Young Alfred Jones, heir to the Kingdom of Spades, ran along the dirt road, giggling happily as he outran the servant who was supposed to be watching him. The blond haired boy looked over his shoulder and, upon seeing the fuming red face of the servant, turned back to see where he was going and ran even faster.

Unfortunately, little Alfred never had good eyesight, as he soon (quite literally) ran into another young boy. The two boys fell to the ground, Alfred still giggling and the other one scowling. The young heir stood up and offered a helping hand to the boy he had just knocked down.

The boy had blond hair, rather similar to his own, that looked as though it had never seen a comb in its life. His bright green eyes shone like emeralds and geez did he have big eyebrows!

Alfred gave a grin to the boy, showing off the tooth he had lost only a week ago and said, "Hiya! My name's Alfred! What's yours?" The boy blushed slightly at the heir's interest in him and muttered back, "Arthur."

Alfred tapped his chin thoughtfully and soon his face split into a smile, "One day, when I'm bigger, I'm gonna marry you Arthur and you're gonna be the Queen of Spades!"

Arthur's mouth fell open, which soon turned into a scowl, "The Queen!? Why can't I be the Jack?" Alfred shrugged and thought back to his other friend, "I already promised that spot to Yao. You're gonna have to be my queen!"

The boy's cerulean eyes lit up, "I'll buy you all the fanciest suits and we'll have a big," he paused, sounding out the next word carefully, "Cor-on-a-tion and everything!"

The servant caught up to Alfred and crossed his arms with a huff, "Young master, we must be returning to the castle. Your parents are waiting for you." Alfred grabbed the servant's outstretched hand and, turning back to Arthur said, "See ya around Artie! I promise you'll marry me someday!"

And you know what? Alfred kept his promise.

In the cold, unforgiving Kingdom of the Spades, young master Ivan dragged his feet in the snow, watching in fascination as he sank down to the middle of his calves. His mother and father were back in the palace, arguing about God only knows what. They were always like, and Ivan always felt ignored.

The ash haired boy soon came to a clearing in the woods. He looked up when he heard screams of joy and a cry of indigence. Ivan quickly hid behind a tree and observed what was happening in the clearing.

Two young boys seemed to be having a snowball fight. One was having the time of his life and pelting his friend with snow while the other had hidden behind a wall of snow and whimpered every time a chunk hit his protective barrier.

Soon, the second of the two boys became tired of being pelted with snow and cried, "Elizabeta! Let's go home already!"

Ivan gasped to himself, so the first boy was actually a girl! Summoning his courage, he stepped out from behind the tree and called out, "Привет!" The girl screamed lightly at the sudden interjection and hid behind the boy, who seemed ready to make a run for it.

Ivan walked forward slowly and repeated, "Привет. My name is Ivan. What are yours?" The girl peeked out from behind the boy and said, "I'm Elizabeta! This wuss here is Roderich!" Roderich muttered under his breath, "I'm not the one hiding behind you..."

The boy's purple eyes shone in amusement, "My parents are going to make me pick a Queen soon for when I'm older. Do you want to be my queen, Elizabeta?" The brown-haired girl gasped and her cheeks flooded with color as she muttered, "I'm not going anywhere without Roddy." Ivan smiled at the sentiment and proclaimed cheerfully, "Then I'll make him my Jack!"

Both their eyes widened slightly as they looked at each other. Elizabeta turned back to Ivan, a blush still covering her cheeks, and nodded happily.

Ivan turned back to walk through the woods and called back, "I'll see you in a few years! Soon you'll be my Queen and my Jack!"

And you know what? Ivan kept his promise.

Ludwig stood behind the thrones of his two parents, towering over the chairs despite the fact that he was only fourteen. His parent's Jack stood to the side. The pageboy, a boy named Feliciano who just happened to be Ludwig's friend, stumbled out to the middle of the throne room directly in front of the thrones.

Feliciano straightened his cap and said, "Presenting the noble family of Honda with their son Kiku." As soon as he had appeared, Feliciano disappeared off to the side. The doors to the throne opened and in stepped a family of three, a boy Ludwig's age bringing up the rear.

The father of the family bowed to the royal family, "As requested Your Highness, my eldest son. Kiku Honda." Kiku stepped forward, his pitch black hair hiding his face. He bowed to the family. When he stood upright again, his eyes locked with Ludwig and he gave a slight nod of acknowledgement.

The King of Hearts stood up from his throne and walked around Kiku, observing him and the way he held himself. Stepping back from the boy, the King nodded and said, "He will make a fine Queen for Ludwig when the time comes."

Ludwig expression never changed, but he was scowling internally. He wanted to marry Feliciano, not this random boy that he had never met before. But Ludwig kept his back straight and his head high, he understood that his parents were only doing what was right for the kingdom.

The young heir looked to the side and saw Feliciano who looked on the verge of tears. Feeling someone's eyes on him, Feliciano looked at Ludwig and smiled mouthing out, "It's fine." Ludiwg then made up his mind that Feliciano would be his Jack.

Ludwig stepped down from the throne and shook Kiku's hand in his own, "I look forward to our meeting again. We shall make Hearts better than ever. Together."

And you know what? Ludwig kept his promise.

It was no secret that the heir to the Kingdom of Diamonds was looking for a queen. But Lili never expected for a notice to be posted to the town board. Quick as she could, she ran back to her brother and their shack of a house.

"Big brother! Big brother!" she called. Her brother, Vash, ran out of the house with a frantic look on his face, "Lili! What is it? Did someone hurt you?" She shook her head frantically with a large smile on her face.

"Not at all! But the heir is looking for a Queen! He commands for all eligible girls to go to the center of town for him to meet!" Lili exclaimed. Vash sighed and ran a hand through his short blond hair, "I don't know Lili, the odds of you being chosen are astronomical. Besides, I don't like the idea of my little sister being sold off."

Lili's eyes widened and begged for her brother to see her side, "But what if I am chosen? This could be our chance!" Vash sighed again, he knew how much Lili wanted to help him support the two of them. So with a final resigned sigh, he nodded his head.

Lili gave a big smile and, grabbing his hand, raced off towards the center of town.

She got in line with the rest of the girls, waiting for the heir to show up. Soon a carriage decorated with a diamond design pulled up in the center of town. Out stepped the heir, his chin length blond hair shining in the sun.

The heir, Francis, walked along the line, shaking his head at every girl. Soon enough, he came to Lili and stopped. "Hello," he said with a soft smile, "What's your name?" Lili blushed bright red, "M-My name is Lili." Francis took the young girl in, short blond hair and dirty rags for clothes. Most obviously from a very poor family. The girl was sweet, albeit a bit shy, Francis wouldn't mind spending the rest of his life with her.

Francis smiled softly and said, "Well Lili, would you like to come to the palace with me and be my Queen when the time comes?" Lili gasped and slowly nodded. Francis smiled wider and, taking her hand, led her back to the carriage.

Lili tugged on the heir's sleeve and whispered, "What about big brother?" Francis looked up into the crowd and upon spotting a boy who looked rather similar to the young girl whose hand he was holding, gestured for him to come along.

The boy stepped froward and Francis smirked, "You shall be my Jack when the time arrives. You look like you can handle yourself. You and your sister will be part of the royal court and you will live in comfort for the rest of your days."

And you know what? Francis kept his promise.

Promises were kept and Kingdoms were given a new King, Queen, and Jack. And this is where our story begin.