I am so sorry for not updating for like what, a month? Either way I'm extremely sorry and I hope that after I end my school program in another week, I will be able to update more often. Wow, over thirty views and a follower, favorite, and a review! I was extremely surprised about that. Thank you to all thirty of you guys that actually bothered reading my first chapter. I was expecting around only 15 people to actually read it because of how fast Hetalia fanfic writers update and how many new stories keep popping up every hour. I would especially like to thank russiaxamerica for being the first author follower I've had and eenayde for being the first person to take the time towrite a review for this story. That means a lot to me and I would very much like to thank both of you for that. I'm sorry for not updating for some time but with the fourth of July, birthdays that have come up, programs, and a recent death in my family I've been kept very busy. Anyways, for any of you Gorillaz fans, I posted a new chapter for my fanfic My Name Starts With S but It's Not Stuart. If you're a fan of Gorillaz and haven't read it please check it out, and if you have read the story so far, please check out the next chapter and tell me what you think. Sorry for all of the excuses, so on with the story.
Hetalia, is created by Hidekaz Himaruya, and I in no way shape or form own any of the characters
Madeline- Queen of Diamonds
Maddie had been sitting quietly in a plush chaise lounge seat made orange velvet, gold, and dark wood, looking quite peculiar seated upon such a lavish couch whilst wearing clothing suited for a pheasant consisting of a simple dark blue skirt, a yellow bodice, and dark green petticoat and oddly enough, one of her most lavish heeled shoes. The sun had arisen maybe an hour or so ago. Before coming to the palace she'd always awoken an hour or two before the sun had even come close to rising beyond the rolling hills her family lived near. Knowing that it was only the servants who were awake at this hour usually, Maddie would dress in whatever was most comfortable and stroll about the palace in silence, or stay in the library reading.
She gave a small sigh at that thought. Not even three months and she was already missing her home. She missed the way the crisp autumn air filled her lungs as leaves fluttered from a small breeze on the ground. She missed the constant sounds of the animals from the obnoxious cow, Clara, Maddie had named her though her family claimed there was no need to name an animal, who loudly mooed and would kick away a pail when Madeline stopped to rest her hands, to the small pink pigs that snorted noisily when she came close to them simply to pick up the runt and feed it some milk. She always hoped the runts she fed would grow to be at least a bit stronger than their siblings, just enough so that they wouldn't be the first to be slaughtered. None of them ever lived long and she would refuse to eat meat the next day when saw a piece of juicy red meat being served.
Finishing the thick volume she'd been reading, she sat it down on the nearby table. She leaned back into her seat though her muscles were telling her to stretch, not listening and reclining even further into her seat, eyes glazing over the many volumes and novels surrounding her before looking out the tall window next to her. The sun was well on its way to moving above the patch of trees in the garden. It cast a pretty glow across the sky and the garden: the sky was a bright cornflower blue with thin wisps of white, muted orange, and pale pink clouds, the sun glowing brightly and casting a bright yellow glow across the ground. It truly did make the Diamond Kingdom look like it's colors of orange and gold. Her violet eyes skimmed over the once colorful garden now bathed in the two colors. It was a pretty sight but even so it felt foreign and cold to her even with the warmth of the suns rays. It was much like how she felt when the crown was put over her head: the weight of it was strange and heavy, and the sight of the metal felt cold, lacking the warmth and power she assumed would come, only feeling a piece of metal that had some wealth to it.
Finally thinking her body deserved to move, she took off her small-heeled white shoes, curling her toes in satisfaction. The heels she now wore were even stranger to her then the fancy gowns as she often went barefoot when she was younger, the sudden need to wear shoes that blistered her heels and pinched her toes not at all pleasant to her poor feet. Stretching out her palms she wondered why she had bothered at all to wear shoes. She was often left alone and in the library where hardly anyone came unless the king was looking for an important document stored away somewhere.
