Warnings: Language and a lot of Angst

Also I do not own Hetalia or these characters, Himaruya has that honor.

Chapter Eight: Eight of Spades
House of Spades

~Confrontation-

Alfred's arrival was celebrated with grand acclaim, another successful trade with the Hearts and their interest in his innovative flying machines had brought unity to the two Kingdoms as well as promise for a better future; sadly the same could not be said about his marriage with Arthur. During his stay in Hearts, it took everything within Alfred to keep a brave face and not show his distress, however the observant queen noticed and inquired much as Yao would,
which wasn't much of a stretch since they were related.

"I know that it would not be wise to keep such a heavy burden for much longer."
Kiku stated after much observing.
Instead of fighting for a charade, Alfred admitted his pain.

"I can't help it. You know that it's who I am."
Alfred argued, keeping his eyes away from Kiku in an effort to control his threatening emotion from swallowing him whole.

"Yes, I'm aware that it is in your nature to take on the pain of others and sacrifice your feelings for that of others.
But, you can't continue on that path Alfred.
You are a noble ruler with an unfailing sense of justice and by holding onto whatever is distressing you will only cause more pain in the future.
Be the hero you aspire to be if that is who you are, but also be wise in the choices you keep."

Since that conversation, Kiku's advice came clear as a bell, over and over whenever Alfred was near losing his edge.
"For the sake of your Kingdom you must keep your face, but you must also admit that there are some burdens you can no longer carry.
You must rid yourself of those things that keep you from joy and prosperity so that you may be at peace."

Joy and peace were a thing of the past. The joy of his life was Arthur and the peace of knowing he could trust him was all but an impossible dream he was foolish to believe in.

His thoughts were not longer a haven he could retreat to
and Alfred knew he was finally at his limit.
There was only so much one could continue to internalize before it begins to consume them.
Alfred's inability to rest properly was beginning to show in his poor work and less than thoughtful judgments,
something the King of Spades would never have been known for.
What once was a warm day was now a storm of contempt as he imagined Arthur cheating on him at that very moment.
The pain in his heart had finally sown the seed of anger, jealousy and vengeance.

It had taken long enough in itself for Alfred's strong sense of justice had prevented him from accusing Francis of being lower than the dirt as Alfred viewed him now.
Now even his precious Arthur was no longer blameless.

Alfred accepted that Arthur was not perfect and that he needed to confront Francis and Arthur in order to restore order in his Kingdom, but also in his heart and marriage.

The ride back to Spades was one filled with pain, almost wishing that the trip would drag on as long as possible so he could muster the strength to confront Arthur and to claim what was truly his. The Kingdom was in the same shape he had left it, lovely as always in the summer's bloom. It almost seemed to be such a shame that he'd be confronting Arthur today, what a waste of a lovely day.

"Welcome home."
Yao greeted, offering a bow in reverence.

"Thank you Yao, I trust everything has been well in my absence in your capable hands."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Yao replied, bowing his head slightly as he accepted the compliment.
"Yes, everything has been as expected, My King."

"Thank you, Yao."
Alfred looked around, searching for a set of emerald eyes among the crowd.
Why was he still so eager to see him even after having him break his heart once again?
If it didn't matter anymore, he wouldn't have felt so much emotion for him.
Perhaps clinging to hope was a waste of time.

"Where is he?" His voice came somberly, smile fading quickly.

"The garden; he's been waiting to see you for quite some time."
Yao admitted, attempting to feign happiness for the sake of his King.

Alfred ignored any further greetings and commotion in efforts to finding his Queen, going through the maze as quickly as possible to find Arthur having a cup of tea at a table set for two.
Thirteen freshly cut blooms were placed in a jar in the center of the table, not nearly as lovely as Arthur, but rather a close second. It was a pity that Arthur had to have so many thorns considering how many have pruned him.

It didn't take long until Arthur noticed Alfred, smiling at him brightly with his emerald, that didn't dare keep from Alfred. In Arthur's quietness there was joy and in his grace he intended to show his loyalty.

"Care to join me?"
Arthur asked, offering a seat to the other, his eyes giving away his heart.

Caring and loving with the sophistication of mystery that enchanted those who did not know Arthur's true nature, one that Alfred had chosen for so long to ignore.
Now he was finally accepting these flaws and pointing them out as best as he could.

"Yes, I'd love to."
Alfred said with a soft smile, taking the seat across from his Queen.
He took a moment to observe the table and noticed that Arthur had gone to the trouble of remembering his coffee. Alfred wasn't much of a tea drinker and considering he had done so much in the Hearts country, this was a rather kind gesture.

"Two sugars?"
Arthur asked, doing his best to make everything appear as normally as he could.
So far Alfred hadn't suspected incident, but he knew that Alfred was still apprehensive.
The feeling of knowing someone who was supposed to trust you and feeling a need to have to judge you felt terrible, but he did bring it upon himself. At least he could rest in the satisfaction of knowing he turned down Francis' offer. Tea in the garden was incredibly dull and tension was extremely high between the royal couple, offset by Alfred.

"Sure."
Alfred could really care less about things sweet, knowing that everything in his world had lost its vibrancy and flavor. Nothing mattered, not with the internal frustration that needed to be released, swallowing him from the inside. There was only so much more Alfred could take, he needed something done and fast. It was obvious Arthur was going to pretend as if nothing happened, so Alfred had to make the first move.

Check.

"Arthur, we need to talk."
Alfred said with haste, setting the cup down as he felt himself start to boil over. Imagining Arthur and Francis sharing lewd moans in Arthur and Alfred's chambers was sickening to the point where he felt furious and it was more than enough to trigger conversation.

