Author's Notes: Good day to you. It's me again! Honestly, I find the author's notes a bit tedious up here because I end up giving away all of my ideas. I really am unsure of what I should do. You know what's weird. For the A/N in this story, I am writing in perfect grammar, while in Starcrossed it's more of a whatever-the-fuck-I-want attitude. Shrugs. Hey, it's my story. Speaking of my story, I might as well add my commentary here. So I know remotely nothing about fencing, so in the Cardverse AU (and maybe real life too), you can win a fencing tourament by either jabbing (I don't know fencing terms) someone in the appropriate positions three times: mostly the chest. However, one can win a tournament by sucessfully removing the other's head mask. I hope that cleared up the rules here. Okay, remember how I said the characters for this particular story reflects the timeline of history? Well, then think of this as the parts leading up to the Revolution and the Revolution itself [Haha I have 1783 words] In the following chapters, they will most likely become more like usual. Here is a shout-out to my lovely readers and especially reviewers! Don't forget to vote for me to continue this story on my profile page :)
Warnings: Strong language and a tad bit of violence.
Disclaimer: I do not own hetalia or Cardverse AU.
"Ah, here for your first training session?" Arthur noticed sipping his tea from a porcelain tea cup with the emblem of spades painted delicately on the side, situated at a cushioned seat placed accordingly in the training room. The room was extensive with towering walls made of large cobblestone similar to the rest of the castle. Aligned against the wall were weapons ranging from swords to bows and arrows neatly arranged flagrantly. On the opposite side were the target ranges, along with the Four and Eight shooting bows and arrows as a warm up, getting almost all of the bows to hit the cerulean target in the center or in the vicinity of it.
Alfred scratched at his garments. He's never worn something as elaborate as a silk white shirt, an indigo cloak and matching slacks, especially for training. His Clock was attached to the end of the cloak by a gold chain which nestled into a pocket sewn into his clothing. They were a bit loose on him, seeing as he was obviously malnourished for someone of his height. "It's a bit uncomfortable."
"You'll adjust," was the only thing the Queen could state.
Alfred muttered "let's just get on with this."
"Right," he began noting lifting a platinum sword encrusted with indigo gems. "Well, I bet you've never seen a weapon before, or at least of these standards." This made Alfred's rage for Arthur grow. How could he not be infuriated by the man who claims himself Queen, yet has no appreciation for his subjects? "You will train with the Ace, under my supervision of course. Couldn't have you running away again, can we?"
Alfred snorted. "Why can't you train me?"
He sipped his tea regally and crossed his right left over his left. "Why would I do that? It's not my place to be training a King."
"Of course not," he said rolling his blue eyes. What right does Royalty to think that they are better than we are?
"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked slamming the porcelain cup down in its saucer placed atop the table beside him.
"You could at least treat me like I'm worth something! I thought the Queen is supposed to be grateful of her subjects."
Arthur's unkempt eyebrow twitched reflexively. If there's one thing he hated more than insubordinate peasants and his brothers, possible combined, were those who called him a girl. "I am not a female!" he shouted lunging towards Alfred with his sword.
Alfred let it puncture his thin chest before sulking "that's not fair! I don't even have a weapon!"
"Whoever said anything about playing fair?" he smirked pouncing on his opponent managing to hold his weapon just an inch away from Alfred's skin.
"Alfred! Arthur! Behave yourselves," Yao exclaimed in shock after entering the training room. For once, Alfred was pleased to see Yao barge into the situation. "Now if you two are done, we can begin breakfast."
Arthur sighed before drawing his sword back. "Very well, I guess we should eat."
Alfred stuck his tongue out receiving a glare from Yao. "You should have started with etiquette," he murmured into Arthur's ear.
"With all due respect, Yao, but I would appreciate it if you wouldn't speak so low of me," he said with as much poise as he could muster, but was ignored anyways. He followed the elder two into a large dining hall in which three other men sat, all with untamable flaming hair yet elaborate clothing. The table was complete with assortment of colored confections, mostly shades of blue of course, placed on platinum platters.
"Art! Looks like ye found a new manservant," the eldest of the three chuckled cutting a purple colored loaf of bread with a knife.
Arthur pouted sitting down at the head of the table and folding his right left over his left. He collected three loaves of bread before unwrapping his butter knife folded in a large silk napkin. "Is that any way to talk to your new King?"