Oh yes, she thought as the reason came to mind. It was because of what that woman said. She recalled that only two days before she had been announced Queen she had been helping her siblings to sell some products when suddenly someone had knocked her down. A woman to be precise, although it was hard to know as they wore a dark cloak, and the only thing revealing the figure as female were flowing white locks poking out and their feminine voice as they asked if she was fine. Even though she was fine, it seemed as though the woman had looked at her dirty barefoot feet and thought a suitable apology was to give Maddie a pair of shoes. In truth, they were quite simple, a pair of pointed-toed, red, low-heeled shoes, but the expensive leather the shoes were made of certainly wasn't something she came across everyday. Just as Maddie was about to give them back to the woman, she felt the weight of a hand on her head and vibrations as the silver-haired woman spoke, as well as her warm breath against her ear as she laughed and said, "Beautiful shoes will take you to beautiful places." The woman walked away, and Maddie recalled hearing only three footsteps, but as soon as she turned to talk to her again, she vanished.
For some reason Maddie decided not to sell the shoes even though they probably would have sold for enough money her family wouldn't have to work for a few months. The moment she arrived home she went into the small barn her father managed to scrounge up enough money for and looked at them, wondering when she would ever have a need for such a thing. She then hid the pair, wrapping a cloth around them to hide the shape, and stuffing them inside the burlap sack full of hay and feathers she called a pillow. On the day guards in gold and orange and the Jack himself had arrived on the plot of land her parents called their own she hadn't worn any shoes. When she arrived to the palace though, she'd quickly washed her feet and put on the heeled shoes, arriving with some small confidence left in herself and parents crying with joy and sadness for their youngest girl who they would only see glances of ever again. Maddie was confused about the ordeal as for as long as she could remember she'd always had a diamond mark located just below her ankle, which the rest of her family had, defining them as being born in Diamond. A week before the guards arrived her mark changed so a five-pointed star was just above her old mark. She thought nothing of it, her feet so filthy she forgot about the markings. She brought it up with her mother once but she was brushed aside and never bothered with the matter again.
That was very much the case her whole life. She was the youngest out of eleven or twelve other children, most of their birthdays barely a year or two apart. A lot of them were barely older than her or had already gotten on with their lives. In actuality it felt more like they were indentured servants living together rather than family, each person going about their business, only speaking when in need of a favor or talking about business. Often Maddie felt like the runt of the litter herself, small and sickly from the time she was born, just barely surviving her first few winters, constantly forgotten, and almost invisible at some times. It got to the point where she would check herself twice to see if she had become transparent in some way. The few times she was remembered she would often be mistaken for one of her siblings who also shared their father's blonde hair, although there were some moments in which her siblings who shared their mother's silver hair had there names mistaken with Maddie's.
In the palace, whilst she still acted as the unseen sprit she often presumed she was, it was an entirely different tale. If a servant saw her they became flustered, even if they were thrice here age, and repeatedly bowed and asked if she needed anything from something as simple, to them, as a cup of tea served on the balcony with a servant holding a shade above her head, to the extravagant experience of not having to lift even a toe as she was bathed, dressed, sent off on a carriage made entirely out of gold, taken to the farthest meadow in Diamond, have a feast all to herself, and then leave with a full string quartet playing music as she sleeps. Everything felt so surreal every night she'd wake up surprised to find herself in a clean, spacious, expensive room decorated with high ceilings of gold, crystal chandeliers hanging above her head, and a silken canopy bed that could surely be enough room for five or six other people, instead of a small dirty room containing at least five other inhabitants. She thought perhaps she was in a possible comatose state, and that everything that had happened was a dream, but every time she woke she didn't believe what she saw until a servant knocked on her door after she pinched her shoulder twenty times or so.
Wiggling her toes against the cold stone floor in delight, Maddie got off her seat and walked over to the gargantuan shelves of books that created an almost maze like quality in the room. Her fingers delicately brushed over the spines of books, some weathered, some new, some merely documents with the sides sown together. The faint pitter of rushing feet was heard through the stone walls, managing to do so with the hundreds upon hundreds of servants the king had preparing for the feast scurrying like field mice back and forth and then some.
