Numbers of his Life
Story by: VeNgEaNcEoFrAiN
Disclaimer: Hidekaz Himaruya owns every personified country as well as this Cardverse AU ideas, I merely exploit his ideas for my own personal uses muahahah! Everything else is purely fictional, any resemblance to other stories is purely coincidental – I don't really know if there's a similar story around but this idea just popped up in my head so I decided to write it (all I can say is great minds think alike). Some fundamental ideas like how the pocket watch chooses the royalty in Spades is kept in this story. I would like to credit the person coming up with the idea but I think it'd probably be hard to track who started it. If you think I violated copyright laws, erm, I can take it down if you send me a mail or review.
Author's Note: So sorry for taking so long... I'm kinda months late from the next update. I'm currently part-timing a job. Busy and tiring but I'll do my best to update! Pardon me for my draggy-ness, it's a habit I can't really quit. I'd like to thank those sticking through with me and writing reviews! I really appreciate it! I hope you enjoy this part of a chapter!
Part III: Pleased to meet you
The Englishman watched on as the two roses fade into a purplish light in the fountain. The pair walked towards a carriage prepared for their inspection of the Kingdom. The new Queen was scheduled to visit the towns and villages in the kingdom with the King to let his citizens know of his position. That was an opportunity to also understand how his citizens were living. Arthur wouldn't give up the chance to interact with the ones his rule would affect directly. He'd heard from his servants that the economy wasn't that good recently and people's lives had been tough. He felt a need to do something for his people. He vaguely remembered great monarchs of the past who took extreme consideration for their people. They were praised for their benevolence for hundreds of years after their demise. All Arthur wanted was to be appreciated for his efforts and nothing else. He hoped he would be a good ruler, following the examples of his predecessors in time to come.
Alfred cleared his throat to get his Queen's attention. "Ok Arthur, listen to me. You're going home to Amicitia. You're an orphan here taken in by the village chief as a child. You grew up here but no one knows your existence because you're usually shy and timid. You avoid crowds and-"
"And I stay in my room most of the time practicing magic from the books my foster grandfather gives me, yes?" Arthur interrupted his partner's last minute recap. It was strange for him to have to pretend when the late Queen told her son about his 'secret'. It wasn't quite a secret anymore since the first five people he met knew about it. He sighed before continuing the story, "I met you when you visited your hometown after the demise of the late King near the boundaries of Dimension One and Two by freak chance. We talked and began writing to each other after you left. Would anyone buy this crappy story?" He raised one thick brow in question. A sly smile broke out from the King's face before he whispered, "Oh, you'll see."
His eyes narrowed at that cheeky response before looking out of small curtained window. Dimension Two was famous for its sceneries and cuisine. Arthur's heart sank a little when he remembered how good the food was. He was taught to cook something similar but it ended up slightly charred. He watched as the accompanying scenery outside the carriage change from a forest full of willows and quiet streams to a lush green meadow dotted with distant trees and clouds. The rhythmic trot of horses slowly came to a halt as a village landscape drew closer. The carriage door swung open. A man poked his head into the enclosed space and bowed. "Your Majesty, Your Grace, we've reached the Amicitia Village of Dimension Two." He retreated after another bow of respect.
Both of them got off the carriage and stepped into a warm reception by the village. Harmonious music flowed in the air while a red carpet led all the way up to one of the brick houses. At the end of it, several people stood there with affectionate and welcoming smiles. Arthur recognized one of them immediately as his 'foster grandfather'. He looked a little older than he was in the picture. He knew he had to do something to convince the accompanying court officials of this – unnecessary – lie. He hurried over to the elder man and gave him a hug. The group was mildly caught off guard before surrounding the new Queen for a group hug.
"Welcome home, Your Grace." Soothing pats against the back made Arthur feel warm and fuzzy inside. It almost felt real. It almost felt like he belonged here.
"I'm home." He choked. The warmth felt like it was engulfing Arthur's entire being, he was suffocating yet it felt good. It felt good to be loved even for a moment. It felt almost like his real deceased parents were hugging him. Tears were blurring his vision and he was trying his best to hold them in. Some escaped his eyes and began to stain the chief's clothes. Small sobs accompanied little trembles across the Brit's shoulders.
"There now…" A gentle hand brushed against his hair rhythmically.
