After Deuce drops out of the Glorious Masquerade group, having injured himself saving Idia’s life, Idia wonders if he should have stayed back with Deuce and Rook as he has grown tired of running.
Sebek responds, “You would mock Deuce and Rook’s kindness after they spared you from their fate?!”
Deuce is not impressed by Sebek’s inability to discuss anyone but Malleus, telling Silver and Lilia directly about a problems that Sebek caused in one of their joint classes.
Deuce explains, “as an aspiring honor student, I can’t condone your behavior. Having confidence is fine and all, but you shouldn’t make things harder for others. That’s just being obnoxious.”
At the beginning of Book 7 Deuce thanks Lilia for helping them with the event of Book 2 and, in exchange, Lilia asks him and the other first-year students to “give (Sebek) a little nudge if they happen to notice him ever stuck at some point during their time as students at NRC.
Deuce asks if he doesn’t want them to help Sebek instead and Lilia observes, “If the people here willingly accepted the hands proffered to them, they wouldn’t have been chosen by the Dark Mirror,” and Deuce agrees.
Sebek says that they have joint classes together and Deuce “presents himself well enough,” but Sebek has always suspecting he wasn’t “entirely upstanding,” having “seen him stay after class somewhat frequently.”
Sebek lectures Deuce for the library of empty books in his dream, saying, “If you fancy yourself an honor student, you should read these books and spar with the knowledge gained within.”
Deuce is revealed to have read just one book—a children’s book about the card soldiers who served the Queen of Hearts—which seems to intrigue Sebek: he decides to pick it up after they escape from the dream worlds.
Deuce decides that he is going to read enough to fill the pages of all the books in his dream (Sebek: “I’ll believe it when I see it”), and Silver suggests that Sebek pick out books for Deuce (and Grim) at their reading level.
Initially Sebek responds “Why should I?,” but he then follows with, “Once we’re back in the real world, I want to visit the school library to check out Card Soldier Stories. I suppose I could pick out a suitable book or two for each of you while l’m there. After all, I DO pity all of you and your lack of appreciation for reading!”
Deuce reflects, “maybe Lilia doesn’t need to worry about him TOO much…”
Later in Book 7 they fail to convince Ace that he is in a dream, and Deuce tells Sebek that he was in the wrong for how he went about it, saying, “I’m not taking (Ace’s) side. I’m just saying anyone would get ticked off by how you were talking.”
Twisted Wonderland Reference Note 