"Go on."
Arthur carelessly threw caution to the wind, unaware of where things would go.

"How long have you been lying to me?"
Alfred looked at Arthur right in the eyes as he inquired.
Arthur was surprised by the question that seemed to appear clear out of the blue, triggered by some unforeseen force that Arthur had not anticipated.

"I beg your pardon? I don't understand. Where did this come from, love?"
Arthur asked apprehensively, laughing a bit at the end of the statement out of nervousness.
He had nothing else to hide;
he wasn't doing anything wrong under the eyes of any deity, so why would he have to pay now when he had ended that relationship?
It didn't seem to make any sense at all.

"I said: How long have you been lying to me?" Alfred replied in raised voice, spiced with hate.

"Lying? About what?"
Arthur asked, doing his best to keep face, he didn't have reason to be upset for he knew he brought this upon himself to start, but why now? He was being punished for this now, of which was possibly the worst timing in the world.

"Have you been completely honest with me, Arthur?"
Alfred asked after swallowing hard, the bitter coffee taste on his tongue paling in comparison to how his heart hurt.

Perhaps some honesty would serve them both well. Arthur had promised after all.
However something within Arthur wished not to tell anything to Alfred, even if he asked.
There was no need to upset him over something that didn't happen, especially with Alfred not present when things were already rectified.
"As I could have possibly been." Arthur replied with partial truth.

Alfred decided to become more direct and test Arthur.
"Did someone visit you?" Judging by his tone, Alfred already knew that Francis had come by.

"Yes, someone did." Arthur earnestly replied.

"Who?" The word came from the Spade King's tongue with such bitterness.

"Who?" Arthur asked back, seeming confused by the question that only succeeded in setting Alfred off further.

"Yes, who visited you Arthur and don't fuck with me, dammit!
For once in your pathetic life, tell me the truth!"

The tone was unlike Alfred, reserving his tongue from swearing, this seemed out of place.
This wasn't the man that Arthur had come to love after they wed, this wasn't the gentle lover who placed the needs of others before his own.
This was something well deserved and something that Arthur thought would never be.

"Alfred… what are you insinuating?"

"That you've been cheating on me with that bastard Francis!"

Check.

Things fell quiet, wind sounded through the roses and soon the sound of furniture shuffling sounded as Arthur rose to his feet, hands placed firmly on the table surface.
Arthur couldn't bear to go through with it, he needed to run away.
"I presently have nothing to say to you on this matter."

"The hell you do!"
Alfred grabbed Arthur's wrist as he attempting to leave, pressing hard into the flesh, enough to bruise.
"You're not getting off easy this time Arthur! Now tell me the truth! "
Arthur pressed his eyes shut, grimacing at the way Alfred shouted at him and how he wished that none of this ever happened.
"Arthur!"

"Alright! Alright!"
Arthur surrendered, feeling his heart shatter under the pressure of this all. There was no denying this any further and the tears that stung in his sorrow glazed eyes would do nothing to bring him near salvation.

"You have a right to know the truth and that's all I can ever offer you as well as what's left of my heart."
Alfred remained silent, expecting the reply that he knew he didn't want to hear as he let go of Arthur's wrist.
Arthur couldn't even stand to make eye contact with him at this point, keeping his eyes down and away from the man that was his everything, which he now stood to lose.
"I've… I've been with Francis."

"I fucking knew it!" Alfred shouted, standing up from the table with fists clenched tightly so.

"Alfred, please let me explain! It's a bit more complicated than just-"
"Shut the hell up!" Alfred snapped, smashing the table with his fist, breaking one of Arthur's favorite tea sets.
He had lost his temper, his patience a thing of the past.

"You've done enough; I'm calling the shots now!
What you've done is unforgivable, you dirty whore! I can't believe I trusted you!"

"Alfred! Please understand I never intended for things to escalate as they did."
Arthur was tripping over his words, desperation setting in as he confessed.
"I-I never thought that we would fall in love!"

Those words were enough to freeze time, Alfred's heart dropping from its perch instantly.
"What?" Alfred's rage had frozen into silent fury, shock overwhelming him.
He realized that the affair had not been the only lie that Arthur had been living.

"It appears I have much more to tell you. Even secrets that have been for nearly seven years." Arthur admitted, shifting his gaze to the side once again.

"That long?" Alfred asked, voice breaking with those words. It couldn't be, their love hadn't been a lie as well, had it?
Alfred wasn't sure what to believe was real anymore.

"I suppose you wish to know the truth?"
Arthur asked, meeting Alfred's terrified eyes with his own. Both men swallowed hard, their hearts pounding in their chests while their blood ran cold. They knew that they needed to go through with this and that they would have to do so together, even if it were only for the sake of their Kingdom.

Checkmate.

Yes, the courts had many secrets, even Yao himself as of late.
On the evening of the most recent act of betrayal by Arthur,
Yao took notice of when Francis took his leave, the anger evident in his stride.
He was refused and Arthur had completed his promise to Alfred, such a shame Alfred would never know of it.
It was in the best interest for the Kingdom of Spades and for Alfred's heart. What Alfred didn't know would be best for the Kingdom and truth be told, Yao held some remorse in hiding this truth from him.

A/N:
This chapter seemed to fly by due to the pacing. Arguments tend to be rather fast paced aren't they?
Alfred may have had quite bad language, but do understand him here; there's only so much one can take without coming undone.
Constructive criticism and your thoughts are welcomed!