Cardverse Hetalia ~ Kingdom Of Spades ♠️

Chapter 30 - The Unusual Visitor

The young prince was making his way through the streets of the kingdom, passing people with kind gestures. Being out and about felt good for him, not to mention manageable with his stronger immune system. He headed towards the jewellery shop where he saw the old craftsman spot the prince and approach him with a welcoming tone. "Why if it isn't the young prince. Welcome, my boy. How can I be of help today?" He said in a cheerful manner, never failing to make Alfred smile.

Knowing how well the elder knew his family, he always had great respect for the man as if they were equals. Alfred pulled out the glowing sapphire about the size of a thumb tip and held it up towards the man. "I was wondering if you can make a special piece of jewellery with this stone please?" He asked, placing the stone in the man's hand. He got a closer look before smiling again. "Heh, well well. That is a fine sapphire you have there, young prince. Quite the beaut if you ask me. What sort of jewellery were you thinking?" He asked. Alfred looked back over both shoulders to make sure no one was watching.

"A ring. It's for someone very special and dear to my heart." He said silently. The man neednt hear anything else and he chuckled before smacking the upper arm of the prince. "Well well, ain't you lucky ey? You found yourself a special someone and you are thinking of that question they all love to hear, huh?" He asked with a huge grin from ear to ear, making Alfred bashful. He chuckled nervously in response. "Yeah...they have no idea yet." He said. The man lifted his brows in anticipation. "Even better." He said before looking at the rings behind him. "I shall see what I do for you good sir. I will hand deliver it to you once it's finished. Do you have the measurement?" He asked. Alfred nodded and gave all the information he can give before paying him a substantial amount. "2000 for the ring." He said. The man didn't know how to react to such amount. He was counting up some of the coins before pushing the bag back. "1250 and you get to put the money towards something special for your love." He said in a supporting manner. Alfred agreed without a second thought and put the remaining money back in his bag before shaking hands with the craftsman.

"Thank you very much sir, take care." He said. The man smiled before wishing him farewell. "You two, your highness. Good day." He said before heading in to start his work. As he was walking past some of the stalls, he spotted a poor boy looking at the fruit but walked away with his head held low. Alfred glanced over at the apples the boy looked over at and then back to the form which decided to sit near the stones, his face drooped with sympathy and guilt that he didn't try to help. He decided to buy 5 apples from the stall and he brought the produce to the boy. The boy looked up to the prince in awe and he didn't break eye contact as the prince knelt down to his level with a smile. "I...thought you might be hungry. These are for you." He said softly as he passed the bag of apples to the boy. He looked down to the bag then back up to the man and he was pointing between the apples and him. Alfred nodded. "They're all yours." He said. The boy smiled before hugging the prince. "Thank you..." He said timidly as Alfred pat his back with a smile. "No problem, little buddy. You get them home." He said before the boy rushed home gleefully, allowing the prince to watch him head home.

At this moment, a figure appeared beside him. "Such generosity is rare for a royal spade." He spoke making the prince flinch as if caught off guard. The man looked over before bowing. "My apologies, I didn't mean to startle you. It is a wondering sight to see a royal helping those less fortunate to live." He said. Alfred tilted his head before speaking. "May I ask who you are?" He questioned the man before him. The figure straightened up with a grin before speaking in a silken voice. "I have many names, your highness. The wanderer, the fortune teller, the magic keeper. But I do have a preferred name. I go by the name of Cheng." He said. Alfred raised an eyebrow. "Cheng? That's not a common name." Alfred commented, leading to the man chuckle. "Well, what do you define as 'common', Prince Alfred? Especially in regard to human or aninalesian names." He explained. Alfred stepped closer trying to process what just happened. "Wait, how did you know my name?" He asked. The man closed his eyes before answering. "Let's just say your paths crossed with mine many years ago, or rather I knew once of the queen and king, that of your mother and father." He explained. Alfred approached the man before asking. "Have I seen you before?" He asked. Cheng nodded before speaking again. "Yes, you were still a child then, I was once summoned by your mother about a fascinating discovery. May we go into the castle?" He asked. Alfred cautiously nodded before proceeding to the grand white castle that Alfred called home.