Erzsébet paced around her quarters, circling the table on which the quarter of the urn now rested while in her care. The other three Queens had left a short while ago, with Erika accompanied by Yao, so she was the only one of her rank still in Oriasa for the next couple days.
Her mind swirled with thoughts on the whole situation, there had been so many details thrown at her in such a short time. Even her dream last night felt real, watching from the balcony in Nodiff as Feliciano murdered Katerina. Everyone else was finding clues left, right and centre that aligned with their dreams, and yet the only physical evidence of this all occurring was a broken urn.
She understood that her mind wouldn't settle and accept all this without concrete proof that it was all true. Somewhere in the Deck, there must be documents signed by Queen Erzsébet of Clubs, Queen Kiku of Hearts, or any of the other switched Royals. Somewhere in the Deck, there must still be lingering effects of this war they were fighting only six months ago.
And what of Basch's child in her womb? Did this situation make it so that her unborn child does not actually exist? If she were to be unscrambled and returned to Clubs, would the child still be there?
As she circled once more around the table, her eyes shot up to the mirror on the wall as the reflection distorted. A moment later, the red-eyed Joker appeared and leaned against the frame.
"You look troubled," Gilbert observed, "Need someone to talk to?"
"No, I don't think so," Erzsébet declined, "Not with you, at least."
"Thought you might say that," Gilbert brushed off, "I believe I spent plenty of time in the past trying to push your every button."
Erzsébet only half-listened to Gilbert as she kept circling the table, prying her mind to brainstorm anything of relevance, only to halt as a strange idea crossed her mind. After what he said this morning, could he offer her any insight?
"I have a question for Tolys," Erzsébet addressed Gilbert as she turned back to the mirror, "I don't suppose he can be summoned at a whim, can he?"
Gilbert opened his mouth to answer, only to frown and fuss as black mist obscured him in the mirror. After a few moments, the black mist subsided to reveal Tolys in Gilbert's place.
"Your Majesty," Tolys greeted, "You called for me?"
"Yes, I did," Erzsébet acknowledged, "I wasn't expecting that to be so easy."
"To be fair, pushing Gilbert out of a mirror feels oddly satisfying," Tolys divulged, "What do you wish to ask me?"
"I was hoping for clarification on what you said to Ivan this morning," Erzsébet inquired, "About our actions here being permanent, such as taking a life. Does this also apply to new life, and what would happen to a new life created during this time?"
Tolys paused for a moment, looking carefully into her eyes, before finally replying.
"You worry for your daughter, don't you?"
"I did not know it was a girl," Erzsébet disclaimed.
"She is very healthy at this stage of your pregnancy," Tolys reported, "Her heart is already learning to beat strong, just like her mother's."
"And what becomes of her, if all this is true?" Erzsébet probed, "If I am returned to Clubs, how does this affect her? Could she be harmed by this magic?"
"As long as she is in your womb, her fate is tied to yours," Tolys assured, "If you survive this, so will she."
"That is reassuring to hear," Erzsébet declared, "Thank you for your assistance. With that resolved, I can figure out my other queries."
"Perhaps I can also assist with those queries," Tolys offered, "If it's possible, of course."
Erzsébet considered the offer carefully. It seemed foolish to ask a spectre for help on the matter, but perhaps it could also confirm that he can see the child's health.
"To be perfectly frank, I am skeptical about this entire situation," Erzsébet confided, "I have yet to see any physical, incontestable evidence that this has all occurred, that I should be the Queen of Clubs rather than Hearts. Can you tell me anything on that matter?"
"You want to find evidence?" Tolys determined, "There is some right here in Oriasa, although you will have to ask for help finding it."
"Alright then, will you tell me where it is?"
"No, I won't. I'm not the one you should be asking for help."
"Then who do I need to speak to?"
"The Heart Royals."
"Which ones?"
"Ludwig and Feliciano."
"You do realize that's a tall order at the moment?"
"Perhaps, but so is tearing the castle apart brick by brick. If you want to find evidence, they're the ones who can tell you where to look for it."
