Author's Note: I will explain a few things in this chapter if ever some things make you confused. Sorry if the explanation is very long and useless, but it just felt necessary for me to put it. I honestly don't know why I just had to put in those miniscule, useless details.

Italics - Thoughts

Normal - Third person's POV or Own POV

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Much time has passed since Kathleen first knew that she was going to become the future Queen of Spades. She met a lot of new people and made a few acquaintances. Now, she was 18 years old. 'Soon, I'll become the Queen of Spades. And I'll be forever inside this castle...' Kathleen thought. She looked at the window and saw a patch of grass poke out of the pure white snow. "It's almost spring..." She whispered to herself, huddling herself closer to the fire and tightened her hold on the blanket. She closed the book she had been reading over and over again and closed her eyes.

Honestly, what am I doing? I didn't understand, but I pretended to understand. And for as long as I could remember, I had been pretending for a long time. But now, I just didn't know.

"Kathleen!"

Who is it, I wonder? This voice sounds familiar.

"Kathleen~!"

Who? Me? "Kathleen!" The voice called, more loudly this time. Kathleen jolted awake, her eyes blinking. Somehow, she had cried, and it left her with red eyes and a red nose. Kathleen sighed softly. This voice wasn't just familiar. It was the voice of her bestfriend, the Jack of Spades, Rilliane Boston.

Rilliane Boston was half-Diamond and half-Spade. Her mother was a Spade, and her father was a Diamond. Due to this fact, a lot of people doubted her being chosen to be a Joker. But that was five years ago, when Kathleen was thirteen. Now, most people have accepted Rilliane Boston as the future Joker of the Kingdom of Spades. When Rilliane first arrived in the castle, Kathleen was the first to approach her. They quickly became friends due to their similarities.

Both girls were musically inclined. They loved to play the piano and frequently did duets together. They had a large music room, containing a large, white grand piano and one white and one black violin, and a harp. Both girls also knew how to play the violin. They also did duets together, but not as frequent. Sometimes, they would play the piano and violin together in a song. Usually, Kathleen would play the piano and Rilliane would play the violin. Often, Kathleen would play the harp, and Rilliane would sit and listen. Both girls appreciated each other's musical talents and other non-musical talents.

The music they had played was very pleasant to hear, so many of servants would even stop by just to listen. Kathleen nor Rilliane stopped them, but invited them inside the music room, and let them sit on the chairs.

Unlike Rilliane, Kathleen was a bookworm, but that did not mean that Rilliane did not read frequently. Rilliane reads--of course, but not as frequent as Kathleen. Kathleen absolutely loved books, but Rilliane did not love it as much as Kathleen.

And unlike Kathleen, Rilliane was more of an extrovert. Kathleen, on the other hand, was an introvert. 'Rilliane had a remarkable talent of being true to herself and others,' Kathleen commented a long time ago. Rilliane was a very happy-go-lucky type of person, but Kathleen, focused on the negative side and her negative feelings. She usually brushed her feelings off and tries to distract herself with her studies on being a good queen to her country. Due to being pessimistic, people usually have a similar answer to their first impression on Kathleen. 'She looks very strict and regal.' Or 'She seems like one of those people who don't like to have fun.' Or maybe, 'She looks too mean'. Rilliane, despite being an extrovert, on the other hand has quite a few similar and surprising comments about their first impression. Some might say, 'She looks emotionless.' Or 'She looks smart'. Despite these comments and her attitude to other people in contrast with one another, Rilliane thinks that it's just because she doesn't show much emotion to people she doesn't know. Of course, Kathleen was suspicious, but brushed it off again.

"Kathleen!" Rilliane called, waving her hands in front of Kathleen's face. "Kathleen! Are you even listening to what I just said?" Kathleen blinked. "What is it?" She asked. Rilliane sighed. "You weren't listening to me after all..." Rilliane mumbled, looking slightly dejected. Kathleen sighed. "Tell me what it is. I'm already listening."

Rilliane pouted at Kathleen and said, "I was telling you that we, future royals, and current royals are to meet the future and current royals of the Kingdom of Diamonds." Rilliane finished, putting an emphasis on the word 'and'. Kathleen furrowed her eyebrows and looked outside. The snow wasn't that deep, and it was nearing spring, so it would be fine to travel to the Duchmoor Castle.

Duchmoor Castle was a castle near the border of the Kingdom of Spades and the Kingdom of Diamonds. This castle was purposely made for royal guests and other guests, if ever they are to rest or to visit for political or personal reasons. There was also another castle--Richmond Castle, where the future king of spades was to be trained in. The future royals were trained in different yet similar ways. The future King would be trained in an isolated place, where nobody knows. In Spades, the future king is trained in Duchmoor Castle. Only the royals and a few chosen people know of the castle. There he is trained for improving communication skills, strategy skills, acting skills, combat skills, and a few academics. The future Jack, is trained with similar subjects with the King, but is added with a study of all the laws in Spades. It requires extreme focus in order to understand these laws, and the future Joker must be trained to be very good in public speaking. The future Queen, would be trained in the main castle. She would be isolated, and will learn combat skills, etiquitte, strategy skills, acting skills, and communication skills.

