the luck sometimes."

"Mm. Understandable. Do you think it'll be successful?"

Alfred thought for a bit. "Yes, I am the hero!" He repeated his favorite phrase. "I won't fail!"

Arthur shook his head and chuckled. "When have you ever failed as a hero, Al?!"

"Never of course!"

"Not even once?"

"Nope!" Alfred said with a smile. "I have awesome sidekicks to help me!"

"Oh really? Who are your sidekicks, then?"

"You and Yao!"

"Oh, yes, because Yao and I are dressed up in ridiculous entertainer costumes and prancing around like pansies."

Alfred pouted. "You don't want to be my side kick?" He placed his hand over his heart and started to 'cry'. "I thought we had something! Something special!"

"Oh, stop crying." Arthur flicked his shoulder before being affectionate and patting his back. "If it'll make you happy, I'll be the best sidekick you ever had."

Again Alfred wrapped his arm around Arthur's shoulders. "But you already are! I thought you knew that!"

"Of course I knew that already, but someone pulled out the 'water works', so I had to stop it in some way."

The King shrugged. "Whatever, next question!"

"Alright then, well...ah! If you had to give up having sex with your maids- or any woman- while I was on the verge of death, would you do it?"

Alfred stopped walking. He gave Arthur a shocked look. "Why would you even ask that?!"

He smirked. "Ah-ah, you should be answering questions, Alfred. Not asking."

"Then for your information, I would stop." Alfred smirked as he turned away from Arthur and started walking again. "But I would go right back when you got better."

"No, Al, I mean, if you went with the maids, I could die. If you went with me, you can never have sex with them again. Which is your choice?"

Alfred turned around again, confusion filling his blue eyes. Why was Arthur asking this of him? Revenge? He eventually found his voice. "I would save you."

His eyebrows raised in shock. The question was out of pure wonder, nothing more. He had dropped any emotional, amorous feelings for him. But he adored him as a very close friend, and he wasn't suspecting the answer. "Seriously?"

Alfred nodded. "You are my best friend; they are just someone I have sex with. You're more important."

The Queen smiled. "I'm glad I'm so important, because I feel the same."

Returning the smile, Alfred led his Queen into a private sitting room. He lay down on the couch and relaxed. "Sit," he commanded as he gestured to the other couch. "This will be more comfortable."

Arthur plopped down in a chair nearby him as well. "Alright, so, next question. Whot do you expect our Kingdom will be like in five years?"

Alfred shrugged. "I don't know, hopefully still prospering."

"Hm... Has there been a time when you hated that monstrosity of fat that you're always eating?" By fat, he meant the compilation of meat, lettuce, tomato, some special sauce, onions, and cheese, all combined on two slabs of bread. It was completely inedible, and he always wondered how the King was able to digest it.

"Yes."

"Huh... When was that, if I may ask?"

"That will cost you a question and its when there are no more for me to eat!"

"Wha- that's no fair!"

Alfred rolled his eyes. "So fair."

Arthur pouted. "Fine then. Next question. Whot is the hardest decision you've ever made as a King?"

"One of the Ladies in the Court tried to bribe me."

"Whot do you mean the Ladies tried to bribe you?"

Alfred gave a fond smile at the memory. "She tried to get me to overlook a 'tax mistake' by giving me her body."

The Queen's face scrunched up in disgust. "I assume by the key word 'tried' she didn't succeed."

"Another question and yes. What's with you today? Usually you know not to double ask." Alfred said looking over

Arthur shrugged. "Honestly, I don't know. I think I already pounded my mentality into the state of work, so I'm not ready for work. You know how it is for me."

Alfred nodded. "I see. Well get outta the funk dude!"

He laughed. "Okay, I'll get 'out of' the funk if you use proper English."

"But wheresa fun in that?"

"Alright, hold on, new question. Why do you speak improper English?"

"Cause that how I was raised?" Alfred responded with a lifted eyebrow.

"Hm..." He nodded. "Understandable. It's just a habit. I apologize for reprimanding you."

Alfred shrugged. "I also do it just to annoy you..."

A pillow went flying across the room to hit the King in the face. "Oh hush, you!"

The King started to laugh loudly. "Fine, fine!"

Arthur, also grinning, chuckled. "Alright, so I have about five questions left to ask...oh, okay. Whot would you do if Peter came here one day and started to act like Gilbert?" Peter and Gilbert were the two Jokers who were entertainment for parties and caused tremendous amounts of mayhem and mischief for the Kingdoms. Peter was Arthur's brother, and Gilbert was the elder sibling to the King of Hearts, Ludwig.