The intolerable laughter stopped. "And what gave ye the fucking right to announce the new King?" the youngest said sipping rum from a glass cup.
"He didn't," Alfred mumbled pulling out a mahogany wooden seat next to Arthur and across from Yao who was pouring tea into all of their chinaware. He stared at the food, unable to comprehend how he barely had enough to eat yesterday and now he was sitting at a table overwhelmed by confectionaries.
The eldest of the three raised one of his thick eyebrows. "Huh?"
"Isn't he just precious? One of the many traits that solidified my conclusion," Arthur said forcing a smile upon his lips and receiving a blank stare from Alfred. He cut a lump of butter from the stick lying on a small plate before spreading it evenly on his bread. "He's going to make a great King."
"So how long have you two known each other?" the middle child solicited.
He crossed his arms across his chest. "That's confidential, Iain."
"That's why you've been so bloody moody! Aw. I didn't know you weren't," he coughed "playing for the home team."
The other two brothers giggled while Arthur blushed. Composing himself Arthur stated "and how is your love life going? I'd love to hear all of the wonderful stories about raping various noble women." He took another sip of tea and raised both of his bushy eyebrows.
"I swear, I will sever your fucking head and eat it for breakfast," the youngest one shouted with his mouth full of scrambled eggs.
Arthur gritted through his teeth "is that a threat, William? I will personally have you beheaded for treason."
William slumped in his seat. "Anyways, love is just another distraction and a weakness from what is really important."
"And what may that be?"
"Tormenting you," William said gulping down the rest of his drink.
Arthur's anger raged inside him. "I swear I will kill you-"
"Calm down!" Iain yelled responsibly.
"How could you have possibly fell in love with someone as…" Connor smiled at Arthur's icy glares. "charming as him?"
Alfred shrugged refusing to play along with Arthur's game. "Dunno."
There was a slight pause before William asked, after noticing his soon-to-be-King was confused by the selections placed in front of him, "haven't ye ever seen food before?"
"I really shouldn't…" he began feeling his stomach grow emptier. No matter how much he wanted to eat, he had to refuse. He wasn't about to succumb to dishonor his principles. No matter how delectable the food looked and smelled.
Arthur shot him an icy glower. "What's wrong with you? You're already quite malnourished and now you're refusing to eat?"
He slammed his hands on the table. "How could I eat knowing people in Spades starve to death everyday?"
"With all due respect, your highness, you will be leading this nation. You must look your very best, aru," Yao explained.
"Very well," Alfred mumbled. Yao was right, he was only harming himself and his Kingdom. In light of it all, he accomplished grabbing as much food as he could; managing to disgust Arthur and Yao.
Before Alfred could enjoy much of the food, he was back in the training room being lectured by Arthur. "Now, you will start with some simple fencing attacks."
"What does fencing have to do with being a King?" Alfred whined although he actually adored fencing back home. When he wasn't working, which was rare, he would take Matthew to a local fencing tournament.
"As you ever so regally stated, royalty cannot be reliant on their guards to tender to their every need."
He rolled his crystal irises. "Let's get this over with," he muttered feeling absolutely ridiculous in the white protective suit which made him look like an oversized marshmallow.
"Ambitious, are we?" Arthur asked with a raised eyebrow.
With a sly expression plastered upon his face he proposed "actually, I'm feeling quite ambitious. I challenge you to a duel."
The Queen threw back his head and laughed insufferably. "Me? A fencing match? I doubt you could defeat the Ten, let alone me!"
"Fine then. If I beat you, you take to Matthew right then and there, no complaining."
Arthur licked his lips beginning to put on his suit. "And if I win…?"
"Then I'll listen to everything you have to say without refuting."
"I like this deal," the Queen said which a sly smile before holding out his sword confidently. There was no way a peasant could defeat the all powerful Queen of Spades at fencing.
The shouted "on guard" through their masks. Arthur was first to make a move by thrusting his sabre forward, but he did not accommodate for Alfred defending his attack and throwing off Arthur's mask with one swift movement of his foil, marking the end of the match. "Let's go," Alfred deadpanned, beginning to strip off his suit leaving Arthur to stare quite baffled.
To Be Continued...