Alfred and Yao looked at the scene with much concern. The former felt his heart clench tight when he saw his Queen's grieving expression. Silently, he swore he'd never let anyone close to him show such a sad face again. The latter briefly remembered his promise to his extended family – one that was broken and made his beloved siblings suffer.
"Arthur, my Queen, you look exquisite so please, stop criticizing your looks." The Spadian King's check twitched as he wore an awkward expression, half amazed and half annoyed by the Brit's pickiness. "And stop picking on my speech and attire while you're at it." He broke into an ill-at-ease smile. "Don't be ridiculous. We're representing our country, our Kingdom. Like Yao said, everything is in our hands now and this is the first time I'm socializing with the other Kingdom's royal members. There is a need for me to give a good first impression." Alfred knows what was on the other's mind. The month-worth of co-inhabitation made the young lad adapt to his every twitch and tweak. "I probably should put this on as an ascot or a carvat instead of a butterfly bow?" Arthur fidgeted with the neckcloth. He could see the other royalty's expression morph from the corner of his eyes as the latter gave a sigh. "Oh don't give me that look, I'm not usually vain. I just want to present myself and the Kingdom well. Besi-"
"I gotcha, but seriously, you look stunning, gorgeous, beautiful, cute. Damn, I ran out of adjectives. But yeah, you get the drift. Just leave the butterfly on, it makes you adorable. Now get a grip, du-, I mean my Queen." Blue eyes looked away immediately to avoid the menacing aura the green ones were emitting. Alfred cleared his throat nervously. The servants near them held back giggles while others sighed at the fluffy atmosphere.
Soft music began to fill the hallways and the ballroom they were in as the mini orchestral band played. Instinctively, both men straightened themselves, adjusted their clothes and put on a serious yet welcoming face. The music had marked the arrival of guests into the ballroom. And the first thing on the agenda was meeting the royalty and invited nobles of each Kingdom. Arthur took a deep breath in then held it for a longer time than usual to calm his nerves down. He felt like how he did during the wedding in the morning. Jitters, restless, anxious, name any negative feelings and he probably have them. It was possibly contagious as well. He could feel his King getting influenced by the downbeat vibes he was giving off. He nearly jumped on his spot when he heard a quick shuffle of feet in front of him. He let out a sigh of relief when he discovered it was Yao. The 'Asian' Jack of the Kingdom made his way towards the pair, bowed promptly and joined them at the reception area. He stood to the left of Alfred while Arthur to the right.
"The King, Queen and Jack of the Kingdom of Diamonds have arrived."
An announcement echoed in the air and rang inside the Englishman's ears. His brows slid into a slight frown and he gritted his teeth hard against each other. A light grip on his shoulder captured his attention. The reassuring smile on the wheat-head's face lightened up the dense atmosphere. The raven merely raised his delicate brow at the situation. Light brushes of clothing against the carpeted floor sounded from before them. Three silhouettes began to take shape as they pass through the doored walkway.
The tallest of the trio strode in front while the two to the side followed fell in pace a few steps away. Flowing silk seem to glide across the carpeted floors as they moved. The Diamonds crest glistered under soft lights. The royal topaz adorned the King's Rose scepter, the Queen's crystallized Iris tiara and the Jack's Edelweiss spear – the heirloom of their Kingdom. Arthur presumed the man leading the group was the King. Just one look at his demeanor and attire, he swore they're not going to get along.
"Ahhh, I see you've gotten yourself a handsome Queen, non?"
Arthur's cheek twitched in disbelief. Did he just hear French? So the language of the wealthy Kingdom of Diamonds is French, of all languages…? He thought as he gave a weak forced smile. He'd been biased towards the people of his neighbouring country back at home. He reckoned it was just a general dislike rooted in the blood of many of his countrymen. "Ahahaha, you're as humourous as ever, Francis." A clear of the throat came from his King, cueing the new Queen to introduce himself formally. An awkward atmosphere seeped into the six present there. Yao spotted his Queen's weird reaction. He sighed before stating, "Francis, you never changed, aru. Still flirting with anything that walks on two legs."
