A false cut is a move used either in magic, or for cheating when playing card games. It appears to be a real cut, but leaves the deck in the same order as when it began. More sophisticated versions may make specific desired changes to the deck's order, while still appearing to be an innocuous normal cut.

There are many ways to accomplish a false cut, involving misdirection or using complex moves to conceal the real result.

"You seem stressed, bastard." Lovino casually cut through the silence, moving a knight.

"Why wouldn't I be? I have two dead men on my hands. One of which, my advisor!" Allistor fumed silently, slamming his piece down. It was hard enough explaining to the dead chamberlain's family that he had been killed, apparently by the Jack for reasons they couldn't fathom. They didn't buy it and were certain that his murder was arranged, that he 'knew' something he shouldn't. Peasants were so paranoid. Now, there were rumors circulating around the kingdom of shady business that didn't fucking exist!

"Just replace them." Lovino seemed so sure of his advice, as if men could be replaced with a single snap. Well, the chamberlain could. He was inconsequential. But Sadiq? A jack was a valuable man to have. Where would he find a man educated in their ways? They weren't easy to come by.

"If only it were that simple."

Lovino rolled his eyes, scooting a pawn across the board. His whole countenance screamed frustration. Allistor smiled. His queen was feeling neglected.

"What about that man with the scar?" The scar? Allistor narrowed an eye thoughtfully, twirling his bishop between his fingers.

"I thought he went to college to be a bard."

"He did," Lovino glanced up at Allistor before refocusing on the board. "But he was too fucking violent. He threatened to snap his lute professor's neck. His father felt he'd be more suited to warfare, but he took a liking to politics and psychological mierda. Isn't that the sort of shit Jacks do?" Lovino furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, tilting his head at a nodding Allistor.

Allistor chuckled at his queen's naivety. "No, dear queen… But it is a useful set of knowledge. Ay, he'd make quite a Jack. It's too bad he's stationed in the clover court. Maybe after the trea-"

"No!"

Allistor jumped, looking up to a now standing Lovino in surprise. The look seemed to drag Lovino from his enraged stupor and he slowly sat back down. "I-I mean n-no…"

"No?" His look was now one of curiosity.

"I-it would take too long. A-and you're one barrier short in court now. W-what if something bad happened and you didn't have someone to help you? I-I heard that jacks were important and-"

"Why do you care?" It was an honest question and one that had been nagging at Allistor since the beginning of Lovino's small philippic. Lovino wasn't exactly famed for being the kindest of souls. He seemed flustered.

"Because I don't want anything to happen to you, bastard!" Lovino's face flushed a healthy red and he turned his eyes to his lap, fidgeting in embarrassment.

Allistor's mouth slowly morphed into a prideful grin, his eyes sparkling.

"All right, love. I'll make this Lars my new Jack, if only to soothe your worries." Lovino's blush deepened, but he seemed relieved, wide hazel eyes moving to Allistor's pleased face. "Oh, and one more thing…"

"Check mate." Allistor's grin grew wider, if possible, and Lovino scowled, examining the board for some sign that the redhead had cheated. Lovino stood in a huff and stormed from the room, leaving Allistor to revel in his victory.

Allistor may have won the game, but Lovino had moved a very important piece.

Lovino's robes fluttered around him annoyingly as he stalked away from Allistor's study. He never was a very fair loser. If anything, he would cheat, and then accuse the victor of cheating. He liked to think of it as a 'healthy competitive spirit.' Allistor had probably cheated.

Lovino snorted decisively as he rounded the corner. He grumbled the entire way to his own study, devising several different ways to shove those chess pieces up Allistor's ass, figuratively speaking… of course.

"You're in a good mood."

Lovino's eyes whipped to his desk as he entered the not-so-solitary room. A lovely blonde was perched on his desk, one long pale leg crossed over the other. Her green skirt was nothing, if not scandalous and was matched perfectly by the ribbon in her hair. Playful green eyes sparkled at him, accompanied by a cat like smile.

"Fantastico." He rolled his eyes, plopping down in the seat opposite her. He was met with a giggle and a pinch to the cheek.

"Oh, Lovi… You should be careful; all that frowning will give you premature wrinkles." Lovino scowled and swatted her hand away, blushing lightly.

"Like I give a damn."

"You should, those looks of yours are handy." She winked. "If I weren't such a prune, I'd do the seducing myself. But I blush." She batted her eyes at him and he rolled his. Prune… She was in her late thirties, but she was one of those women who grew more beautiful with age. She knew it, and loved to make a joke of her good fortune.

"So, is bruder in?"

"Depends, will Lars cooperate."

She smiled sweetly and tapped a perfectly manicured nail against her chin. "Hmm… let me think. Do these eyes look watery enough?" She widened her eyes slightly, forcing fake tears to the surface. The whole damn family was performance oriented. It was something of a tradition. She herself had come to court at the early age of twelve, when Lovino was still tottering around in diapers. She even claimed to have changed him once, which was impossible.

She had found him after the raid. He'd been cowering behind a fallen beam. She'd lost her father, the court jester, to the raid. Lars, her older half-brother, had wanted to raise her himself, but he'd been seen as 'unfit', leaving the servants to raise her, as she practically raised Lovino. They were one fucked up family…

She was a masque star, an actress. Basically, she was an amazing liar and Lovino needed that.