Nothing less than perfection for a king I suppose, Maddie thought, rolling her eyes with a bit of disdain at the thought. While commoners and half dead children starve in the streets, the royals get to feast on what most peasants would have to steal to get. Shaking her head, she continued on running her fingertips across the shelves. She closed her eyes and continued walking blindly, carefully feeling the textures of spines and papers until she felt something strange. Opening her eyes and taking out the book, one of her eyebrows arched in confusion. The ten or so pages of the book looked as though they should have simply been a document sown together like the others, but for some reason had a leather cover protecting it, clearly old with its frayed edges and faded color. There was no title written on the leather whatsoever, leading the young girl to open the book. No title still. She flipped through the pages, violet eyes skimming over them briefly hoping to find something distinguishing a title or something of the sort. There was nothing however, and the writing resembled that of the large lettering some of the children managed to write if they were taught. How odd, Maddie thought, no title, childish scribbles, and yet a cover is placed with it. She began to read the first page, placing her finger underneath the first word, focused on deciphering the slightly sloppy writing-
BAM!
The young Queen became so startled she jumped and just barely grasped the spine of the book with her small fingers before it could fall.
"You there, tell me where I can find the dining hall."
Maddie turned to face the voice, looking at the doorway where a man stood. He was handsome, with a tall athletic body, long straw-blonde hair held by a small red ribbon, bright blue eyes, and tanned skin, though Maddie could tell he was more than likely much paler in actuality. His clothing improved upon his looks, with a long bright red coat with golden buttons and cufflinks, a white shirt with ruffles at the wrists, pale pink stocks tied around his neck, a pink waistcoat with small gold buttons, tight, red, silk breeches, white leggings, and dark brown, heeled shoes with gold buckles.
"Excuse me, didn't you hear me," the man said once more arching an eyebrow, his tone more curious than annoyed. "Can you tell me where to find the dining hall?"
"Oh um, y-yes o-of course," Maddie sputtered out. "If you are to walk to the end of the corridor, turn left, and continue in that direction for another three corridors you'll find a large door, most likely with a guard or two in front. That is the dining hall."
"Thank you," the man said. "Shouldn't you be with the other servants?" Maddie was about to answer but the man had left without saying another word.
He certainly was a rather odd man. Could he have been a part of the Heart King's guards? She contemplated the thought for a moment, but quickly suspended it. His clothing was far too formal, not at all suited for guarding someone of a royal stature. Perhaps it was the Ace? She hadn't heard any news of the Ace coming along as on visits they often were left to keep watch of the kingdom. From what she had heard of the Heart's Ace also, the man looked nothing like what was described of the fair skinned, dark haired and eyed man with a slim fame.
That couldn't have been the King could it? The man hadn't worn a crown but his clothing was quite expensive and decorative, even if a bit simplistic compared to what King Francis wore. She had also heard the King and Queen both were blonde and had fair skin that easily tanned. Perhaps he could have been the Queen. It wouldn't be the first time of a man being born Queen or a woman being born a King or a Jack. She hadn't heard of it occurring often in Heart but Diamond had its fair share of women who were Kings and men who were Queen. If the King and Queen are here that means that the meeting has already started! It would be terrible for her to have had the King or Queen see her as she was now looking like a servant!
Maddie grabbed her heels, scurrying to her room as quickly as she could. She called upon a nearby maid who threw away her outfit and found a large basin of water. The woman washed her face, put rouge on her lips and powdered her face, and styled her hair. The maid then proceeded to dress her in one of her best dresses, a crème colored gown with a small tail, quarter length sleeves, and decorative beads of red, pink, and orange, with gold accents surrounding the bodice, sleeves, and skirt. It was paired with gold and pearl teardrop earrings, a matching necklace, and her citrine, orange tourmaline, pearl, and gold diadem. It was too much for her taste, but it was the first time she'd meet the Royals of another kingdom. She'd briefly glanced at them while walking to and from inside of the cathedral of the kingdom, but never was able to talk to any of them. Better that she overdo it and show them that she was trying her hardest to fit into her new role than not trying hard enough.
Walking to the doors of the dining hall, Maddie held onto her heels with one as to cause as little noise as possible against the marble floors as the her other hand tried to tame her hair that was currently trying to come out of the style she'd put it in. Reaching the doors, the guards at the front parted for her, and waited patiently as she quickly straightened out her appearance, fixed her hair. Just as she was about to nod to them to open the doors, they opened from the inside but just enough that the width of a sideways butter-knife could fit. A wide green eye peaked out from the inside catching Maddie off guard as her violet eyes widened and she covered her mouth with her hands just as she squeaked. The corners of the eye crinkled in surprise as the owner seemed to smile before the soft, high-pitched voice of the Ace was heard.