Black mist obscured the reflection as Tolys vanished, leaving Erzsébet alone to observe her reflection once more.
Erzsébet frowned as she began circling the table once again, pondering his words. Perhaps as the previous Heart Royals, Ludwig and Feliciano would be more familiar with the castle than she was after only approximately six months living here. However, since they had lost their memories of their time here, how could they recall things that she knew nothing about?
She startled in her steps. They did remember their time here, they had recovered key memories that would've taken place in this castle. At least one of these dreams might have occurred in a part of the castle she has not seen yet.
Erzsébet left the side of the table and marched straight for the door, opening and closing it behind her as she emerged into the hallway. She marched the short way to the juncture, then turned right down the hall separating the Jack's and Ace's quarters. At the far end by the other staircase, she turned right once again to face the doors to the King's quarters.
The pair of Royals guarding the doors quickly turned to look at her as she approached.
"I must speak to them at once, please," Erzsébet told them.
"I'm afraid I cannot let you through, Erzsébet," Basch refused, "Given the circumstances today -"
"My questions for them have nothing to do with Katerina," Erzsébet clarified, "In fact, it is Tolys who recommended I speak to them."
"You spoke to Tolys?" Matthew checked, "What did he tell you?"
"He understood I want to find physical evidence to prove that all this is true," Erzsébet elaborated, "He advised me to consult with Ludwig and Feliciano on where in this castle I can find this evidence."
"Okay," Matthew accepted, "Let me see if they'll let you in."
Matthew backed away, opened the door and slipped into the room, shutting the door behind him.
"Erzsébet, did something happen?" Basch asked, "I know you were skeptical about it all -"
"Tolys also told me something else of interest," Erzsébet added, "If this advice about talking to Ludwig and Feliciano rings true, then I can believe him on the other matter as well."
"And what matter would that be?" Basch pressed.
"Our daughter," Erzsébet revealed, "He claims that she is healthy, and will survive this all if her mother does."
"Our daughter?" Basch repeated, "It's a girl?"
"Apparently," Erzsébet answered just as the door opened.
"They will speak to you," Matthew admitted as he held the door ajar, "I told them what you told me already."
"Thank you, Matthew," Erzsébet acknowledged as she walked to and through the door.
The Heart Royals, past and current, were sitting in the various chairs of the front parlour to the King's quarters. Ludwig and Feliciano were sharing one of the couches, the King sitting upright while the Jack leaned back a bit. Alfred had a couch to himself and sprawled out on it, while Lovino slumped in a chair. As Erzsébet chose where to stand, Basch took his position beside her while Matthew circled around behind his brother.
"Gentlemen," Erzsébet greeted, "Thank you for letting me speak to you."
"We are rather curious about what Matthew told us," Ludwig stated, "Did you really speak to Tolys?"
"Yes, I asked him to advise on the lack of evidence in this matter," Erzsébet explained, "We've had all this talk about missing memories, and of shared dreams where they are recollected, and yet the only physical evidence has been a broken urn."
"There's a tombstone for Katerina in Nodiff," Feliciano described, "Natalya's been visiting it every day to mourn her death for the last six months."
"There was also a letter I received in Shoburgh, just before we came here," Ludwig added, "They were asking about an unresolved trade dispute along the border between Clubs and Spades."
"I wish to find evidence of this here in Oriasa," Erzsébet specified, "There must be something in this castle that would prove whether or not I am the rightful Queen of Hearts. I was prepared to search every nook and cranny, but Tolys advised me to ask you where to begin my search. It's possible that, from your recovered memories, you may recall rooms I have not entered."
"So you need to know where in the castle their dreams took place?" Alfred checked.
"Exactly," Erzsébet confirmed.
"Mine were out in the open, all common areas of the castle," Lovino recounted, "No areas we haven't revisited in the last six months."
"Feliciano, where did our dream take place?" Ludwig asked, "That room was rather isolated, wasn't it?"
"A hidden room filled with books," Feliciano defined, "It had a table displaying a map of the whole Deck."