"Emma, you never fail to disappoint." She smirked at the compliment, uncrossing her legs as she poured herself a convenient glass of brandy.

"What happened to bella?" She passed him one, smiling indulgently.

"You're old."

She laughed outright, tipping her glass back. A bit sloshed onto the mahogany of his desk. "And you're a bitch." He managed a small smile at that.

"Touché."

A moan, long and drawn out dramatically, bounced off the walls. His shoulders dug into the plush mattress, fingers twining into red locks.

"Ahh-llistor. Ah-hah-a!" Lovino bucked his hips into Allistor's thrusts, dragging his nails down the man's pale back. Allistor bit into the skin of his shoulder, nipping it. Allistor's grip was near bruising on Lovino's hips as he drilled into the writhing Italian.

It was rough, a stress release. That's what Lovino was, but he was okay with that. It was something to hold over the bastard's head… If he received pleasure in the process, then more power to him.

Nails gorged their way down Allistor's back, pulling him closer, curling into him cruelly.

As usual, he came quickly, before Lovino. But Lovino moaned, arching into the redhead as he felt the swelling of the condom inside him. That's what made him cum, when the slick rubber pressed stubbornly against his prostate. He hid his disappointment, well-practiced in the art.

Allistor rolled off of him, settling onto his back lazily. He panted heavily, his breath slowly evening out. After a moment, he sighed, drawing Lovino's attention.

"Something wrong, bastard?"

"Ay, that jack."

Lovino propped himself up on his elbows, looking down at the sprawled man. "What did he do?" Lovino tried to keep the worry from his voice, narrowing his eyes to cover the lapse.

"What didn't he do? He had a smartass comment for every proposition brought to attention. And when he wasn't criticizing, he was glaring! I think it was at me."

Lovino bit the inside of his cheek. How could he have expected Lars to behave himself? The man had a temper worse than a dragon on steroids. He'd have to ask Emma to talk to him, lest he be removed from his position before he could even accomplish anything.

Lovino scoffed, dragging a finger down the expanse of Allistor's pale chest. "As if anyone could have the balls to glare at you." Allistor allowed a small smile to grace his face, pleased by the praise.

"And, look at it this way." Lovino moved to straddle Allistor, pressing his nose to the now surprised red-head's. "He'll draw your attention to anything too fucking ridiculous with that damnable commentary of his... And he'll scare your critics shitless." Allistor furrowed his brows, seeping into thought.

"You seem very determined to-" He was cut off by Lovino's lips.

"And the more work he does for you, the more time you can spend..." Allistor moaned as Lovino pushed Allistor's dick into him, sliding up his body before sliding back down it. "With me."

Allistor chuckled, flipping them over.

"I do like spending time with you."

Lovino ran a hand through Allistor's clumped locks, pulling as Allistor thrusted into him, brushing just past his prostate.

"Mnhh-hahh... You mean in me." Allistor chuckled at that.

Lovino was never quiet when it came to sex. He screamed demands for more along with Allistor's name, each one slipping beneath the cracks of the door to a still form leaning against it. The man fisted his hand, his knuckles turning white.

Hours later, after Lovino had rested, he slipped out of Allistor's chamber, jumping back as his nose collided with a solid chest.

"The fu-" Lovino was cut off a soft pair of lips. What goes around comes around. Lovino automatically moaned into the kiss, wrapping his arms around a strong neck as calloused hands lifted and pressed him into the door of Allistor's bedroom. He wrapped his legs around his assaulter's waist, arching into him as that familiar calloused hand brushed down his spine. He pulled away from the kiss, trying to draw breath as startled hazel eyes met green.

Antonio.

"Damn it bastard." Lovino slapped Antonio's chest, growling under his breath.

"He's dead."

"Che?" Lovino floundered for a word, caught off guard by the sudden announcement.

"Lord Aaron is dead." It took a moment for the words to register in Lovino's fogged mind. He searched Antonio's face.

"You?" He received a nod, followed by Antonio swooping down for another kiss. Lovino turned his head to the side, Antonio's lips grazing his cheek. He wasn't pleased.

"I told you to wait, damn it!" Lovino slapped Antonio's chest again, in annoyance this time. It was too soon. They couldn't just have men dying left and right. Allistor would grow too suspicious if all of his supporters suddenly started kicking the bucket. A suspicious king was not good company, and Lovino would rather not have to distract him.

Sex, no matter how good, could only do so much.

Lovino sighed, running a hand down Antonio's chest. Antonio's skin felt like hot silk beneath his fingertips. "Don't be so hasty bastard." Antonio's muscles rippled as Lovino's hand ran over his abdomen, dipping beneath the waistband of his pants to play with the soft curls there. He was pleased to feel Antonio's dick, standing at attention as a soldier awaiting orders.

Lovino brushed his lips down Antonio's neck, retracting his hand to weave it through Antonio's coffee colored curls. Antonio bucked into him and he gasped, Antonio's hardened cock pressing against his ass through the thin material of his gown. Antonio did it again and again, humping his now moaning queen.

His reward.