So sorry to have you all hanging like that, Here's the next chapter

Chapter X

"A SPADIAN WALTZ"

"Maybe words aren't necessary like that night. It was enough to feel and be pleased..."

Fear…

Ever since the Jokers' visit and their spoken prophecy, it was all that gripped at the young King's heart. The fear of losing to the Fates, the fear of being robbed of everything he had established right after so much effort exerted upon his life once again and most of all, the fear of losing his beloved Queen and absolutely being hopeless about it.

It was fear that made him feel like he wasn't doing enough, not only for his monarchy but also for the kingdom he served and reigned. He felt, for the first time as King, that he wasn't doing his absolute best! Even though he had convinced himself and the others that he was doing everything that he could just to rise up to the expectations of being the King of the Spades. His fears tormented him every day and that wasn't exactly the only one that made him feel so quenched.

It was the feeling of having his Queen… No, his most adored lover, as someone so attainable yet so farfetched at the time! It was forbidden. It was taboo to even be thinking of affections for a Queen and to have him return such 'vile' feelings. It made him realize that he – indeed – was far too young as their knave has said countless times during lessons.

As he sat on the floor before the jokers who looked down at him with their mocking masks, his blood boiled and his heart clenched in his chest with anger and spite. How dare they? After taking away his life... his freedom… even his family away from his grasps?! They actually have the nerve to come to him and tell him they were to take even his Queen away? He was the only person now that he could hold on to… someone who supported him and kept him grounded.

"Just give up, King.. You're all living in a ship of fools~ Everyone realizes this one way or ano—"

"You're right…" The king said abruptly, cutting off the black joker from whatever it was he wanted to say. A stoned faced expression was on his face as he slowly stood to his feet, earning quite the surprise of both Jokers.

Was he agreeing to all this?

"Oh? Are you saying that you're accepting your Queen's fate?" The red Joker asked as he gently tilted his head to the side, voice laced with curiosity and intrigue, "You're not putting up a fight to that?"

"No… but I'm saying you're right, we really are living in a ship of fools..." He clarified as he continued to look at them with a cold gaze that could have easily rivaled the winters of the *Clava kingdom, "But that doesn't mean we have to stay aboard it and I don't really see something that could prevent anything or anyone from jumping off of it..." From a heart of denial and refute, it was obvious that Alfred's view of the situation suddenly switched and he was far from showing the Jokers anymore of his weakness.

"And what exactly do you expect to find if you jump off of it, hm?" The black joker asked as he smirked lightly at him, "There isn't anything beyond a life unseen and dictated by fates…it would be pure chaos!"

Alfred merely glanced at them both before closing his eyes quietly, "That may be the case, but that's better than living a life without true freedom… To live a life of just blindly accepting and swallowing everything that's given to you without question or even putting up a fight!" He said, hand twitching a bit before he clenched them into fists at the sides, "That's sick and twisted! Any life is better than that!" he declared and opened his eyes, filled with such anger that was directed, not only to the beings before him but also to the ones who sent them to him, " I refuse to give up and I won't allow you or the fates to do as you please with people's lives anymore! I refuse to accept or acknowledge that my Queen will die!"

His zeal and perseverance was simply profound, eyes just reflecting such intense emotions as his hands shook even as he balled them into fists. It silenced both Jokers as well, to the point they merely stared at him from where they stood…

This is until one of them let out a slight laugh that was followed by the other, both increasing in volume as it dragged out longer and the longer it lasted, the most spine chilling it sounded. Alfred didn't even budge at that, granted he did flinch at first but only because it sounded so creepy and unnatural.

"Hahahaha! Foolish King of Spades! You think you can go against the Fates themselves?" The black joker asked as he chuckled at such statements given to him by this young king before him, "It's too late, the future is sealed!"

"The future isn't set in stone!" Was the roaring reply of the Spadian king who glared at them, "The future can still be changed!"

"You're really a stubborn one, ain't ya?" The red Joker said as he grinned menacingly to the blue hued monarch, "It'll be fun though~ Watching you trying to go against the impossible, Won't it, Black~?"

"It would be a treat we wouldn't want to miss, Red…" His companion replied as he chuckled and let out that smug smirk on his face as if to mock the King before them, "After all, the future can only change by the hands of the Queens in their deaths.."