"Where was this room?" Matthew grilled as Alfred sat up properly.
"Down near the servant's quarters, I believe," Feliciano identified, "Close to the kitchens."
"I have not been down there yet," Erzsébet claimed, "Has anyone else?"
"I haven't either," Basch denied.
"I've been to the kitchens," Alfred disclaimed, "I think I've seen a hallway attached, but never went into it."
"I haven't been down there yet either," Lovino said as he rose from his seat, "You're sure about this, Feliciano?"
"Yes, I'm certain," Feliciano answered as he sat up straight, "There were tapestries on the wall, hiding the door to the room."
"This all sounds very familiar to me too," Ludwig verified, "Who should go down there and find it?"
"Let's all go, take a chance to stretch our legs," Alfred decided as he kicked his feet off the couch, "Mattie, can you tell the others what we're investigating?"
"Sure," Matthew agreed.
As the others rose from their seats, Lovino and Basch moved to the doors first and opened them wide. Erzsébet was the first to leave the room fully and begin marching to the nearby staircase, hearing the chattering and footsteps behind her. She turned right and went down the steps, keeping to the inside and holding the railing with her hand. At the turn in the middle of the first flight, Lovino and Feliciano both sped around her.
At the last few steps before the next landing, Erzsébet could see Roderich standing guard outside of Ivan's guest quarters. His eyebrows were raised at the sight of the brothers whipping by ahead of her. As she stepped onto the landing, Matthew passed her and marched forward towards the curious Jack.
"It's all good, Roderich," Erzsébet called as she turned to the next flight of stairs, "Matthew will explain everything."
She did not look back to see the rest of his reaction, focusing on the next flight of stairs instead. As they kept going down the several more flights, she noticed that only Lovino and Feliciano were staying half a flight ahead, the other three were staying close behind her at the calmer pace.
At the end of the final flight of stairs, Erzsébet stepped out onto the main floor of the great hall, and turned right to follow Lovino and Feliciano a short ways down the side hallway. They reached the end where another staircase went down to the servants quarters, significantly less ornate than the previous floors. As the group descended this last staircase, several servants passing by moved to the side, giving the Royals their salutations along with the right of way.
"Nothing to see here," Basch ordered to the whispering servants, "You can resume your duties."
"Yeah, don't mind us," Alfred added with more enthusiasm, "You're all doing great."
The bottom of the staircase greeted them with the large kitchen, occupied by several staff preparing meals, and where the far left wall was divided up by entrances to hallways.
"Which way now?" Erzsébet asked as the kitchen staff started noticing the visitors.
"It was the first hallway here," Felciano pointed out as he walked towards it, "I'm sure of it."
"You guys go ahead," Alfred offered, "I'll talk to the housekeeper."
Erzsébet glanced over to see Alfred split off to speak to the housekeeper, who was now gawking at them from over by the stoves. She then turned and followed the rest of the group down the hallway, Ludwig now having moved ahead to join Lovino and Feliciano. The hallway had small windows on the left side, letting in some light from outside, as well as small lit torches on the walls between windows.
Feliciano stopped about twenty feet before the end of the hall, and lifted the tapestry from the wall at that spot to reveal a hidden door.
"This is it," Feliciano confirmed as Ludwig reached in for the handle, "This is the room."
"Yes, this is the door," Ludwig ratified as he shook the handle, "But it's locked."
"Do you remember having to unlock it somehow?" Basch pried.
"No, I don't think so," Feliciano replied, "We just opened the door and went inside."
Erzsébet heard footsteps behind her, and turned to see Alfred catching up to them. With him was the housekeeper, who was fumbling with a set of keys in her hand.
"Is there a key for this door, Rosa?" Erzsébet requested.
"Yes, I have the key, your Majesty," Rosa answered, "I will unlock it for you at once."
"Do you happen to recall why it was locked in the first place?" Lovino interrogated.
"Forgive me, your Excellency, I do not," Rosa disclaimed as she placed the key into the keyhole, "All I know is that, at some point, I was instructed to lock the room as per Royal command."
