Winter: Halfway to God VI
I opened the door with the big black clover. Inside the tower was the common room and stairs along the wall that spiralled upwards leading to individual rooms. Everything - from the carpet to the walls to the emblem above the fireplace - was marked by the Clover. The circular room was lit by the fire and candles that seemed impossibly bright.

It was empty... nearly. Two girls huddled near the open window. They had either not noticed to my entry or chose to ignore it. I had hoped to escape to my room unnoticed but I carelessly let the door behind me slam audibly. I cringed at the sound. They turned to the door, then to me. Twins, I thought. But when I looked closer, I saw that despite the same pale complexion, the same light circles under eyes that had the same look utter unconcern, their faces did not resemble each other's at all.

"Who are you?" they asked.

"I am Merle." I answered.

"But only Royal Cards are allowed to have names," one whispered to the other.

"Maybe he is a Royal Card," the other one said to the first one.

"You can't replace a Royal Card."

"Maybe he's the first."

"Boy," they said to me in unison, "who have you replaced?"

I remembered that the Prophet had placed me. "Two of Clubs," I said.

"He couldn't have replaced a Royal Card." the first one said, a little triumphant.

"Yes," the other agreed.

They looked at me. "You are not in uniform," they observed, throwing my coat a look that said, That doesn't belong. We looked at each other for a while before they turned back to the window, ignoring me as before.

I took this chance to escape.