"My queen as lovely as you look right now, and from what my eye can see you look positively exquisite," Erika said, smiling wider as Maddie blushed in embarrassment, "I propose that you stay outside and wait for us to meet you in the gardens perhaps? I think it would make you seem as though you had terrible mannerisms to barge into the middle of a meeting, even if it is a short one and your form of barging into a room is more relatable to a small bird quietly sitting near an opened window. Don't fret over thinking that they will dislike you. Merely say that you did not realize how early the Heart Royals would arrive and that you had to dress presentably for them. The queen has a fondness for me and I am sure she will positively adore you upon meeting you, My Queen."
It was in moments like these that Maddie was thankful to have someone as kind and thoughtful as Erika as the Ace. She was probably the closest Maddie had ever gotten to having a caretaker that she could consider family of sorts. Yes there had been a kind trader her family was friends with that often took care of her when he could named Carlos, or as he probably would be introduced if she had to introduce him to the Royals, Carlos Máximo Juan Ericemdo Machado, but on occasion he'd hit her mistaking her for one of her siblings who deserved a punishment and would often be gone for more than three months every season, only staying a week or two in Diamond before moving.
Politely nodding, Maddie whispered her thanks to the Ace before stepping away as the doors closed. She stepped further back to let the guards step back into place before nodding in acknowledgement and leaving them to their duties. Deciding not to return to the library, she quietly moved about the halls, moving close to the windows in order to look outside. The sun no longer illuminating the city in gold returned it to its much more demure reality of white marble building where government meetings were usually held or where other nobles lived. In truth it was a pretty sight, but Maddie could only remember the filthy crime-filled village she herself once lived in as she looked at the posh, pretty, palace-like buildings that would have been a better investment of money if the money were spent on the people. Had the king remembered, or even known, anything of what it was like to live in his Kingdom the way most lived? Being as small as Maddie meant being unnoticed and being unnoticed meant noticing and learning many things such as when was the time the young group of boys who lived on the streets would steal from the marketplace, what time the brothels were at their fullest, and where were the areas to avoid if you did not want to be robbed, killed, and left to shitted, eaten, and pissed on by whatever animals passed until your body rotted and was thrown in with other garbage. It wasn't a pretty thing to think about, but it was the reality of the Diamond Kingdom, and Maddie was just glad not to be born in Clubs at the very least.
Reaching a familiar set of stairs the young queen gathered her skirts and moved up the stairs, her heels that shot her up four inches higher into the air clicking against the stone steps. She tried to regain her balance against the walls as she suddenly began to trip, but did not bother taking off the shoes. Having somehow managed to reach the top with only a small bruise forming on her left hip, Maddie considered it a success and opened the doors to her private solar, which the past queens had had. Maddie had asked the king to not allow any guards up merely so that she could have an area besides her room and the library that she could be alone in, as the other two were still accessible to guards and other people. Maddie supposed she should be practically lusting over the fact that she was now being showered with presents and people wanting to be around her, even if only to be in her favor, but so many years of being alone had done it's work.
Opening the doors, Maddie paused and blinked twice to make sure she wasn't imagining anything. Inside was all the plush expensive furniture the last queen had brought to her solar, everything decorated in the fashions of the last hundred years past, not even the large glass doors leading to a large balcony disturbed. Everything was covered in gold, yellow, and orange with small objects colored black, brown, blue, and white speckled here and there. It caused the figure draped in red and pink to seem even stranger with their alien pink shirt with gold trimmings all about as well as violet, white, and red designs, a large, thick, blood red waistband with a large bow at their back tied by gold rope, a long box-like, black, glossy sheath strapped to her side, and a blood red skirt held up by the ribbon. The heavy looking clothing made the woman who while not short but very slim seem even smaller. Strange wooden platform-shoes adorned the figure's feet, which were covered with thick white socks. A bright red flower with heart-shaped rubies attached to golden strings could be found in their black hair gathered in a small bun atop their head, making the thick layer of white foundation on their face stand out further, along with their warm brown eyes lined with kohl and red paint, and small lips partially painted red.
