In Book 1 Deuce is the only Heartslabyul student to join Ace is standing up against Riddle, even volunteering to join Ace’s duel for position of Housewarden, though he initially intends to fight with his fists rather than magic.
Deuce also insists on staying behind with Ace to fight an overblotted Riddle. He has a voice line of, “The rules at Heartslabyul are very strict, but a lot of them are for our own good…probably.”
Riddle rescues Deuce from Ace and Sebek during Benfest, and soon after he protects Riddle from elimination via an attack from Azul, who says, “You know, most people would choose to save their own skin there. But not you, Deuce—you risked your personal welfare to save Riddle. What a touching display of loyalty for one’s housewarden! Why, it’s enough to move me to tears.”
The next time Deuce protect Riddle from an attack he is eliminated, saying, “As a card soldier, I’m not about to let my dorm boss get eliminated.”
After Azul compares their battle against the firelotuses of Glorious Masquerade to a chess game Deuce says, “Sorry, this whole chess analogy’s going over my head,” and Riddle follows with, “…I’m sorry about Deuce.”
When Riddle volunteers to serve as bait to allow the rest of the group to reach Rollo, Deuce declares, “If my housewarden’s staying, then so am I!,” which Riddle says is “out of the question,” calling out Deuce for falling off his broom during an exam and having the take a remedial test.
Riddle says, “Save your excuses! These brooms are different from the ones at school. They’ll be hard enough to handle as it is. The last thing I need is an inexperienced, easily-distracted flier slowing me down. Your ‘help’ isn’t wanted.” (Idia: “Way to slam a guy trying to help you. Guess that’s why you’re Mr. Zero EQ….”)
Riddle tells Deuce, “I expect you to do honor to Heartslabyul in a place more befitting your talents,” and Deuce concedes, saying, “…Yessir. I was wrong. Sorry for talking back. I’ll make sure to make this right!”
Jamil says, “I’m guessing it’s a Heartslabyul thing. Must be Riddle’s idea of a pep talk,” and Idia comments, “Heartslabyul must be a horror show…”
After Ace invites him to skip school and go to Playfulland, Deuce invites Riddle, saying, “It wouldn’t be right for us to have all the fun and leave our boss out of it…”
Seeing how enraged Riddle has become at the very idea, Deuce decides, “If our housewarden feels that strongly about it, I guess I’d better fall in line…”
Despite being ordered by Riddle to watch over his own tsum Ace starts looking for other students to do the job for him, and Deuce protests, saying, “We were the ones that our housewarden ordered to watch over it,” and threatening to report Ace’s conduct to Riddle.
Deice confronts upperclassmen after hearing them disparage Riddle, telling them, “If you got a beef with the boss–*ahem* If you have an issue with the housewarden’s methods, then issue him an open challenge.”
After leaving Heartslabyul to look for missing hedgehogs Deuce realizes that the dorm’s flamingos have flown off, following them to the school’s courtyard, where he finds Rook. Deuce explains that the flamingos will be needed for an Unbirthday Party, which he describes as “a tradition that Housewarden Rosehearts feels strongly about upholding. It would be a disgrace to the housewarden to let the party be cancelled.”
Rook responds, “The arrow of your loyalty to the Roi des Roses has pierced my heart! You work tirelessly and diligently to ensure that your master’s reputation remains unblemished.,” and volunteers to help him.
Afterwards it is revealed that the upperclassmen who had been complaining about Riddle had been behind the missing animals (“I wanted to see the tears in Rosehearts’ eyes”) and Deuce confronts them again, getting into a physical fight that he wins.
During the Lantern Event Riddle skips lunch so as not to break a rule against eating or drinking in the library. Deuce follows with, “Eating in the library isn’t exactly honor student behavior. I’d better pass too…”
Jack says, “Just ‘cuz Riddle says he doesn’t want any, doesn’t mean you gotta follow his lead. It’s up to each of us whether or not we eat, but I don’t want anyone making our jobs harder ‘cuz they’re too hungry to act,” and Deuce retorts, Don’t be rude to Housewarden Riddle.”
At the conclusion of the event Riddle cuts his own hair with magic, surprising Jack, who says, “Even I can tell that straight cut looks wrong on you!”