"FireSong will have a new target..."

FireSong was the name of Alfred's sword. The blacksmith named it because the metal burned longer and had a unique sound when it was hammered. It was very famous for one thing, hitting Jokers when their mischief got out of hand.

The older laughed, shaking his head. "Which Joker would it be for: the influencer or the target?"

"Both sound good to me!"

Another chuckle "Sounds good to me. Next question...whot do you think we would be able to do without Yao, and do you think our Kingdom would be different from where it is today?"

"Of course! Everyone is different. The poor guy would have given up on me in the first year!" Alfred laughed at the thought. This game always made him feel happy!

"I had the most terrifying dream once that the entire Kingdom collapsed because our Jack wasn't Yao!" He smiled in remembrance.

"Wow, never had it that bad!"

"Well, whot kind of dreams have you had?"

"I am a teenager!" Alfred said wiggling his eyebrows.

Arthur blushed but rolled his eyes with a smile. "Oh dear lord, you're twenty now! Not even a teenager anymore, Al!"

"...Close enough..."

He chuckled. "Oh Alfred..." He paused a bit to collect his thoughts. "Will you ever tell me the story behind Texas and why you wear him?" The question had always been asked, ever since they had first played the game, but the King refused to talk about it.

The younger sighed. "No, I will not."

Arthur had one more question to ask, and he didn't want to waste it on the same question he had just asked. Instead, he gave a kind smile. "Are you happy with how well things have progressed since we started this a year ago?"

Alfred looked over and gave everything serious thought. "Yes, we have a better relationship now. The other one was unhealthy in a way."

The Queen grinned, "Your turn."

"Ok, then..." Alfred thought for a bit. "How is Rachel?"

He smiled with a look that seemed to be far away. "As lovely and kind and beautiful as always."

"Have you two 'done' it yet?"

"I've decided not to, I mean. There's still an age gap for me, and I feel just a bit more than uncomfortable around that topic."

"If you don't hurry up she might leave you."

Arthur shook his head. "I'm sure it'll be fine. She knows I don't seek that, and plus she is about a seven-year age difference."

"Arthur, she is a woman! I know ladies and I also know she is waiting. If you really don't want her like that, I think she will leave."

"No, I do like her but not sexually! I don't want a sexual relationship, just a very tightly-knotted, loving, committed relationship."

Alfred held his hand up for silence. "I understand your point Arthur, I do. But a relationship goes both ways, you may not want it but I can tell she does. Rachel is waiting for you. By staying in this relationship, I feel like you're leading her on. Now, that is my point of view, I may be wrong. However I know women better than most."

The Queen shifted uncomfortably. He didn't like the idea of topping a woman. By what he had learned over the years, kissing one was already dominating. It was almost as if Rachel gave into him and melted into him. And although he had never had sex with other males besides America, he had shared other kisses with males, especially the aforementioned King, and it was a fight for dominance. He wanted it to be sweet, but he also wanted it to be a dominant battle.

"I don't know, Al, it's just...I don't want to use her. And she knows I don't want anything sexual."

Alfred gave a small smile. "Just because she knows doesn't mean she is ok with it. We have talked before and she asked me what you liked. I believe she is trying to change you. In a good way of course...well in her eyes."

Arthur curiously looked over at him. "Why did you talk to her?"

"I told you. She found and talked to me. She wanted to know what you liked."

The older blond rubbed his eyes. "Al, please, can you ask another question?"

Alfred tilted his head. "As long as I get another question, I don't see why not."

"You're asking them now."

"I mean an extra question Arthur."

"Hm? Whot do you mean?"

"Never mind, just ask your question!" Alfred still very confused.

"Alfred, no, I asked my questions already. You have to ask me now."

"I thought you said you wanted another question!"

"Yes, I was asking for you to ask another question to get off the subject!"

Alfred sighed. "Ok, what do you like about being a Queen now?" This was a question that never failed to pop up. Alfred was determined to get something out of Arthur."

The Queen relaxed, feeling the tension of the brief misunderstanding fade away. "Well, it's several things to be honest. I mean, as a Queen you're the voice of the people. And...I'm not really sure whot I like about it now."

Alfred rolled his eyes. "There's no pleasing you, is there?"