Their deaths… The ritual that each dubbed the Queen of the Kingdoms as the perfect "escape route" and the "great eraser"of all the mistakes the past monarchies have done. Alfred already had a fair view of how Arthur reacted to that same ritual during the time when his Queen misunderstood his chess match with the King of Clubs.

Was the joker implying that their kingdom will face chaos for them to hint on this?

The black joker chuckled as he turned his back to the Spadian king, sounding quite amused as he waved his mask, "Well, seems like we over stayed our welcome. We've done our job. "He said as he gave the king one last look and smirked, "Good luck to you, King Alfred of Spades...All Hail the Eternal Spades."

After that, the two jokers left Alfred alone in his confused and distraught state. The prophecy they told imbedded in his mind as it seemed to repeat itself like a broken record. His Queen, Arthur, was to die in five springs time during the coldest and harshest season in their world.

It taunted him and scared him, but he didn't let it overcome him. He'll do everything in his power as king to protect his Queen and save his life. If the Jokers had hinted that his queen will die by his own hands – by that fate forsaken ritual – he was going to do everything to avoid chaos in his kingdom , no matter what it took.

It was also this fear that fueled his determination...

He won't let a so called "prophecy" dictate what would happen to his kingdom. Not to Arthur. Not to him. He will not allow it!

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Another sigh escaped the Queen's lips as he looked out upon one of the windows of the corridors which led the way to the library. He had been reading this whole day and no matter how funny it may sound, he'd forgotten to even drink tea. His reason? He could only blame what had happened a few days ago.

Despite everyone's presence, the palace seemed to be empty in his eyes—very empty of everything there once was even if he couldn't pin point what it was. Something was definitely wrong. Was it him? Was it Alfred? Or maybe it was what the jokers brought to the King? If Alfred didn't wish for anything then it could only mean that it is a prophecy but how come it has not yet been discussed? If it's a prophecy about the Kingdom shouldn't they be the ones to know first and make amends for it to not happen if it's a bad thing? Maybe Yao is still gathering data for the said meeting?

He continued his walk towards the said library ad opened one of the twin doors before him. The smell of books and the dust from the old shelves just seem to calm him down, no matter how outrageous that may sound. There was no one there as well… No one—

"Got you…"

The King.

The King easily pulled him inside the said library. The books upon his arms very well discarded on the floor as his back was pressed upon the wooden doors of the room. He couldn't help but cling unto his coat as his dear Kin had him trapped between his arms.

When was the last time that he felt his lips upon his like this? When was the last time that he was left to gasp for air and the kiss was followed by another like water satiating someone who had come from the desert? When was the last time that Alfred wasn't exactly someone who had managed to take his breath away and left him into nothing more but someone so reliant on his mere touch? When was Alfred not the very air he breathed?

There was something about his lips that seemed so delicate…so intricate that he couldn't seem to leave it alone! It wasn't the taste, it wasn't the touch and certainly it wasn't smell. He looked upon those blue eyes that seemed to have replaced the skies outside with how much it was pleading, "O…One more… please…" Alfred let out as this time he pulled him closer by the waist and before he could even respond, his lips were once more captured in that mind numbing kiss!

Oh no, he could literally feel his mind slipping from him… like his consciousness slowly disintegrating into nothing but mush! Slowly, his caress and kiss was consuming every bit of his sense… He was forced to close his eyes and cling unto his King's robes for even the slightest support he could get from him because he wasn't used to this—he wasn't used to having his thoughts wiped out! He wasn't used to being defenseless by just a kiss! He wasn't so used to becoming this bare before someone even if it was his dearest love!

No, it wasn't just simple kiss… It was loving kiss… A loving kiss that just rendered everything into nothing more but bliss! How can that even be possible? They have shared numerous kisses, countless even, but never did he ever felt such intensity…

A sharp breath escaped him when Alfred deepened the kiss further and at the same time he felt his cheeks flushed crimson. Was it embarrassment? No, it wasn't that… Was it because of how close he was to his King? Was it how his body seemed to burn right now? How every nerve and parts of him just crave his King's touch and…

The ritual…

This was the ritual… It has been two years now yet they haven't done the ritual so this must be what has been causing this, right? Or was the fact that he loved him? Which one is it? Were they lusting over each other's body because of their duties as told by fate or… was this pure action of adoration and love?