Deuce says, “We’d better scrounge up some scissors before we get back to the dorm. I’ll clean it up for you. I can’t let my boss be seen looking improper. I gotta uphold our dorm’s rep!” (Riddle: “Is it that bad?!”)
When Riddle runs into Deuce in the library he apologies and Deuce apologies right back, commenting on how Riddle seems to have “at least twenty grimoires here, and every one looks denser than the last…”
Riddle explains that he is compiling a study guide for Cater (“It’s my duty as housewarden to resolve the woes of those living under my supervision”) and Deuce responds, “W-wow, Housewarden Rosehearts. I really respect that. The best I can do is literal heavy lifting, but allow me to carry your books to the desk!”
Deuce has a voiceline of, “A real honor student would be able to devour books like Housewarden Rosehearts. I wish I could do that!,” and, “The sheer intensity Housewarden Rosehearts possesses when he loses his temper is wild. Only extraordinary people like that can be housewardens.”
When Deuce comes close to arguing with Ace over Halloween costume suggests, Riddle defuses the conversation with, “Ahem.”
When Riddle announces that he will be comporting himself accordingly at the school social of Glorious Masquerade as a NRC representative, Deuce follows with, “Yup, that’s our housewarden… And I’ll do my part to act like an upstanding honor student, boss!”
When Grim comments “That guy…has some serious issues” about Riddle early on in Book 1, Deuce responds, “Hey, don’t disrespect him!,” and when the Chenya of Riddle’s dream suggests that they let him stay asleep Deuce refuses, saying, “Our housewarden’s always fought at the forefront, even when the rest of us were shaking!”
When Trey worries over Riddle being alone in an abyss Sebek says, “You know Riddle. Your help would only be a hindrance to him. He’ll defeat the darkness and find a way to return on his own!” Deuce responds, “Not sure how I feel about someone from another dorm saying it first, but…l agree. Our boss could easily crush some darkness creature or two… He could even crush a hundred of’em!”
After it is revealed that Riddle is with Idia, Ace says, “Housewarden Riddle strikes me as not the best at digital stuff. Is he gonna be of any use to Idia here?,” and Deuce retorts, “Don’t insult our housewarden! Uh… There’s gotta be something he can do! Like cheering or blasting horns the way spelldrive fans do!”
As Heartslabyul battles their way through Malleus’ army of darkness, Azul observes, “I can’t help but note that Deuce was the only one that didn’t object to Riddle’s orders…” Jade follows with, “He might just be a promising card soldier yet.”
When Ace asks why Riddle’s hair is longer than everyone else’s during the Lantern Event Deuce says, “Impressed with Housewarden Riddle? You should be.” Ace responds, “Why are you bragging about it?”
When Riddle trips in the library, Deuce catches him.
Deuce tells Sebek about a time when a Heartslabyul student broke multiple rules, but when he was brought before Riddle he ran away. Deuce said, “I chased after him and caught him pretty quick,” and, “After Housewarden Riddle finished dressing down the rulebreaker, he complimented me! Quote: ‘You showed fine judgment in both swiftly apprehending the rulebreaker and enabling the other students to carry out their duty.’”
Riddle also compliments Deuce on looking “positively gallant” during Glorious Masquerade, saying, “You could be a knight who stepped straight out of a historic painting. You look quite nice.” Deuce responds, “Honestly, I feel pretty out of place in this getup, but hearing you say that makes me feel a lot more comfortable.”
Riddle praises Deuce again that night, saying, “You showed courage in rescuing Idia, and made a quick, crucial decision to trust Azul with your most valuable spell. You’ve performed admirably. I must hold a tea party in your honor once we get back.”
Riddle describes the VDC group’s performance in Book 5 as “splendid” and says, “It did Night Raven College justice. Our dorm’s problem pair has carried out their duty. I’ll make them some tea once they return to the dorm. It’s the least I can do.”
Towards the end of Book 7 Riddle praises Deuce for the attack that woke him from his dream world, but also tells him not to overestimate his own endurance.
During the battle against Malleus’ darkness army Riddle tells Deuce, “Your snap judgment helped us greatly,” and he also praises Deuce during the Lantern event for his ability to braid hair, saying, “I have an exceptional card soldier.” (Deuce: “It wasn’t anything that hard… But I’m honored by the compliment, Housewarden!”)