Arthur looked at the younger male in annoyance. "If you want, we can stop this session and just go ahead to work." Whenever the King was suddenly in a bad mood, it was best to stop whatever was happening so that he could slow down and stop, or to let him go cool off in a room so that he was back to his regular self.

Alfred noticed the tone. It was only recently that the King was able to pay attention to these emotions and react to them. "No, I am fine. How much do you weigh?"

The older nearly screamed in shock, but instead choked on air. "Wh-wha- that's personal! And it's not that much, anyway!"

Alfred laughed. "This whole game is personal. I don't see something terribly intrusive with the question."

"W-well, if you really want to know..." The blond rubbed his shoulders and looked away, cheeks sprouting a bright color. "If you were to say it in pounds I'd only be about...a hundred twenty..."

The King smiled. "That's a good healthy weight! Hmmmm let me think..."

"Who was your first crush?"

Arthur's cheeks burst into red, and he looked away. Those that he had kissed when he was younger had all liked him but the feeling was unrequited. He hadn't liked anyone, really, until, well...him. Alfred. The Queen, however, didn't answer him.

"Arthur?"

He shook his head, hiding his head in his hands. He thought he had already answered the question, but he only remembered asking it to Alfred, not the other way around. He didn't want to receive an answer from him, and instead opted for hiding inside his hands.

Alfred watched the 'show'. Standing up, he walked over. "Arthur? Are you ok? You look sick."

The smaller was silent, looking off to the side mutely. After a while, he looked up at Alfred in slight fear and anxiety. "If I tell you, you have to promise you won't get mad at me."

"Why would I be mad...? Unless it's Ivan, I don't have a problem."

Arthur cringed. "M-my first crush..., w-well it was you..."

"Oh, well that's fine!" Alfred said going to sit back down. He was a bit surprised but it didn't make him feel weird. He was many people, though usually women's, first crush. No, it didn't bother him at all.

"A-are you sure...?" He had a feeling it made the King uncomfortable knowing his Queen had a crush on him, once upon a time. He didn't want to be the destroyer of their newly found relationship.

Alfred shook his head. "No, doesn't bother me at all."

Arthur was quiet, but then sighed in relief. That was good to hear! They really had changed over a year, hadn't they?

The taller stared at the ceiling. "What is your dream?"

"My dream...no one's asked me that in a long time." He leant back against the couch, as if he would be consumed by it. "Well, I've always wanted to be a novelist. My dream was to be better than the best."

"Do you still write?" Alfred asked out of curiosity.

"I write at least every night, if not every other. I've only finished a few books, but I'm too afraid to publish them."

"Can I read them?" Alfred asked. Now contrary to belief, the King liked to read but only about things that he liked.

"If you want to. I mean, I know you aren't a reader unless you want to, but if you really want to read whot I wrote, I have no problem lending them to you." He smiled kindly; he had never let any eyes but even look at a page of his story, and now he was letting one of the most trusted people of his life see his most prized possessions.

"Bring them to dinner..." Alfred smiled sheepishly. "On second thought, just give me one."

"Alright, I'll drop it off when we go down. Which subject do you want: adventure, mystery, horror, or fantasy?"

Alfred shrugged. "Adventure would be best, then fantasy, next horror, and finally mystery. Any will do though."

"Alright, I'll give you the adventure one. It's not very good, since my specialty is mystery, but, if you really want to..."

"I do!" Alfred said excitedly. "It's going to be awesome! With heroes and battles, it will be awesome!"

Arthur blushed slightly. "I'm glad for your enthusiasm."

"So...what kind of education did you have?"

"I have all of the schooling required. I was on my second year of university when I was twenty but, of course, I had to stop and come here, so I didn't go there."

Alfred smiled and closed his eyes. "What did you study?"

"I took a combined course of history and English. It was quite easy; I wish I had studied more of it."

"Why don't you study more? Have Yao teach you."

"I could. It'd be extra work for me, but I suppose..." Arthur was silent for a minute before he nodded. "I'll talk to Yao about it before he starts working."

Alfred nodded. "And now that I do my own work, you have even more!"

He chuckled. "Yes, of course. A bit like old times."

"What does that mean?" Alfred asked, looking confused.

"One, that counts as a question, And two, remember? You used to leave a majority- nearly all- of your work with me."

"One, I intended it to be a question. Two, I now do my work so how is it like the old times?"

"Well, before we were close, when we were in an unhealthy relationship, I used to be left with your work, remember? I was just stating it as a joke, nothing to be taken seriously, and I apologize."

