Chapter Text
The upheaval at Card Castle stirred up everything in one way or another. If Seam was a more dedicated shopkeeper, perhaps he would have been glad for business picking up in the wake of it.
He was not, however, and mostly found it . . . tiresome.
It had been a slow day at the shop as always. Seam was just beginning to doze off behind the counter when a board of jigsawries flooded in, all of them sobbing and wailing. It was in that way Seam learned of the King of Spades' takeover and subsequent firing of all the kingdom's puzzle makers. He learned of these things several times over, in fact, as each jigsawry tearfully explained their plight.
Of course, it wasn't like Seam had anything better to do with his time, so he listened. And as he listened he began to notice a trend from each of the jigsawry's stories. A name brought up again and again in each retelling of the events, spoken in quiet, fearful tones:
Rouxls Kaard.
A treacherous, clever villain who would smile in your face while sliding a dagger in your back. A vile mastermind who rose to power by ruthlessly eliminating anyone above him, friend or foe alike, and thus gained the king's favor.
At least, that's how the jigsawries told it. The name rang a faint bell in Seam's mind, but the description somehow didn't fit. Seam tuned out the jigsawry as he shifted through old memories of his time in court, trying to remember who it was--
Ah! That Rouxls Kaard.
A chancery clerk, as he recalled. The pretty one.
The one who cried when Jevil put dye in all the castle's shampoo bottles.
If the jigsawry noticed Seam's shoulders shaking as he chuckled quietly to himself, they didn't let it interrupt their tale.
While they were all certainly upset, their tears moved Seam to do little more than sell them discounted dark candies. Perhaps a lifetime ago he would have been more concerned about the state of the kingdom. Felt a call to action. But not now. This wasn't his battle, and its outcome had little impact on him.
Over the next couple days, the jigsawries took refuge in the clearing next to Seam's shop. They chased off any passersby with their half-baked tutorials and kept needling him about more dark candy they could just as easily pick for themselves. But everyone needed space in these dark times, he supposed. Even nuisance was a pleasant shake-up from routine. Until that nuisance also settled into routine and familiarity, as all things did with the passing of time.
---
Seam was behind the counter as always when a high-pitched noise broke the relative silence, accompanied by a flash of light and a charge of magic in the air he could feel in his fur. Glancing outside, he saw a blue man with white hair that stuck out like a sore thumb retreating down the path to the south. A dead end.
Seam waited a few minutes and, when the man did not return the way he came or teleport again, decided to go for a little walk. It was just a short, leisurely stroll to meet this dreaded Duke in person.
The man in question was gently banging his forehead into the locked gate blocking the path before him, his arms hanging limply at his sides. Seam watched him for a time, waiting to see if he would eventually stop, but Rouxls Kaard seemed far too consumed by his problem.
Clearing his throat gently, Seam called out to him. "Lovely afternoon, isn't it?" Rouxls shrieked a whirled around, pressing his back to the gate like a cornered animal.
Rouxls Kaard's expressions were an open book. First regarding him with suspicion, followed by confusion, recognition, and finally a look of disgust that easily rolled off Seam's back. Rouxls looked much the same as Seam could remember, but the shopkeeper was a far cry from the mage those at court would recall.
"Oh, it's just thou..." Rouxls' muttered dismissively once he composed himself.
"Good to see you as well." Seam grinned, "What brings you so far from the castle?"
The was a split-second hesitation before Rouxls puffed up like a peacock, "As the newly appointedesteth Duke of Puzzles," he said his title with extra emphasis, "I hath been tasked with checking uponst all puzzles in the kingdom." Suddenly he deflated a little and glanced at the ground. "But, ah..."
"... You don't know how to open the door from this side." Seam supplied.
"... N-nay..." Rouxls admitted in a whimper. With a shuddering sigh, he began to pace frantically and rake his hands through his hair. "What am I going to reporteth to the king?" He wondered, "Who knowseth what he'll do if I falleth short in my duties!"
Seam held a held up a placating hand, "Now . . . why not just ask the jigsawries? They must know the trick to--"
"Nay!" Rouxls cut him off desperately, putting his hands up as if to stop him. "... Ah..." The Duke composed himself and cleared his throat. "Haha... That is to sayeth, that won't be necessary."