During Malleus’ platinum jacket vignette, Riddle escapes a lecture on gargoyles by saying he has a question for Riddle.
During the White Rabbit Event Deuce struggles with what to get as souvenirs, saying, “Hard to think of something that Riddle and Trey don’t already have.” He ultimately settles on frosted cookies.
After Riddle experiences surfing for the first time he says, “I should invite the rest of Heartslabyul to the beach once we return. I bet Cater and Deuce would especially enjoy it.”
Riddle has a voiceline of, “Deuce is a serious and exemplary student, but I do wish he’d be more prudent.”
Riddle disapproves of Deuce and Kalim falling asleep during the Lantern Event when they were meant to be reading, and Ortho says he has “often seen Riddle tutoring (Deuce) in the library.”
Riddle has a voice line of, “Deuce is struggling to find reference books. I may have to send for the ones I used at home…” and in a vignette Riddle does provide Deuce with what seems to be his own, personal math reference book, which Riddle also reviews with him.
Deuce thanks Riddle for making his math homework easier to understand, and reflects, “Housewarden Rosehearts is intimidating, but he’s honestly an incredible guy. I’m sure that back when I was skipping school and getting into trouble, Housewarden Rosehearts was studying diligently. I’m going to devote myself to my coursework, and one day, I’ll be an honors student just like Riddle!”
In another vignette we see Deuce reading Riddle’s reference book even as he paints roses, saying, “I was just starting to have fun with math now that it makes sense to me.”
Riddle offers to help Deuce with an assignment during the Lantern Event, and when Deuce says he has forgotten the process for checking out books because he uses the library so rarely Riddle responds, “I’ll ensure you know ALL about it by the time I’m done tutoring you. Be ready.”
The dream-Riddle of Riddle’s dream still insists on enforcing rules, though the rules have changed from “No fighting on campus” to “If something is non-negotiable for both sides, fighting is the only resolution.”
Deuce identifies a version of Ace made of darkness pretending to be the real Ace when he says that Leona is “way, WAY smarter and more levelheaded than (Riddle) is,” and could easily beat Riddle in a fight.
Deuce responds, “If you talk trash about Housewarden Riddle one more time, you and l are gonna have a problem,” and, “Emergency or not, the Ace I know would never tell another housewarden he could ‘easily’ beat ours in a fight.”
Deuce explains, “Ace likes to complain about Housewarden Riddle, and he definitely has a cheeky attitude. But after losing so hard in a straight fight, he definitely respected our housewarden’s strength.”
When Leona says, “So you don’t think I could actually win against that redheaded rich boy,” Deuce replies, “It’s true that you’re levelheaded, and smart, and strong. It’s just…our boss is just as good!”
Leona says, “Would you look at that? He’s got a decent dog in his kennel.” (Deuce: “Housewarden Riddle has a dog?”)
Riddle does not attend school in his dream of Book 7, saying that he hates school and studying, “School is so boring and stifling. Going there is such a waste of time!”
Deuce yells back, “THAT’S NOT TRUE!,” and talks about how he used to hate school and studying as well, until he enrolled at NRC where Riddle (in reality) tutors him: “Thanks to our housewarden tutoring me, l’ve started slowly getting a handle on the material. Now I enjoy school, and I’ve come to believe studying is really worthwhile.”
Riddle in his dream says, “I’m sure your housewarden is as joyless and unpleasant as they come” and Deuce tries to interject. Ace tells him “Let it go” but Deuce responds, “But that’s not right! Even if this is a dream, it’s like he’s invalidating himself…!”
Riddle is ultimately awoken from his dream by a strike from Deuce’s unique magic. When he starts being dragged into an abyss Riddle orders Deuce and Ace away but they refuse to leave him, with Riddle needing to order Trey and Cater to drag them away, similar to when he ordered Trey and Cater to eject Ace and Deuce from Heartsalbyul in Book 1.
During the battle against Malleus Deuce declares, “I don’t know what’s up with this darkness army, but… I’ll take point and clear a path for my boss!”
Riddle argues that “it only makes sense for the housewarden to lead the way,” but Deuce says, “It’s better if you and the upperclassmen are at full strength when you fight the head of the posse. Besides, my unique magic gets stronger the more damage I take. I’ll live up to my name as the First Spear of Spades!”
Twisted Wonderland Reference Note 