Hi guys and gals! Enjoy the chapter about the Spades!

3 of Spades

"Lords and ladies of the Spades Kingdom, I present to you, your new leaders!" The announcer exclaimed into the microphone, and everyone began cheering. Alfred, Arthur, and Yao started waving awkwardly, neither sure of what to do at a moment like this. They all wore their celebratory gowns that were made to fit and designed for each of them.

"First, your Jack and councilor, Yao Wang!" Everyone cheered as Yao took a step forward and bowed.

"Next, your Queen, Arthur Kirkland!" Arthur took a step forward and inclined his head, smiling just like he was told to do.

"Finally, your new King, Alfred F. Jones!" Alfred practically bounced forward as he waved, blowing kisses to the crowd. The crowd cheered loudest for him, enjoying his energy.

"Now, we normally don't allow this, but your King would like to make an announcement to all of you. Ladies and Gentlemen, your King!" Alfred took a step forward and thanked the announcer, taking the microphone for himself.

"I know times have been hard lately, with the war. Yet I want to assure you that this war is officially over. As the first order, I declare that the war is over, and that every soldier shall be returned home. Let's bring a new era of peace upon our Kingdom," Alfred bellowed into the microphone. While ending the war had been his first bit of business, he didn't want to announce that until the soldiers were home. But it had been Yao's idea so that they could gain public favor, and he agreed.

Alfred handed back the microphone and went back to stand at Arthur's side. Together, in another public image that had been Yao's idea, they linked hands and bowed to the crowed before they went back inside their castle. They could hear the crowd going crazy outside.

When inside, they all breathed a sigh of relief, and immediately changed out of their celebratory robes. While the robes looked amazing, they were some of the most heavy and uncomfortable things that they had ever worn. As Alfred was changing, he couldn't help but think about the moment when they had all met each other.

"Alright so this is Arthur Kirkland, he's the Queen, and this is Yao Wang, he's the Councilor," a man explained as Arthur and Yao were brought forward.

"So this is the new King?" Arthur asked with a raised brow.

"Yup! I'm Alfred. Alfred F. Jones." Alfred had the biggest smile on his face. He had never been happier to be here.

"This is the man whom my life is tied to?" Alfred felt his grin slip a little, but it still stayed there.

"You betcha."

And that was it. So far they had gotten along well and everything had been going great. There was that incident with Kiku, which Yao was still secretly seething about, but otherwise everyone had been getting along greatly. Even though they had just made the announcement about ten minutes ago, they could hear the buzz and excitement from the city. To many people had family who were fighting in an unjust cause.

The past King of the Spades Kingdom was corrupt. He had taken away the powers of the Queen and ignored the pleading of his councilor just to fulfill his own power. He had ordered that every household would provide one member to go to war. The King had wanted to expand the Spades Kingdom, to increase his own power. While it had started out as a supposedly simple way to gain some of the unclaimed lands, it quickly escalated into a full on war with the other Kingdoms, a war that was fueled by the Kings greed. Once Alfred had been sworn in, he had signed a document saying that everything the King had done was null in void. Arthur had all his powers that the Queen should have, and Alfred listened to everything that Yao gave as advice. Still, he had dreams that he wished t accomplish while he was there as King. He wanted to return his Kingdom to what is was known for before, not only power but also of honor. Alfred wanted to have great relations with the other Kingdoms, not just arguing with them all of the time. There were so many things that Alfred wanted to do, from traveling to other kingdoms to making sure that everything went well. Really, Alfred wanted nothing more than to be the person that saved his Kingdom from the dark place that it was in now.

Arthur wanted his quiet life back though. Arthur wanted to go and have tea in his room, to have his family gathered together around the table and choke over Ian's horrible haggis, he wanted to be able to sit by the fire and rad a book with his mum. Though by the end of his days with busy responsibilities and endless work he would collapse on his bed, immediately falling asleep in the clothes that he had worn that day. He hadn't even see his family since he had arrived here. At least he knew they were in the castle somewhere.

Yao, well, all Yao wanted was his little brother back.

In two weeks there would be a conference, so that all the royalty from the three Kingdoms would be able to meet each other and rebuild or keep relations. Alfred was looking forward to it, Arthur was indifferent, and Yao was dreading it. He would have to see his brother who was of a higher status than him, and treat him with respect.

Yao had forbidden the rest of his brothers and sisters from trying to contact Kiku. Yao told himself that it was for the better, and that it was going to benefit everyone in the end. Still, when Yao told them about the conference it didn't stop Mei Mei from begging to go. She missed her brother terribly. After constant nagging, Yao agreed to let her go along.

Arthur started observing his companions more, noting how Yao got more and more depressed with each day, just one step closer to the meeting of Royals. Arthur knew why he was nervous and anxious, but decided not to say anything, for it was Yao himself who brought it upon himself.

Alfred was a whole other story though. He was impatient, and kept glancing at the door as if he expected someone to come barging through the door any minute. Arthur had asked about it a couple times, but every time Alfred insisted that nothing was wrong. After a couple more times of bugging him, Arthur decided that he would let it go. He would know eventually anyway.

Now it was just a matter of time until the meeting of Royals to come.

What could Alfred be waiting for? Will Yao and Kiku gt along? When Will Arthur lighten up?