He opened his emerald eyes as his lover's hand went to caress his tainted cheeks, "Arthur… I… I don't…" From those words, Arthur knew his King was just as confused. What can he do to soothe them both of this worrisome situation? Everything seem to burn like how the setting sun has painted the vey room of a colour that deemed them not Spadian.

Instead of voicing any of his speeches or uncertain words, Arthur merely brushed his hand against his and kissed it. Seemingly saying just how his actions were welcomed and accepted. Words didn't have a place for these situations and as they looked into each other's eyes, both of them knew it as well. If Alfred was confused, it was his job as Queen and lover to guide him and help him understand.

"Come..."

It was that one simple word that started all of this.

Upon the very room of the queen: the very place where they spent their first kiss as monarchs was the same place where their clothes lay scattered upon the floors in a tangled mix. The king's coat… The Queen's ribbon… The King's vest…. The Queen's shirt… All of them scattered as if the owners had no care of the world if they would find out of such actions behind their closed doors.

"Nhhnn… A-Alfred…!" Arthur let out the King of Spade's name without any titles, without anything at all and as bare as both of them were on those silken sheets of the bead. One of his pale hands clenched upon the pillows as the other covered his mouth as if afraid of what sound may come from it as his body was being touched and moved according to how his lover above him willed it so with those nimble fingers and soft yet burning kisses. It wasn't helping that Alfred didn't at all seemed bothered. Sweat covered their bodies as it moved with lust and affection as its fuel in hunger, in need and inaffection.

Arthur wasn't even sure if this was his body! He doesn't recognize his own voice when it has become lewd and disgraceful and, "—Agh! Hah… Ahhh!" His mind was blank with what his lover was doing as he just let himself be devoured by this overwhelming pleasure.

"T...Too much…" Yet not enough for him. Alfred groaned as he raised Arthur's hips which just seem increase the Queen's moans! It was too much alright… If Arthur was left to judge then he was sure to say that it was far from being too much, it was downright impossible! How this pleasure circulated upon their bodies and how their marks burned upon their skin, if he was able to think, he'd describe it as impossible. How pain and pleasure can just overtake a person's urges and make them do almost the impossible in each other's embrace, it bewildered him and yet all he could ever so beneath his King was moan with each move and kiss. His face was contorted by the indescribable ecstasy that they seem to be sharing. The fires upon the candles at the side could be put to shame by how such passion can burn better than them with how the two monarchs of Spades acted, voiced and moved.

Aside from the ritual, this was… Was this also the how lovers embraced? The moment they were one, Arthur clung unto him tightly as a silent scream of pleasure escaped him. He could hear his own heart beating…their skins quenching… his lover's moans…

This… This was a Queen's duty?

This was… a King's responsibility…?

No… No, he refused to believe it. He refused to believe that if he was gone, some other Queen with the same mark will experience this bliss with Alfred! It's shameful to admit that he wanted this to only happen between them… Alfred and him… Only them. He teared up a bit but instead of pain or pleasure, it was the refusal to understand how such a thing could be done with the love and gentleness he was being handled right now. Those sweet words that showered him and those loving kisses, he didn't want to share them with anyone.

Alfred was gentle even without him being compared to others. A gentle lover with a gentle heart…but such intensity of his affection is deemed unknown with how he was showing it right now.

He could sense it… something was wrong…

"I love you… Don't leave my side…"

Those words were what showered him through this pleasurable intimacy.

"All I need you so please… Stay…"

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Time flew by fast in the Kingdom that governed it so before anyone even knew of it, six months had come and gone since the new Ace of Spades came and took her place with the monarchy. Much like how the King had moved along the path of his role, the Ace of Spades was quick to adapt. Arthur found himself quite proud of the girl's efforts as he'd seen it firsthand. He'd seen her struggles and her adjustments to courtly life. It was a direct turn from her usual life so he couldn't blame her for her short comings.

During those times, Arthur had spent more and more time with the Ace than with Alfred but being naturally observant, Arthur knew things even without the presence of words. He knew how the girl was coming along at court, he knew of how their knave have been overly cautious about replying to messages when it involved foreign kingdoms, he knew most of the numbers of the council had been talking about possible tensions and also the wall that seemed to be separating the king from everyone. He didn't exactly favor such a thing. He was sure that it wasn't for him to make any assumptions of deceptions or make anything of it other than the sudden shift of people's attitude.