"Do we have to go there? Why can't the current royals go without us?" Kahleen asked, her eyes still lingering outside. Rilliane let out a sigh, "Because we will be also meeting the Diamonds' future royals in order to improve the relationship between Spades and Diamonds!" Rilliane exclaimed, furrowing her eyebrows in irritation; Kathleen could tell that Rilliane wasn't so happy about it either. With a groan, she hesitantly stood up from her seat. "I'll be ready in 15 minutes." Kathleen groaned out and went to her dressing room to get dressed.

Kathleen wore a white long sleeved, button-up top and a royal blue skirt with white ruffles reaching her ankles; she also wore a persian blue corset with midnight blue buttons, complete with a small royal blue cape with a white ribbon, to match her skirt. She tied her hair into twin tails with periwinkle blue ribbons and a small royal blue hat.

After dressing, she went downstairs. She entered the entrance hall, which was nearly empty with the exception of the blue banners hanging on the walls. She was greeted with the sight of all the royals --with the exception of the future King, of course--dressed in their formal clothes, all in different shades of blue. Kathleen had almost forgotten. Blue was one of the symbols for Spades. There was also yellow for the Diamonds, green for the Clubs, and red for the Hearts. Kathleen groaned inwardly. Soon, she would be seeing different shades of yellow. Her life was simple, for now. She still wasn't Queen, so she wouldn't have to worry about anything.

"Oh, you're finally ready, Kathleen?" Rilliane's voice called out, echoing through the walls. All the royals' heads turned to her, making her uncomfortable. "Yes, I am." She answered in a polite tone. Rilliane smiled and turned her head at the current Jack--Mr. Walker, and said something to him in a small voice in which Mr. Walker nodded to. Kathleen walked over to Rilliane and asked, "Will we have to pick the future king up, too?" Rilliane slightly smiled and replied, "No, there is no need. He is already on his way there." she chuckled and added, "Why don't you call your future king by his name? Do you not like him?" Rilliane asked. Kathleen groaned. "I haven't even known him for a long time, why should I call him by his name?" She protested, a slight angry tone in her voice.

I don't even like him. Kathleen thought to herself, a scowl forming on her face as she thought of the future King and herself getting along. Rilliane chuckled to herself, and smiled, "We'll see about that~" Kathleen groaned and put on a half-assed glaring face at Rilliane, who only chuckled in return.

"It was said in legends that the chosen King and Queen love each other and are soulmates from the moment they were born! There can be no difference between the past Kings and Queen to you and Arthur, yes?" Rilliane giggled, a small smirk playing on her face. Kathleen did not reply.

I know about those silly stories...Mother told me about the legends of the Kings and Queens of the past and their relationships...But I'm already grown up, and I've stopped believing in those silly fairytales.

"It's time for us to go. The carriage is ready." Mr. Walker's calm voice pulled me from my thoughts and I looked at the entrance and saw the current King and Queen heading outside. They were smiling at each other and seemed to be content with everything happening. I furrowed my eyebrows and wondered, 'Would it be like that if I were the Queen and Arthur would be the King?' I shook my head, forcing myself to push such thoughts into the back of my mind where they would slowly be forgotten. I walked towards the entrance with Rilliane, and watched as Mr. Walker opened tthe door for Rilliane, just as a gentleman would. I looked at Rilliane with slight jealousy. She was kind to everyone and was very open-minded--the type society loves--unlike me, a selfish, spoiled brat. No one would ever come to love her like the current King loved the current Queen--I mean, who would ever come to love someone like her when there's Rilliane?

Kathleen slowly went inside the carriage and sat down. She looked at Mr. Walker, about to say something when she felt the carriage start moving. She bit her lip. 'He probably thought I was not grateful...or worse, a spoiled, arrogant brat...' Kathleen looked down at her dress and frowned. She did not want to see anyone's face right now. She felt depressed. She slowly hummed the tune of a small song, something no one knew, not even Riliiane. It was a song she composed about her true feelings. She usually played it whenever she was along in the music room, or she would hum it whenever she was alone or she would hum it quietly when there were people around her. The song usually calmed her, and made her forget everything momentarily. She peeked through a hole in the curtains and looked at the beautiful scenery of Spades. It reminded her of the gentle, peaceful days wih her mother, before she was taken away from her.

Mother, where ever you are, I hope you are alright...Although you might not remember me anymore...

Kathleen did not notice the stares of the other royals and the silence inside the carriage as she continued to hum her song as she looked outside through the small hole.

The duration of the carriage ride was incredibly silent--the current King, Queen and Rilliane listening to Kathleen as she hummed songs and occasionally letting some of the lyrics slip out of her mouth. Finally, they arrived at Duchmoor Castle. It was considerably smaller than the main castle; it was surrounded by a deep forest--a strategic location in case they were ambushed, the castle would be hard to find.

They were greeted by the sight of shades of yellow, and a single blue shade.