"Oui, why change when the present is what I wished for? If that is the way I'm getting something tonight, why change?" The flamboyant King wiggled his eyebrows suggestively at the Spade Trio. Yao and Alfred both gave looks of disgust and disapproval while Arthur maintained his judging look. After being nudged by the raven head on his left, Arthur managed an unnatural sideward smile. He blurted out what he'd rehearsed, "Arthur Kirkland-Jones, Queen of Spades. I'm pleased to make your acquaintance." He stuck out his hand reluctantly for the hand-shake. "Francis Bonnefoy, King of Diamonds. It is a great pleasure to meet you, monsieur."
The Diamond King reached for Arthur's ear and pulled out a rose from the back of it. The Brit dodged the sudden invasion of his personal space with crossed brows. "How attractive you are, your Grace, even flowers bloom for you. Ahh, perhaps this is how you bound young Alfred's heart to yours?" A self-satisfying smirk spread across Francis' face. Arthur felt offended for a moment. He didn't know if that was sarcasm or just an honest compliment. Though he could sure see slight jealousy building up in the pair of blue eyes next to his. But before Arthur and Alfred could say anything, a meek and gentle voice sounded from beside the visiting King.
"I'm Lily Zwingli, Queen of Diamonds. It's an honour to meet you, your Grace. Please pardon my King. He meant no harm." The petite lady took a step forward, gave a shy smile and a polite curtsey before excusing her King. Arthur mirrored her gesture, expressing his delight in meeting her.
"Vash Zwingli, Jack of Diamonds. If you hurt anyone in Diamonds especially my sister, I'll see it personally to make sure you pay. If not, I'm pleased to meet you." A deep and smooth voice threatened while the owner gripped tightly onto his sword's sheath. Alfred was sure his partner would be shocked and frightened by his Royal Highness of Diamonds but he saw an equal-intensity glare once Arthur recovered from the initial upset. He recognized the little Swiss accent from the Jack. He vaguely concluded that they were pretty hostile and defensive in every world – although he didn't want to typecast. "Well, I'm sure we would get along well with Diamonds as usual. Please enjoy the refreshments before the actual event. I hope you have a pleasant night." He said regaining his composure as the host of the dinner. A respectful bow from the Englishman and a goodwill gesture from the Jack sent the amber and maize trio off to their dinning tables.
"The King, Queen and Jack of the Kingdom of Clubs have arrived."
Shortly after the royal suit of Diamonds left, another group started walking down the red carpeted walkway. This time the colour scheme was green. Forest green, lime and teal coloured cotton and woolen textile clad the three figures. The King, Arthur noticed, had some fox furred rims over his long overcoat. His hat was covered with the same fur. A club shaped emerald sat nicely at the bottom edge of the hat. He wielded a golden scepter with Chamomile entwined around the top just like the King of Clubs though longer in length. An amethyst gem in no particular shape sat at the top. The Queen carried a Tulip decorated sword and the Jack, a Edelweiss walking cane. Both of the items had beautiful emeralds adorning them. Arthur felt rather uncomfortable as the trio walked closer. Waves of menace seem to radiate out from the King. His towering height wasn't exactly helping with Arthur's unease. On the other hand, the Jack and Queen looked far more pleasant with friendlier smiles on their faces.
"Your Queen is rather small in size." Arthur flinched at that sentence. He had no exact idea what accent it was. It sounded like Russian but he wasn't sure. The coldness in the tone sent chills down his spine. The creepy smile the tall man was giving made him froze in his spot.
"So what Ivan? He's fighter and he's with us, back off." The Spade King defended his Queen, a little irritated by the presence of man in green.
"I'm Arthur Kirkland-Jones, Queen of Spades. It is my pleasure to meet you."
"Are you afraid, Your Grace?" The smile was undying even with the retort from the host King ignored.
"I don't blame you for you should be."
The smile dropped into an intimidating stare. His violet eyes were void of emotions. Fear, like no other, gripped at Arthur's heart. Alfred watched as a sweat drop rolled down the side of his Queen's head. He knew what his partner was going through. He'd experienced the same thing when he first met the Club King. Arthur swallowed nervously while his eyes locked fixatedly on the man before him. Adrenaline made his pulse race irregularly and the right words seemed to be stuck in his throat.
"Ivan Braginski, King of Clubs. It was nice to taste your fear." Arthur bowed slightly in response, visibly trembling slightly.