He didn't know the King of Spades… but he does know the man behind the mask of the King and what he didn't understood was that the man whom he adored and loved, was nowhere to be seen or even sensed. It might be strange to some, if he dared to breathe this discomfort to anyone, but it's too worrying.

He'd see him less and less in the day and his usual unexpected visits to his study slowly faded out as well, to the point that such unusual behaviors worried him. He had once visited his King in his own study, only to see - from the crack at the door - mountains of books piling around him along with his paper works. It was a rather peculiar sight to behold since the young King would more or less complain about such things and say how cruel Yao was in burying him in so much work! Upon the unusual sight, who wouldn't worry?

Not only was their time together becoming less, Alfred was starting to become rather detached as well even during meals that they would share. Arthur would usually have to start the conversations himself only for them to grow stale with how lacking the King would reply to him.

What was going on exactly? Why was Alfred acting so aloof like this all of the sudden and out of the blue? Last he checked, the kingdom was flourishing and no tensions were happening between the other kingdoms. So why did Alfred immerse himself in such piles of work? It didn't make sense and it scared Arthur very much! Why should he even be scared in the first place? It was just 'work' after all, right? Nothing more than that, he had his own pile to care about after all and he didn't have time to spend it worrying over the king like this whom he knew could perfectly handle himself!

But, then again, this wasn't just any king. It was his King…his Lord… It was his Alfred…the man he openly confessed his feelings to that day in the gardens where only the flowers were their witness and the one man who had claimed him as his. Obviously their love was forbidden, by tradition and by fates. It was all wrong and yet they continued such sins. Obviously, this would lead to serious consequences…

And that was what scared him.

Maybe he realized how forbidden it was and just decided that it was impossible thus decided to just act like nothing ever happened that faithful afternoon…?

Now that scared him even more.

Yet, he found himself rather lonely without the King being his usual self. He felt, as if, perhaps… it was something he did that made him that way. Had he displeased him in any sort of way? Had he done something wrong? Had he said something to inflict such actions? Should he had let their intimacy be nothing more but a touch of the skin? Alfred was affectionate and tons more if compared to how he knew affection. It was him who even started the said word if he was left to judge!

If it wasn't his fault in anyway, then what was making him act like this? It was like he was hurrying about something…

"Sir?"

"I'm glad you actually complied with my request. Thank you for joining me, Lady Grace" Arthur said softly as he set his cup down to gaze at his Ace, who was adding a sugar cube to her tea cup.

Right, he can't exactly be thinking about selfish things right now. Currently, the two of them were in the gardens, taking afternoon tea there since the Queen had insisted she join him. After all, she was to be his loyal confidant. What better way is there to have a strong bond with her than to spend time with her in these little opportunities?

The ebony haired girl looked over to her Queen with a kind smile as her blue eyes as she spoke, "I can never deny you of anything, your highness..." She said dutifully while stirring her tea lightly but also a bit clumsily. Well, she was still in training and practice, strength was more present in her movements than lady like elegance due to her nature as a blacksmith but it was nice to see her at least trying.

Arthur couldn't help but feel saddened by her words though. It was painfully clear that she was already so duty-bound and merely complied due to this fact alone. It wasn't genuine willingness to be with him, rather it was just a chore, just like everything else that surrounded him.

This realization made him quietly sighed as he closed his eyes, turning his head to the side to look at his garden, as if somehow they would give him the strength he needed for all this, the strength he needed to overcome it all and not be consumed by his little grief as Yao would call it. "At least you're not too busy..." He finally said as he spared her a smile as he looked back to her, "Tell me how you are doing in the palace, my dear."

"Lord Yao has kept me a bit busy since he has been teaching me my duties and obligations as well as minor lessons from time to time." She said as she took a small sip of her tea and hummed lightly at the blend she made before continuing, "but I am grateful for this small breather and very honored to be spending it with you, your highness..." She dutifully said as she set her cup down and smiled a bit to him.

Yao… That friend of his just seemed to be too perfect of the role. She was obviously taught to be as natural as possible during small moments like these it seemed—so very similar to how Yao lived his life. She did look relaxed and Arthur believed that it was a little bit better than anything else. "Aside from all of that...I think I'm getting used to staying here more and more now...The numbers and our knave are to thank with you and King Alfred as well, sire..."