Alfred nodded. He learned new things about Arthur every day. It was nice, really, that someone knew him just the same. "I see. Do you um... Do you ever wish things turned out differently before we became close?"

"Well..." The Queen's eyes were downcast and to the side before he looked up and spoke. "If anything, right now that I can think of, I wish you had told me of your maids instead of having me find out the way it happened. But, ah...I think we should have admitted to our wrongs and how we were in an unstable relationship instead of realizing it after the kidnapping incident."

The King thought about it. He could agree somewhat except for one thing but that didn't matter now. What mattered was that Arthur did not hold anything against him for changing their relationship. "I am glad we worked this out."

Arthur smiled. "I am too. Well, Alfred, you have five more questions. Whot will they be?"

"Will you be My Lady for the tournament this month?"

The Spades Blades was the yearly tournament that every younger man wanted to take part in. There were archery, jousting, and mock battles. Every person competing had a 'Lady' or someone to support them. It didn't have to be male or female.

The Queen blushed and stammered his mouth unable to form the proper words to answer him. "I-I-I-I...wh-whot?! Me?!"

"Of course you! You're my Queen," Alfred said. "I ask you this every year.

"Yes, yes, I know that, but...it didn't have a real meaning until now. And plus I was sick last year so I couldn't go. But I thought you would have asked someone else!"

"Not a chance old man!"

Arthur laughed quietly, cheeks darkening slightly. "If it is your wish, I will be your Lady; I will be in the front of the line for you and only you, calling your name always."

"Aww shucks Artie! Your makin me blush!"

"Consider it payback, dear boy, for making me blush."

Alfred rolled his eyes. "Fine, be that way!"

"Oh, come off it, Al, you know I don't mean it in a biting way~"

Alfred dramatically puts his hand over his heart. "Never!"

Arthur laughed. "Oh, poor baby, have my words stabbed the King?"

"My heart will never heal~!" Alfred moaned in distress.

The Queen tossed another throw pillow at the King, hitting him square in the face. "Before you die of agony, get done with the rest of the questions, you only asked one out of five!"

"Kiss my ass?" Alfred said sarcastically.

"Oh dear gods, is Alfred, the King, using sarcasm again? Too many times this week!"

Alfred smirked. "Your avoiding the question~!" He sang.

Arthur's eyebrows rose. "Whot are you saying? You want me to actually touch your arse with my lips?"

Alfred stood up and made his ass move in a rhythmic motion. "Who would want to kiss my fabulous, sexy ass?" To add humor, he slapped it.

The Queen, his cheeks slightly scarlet, laughed as he leaned towards the other's behind. "If you want it, I won't ignore the plea!"

Alfred stuck his rump in Arthur's face. "Do it! I triple dog dare you!"

The older grabbed his hips to keep them still and smirked. "Stay still or else I'll force you down!" He leaned forward, lips gently touching the other's bottom.

"Aiyaa! What the hell you two doing, aru?!"

Alfred yelped and turned to see a shocked Yao in the door way. Arthur's face, if it was possible, flamed in embarrassment. "U-uh, this isn't-"

"You two so weird! Why you kissing his butt?!" Yao exclaimed

Alfred's face went back to normal but still sheepish. "It was a dare."

"Yes, that's all it was," the still-blushing Queen agreed hastily. "We were just doing our usual twenty questions."

"So you two courting each other?" The Jack wondered, arms crossed and suspicion on his face.

Alfred shook his head and looked at Arthur. The King was the only one to know about Rachel and Arthur.

"We're not courting, Yao." Arthur looked back at the King apathetically. He knew what he was thinking, about how his relationship with Rachel was one no one knew about. "If we were, you would know."

The older male didn't look convinced, but sighed from his mouth. "I never get you two. You kiss each other's butts but you no court each other."

The King sighed in return. "We told you! It was a dare!"

"Okay, okay, you two not courting aru. You dare each other to do weird, sexual stuff, I get it. We all do stupid things when we're young, aru."

"You aren't much older than me, though-" Arthur pointed out, but was cut off.

"Whatever, you two do what you want. But this for you two." He walked over to them, placing a stack of paper on the table before leaving. "It important for Deck Meeting in few days, so no getting drool from kissing on it, aru."

Alfred flushed red. "YAO! We just told you!"

"I STILL NO BELIEVE YOU ARU!" Yao called down, now too far away from the room. Arthur rubbed his eyes groaning.