"I am sorry," the figure said in a quiet voice similarly to Erika's, although much more mature, a strange accent to their voice that Maddie could not identify. "I am the Jack of Heart, Sakura Honda. You must be the new queen of Diamond I have heard so much about, Queen Maderine."
It was hard to know if this woman before her was joking with Maddie or not, as Maddie walked forward, the heels she wore compared to woman's causing the painted woman to tower over her by several inches. She quickly glanced over the woman again looking for something that showed her allegiance to the Heart Royals besides her obviously expensive pink and red silks and heart cut rubies. If she remembered correctly, Jacks were supposed to carry a weapon that displayed their kingdom's sigil, where was this "Jack's" sigil?
Sakura Honda seemed to notice how she was looking at her as she gave a small smile while grabbing the handle of the larger sheath of a sword that reached the floor. The handle was black and box shaped and the sword itself looked as though it was made more for speed and agility than the heavy thick swords Maddie saw the guards lugging around with them as it was thin, long, and extremely sharp, but much larger than a rapier. Where the handle and sword met was a small ruby, just barely noticeable, in the shape of a heart. This sword was nothing like the one the Jack of Diamond, Basch, paraded around with him. Maddie quickly curtsied at the sight of the ruby though, and exchanged pleasantries with Sakura.
"I much rather prefer my katana to the rong heavy swords the other Jacks carry about. I arso much prefer to be stealthy and so choose not to have my kingdom's sigir frounced around for arr to see," Sakura explained. Maddie's left eye twitched ever so slightly at the woman's accent that caused many of her words to be incorrectly pronounced. "I am sorry for disturbing your sorar, I was unaware if it had been changed or removed and decided to search through the castre, following my King's example as the rooms and harrs are usuarry redecorated when a new queen arrives. I can reave if you would rike me to. I am sure I have to find where my King and Queen now, as you are in your sorar which I have intruded upon and not at the meeting."
"Oh, no, no, no!" Maddie quickly said, her face flushing with embarrassment. "I, I mean, do not worry, Jack Honda," Maddie said quickly at the slim faced woman's inquisitive look. She continued stumbling with her words, scolding herself as she did so. "I am afraid that your king had taken me by surprise by arriving so early. We were not expecting his party to arrive for may-haps another two hours or so. I had considered entering the meeting room but I am afraid it would seem ill-mannered to suddenly intrude on something I was late for."
The Jack was pleased with the answer apparently as she smiled gently again before gathering her skirt and walking forward to the balcony. "Sharr we continue this on the barcony, Queen Maderine?" She used her other hand to reach into the thick ribbon around her waist and pulling out a highly decorative gold, red, black, and pink fan, a thin gold rope tied at the end with a ruby cut into a heart at the end.
"Oh, er, um o-of course, I don't think that I would be a good hostess if I didn't entertain guests," Maddie replied, scolding herself for how sheepish she sounded in front of the Jack. She quickly walked forward, her back so stiff and straight it could be used as a table, and opened the doors. The two walked out onto the balcony which had it's own set of furniture beneath the shade of a white canopy propped up by four tall oaken legs. Underneath was a reasonable sized, wooden, circular table, four table placed to face the beautiful view of the gardens, which probably took up something of around fifteen acres of land. The two sat down, each taking a seat at the edge. The painted woman quickly began to fan herself and Maddie soon wished she'd brought a fan with how warm it was outside.
The two sat in a peaceful silence for a few moments. Maddie glanced from the corner of her eyes at Sakura Honda, intrigued by the woman's apparel. She'd never seen anyone descended from the fallen kingdom of Dragon. This woman looked like a true beauty of the kingdom, The thin line of skin that her foundation did not cover below her hairline, the strange uncovered patch on her neck, and her uncovered hands showed her skin was extremely fair and smooth. Her face, much like her body, was slim, making her large eyes with long curled eyelashes, elongated further black and red makeup around them, even larger, and her nose was high bridged and a slight bit larger and flatter then the nose she'd seen most people fair skinned people have, more comparable to people of the Sun.
I wonder if she was born into nobility? Maddie thought. There was less prejudice for race in the Heart kingdom as so many of its inhabitants were from other kingdoms, and nobility was recognized no matter what. This woman seemed to be the embodiment of grace and nobility with how beautiful, well spoken, and poised she was.