He couldn't help but observe her still since he still found words rather deceiving if compared to actions. He just let out a gentle, still saddened, smile. Well, it was a little better than earlier at the very least. He had to try and not look as if everyone is suspicious and untrustworthy. "That's rather good to hear. I have been quite busy with paperwork myself and visits to the towns so I hope you don't mind me not helping you, Lady Grace..." He opened his mouth as if he wanted to add something to say, only to stop himself and sigh. No, he can't necessarily say too much. The girl had her own issues to take care of and him saying his peace would just add to the problem. He then took his teacup as if to stop his mouth from babbling nonsense and sipped on it quietly instead, "If there's anything I could do then please don't hesitate tell me..."

He was in between of being distant and a bit overly familiar- it wasn't in his nature to be like this, however the troubles and worries of everything was starting to eat away at him and he was getting affected by it all so easily. He was literally scolding himself right now. He was being downright rude. He needed to stop!

"It's alright, your highness. Really, you're already helping me by making me feel like I belong like this..." She reassured as she offered a kind smile, but cautious smile to him, "I feel most comfortable really when we have these moments together, so I'm really thankful for this..."

Those words from her made him feel guilty even more. "Apologies.. I'm being awfully rude right now..." He finally admitted before sighing once he had taken the tea cup away from his lips as if sensing how she felt. He was being unfair. His Ace was being as open as possible to him, whilst he was beating around the bush and trying hard to come up with words to express how he felt. "The truth is... I'm quite suffocated." It didn't hurt to tell the truth right? After all, she was supposed to be his royal confidant! He needed to trust her, he had no one else to confine to but her especially if Alfred was being like this. "You could say, I'm not used to something but voicing it out seems to not help… I'm certain something happened that I am not aware of..." He spoke softer and softer as he opened up his heart to Grace, averting his gaze away a bit as he didn't even touch any of the sweets on the table – which were usually gone by this point.

His Ace merely stared at him, her eyes confused as if trying to understand what he was saying. Obviously she has not felt any drastic changes, she was too preoccupied with her lessons and duties, "What do you mean by that?" She asked carefully as she sat a bit more properly.

Arthur's eyes focused themselves upon his lap, seemingly showing a limitless pool uncertainty and doubt, "I could just be overthinking things and worrying myself…" He was a mess. He was contradicting himself on the spot. "Please don't mind to it..." He said before forcing a smile. He can't say all. He sound too much of a complainer that someone who is confining to someone! He didn't like how things weren't in his hands or at least hasn't gone from his hands. Maybe it was a bad idea to open up to her now, she was still too young to understand it.

"Your highness, please..." She said and looked at him, even going as far as setting her hand on his, "I wish to help you and from what I learned; An Ace is the Queen's closest confidant and companion. How am I supposed to fulfill my job if you don't tell me anything?" She asked as she seemed to suddenly go solemn, her eyes softening as she just seemed like she wanted to help him as best as she could with how she was.

Couldn't she understand? He didn't want any duties regarding this topic! Her duties and responsibilities—he needed a friend! And apparently he has two: one across the Seas of Void and the other trapped in his room because of who knows what! She was tied to him because she was instructed, like some sort of spy sent by the fates! The Fates that he desperate was trying to escape because of all the taboo that had filled his thoughts and heart!

Yet…

He took his hand back from hers and merely smiled gently, "I'm worried that I might have displeased the King in every aspect of myself being a monarch, or may be being a friend or a person….. Maybe he grew tired of my blasphemous scolding—who wouldn't? Certainly I will..." He said as he just continued to gaze at his lap.

His eyes just seem to avoid her to save himself from embarrassment or were they doing that to save himself from any emotion he as Queen shouldn't be feeling? "I'm supposed to be this strong and resilient Queen who lives for my people and my monarchy, Grace. I'm not even supposed to feel like this, yet...I'm awfully 'bothered'."

Perhaps, bothered wasn't even the word—it might even be euphemism by how he used it. Perhaps, the right word was "lonely."

She remained quiet with that, staring at him for a short while before saying, "Have you spoken to the king about this?" She frowned upon her own question, looking at him in a way that almost wished he'd look over and look into her eyes. "Surely, his majesty wouldn't be displeased with you. As far as I can recall, King Alfred looks upon you with nothing but adoration, Sire..."

Adoration… What a word. Perhaps he himself was adoring the word adore to even realize what it meant….

