Archive of Our Own

“Dad, how did you meet Dad Riddle? It's for an assignment.”

The young Petunia, with large, silver eyes, looked intently at her father, who was preparing her favorite sweets. Long straight hair of a deep green resembled Trey's. However, it was always said that in everything else she had taken after Riddle. She was holding a piece of paper and a pencil in her hands. Trey smiled and looked back at her gently.

“Oh, when Riddle and I were kids... Wait, why don't you hop up on the counter, and I'll tell you the story?”

After a few seconds, Petunia nodded. Cautious, she ended up being left over where her father was kneading the occasional dough. Today, she reflected that it was an ideal place for her to steal strawberries when she thought Trey wasn't looking.

It was then that she learned the crucial keys that her future or future vice leader of Heartslabyul would have to comply with. Also, that her parents were made for each other.

• A childhood friend. Someone she had at least hung out with from time to time and trusted completely.
• Since Petunia had Riddle's temper and Trey's culinary skills, she would only need someone who could enjoy her sweets, but help her with the heavy hand in the dorm. Indulgent, but strong-willed.
• Someone willing to follow her to the end of the world no matter what. By the Queen's standards and for her.

Ultimately, she needed to find her King of Hearts, just as her father got his.

Once the mirror assigned her upon her arrival at Night Raven College, she knew what she had to do. Expectations to live up to. Legacy on her shoulders. And the right person with whom to carry on a new era for the next three years pulled down her hood at just the right moment. Petunia held her breath at the sound of her first and last name: Berry Felmier.

Berry lived up to her name, no doubt. Dark, night-blue hair that reached her shoulders. Eyes that, by contrast, were a sunny sky with no clouds in sight. Berry . If she had known she was around, Petunia would have greeted her earlier. She was the only one who could fulfill her rigid list; her childhood friend whom she saw from time to time, since her parents, Epel and Deuce, were former Night Raven College classmates of hers.

As Berry brought her hand closer to the mirror, Petunia's fingers sank firmly into the seat.

“Berry Felmier.” The mirror began solemnly. “Your personality says Savanaclaw.” Petunia frowned. “Your origins, Pomefiore.” Then, she bit her lip. “But, as your father Deuce Spade, your destiny lies in Hearslabyul.”

Petunia almost bounced in the seat, letting out a relieved sigh as the gem in her pen turned a purer red than the rose bushes adorning the Queen of Hearts' dorm.

It had to be her .

There were no other possibilities.

Childhood friend. Strong character. Someone who was willing to follow her.

Berry would be...

“You, Berry.” Petunia took her hands, which alerted the young blue-haired girl. Squeezing her fingers, she nodded. “You will be my king of hearts until we graduate. My childhood friend, vice leader of Heartslabyul. No doubt about it. To fulfill my legacy, I need you by my side.”

“Huh? What makes you think that...?” The young woman blushed, looking at her with a confused frown until she blushed, and a big smile appeared on her face. “P-Petunia? Ah! It's you.”

“Of course it's me!” Cocking her head to one side, she looked at her incredulously. “Haven't you heard my name before?”

Her shoulders tensed as Berry hugged her with the strength of a thousand farmers. Now she was the one whose face was red — from the gesture, or from shortness of breath? 

Hmm, she still smelled like the apples of her village.

“Twas a no-go, ’twas in a drowsy state.” Berry sighed in relief and took her by the shoulders, careful of her wide twintails. “Thank 'ee! I thought I was gonna be alone. It's been ages since I've seen you, our parents stopped seeing each other so often! Ah, stop it. What were you saying about vice, what's that? Your king?”

“Don't you know what it's like to be vice?” Seeing her deny, Petunia sighed, but resigned. “It's all right, I'll teach you. Just promise me something, okay?” She stuck out her pinky and frowned, a faint determined smile creeping onto her face. “Whatever happens, you'll stay by my side.”

“Of course I will!”

Smiling, she gave him the pinky decisively.

Okay, one thing down.

Now, all that was left was to become the leader of Heartslabyul in less than a week.

Ow, ow, ow! 

And get Berry to control the strength of her hugs — Warn her about them, too!