Cardverse Hetalia ~ Kingdom Of Spades ♠️

Chapter 1 ~ The Master and The Slave

In a barren wasteland that stretched to the horizon, the sun is beaming on the hot sand and winds carrying grain by grain along the pale sky, with nothing or no one to alter its course, therefore not threatening any living being.

Within this landscape did four kingdoms inhabit 4 stretches of land, acting as an oasis to those who lived here. Beautiful as they were, the inhabitants never dared to travel to the other kingdoms as those who went years ago disappeared without a trace. One Kingdom was shrouded in aura of indigo and blue and resembled in a shape of a leaf-like pike. This was the kingdom of spades, and the focus of this story is on one young boy whose fate would be sealed to his throne as the future King of the land. He goes by the name of Alfred.
The royal castle in many shades of navy is the home of this young boy whom lived with the King, his father, his associate only referred to as Fitzgerald or Fritz as Alfred would call him and many of the dedicated maids and Servants whom have been treated with the equal level of respect by the royals and for that, they've been grateful for their generosity.

Alfred's mother, the Queen, departed from their world some time earlier, resulting in the young man redrawing himself from company, including the King. Despite the grieving over the Queen, life carried on as normal for the whole kingdom. One morning, the King and Fritz were expecting new servants from slaves that passed in a cart at the break of dawn. A treasure cart to the greedy seller, but to Alfred it was prison on wheels. Though he disapproves the treatment of "slaves", his feelings remain mutual. Fritz enters the young man's room.

"Master Alfred?" He said, with a voice as smooth as silk. Alfred didn't move from his stance, seemingly distracted by the activity out of the window pane. "What is it, fritz?" Alfred eventually asked. Fritz bowed slightly, "Apologies Master Alfred..." He continued. "Your father wishes for you to come see some new servants in the grand hall." Alfred sighed; believe that the gesture of the new servant is to act like a passive observer to him. "Why can't father understand that I am not a child anymore?" He said in an irritated tone. Fritz felt unsettled but didn't dare let it show. "M-Master, it's not that your father has neglected your age or your capabilities as a new ruler, he just only wants to provide you company as he feels a fresh face would be beneficial to you, Master." Fritz said, small gulp could be heard.
Alfred sighed in defeat. He nods to fritz as he leaves his quarters and heads to the grand hall.

As he walks down the sapphire staircase, his father waits for him with a line of slaves. All of which stood shaking along a line, shackles on their wrists and legs. All of them seemed to be covered with plum and mauve injuries, even the weight of the cold metal cuffs seemed to pull them down. Alfred was appalled by them, not because of their condition considering how they must have been treated, but because how their former superiors treated them like low life animals who are seen as a way of making profit. Alfred walked along the line, eyeing up a few. 2 of them were big and broad, ideal for lifting heavy cargo, the rest appeared frail and delicate, too weak to lift a thing. Alfred's expression was a stern one, not wanted to express his sympathy towards the poor people forced to live like they do.

Alfred reached the end of the line where he stood in front of a dirty blonde man, slim but not in a healthy way, his head held low as if he was ashamed. Alfred wanted to see this man's face. "Look at me, sir" he ordered. The man lifted his head to show a worn out pale face, his expression was of hurt and unspoken pain. His dark green eyes were staring into Alfred's own blue sky eyes. Alfred felt a chill down his spine, like an ice shard shock through his body. There was something about the slave that Alfred felt a connection with and in turn wishing to unravel the truths and secrets this man hides behind pained eyes.

He turned to the king "Father." Alfred spoke up. "I wish to have this one as my servant." He demanded placing a hand on the man's frail shoulder. The king looked on, "Why this man, Alfred? The others could offer you more than what his physic-". The king continued but Alfred jumped in. "You said I needed company, not a maid, a butler or helper. You said a servant to give me company, nothing more." He replied. The king eventually agreed and paid the seller as he escorted the other slaves back to the rusty cart. The blonde man looked on with sadness, knowing they may not be so lucky to the next buyer. Alfred leads the slave to his quarters, clinging onto the heavy shackles without hurting him.

Alfred unlocked the dark oak doors to enter his beautiful furnished blue and gold room. The slave was speechless, even if he could find the words to describe the room, they wouldn't be able to leave his lips.
Once the two of them were alone, Alfred shut the doors, approached and stood in front of the smaller man, he proceeded to unlock the heavy shackles, freeing the man's fragile and bruised wrists from the cuffs that weighed him down. "What's your name, slave?" Alfred asked. The man hung his head again. "Look at me when you answer." Alfred ordered, though in a calm tone, as to not frighten the man. He lifted his head up and gulped. "A-Arthur...My name is Arthur...Master..." He answered in a weak voice. Alfred was shocked that the being standing before him was deprived of food, water and decent clothing. He doesn't even want to think about the last time he was washed. Alfred walks to his water beaker and pours up some clean water. He passes the glass to Arthur. "Drink this. You clearly looked unhealthy and sick when you came into the castle." Alfred said and Arthur carefully takes the glass so he doesn't drop it and slowly sips from it. "In this royal castle, you are like anyone else, a person who will be respected, seen to and looked after." Alfred explains with a calm tone, much to the surprise of Arthur.

"But Master...I'm your slave...If I disrespect your orders I deserve punishment, just like wit-"Arthur stuttered. "Not while you are inside these stone walls." Alfred interrupted him. Arthur's attitude to himself was concerning Alfred, he wanted to see with his own eyes if this slave was treated the way he feared he was. Arthur finally finished drinking his water and put the glass back on the tray. Alfred gestures for Arthur to come to him. "Arthur, please take off your shirt. I only wish to see the damage they may've done to you." He demands. Arthur, though shaky from the request, removed his tattered shirt and turns around to reveal a horrifying sight.

Crimson red welts and scars that aged over time but never faded, some bright scratches that look fresh and large bruising covering the whole body, his back showing the worst of it. Alfred was devastated. His reaction was only amplified when Arthur spoke. "They beat me, they left me to die. I felt lost, scared and alone. I was waiting for life to pass me so I wouldn't suffer anymore..." Arthur said with a pained tone, almost close to tears. As Alfred's soft fingers only gliding over some of the marks left behind, He embraces him in a warm caress while holding back his sadness.

"Under my father's rule and eventually mine, you'll be treated with nothing but understanding, affection, kindness and honesty as you are part of us now. You are human, not a slave. You are a living being, not an object. Do not let the past affect your present time because you are here, in safe arms in our kingdom, Arthur." He said, still holding Arthur. The warm of the embrace were hurting but helping Arthur, the first time in years he ever felt loved and understood by his master. He gently turns around and hugs back, crying in the young master's shoulder. All of the forbidden emotions built up in the man were shed and released into bittersweet tears.
For the first time, Arthur felt a weight had been lifted and his new life in the castle of spades was going to change forever.

END OF CHAPTER 1