"The King has been and will always be busy, my dear. He doesn't have time for an insecure Queen." He replied with that sad smile of his, that almost excruciatingly painful smile he forced himself to wear. He even wished that he could stop himself from letting out such as a mourning lover who had lost someone from War. He was scolding himself. He had to stop himself from feeling too much! "It's a little sad to admit that even talking to him has been quite difficult. Whatever he is worried about, I'll just try to understand... "

This made Grace scrunch up her eyebrows, "Insecure?" She echoed as she stared at him before she looked even more worried, "Your highness, I may be sounding rude, but I don't see you as insecure. I just see you as worried and anxious..." She pointed out, "You've been avoiding eye contact with me for a while now, but you haven't stopped fidgeting and I mean, the small little fidgets..." She said and motioned to his foot that was lightly tapping on the grass as if to the rhythm of an invisible clock.

That caught his attention as he looked at Grace with an expression that would clearly say how surprised he was with her words. It was only for a brief moment, his eyes weren't dull or uninterested but yearning and hopeful! But hell, it was only for a moment before he looked down and a sigh that seemed to be out of relief.

He looked anxious and worried? Was he really giving out such an expression—he can't even think of approaching the King like this.

"I am worried for the King and anxious of what he's thinking and I'm afraid of this King that I seem to not know ..." He admitted as his hand clenched upon his lap. He was scared out of his wits and it was enough to have a mighty queen of Spades disintegrate into a mess, "Ever since that talk with the jokers... things seemed to have changed bit by bit... "

"You mean, the day they suddenly arrived and talked with the King?" She asked as she frowned at him, noticing his clenched fists and the expression he held. "Has the King really never been this way before? I only assumed he would be a very hard working king despite of how young he is. Our kingdom is rather stable since he sat as king after all..." She pointed out before offering a smile, "isn't the case?"

"Yes... " He answered before looking down on his hands upon his lap, "He's very hard working. Sometimes I'd be put to shame if my work would be compared to him and Yao. Like I said, I might just be exaggerating..." He lifted his gaze and looked at her, still with that pained smile. "Please watch over him since at the moment all I can do is watch … or he seems to deliver that to me … perhaps he'd even seen me as a bother because of my health... "

For the Queen to say such troubled things and for him to look as lost as he did, he must surely be in turmoil...no doubt about it now… No matter what euphemism he took out of his book of vocabularies, he had sent the message he wanted across.

He had to trust her. Be it by fates or by will alone, he needed someone to tell of his anxious and worried self. He can't keep this all to himself and expect him to live through another day…

"As Ace, I will surely try to do my best your highness..." She said as she smiled softly to him, as if to comfort him even with just her mere words and actions.

He softened at such words before his eyes closed against tears, "Thank you very much, Grace..." He said and just tightened his grip on his own hands before standing up. "Bloody hell... I'm just exaggerating..." Arthur added as if it was finally relief that deemed itself obvious in this situation.

"Even so, I believe you have every right to if the king has yet to share anything with you...It's a natural reflex with humans like us... "She reassured as she too stood up, hands at her side as one was near the sword she had on her waist.

"He... isn't obligated to tell me anything, my dear..." He said before sighing, "By obligation or by right, that's why I'm not asking. Some things may just be better off unspoken about..." He muttered gently as he trailed his hand on the surface of the table.

"But, aren't two people in love supposed to talk to each other?" She asked, as if asking for clarity on the matter as she frowned. "From what I see...And from what I hear from others, you and the King—"

Arthur stilled for a moment and left to stare at what was before him. The flowers. What she said was ringing in his head and his mind. Everyone knows? Then that means... The fates knows... he held himself as if the was started to crumble around him. It's fake hope! Maybe that's the reason why this distance between them suddenly emerged! How can he be so stupid as to think they could keep it a secret? Nothing is a secret to the fates and what the jokers must have said to his king was a warning of how spades will come crushing down because of their taboo!

"I... I..." He seemed petrified at the thought. How did everyone come to know? The King ... The people... EVEYONE WAS IN DANGER! "I'm sorry... "

She seemed surprised by this as she blinked several times, "Your highness?" She let out cautiously, "Are you okay? You look...a bit shaken..." She said as she took a step towards him and tilted her head to the side.

Obviously...she doesn't know what was suddenly making him this way...She was clueless!

