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“And the lamb walked into the den of the lions, bleating happily as it did so….”

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Gambling. That’s what led me to being inside this extravagant carriage heading to the capital of the Heart, Sangue, where the Castle of Ecstasy stands tall and the Prince of the Heart—violent, bloodthirsty, and beautifully dangerous—sits on his blood painted throne.

This will be fine, I just have to play my part.

Get in. Stay for a month as the King of the Club’s ambassador. Then, get paid handsomely by the King and set out for a new life with Grandma.

That’s all. If everything falls into place, I have nothing to worry about.

I carefully scratch at the largest black Club on my right brown cheek. Three more smaller ones decorate my left, and another one is on the upper ridge of my ear. I painted them this morning after seeing that the paint was peeling off. Two weeks is all I have until I need to paint them again. Of course, I have a plan for when that time comes.

I always have a plan. Now, anyway.

I fiddle with the expensive hems of my sleeves, then shaken out of my thoughts as the carriage hits a bump in the road.

I have to admit, I’m scared. I can’t help but think of what His Majesty said to me before my departure.

“There’s nothing for you to worry about—uh, what is your name?” I told him and he continued. “Well, Yant, there is absolutely nothing to worry about at all.” He had paused, his strong face twisting as though he remembered something unpleasant. “This is all a scheme of his, most likely, but both the Spade Emperess and the Diamond Queen have sent their youngest children. I have none, as you know, or you wouldn’t be here right now, my boy.” He had chuckled, but I remained silent.

I had been working on cleaning the kitchens when he called me, and also working on avoiding the traveling lords from Heart who liked to get handsy. Stupid Hearts and their objective of Want and Desire.

Clubs, like me, are focused on Peace, Prosperity, Protection, and Progress. It is why we have the richest farms, why our crime rate is at an all-time low, why we have the most successful orphanages in the whole region. The whole society of my country helped with my income, or, should—if I hadn’t went to the pub that one night.

“Your Majesty,” I had said, just thinking of traveling there—with my problem of Hearts and the fact that I didn’t have a race or ranking if I didn’t have my paints—made my own heart race with fear. And who would take care of Grandma? She can hardly stand by herself, or think for that matter. “I’m afraid I can’t acccept this. I have work to do here, sire, and I have my Grandma at home to take care of. And, I’m not really the best person to ask to do this job—whatever it is exactly. I am only a Five of Clubs.”

The King just laughed merrily, as he himself did not know my life was at stake. “I’ve heard some great things about you, Yant.” Great things? What great things. I knew he was lying, he had just randomly picked me from a sea of servants, but for some reason, hearing that come from my king made my chest puff out in pleasure. “Of course, I’m not sending you without being paid. Just imagine it, all you have to do is sit, enjoy the sights, and humor the Prince once in a while for a month. As well as his other guests, but they shouldn’t be a problem; the Prince as well. After all, you said yourself that you’re just a Five of Clubs.”

The King, an Ace of Clubs, could have just Commanded me at that point, but I guess the rumors about him were true. He was as kind as the other servants said. Though, as I have no true rank and have never been Commanded before, I have no clue whether or not it would have worked anyway. The pay had got into my head and I licked my lips, as though the paper was food. In my case, it was. And it was also a new home, away from the Clubs and the Spades and the Diamonds and especially the Hearts. Maybe in the Outer Lands. Or in the Great Forest.

Both seemed like better options than staying here. For Grandma’s health and my safety.

I still think that now, muttering over and over again the absurd amount of dall the king agreed to grant me after this under my breath. One month. One month is all it is. One month in fancy clothing, attending balls, and staying out of sight.

I think to myself that I’m doing this for the good of my country—I myself am not ignorant to the whispers of War around the corner. If it comes to that, Clubs would be the first place to fall and everyone knows it.

But, I know that I’m doing this for my own selfish reasons, and for once I find myself siding up with the Heart. Stab the Heart, I think, the Diamonds too with their stupid objective of Honor and Discipline.

I Want that money. I don’t need it, I could carry on life as it is, I suppose: waiting for Grandma to die, waiting for someone to find out what a freak I am. But with that money, our whole lives will change.

For the better.

So when the carriage stops, I raise my head, fingers trailing over my paint to make sure it’s fully dried, straighten my shoulders and walk out of the carriage in my borrowed clothing that’s silky and unfamiliar against my skin. My confidence and my plan that I have in my head gives me the strength that I need—until I see the castle.

All the breath jets out of my chest as I behold the sight. My carriage driver, who also happens to be my guard for the trip, jumps off the riding platform and walks to my side. He’s a Four of Clubs, the four black clubs sitting right on the ridge of his nose, who could have Commanded me if his ability to wasn’t Commanded out of him by the King. He is also dashing and distractingly charming in every way. It had surprised me that someone such as he—as he is still in training—was to be my companion for this trip, but I won’t let it interfere with my plans.

“Well then, Ambassador Yant, welcome of the heart of Heart,” he laughs at his own joke, stopping quickly when he sees my disgusted face, “Uh—Anyway. Do you like the sight, sir?”

I nod, as my breath still hasn’t returned to me.

It’s marvelous, truly marvelous.

But I’m not broken. I will finish this month and get my money. For me, for Grandma.

Whatever it takes.

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