The lock clicked and she swung the door open, before she stood back and allowed them to pass. The room was dark, so Lovino grabbed a torch from the wall and went in first to take a look around.
"Thank you, Rosa," Alfred dismissed, "You can return to your duties."
"You all better get in here," Lovino called from inside.
As Feliciano and Ludwig rushed into the room, Rosa stepped back and gave a quick bow before scuttling off. Erzsébet nodded at her, before turning to follow Basch into the room.
The group's movements were already stirring up dust, so Erzsébet coughed into her sleeve as she adjusted to the air in the room. With the room still so dim, she focused on looking at the torch which had moved to Feliciano's hand while Lovino climbed onto the table in the middle of the room. Watching his steps delicately, Lovino took the torch and raised the flame to the candelabra above the table, lighting the several candles.
"And now we have light," Lovino remarked as the candles were lit with the flame.
With the additional light now available, Erzsébet approached the table and observed what was on it. A large map of the Deck was laid out, with figurines of all four Royal colours positioned all over it, all layered lightly in dust. The most figurines were along the Spades and Clubs edges of Imperial Lake, a mishmash of green, blue and yellow. The royal figurines for all three Suits had been placed at the three capital cities of Shoburgh, Nodiff and Oriasa. The red figurines were all positioned at Oriasa, as if waiting to be positioned in the fray at the lake.
All the red figurines, except for one. The Jack of Hearts figurine was in Nodiff, with the four figurines for the Club Royals.
"This was the war," Alfred described, standing to Erzsébet's right at the Diamonds edge of the table, "A bit further along in the war, but definitely like what I saw in my dream."
"My figurine is in Clubs," Feliciano observed as Lovino hopped off the table, "I must have just been recently arrested for murdering Katerina."
"But the Hearts armies have not moved forward yet," Lovino added as he stood with his brother at the Hearts end, "Tolys's spell might have been triggered just after the assassination."
"So we might be near the end of the memories then," Basch figured out from the Spades side, "Was having Hearts join the war enough of a catalyst?"
"Whose beret is this?"
As Ludwig spoke, Erzsébet looked up to see that he had gone to the corner of the room past the Spades and Clubs corner, and was looking at a desk covered in other paperwork. He turned around and showed them the item he picked up.
A red beret, similar to the ones Feliciano and Basch each wore.
Basch stepped closer, removing his beret and holding it side by side to the dusty one Ludwig was holding.
"The design doesn't quite match mine," Basch compared, "If anything, it looks more like Feliciano's."
Feliciano immediately walked around the Clubs side of the table, removing his own green beret to compare it next, while Basch put back on his own beret.
"The design is exactly like this one, just the different colour," Feliciano matched, "Was it mine, from when I was the Jack of Hearts?"
"What else is on that table?" Erzsébet asked as she walked over to join them.
Basch turned to look, while Ludwig handed the red beret to Feliciano to hold. Basch picked up a small piece of paper and quickly read it, before handing it to Erzsébet.
"That's your handwriting, isn't it?" Basch identified as she took it.
Erzsébet looked it over, and immediately recognized the handwriting as her own as she read it.
Ludwig,
Katerina is dead, and Feliciano has been captured. Hearts will pay for what you've done.
Erzsébet
"I don't remember writing this," Erzsébet denied.
Ludwig turned from the desk and opened a large scroll that was also sitting there. Basch leaned over to read it as well, his eyes bulging as he scanned the words.
"It's your handwriting again, Erzsébet," Basch described, "You're probably not going to remember this one either."
"What did you find?" Alfred pressed as Ludwig tilted the parchment for them all to look at.
"Evidence," Ludwig identified, "A declaration of war on Hearts."
Erzsébet squeezed in beside Basch to read the parchment, shocked to see what it said. It was an official statement from Clubs, in her handwriting, which declared that they were in a state of war with Hearts. At the bottom, it was signed by the four Club Royals.
King Ivan, Queen Erzsébet, Jack Roderich and Ace Natalya.