With that one forward move, Arthur took one step back and just shook his head. "No... No... It's nothing at all..." He said as he glanced at her as if to clarify his horrible thoughts! He has to know why and how this idea came to be or even come to her knowledge. "What gave you the impression that the King and I are like that?"

Grace paused and she merely watched him for a moment before smiling gently, "I've only seen the look King Alfred gives you with couples very much in love..." She said as her smile widened a bit, "Being a blacksmith has given me such experience at the very least when couples come around for the making of their eternal bonds and from the stories I hear from clueless people in this palace about such a look you share. I can easily say you two are in love...I have even asked Lord Yao about it..."

Yao ? Even he knows? He wasn't foolish enough to not think he wouldn't know but to clarify Grace's thoughts? Was this his way of sending a message of how a dangerous this taboo love affair has gone? "It's... well... it's forbidden for monarchs to share such a thing, Lady Grace…" He said as his eyes were casted down and hidden under his bangs. "There's no way that the King and I would fall inlove…. "

It hurt to hear those words from anyone but the pain just merely seem to worsen if one uses his own lips to say it. It's almost suffocating…

"Forbidden?" She said as she stared at him before her eyes widened as if she recalled this little detail, "O...oh...I see..." She looked down a bit as she said this, as if thinking over something from her memory.

"No one can love a queen…" He said before instinctively looking up to the King's window. "That's one of the certain limits here in the monarchy..."He saw Alfred there at his desk, or at least his back, working there as he usually has for the past few weeks... It was the only place that he could freely look at him.

"And to think we used to see the people in the palace as the lucky ones..." She mused before chuckling lightly, "I'm sorry for bringing up the topic...I was just hoping that maybe even though it's forbidden, with loving each other, he'd at least tell you something as his beloved...not as the King to his Queen..."

"Such Kind words you spare for us..." He said before smiling at the sight of his King working to his limit. He could only smile as he, now at the very least, had a glimpse of how much the monarchy had entrapped that free spirited King of his. Was this the only way to see him now? Was this how he'd see him freely without any protocol and the ritual? Can he somehow pretend to love him still in the ritual because by Fates, he didn't know how to continue on with being Queen if that too would be taken from him! "Can you prepare your famous coffee for the King?" He asked before looking down at her, "I hear it's an absolute delight... "

"Of course...I'd be more than glad to your highness..." She said as she smiled before looking up to the king's window as well. "But I still believe you need to talk. Holding your tongue on a matter as this isn't exactly healthy for either of you..." She said before looking back to him and smiling softly.

"Healthy but unwise... I chose to stay quiet because it's the most helpful thing that I could do for the King" and the Kingdom. He dared continue that in his mind before looking at her.

If his King chose to be this way… maybe words aren't necessary like that night. It was enough to feel and be pleased...

"How can it be helpful? "She asked as she tilted her head to the side, "How is keeping your silence helpful to you or him?"

"It's helpful in a sense that I don't bother him with unnecessary things... and for myself by saving effort... despite how I look, Grace, I'm an awfully big annoyance to almost everyone in the palace..." He admitted before smiling gently as if he was so sure of his words. "Besides, the King has a lot in his plate... I should try to lessen it as much as I can. "

"I see..." She said and only spared him a gentle smile, "If that is how you see it, then I won't try to change your mind on it...Please excuse me now as I make the king his coffee..." She said dutifully and bowed before promptly leaving to do as she had said.

His smile soon vanished after that…replaced by a single tear drop from his emerald eyes. He couldn't stop that one lone tear before he looked up to his beloved's office once more.

"All I need…all I need is you so please… Stay…"

He wanted to hear his voice even for one last time…

Were his words during that mighty embrace nothing more but to bring comfort to weak heart since he knew full well how it is swayed by him alone? What kind of waltz is this? If this was some kind of waltz, what kind of waltz left both of them in pure pain? Or is it just him?

"I feel like I'm dying… in the coldest winter in my life….."

"The King of Spades…he couldn't save his Queen afterall… One of the meanings of the prophecy is in fifth day of Spring…and the harshest and coldest season meant no winter… it simply meant, a rather cruel endeavor enough to feel the pierce of a cold blade to bring forth heartbreak… "

"He succeeded… He succeeded in killing his Queen once…"

"And he didn't even know it…"

"Now, let's wait and watch if he can stop himself from killing his Queen twice…"

To be continued…