"Excuse me, Queen Maderine," Sakura Honda said, bringing Maddie out of her thoughts. "I know that this might seem a bit strange, but do you know anything of blackjack?"
"Do you mean the card game?" Maddie replied. "I've never played it myself but I've seen others play it before. It seems rather simple though. One player deals out two cards to themselves and whomever is playing, and the object of the game is to be the closest person to the number twenty-one correct?" Her voice lowered as she saw the Jack look down, a small smile against her fully painted upper lip and partially painted lower lip, and her head shaking slightly, the heart cut rubies ornamenting her hair clanking together.
"No, no, no Queen Maderine." Sakura Honda looked back up at her, a smile still on her face, and her eyes holding something strange in them. "You see, the Royals play a different game of Blackjack. This one is considerably more dangerous. It's not just something as simple as betting a mere coin or two on a game. There's usually a strict timeline in which our version is to be played however." The Jack suddenly leaned closer to Maddie, propping her elbow on the table and resting her cheek on her palm as she leaned forward. Her voice lowered into a strange husky whisper even though they were the only two people in the area.
"Have you ever wondered why our signs change and why only people with certain marks are Royals instead of hmm . . .I don't know, perhaps a monarchy where the next Royals are the previous Royals offspring?" There was an amusing glint in the woman's strange ruddy-brown eyes. The smile did not leave her lips even for a minute, but the more Maddie looked at her face, the smile seemed less just a simple coy smile, more reminiscent of a smirk.
"No, I'm afraid not," Maddie replied. "I did not even know such things as a monarchy existed as I've only heard of them in fairy tales."
Sakura Honda shook her head, rubies rattling once more. "I'm afraid that they did exist. Before Doragon- I mean Dragon fell, my parents claimed my grandparents said there was a monarchy. Sometimes the rulers were cruel, other times the kingdom would flourish because of being under a just king's rule. However there was never much room for improvement in genders. Women had strict rules in which they were to follow just as the men had few rules they absolutely had to follow.Only men could claim themselves a king, or knights, or lords. Women could only hope to be queens and ladies." Her eyes darkened to the point that they almost looked black.
Maddie arched a confused brow, her mouth formed a small "O", and she cautiously started to speak. "I-" she flinched as she saw the Jack look at her with a somewhat softer gaze, but her eyes were still dark and cold like onyx. "I-I am sorry to interrupt you Jack Honda," she looked back up at the woman, a bit braver now, "but I do not see what this has to do with this version of Blackjack you claim that only the Royals play."
The Jack arched her own slim brow, and looked as though she was about to speak when a knock interrupted her. The two females looked back at the opened doors to find Diamond's Ace, Erika looking at them, her palm closed and knuckles resting against the glass doors in a rapping motion.
"Forgive me for my interruption My Queen, Jack Honda," Erika said gesturing to both women as she bowed her head, "but the meeting is over and the Kings have requested your presences in the dining hall. The Heart Queen says that she is excited to meet you."
Something about how the Ace spoke told Maddie that her words were being coated in sugar so not to offend her. The violet-eyed girl did not bother with this though and nodded at the Heart Jack politely before the two women got up from their seats and walked forward to the Ace. Erika turned around and walked to the door, which Maddie realized she had left open, quickly beginning her descent down the stairs. As Maddie began her own descent, she felt a hand tightly latch onto her bicep, and pull her back into what felt like a slightly cushiony chest. Her head quickly snapped up to see the face of Sakura Honda looking down at her.
"We wirr continue this discussion rater I assume Queen Maderine?" Her painted lips smiled knowingly and that strange glint was back in her eyes.
Maddie only nodded before the Jack released her. She scurried down the stairs to the calm safety Erika provided, swearing in the back of her mind that she could still see the Jack's face in that same expression staring at her.
I am so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so sorry about this extrememly late update. The program that I was in recently ended so I was just trying my best to finish what updates on my stories that I could as quickly as I could. I apologize if this isn't very good but I was just trying while doing all these reports and papers for the program. Anyways, I am finished and won't have to worry about any work until September so I will have plenty of time to write stories and update chapters. So, until next time, please read and review and have a good day.