Between Ace Trappola and Deuce Spade and Riddle Rosehearts and Cater Diamond as siblings.
The sky was painted with a sunset palette, hues of purple and orange bleeding together as the day gave way to night over the twisted Wonderland. At the Heartslabyul dorm, the plaintive sound of a silver bell marked the end of another rigorous day filled with lessons on magic and the strict tenets of the Queen of Hearts.
Ace Trappola sauntered through the corridors with Deuce Spade, their voices an odd mix of camaraderie and competition. "You almost had me in Potions today," Ace admitted, a grin tugging at his lips. "But you'll have to do better than that to outshine me, brother."
Deuce rolled his eyes, nudging Ace lightly with his elbow. "Stop calling me 'brother' all the time. We're not related," he countered, though the warmth in his tone betrayed his annoyance. Yet, something flickered within his chest—a strange, inexplicable recognition.
Their laughter echoed through the hall, a stark contrast to the usual solemn atmosphere of Heartslabyul. Unbeknownst to them, their innocent jest about brotherhood would soon unravel into a profound truth that would shake the very pillars of their world.
Riddle Rosehearts stood at the balcony, his gaze following the playful exchange between Ace and Deuce. His stern expression was a mask, hiding the weight of responsibility that came with his future role as the matriarch’s successor. A whispered conversation with the enigmatic Cater Diamond pulled him from his reverie.
"The Queen's Decree arrived, Riddle," Cater said, handing over a sealed envelope marked with the emblem of the red rose.
Riddle's hand trembled as he broke the wax seal, his heart racing with an anticipation he dared not acknowledge. As he read the decree, his crimson eyes widened, disbelief etching across his features. "This can't be true," he muttered under his breath. "Ace, Deuce… my brothers?"
Cater leaned in, curiosity sparking in his own eyes. "Let me see that," he said, peering over Riddle's shoulder. Their eyes met, sharing a silent understanding—the dynamics of their world were about to shift irreversibly, and they were at the very heart of the storm.
That night, under the star-studded sky, the four boys were summoned to a clandestine meeting in the rose gardens. They stood before each other, the tension tangible in the cool night air. Riddle cleared his throat, holding the Queen's Decree before them.
"We have been called upon to prove our lineage," he began, his voice steady despite the chaos brewing within. "A magical blood bond links us as brothers, and to reclaim our rightful heritage, we must face the trials set forth by the Queen herself."
Shock and disbelief contorted Ace's playful features as he turned to look at Deuce, whose own confusion mirrored his. Cater, usually ever-smiling, now held a solemnity that was both foreign and unsettling.
"But we have no memories of such bonds," Deuce protested, his mind reeling, trying to grasp the unreality of it all.
Ace, previously unaware of the significance of their banter, now grappled with the magnitude of the revelation. Their lives were intertwined by more than just friendship; they were threads in a tapestry of royal destiny.
The air thrummed with a silent acknowledgment of their newly discovered connection. This fateful evening marked the beginning of a journey that would unravel the mysteries of their past and forge their futures. In this twisted Wonderland, bonds of brotherhood would be both their salvation and their curse, as they strived to untangle the truth from the lies of their shattered memories.