Seam nodded and didn't press the matter. "Well, since you appear to have your schedule cleared, you could come back to the shop. You look like you could use a cup of tea..." Rouxls didn't look convinced. "... Or stay here. Makes no difference to me." Seam turned just like that and began to walk back to his shop.
Footsteps caught up to him moments later. "I supposeth it wouldn't hurt to grace a commoner such as thou with my company." Rouxls said quite haughtily for a man who had been in a panic just before.
Rouxls was led to the small living space behind the shop. Various knick-knacks gathered over the years cluttered the space, but were collecting dust from neglect. A few stacks of board games were shoved into a corner and looked as though they hadn't been touched in years. It looked like a quaint, cozy home that had gone unlived in for a time.
"Forgive the mess... Wasn't expecting to have 'nobility' over!" Seam laughed and left the Duke to his own devices.
Rouxls Kaard couldn't have looked more out of place there if he tried. He seemed loath to touch anything and gravitated to the center of the room. The only things that weren't covered in dust were a patchwork couch and armchair that rested near the fireplace. An abandoned game of forty thieves lay spread out on the coffee table in front of them. The overstuffed furniture looked well-worn with time and use, and there was no rhyme or reason to the cloth swatches that made them up.
As Seam busied himself in the kitchenette, he saw Rouxls closely inspect one of the more ornate patches on the couch -- a bright red and black diamond-patterned velvet. Perhaps it looked familiar? It had once lined the inside of his cloak when he had performed at the castle. As time went on, holding on to the finery of a court magician was less practical than having a couch with fewer holes, and the cloak was cut up without ceremony.
By the time he came out with the kettle, Rouxls had apparently deigned to sit down. Seam poured him a cup, then one for himself and settled into the armchair. Seam took a long sip as his guest reluctantly gave the tea a taste.
"... What am I going to telleth his Majesty?" Rouxls slumped forward, still bogged down by his predicament.
"Just say everything's in working order..." Seam suggested.
"What?" Rouxls whipped his head in Seam's direction, looking horrified, "Lie?! To the king?! Art thou mad?!" The accusation was only met with a noncommital shrug.
"There's no reason to believe the puzzles are broken. 'Sides, it would probably be better for the king if that door was busted shut anyway..." Seam chuckled, but Rouxls looked increasingly frantic.
"If his Majesty is not pleasedesteth with my report, he may very well throweth me in the dungeon too!" He despaired.
"Your tea is cooling." Seam pointed out. Rouxls looked abashed and took a bigger sip.
The Duke stared miserably into his cup, "His Majesty holds me to such a high standarde." Remembering himself, Rouxls sat up straight as an arrow and put on a confident face, "One of his most brilliant decisions, aha! As I am clearly the most qualified individual for this positione! . . . left." He took another sip thoughtfully. "Besideseth, I don't even knoweth what puzzles are beyond yonder door..."
"I would think there would be records of such thing..." It was a simple suggestion, but the revelation dawning on Rouxls' face was instant.
"That's it!" Rouxls lit up at the glimmer of hope before him. "I'll pulleth the old puzzle makers' records! Maybe even organizeth them -- they've always been sloppy, thou see." That sounded horrendously dull to Seam, but the Duke seemed to be in a better mood at the thought. "Of course this dilemma was nay match for the Duke of Puzzles!" Rouxls ended with a triumphant fist in the air.
When his crowing received no reaction Rouxls cleared his throat and sipped his tea awkwardly. They drank in silence for a while after that.
"Ah... What kindst of tea is this?" Rouxls broke the silence, swirling the last bit at the bottom of the cup. "The flavore is . . . different."
"Catnip."
Seam smirked as he watched Rouxls' expression fall flat. He took a deep sip, draining his cup and sighing in satisfaction. "... I won't be judged by a man who eats worms."
Rouxls gasped in offense and slammed his cup on the coffee table. He stormed out of the room without even a goodbye.
"Come back any time!" Seam called after him just before he heard a high-pitched buzz and felt a burst of magic. The sensation faded soon after and things returned to normal.