"I can't believe he saw that..."

The younger looked at him, still slightly in shock. "I can't believe you did it!"

"It was just a joke! I didn't think anyone would come in and see us! I'm sorry if I offended you, but I was just doing it to joke around, I didn't..." The Queen, now seated on the floor with his knees to his chest, hid his face even more into the crook of his elbow. "I want to die. I want to die. I want to die. I want to die..."

A bit awkwardly, Alfred pat his back slowly. "Um...there, there? It's all right. I am not mad."

Arthur didn't seem to have heard him. "I really didn't mean to do it, it was out of pure fun, and I understand if you're embarrassed and don't want to talk to me anymore, I'm just really sorry and I want you to know that..."

At this, Alfred sighed again. He picked Arthur up underneath the armpits, lifting him off the floor. "I. Am. Not. Mad."

The Queen blinked in slight shock at being moved, but sighed. "You're not...well, that's a good thing. Wonderful, in fact."

The King set his Queen down. "Great now, let's get to work. I will ask the other questions later."

The smaller nodded, and carefully picked up one of the top packet of the collection of paper. "Opening statement to start the meeting: stated by the hosting country's Queen, or me; explain the three main points that are to be reviewed: keeping the repaired economies steady and rising, maintain the strength of our respected armies, and how to help the people more in the future in case of a natural disaster or war."

"Our economy is still rising, our army is THE BEST in all of Cards, and we set up a fund. I think we are good!"

Arthur smiled, shaking his head. "Alfred, I mean how can we do that for all four Kingdoms? Some economies might have a bit of trouble keeping them above the recession line or keeping them at a reasonable height. We need to start working as one at the meetings for our Kingdoms, not just ourselves."

"Why do we have to bother with the other Kingdoms? Wouldn't it be better if we were the absolute strongest?" Alfred asked.

"Alfred, if you have that mindset, we won't have anyone to help us. It's good to be ahead of everyone else, but you can't be cocky and say that. If you do act like that, then whot's going to happen if the other Kingdoms attack us to bring us down to the ground? Who will be our allies? It's important to work together whether we want to or not, so please just...don't say anything that could piss all of them off. If the Clubs were to turn against our Four Deck Alliance, we would have Hearts and Diamonds, but if we were to be attacked, then who would be there for us?"

The King nodded, "I guess I understand that, but isn't it their problem if something is wrong? I understand allies but we should keep the best ideas for ourselves."

"Well, yes, but we need them to be able to trust us. If we want allies just in case of war, we need to show them trust."

"Exactly, we give them space and condolences like most royals. Allies doesn't mean your best friend, just your best fighter."

"Not necessarily. I mean, it does mean that, but it also means someone you work with to accomplish a goal, not just being a fighter."

"I still don't see the point."

The Queen sighed. "It's fine. We'll talk about it after lunch, alright?"

"Okay, what else is there?"

Arthur shuffled through more papers. "Well, mostly the three topics we've stated. We need to keep up a balance that will steady the economies and make sure no one falls."

"Well, Diamonds has a better economy than us, Hearts is about even, but Clubs is a different story. The harsh winter cut many supplies off and many died. They are 'lucky' to still be alive," Alfred stated.

"Right, right. Do you think we should assist the Clubs in some way? I know you don't like Ivan, but Roderich and Elizabeta are kind to us, whether their King is or not."

Alfred thought for a bit, staring at the white ceiling. "Well, we could increase shipments over there. I am sure the people need to replace things. That will help us both."

"That sounds like a plan. We can increase their trade with us if they do the same, benefiting both us and Clubs."

"What do Clubs make that we need? Spades has large woodlands, but Clubs is a frozen tundra."

"Well their mountain region brings in coal and such, as well as minerals, some that we don't have, that are important for blacksmiths in ocean ports, cities and districts. We can ask for more of that,"

"Okay, that could work." Alfred said smiling.

For the next two hours, the King and Queen talked about nothing else besides the Deck Meeting. They had come up with some plans for each Kingdom and the food selections for meals. When they had finished a knock came from the door.

"My King? My Queen?"

CC101: Hey... Well school and soccer are finally done having me at their beck and call. This chapter was a lot of time to figure out what to say. I hope you enjoy it! It has a bit more about their relations with the other Kingdoms.

Dear Cheese-kun,

Congrats, you unlocked your story. I will be my next update.

Love, CC101