It felt odd to March. Walking through the Palace of Hearts without immediately being detained. Not only that, but servants bowed to him as he passed. They called him 'Your Highness' and asked him if he needed anything.

Tea time wasn't just him and Raiden anymore, and whatever sorry soul they were holding ransom or torturing at the moment. Now he had their wife, and her other husbands. Brennin sat at the head of the table, being King and all, usually with North and Rab. Tee and Dee were always close together. Their wife sat somewhere different each day, always making sure everyone got a turn.

"What did this poor bastard do?" March asked, leaning against the wall.

Rab's white rabbit ears twitched in his direction. He had one of the castle prisoners tied to a chair. "Treason. Our little friend has been smuggling information to the Kingdom of Spades."

March felt his mouth dry out. Spades. A spy from the Spades. His eyes blinked rapidly as he tried to ignore the memories bobbing to the surface. His mother's gleeful expression as she sold him, the Queen of Spades dragging him everywhere with her by a leash. The fact that no wasn't allowed, ever.

"Oh?" he managed, trying to disguise the crack in his voice with a cough.

If Rab noticed, he didn't comment. "If you're looking for our little Queen, she should be in the drawing room."

March nodded jerkily, eyeing the prisoner. He left the room in a hurry to find his wife. That would help the nasty emotions bubbling in his chest.