"Your Grace, I'm Elizaveta Héderváry, Queen of Clubs. It is definitely pleasant to finally meet you. Alfred kept talking about you the last time we met." The graceful lady gave a cheeky wink before giving a curtsey with the same cheerful smile on her face. A welcomed change of atmosphere came around for the sextet. A tint of pink spread across Arthur's cheeks mimicking the blush appearing on Alfred's. Both of them could've sworn they heard the young Club Queen squeal in joy when they looked shyly at each other.
"I am Roderich Edelstein, the Jack of Clubs. I composed the music used in your ceremony, did you like it, Your Grace?" His upper half bent slightly into a polite bow. A true gentlemanly figure, Arthur thought. "It was splendid, an excellent piece of music. I'm grateful for your efforts, Your Highness." Arthur offered a smile in company of the praise. He thought of the other as fellow gentleman whom he could get along well enough.
"Would you like a change in melody in this room then?"
The new Queen nodded. The young Jack tapped his cane a few times against the ground and soothing music began filling the hall. A different melodious piece was playing within those walls. It sounded like a familiar mix between various Austrian composers but at the same time, though it felt like it was specially tailored for this occasion. The Brit closed his eyes, relaxing to the calming tune. "I'm glad you like it." A friendly gesture from the Jack once again directed them to their seats right beside the Royal suit of Diamonds. The next and last royal suit to arrive was not exactly on friendly terms with the Spade suit.
"The King, Queen and Jack of the Kingdom of Hearts have arrived."
The announcement tore through the thick atmosphere where everything began to tense up. Everyone stopped what they were doing in hopes of watching the confrontation. Alas, the group strode in with great aura and clad in carmine, imperial purple and amethyst. The King, although wearing a serious look, seemed less daunting than the previous one. The Queen looked like an Asian who was related to Yao for some reason while the Jack looked too aloof. Confidently, the tallest man held his gold scepter close to himself. A red spherical ruby resembling the one on the scepter of King Ivan fit nicely on top. Gold flames seem to engulf the ruby like the encasement designed wanted it to. The Queen held his metallic gunsen fan in his hands tightly. A heart-shaped ruby was embedded on its stem. The Jack held a banner with three heart shapes lining horizontally down. The banner was tied onto a spear like pole. It almost felt like they were ready for war.
"I'm Arthur Kirkland-Jones, Queen of Spades. It's great to have you here with us today."
"Your Grace, I am Ludwig, King of Hearts." A deep and serious voice stated. The Englishman stared hard at the man. What he saw was not a man who was as cold as the King before him, nor was he as warm as the King of Diamonds. He saw a man who he was likely to enjoy working with. He couldn't get why they were waging war with his Kingdom. "I wish the both of you happiness with your days together." He wasn't sure if that was sarcasm or it was some form of blessing articulated awkwardly. Arthur did a curtsey to thank his well-wishes while Alfred gave a nod. "This is my Queen and my Jack." He gestured towards the two figures beside him.
"I am Kiku Honda, Queen of Hearts. It is nice to meet you." The raven Queen hid parts of his face behind his gunsen as he spoke. He also did a 90-degree bow accompanying the statement. Arthur reckoned that the Queen was 'Japanese' from the accent and the respect he was receiving. "Veh~ I'm Feliciano Vargas, the Jack of Hearts! I hope we get along well! You look somewhat friendly." The amber head Jack spoke cheerfully as if the relations between the two kingdoms weren't strained. He was fidgeting around the same spot and giving a silly smile to Arthur. He very nearly reached out to hug the Brit but was held back in time by his King. The King of Hearts held onto his Jack from his collar like how you'd pick a cat up.
"I'm sorry for his behavior. I do hope you'd forgive him." He sighed.
"Oh no, it's perfectly fine. There's nothing wrong. There's nothing to worry, Your Majesty." Arthur courteously replied, in fear of fueling the simmering flame of war. Yao directed the group towards their seats right next to the Royal suit of the Kingdom of Clubs. The greeting session truly came to an end after all the guests were seated. The new couple was exhausted from the sheer amount of social mingling prior to the dinner and dance.
Arthur looked towards the table filled with royalty from the other Kingdoms. He hoped the first impression they had of him was a good one. He'd need that in the peace talk the following day.
Footnote: I hope you've enjoyed this rather short chapter. I wanted it to cover a bigger part of the plot but with my draggy-ness, I had to make it a separate part of the chapter from the next. Do forgive me ;. See you all soon.