Author's Notes: Welcome to the 21st installment to A Clockwork Spade. First, I would like to thank all of the wonderful people who participated in the blackout. I have always wanted to make this story M rated but I am terrified of being kicked off the sight. Second, I had a few ideas for this chapter so don't kill me for whatever I do. I am sorry. It is completely cliché and I apologize for that. This week, I think I am going to work on updating all of my stories, and adding a few new ones. Or not. Writing just comes to me, so I have to go with the flow of my imagination. Also, the chapter names are not supposed to spell something out, I am not that genuis. That would be awesome if it did though. Okay, I think we have had enough of my weirdness for one author's notes because this is just off topic now. Thank you for the lovely reviews. (I'm going to try to push for 50 but I know that is just a fantasy).Check for updates on my tumblr betweendreamsandrealityy. Stay cool this summer and enjoy.

Warnings: Strong language.

Disclaimer: I do not own hetalia or Cardverse AU.

Alfred paced back and forth throughout the hallway outside Arthur's chamber door. The sun was beginning to collapse for the evening and Yaoplus the other healers were still inside. He thought to himself What if he's dead? What will happen to Spades? Everything will fall out of balance and maybe another Kingdom will-

His thoughts were interrupted by the swift opening of his chamber door. "How long have you been out here, your majesty?"Yaoasked with an exhale and a bit of anger in each word. From the look of his disheveled raven black hair, it was obvious the results were not pleasant.

"Is he…" he asked shakily. It's like everything I touch disappears, he thought letting his mind wander the possibilities. It's my entire fault! I should have never suggested taking the day off.

He placed a cold hand on his shoulder. "He should be. Only time will tell."

He snorted icily as receiving a vague answer was almost inevitable when ask forYao's advice. "Seems like time is my enemy."

Yaoplaced a finger on his own poised lips. "Can you tell me everything you can about this morning?"

"Well, Artie went to get a blanket while I went to the kitchen and asked Karou for brunch. Then he brought it out for us and he began to pale. That's when I went to find you."

"I wonder why you were not affected," the Jack said curiously raising one eyebrow. "You must be stronger than we thought," he muttered to himself.

His blue eyes lit up. "The tea!"

Yaoraised an eyebrow in confusion.

Alfred wrapped his hands around his Jack. "The poison is in the tea! It's the only logical explanation. I didn't have any of the tea but he did!"

He wiped his future King's arms off his small body and stated politically "very well. We should go downstairs and get some more information from Karou or any of the guards."

"Actually, you could go ahead without me. I have some other business to attend to," Alfred said facing the Queen's bedroom.

He sighed. "Remember tomorrow morning is the conference with the lords. Please try to arrive on time." With those words, the Jack turned on his heel and headed down the regal staircase.

Alfred exhaled before opening the double doors. The room was, startlingly, almost vacant with any healers or servants. The air circulated coolly around the blue hued room. Not even the fluttering flames of the golden chandelier above brought any warmth to the chamber. Lying on the blue canopy in the center of the room was Arthur, ethereal pale. He ran over and clutched his hand beside the bed, falling to his knees, virtually kneeling beside the bed. "I'm so sorry Artie, it's my fault entirely," he cried guiltily. His face streamed hot tears of resentment. "I shouldn't have complained about meetings and… I know I claim that I'm this hero, but you can't always be a hero. I just wish I could have been yours, at least. And I'm sorry that I'm not a perfect King. Or even a good one for that matter. You deserve better than me. I am just a worthless, pathetic peasant. And you…you are the most amazing person ever," he said trailing off into whimpers. The rest of the night, he spent scolding himself for being so foolish, lamenting brackish tears and grasping Arthur's wintry fragile hand.

His eyelids unwrapped around his blue orbs to the sound of hustling healers huddling around Arthur's indigo bed. Murmurs escaped from all of their lips in conflicting patterns. Their fair hands knotted around Arthur's body, basically engulfing him. Tears surged out of all of their multi-hued filled eyes as they stepped away from him with their heads lowered in dishonor. Even the Jack smeared his chocolate glazed eyes with a white handkerchief from a pocket in his indigo robe at the sight.

His heart began to race faster as he looked down at the Queen lying limp on his bed. He was alive, wasn't he?

Drops flowed from his eyes at an enormous pace as he watched the servants heave him from his bed and down the staircase on a moveable white bed. Alas, after all the healers did they could not mend him back to health. This isn't happening, Alfred repeated to himself countless times and trying to bury his face in the silk comforter. This isn't happening.

He was gone.

Yao's weak hand rested on his shoulder in sympathy, but he couldn't feel the same amount of collided feelings of anger, guilt and love. But above all of those emotions were resentment and remorse.

"It is for the best," he stated politely.

Alfred pleaded mutely with his poignant, blue eyes "how could this be for the best?"

Yaosighed and left the room without further ado allowing silent sniffles to trail behind.

Alfred barely left his chambers at all, and evenYaowas not emotionally stable at some moments, in the mournful days leading up to the Queen's funeral.

He stood on the Queen's balcony, overlooking the retreating orange sun from the gray stone railing. His sapphire eyes watched his love lying in a blue and platinum casket with a bunch of spade roses in his petite white gloved hands. His fragile, wilted body was draped in navy silks passed down from previous Queensand emerald eyes closed eternally. It should be me, he thought to himself feeling his heart constrict with each tempting thought. Everything would be better if I just jumped. There was nobody who would miss me anyways.

Alfred inhaled; as in the distance the casket lowered and watched the intricate black ticking hand on his Clock stand still perfectly at the 12 once more.

His sapphire eyes jolted awake and glanced around the familiar indigo room. It was all just a dream. A horrible dream, he reassured to himself in an attempt to lower his heart rate to normal and enclosed the navy blanket, which someone brought in during the night, firmly around his shoulders. He gazed back at Arthur lying in the same position on his canopy bed, his emerald orbs still locked as if he was casted under an immoral curse and petite hands folded neatly on top of each other. Alfred gripped the Clock that hung carelessly off his purple cloak by a single chain. His sapphire orbs glanced over in relief at the sight of the charcoal minute hand pointing to Arthur. He was determined not to lose him. He was not about to lose someone this significant. At least, not again.

To Be Continued...