Villainess Of Hearts

"Alright, that's enough." 

The Queen of Hearts said at last—giving the Joker a stern look. She could feel a frown tug on her lips. She wished to emphasize the word 'enough' and make sure that he truly kept his mouth shut. But there was no need to repeat it in a small gathering, the man could hear her just fine.

And she was only doing what was necessary.

"What seems to be the problem, Your Majesty?" He asked with a light smile. "What is it that bothers you so with my actions for me to be called out during dinner?"

A cheerful countenance on the Joker's face struck a great contrast to the King of Hearts. She didn't even need to glance left to feel the aura that the man was giving off. Alexander Hartsmichdt was nearly ready to strangle the man to death and there was a need to prevent that from happening. 

It was a tiresome thing to handle.

And yet who else would do this except for her?

The Queen of Hearts did not know that she would have to do this at this hour. And she hoped for the Joker's sake that this was not planned out from the very beginning. She did not have any clue on whoever it was that the two were talking about but it provoked such emotions from Alexander Hartsmichdt.

Almost similar to the King's own concern with the Queen of Clovers perhaps.

But even without meeting this 'Kevin' or 'Levin' she knew the value of that person. At least how important they were to the King that he'd react in such a way. 

Rosalyn Lockhart did not wish for things to complicate any further. 

Especially when the grin on the Joker's face did not seem as kindly as it did when she was younger. It was almost predatory, relishing the spikes in the King of Heart's emotions.

It was weird that she could almost understand his unreasonable actions. Almost close to her own desire to see something else beyond Alexander's stupid smile in the past years. But it did not mean that she would let the Joker's words simply slip by and yet it presented her with a problem...

Would someone like the Joker listen to reason?

She did not listen to reason that much either when she found it too tedious. Rosalyn Lockhart sighed and eyed him sharply, "I understand that your position benefits you significantly and allows you to say whatever you wish without repercussions—but while you remain as a guest of the Castle of Hearts, a visitor of the Heart Kingdom then we expect you to treat its inhabitants with civility. Surely someone of your esteemed position and intelligence understands what I'm trying to say?"

Threats would do nothing but a honey trap might just do it.

Someone like him would fall prey to praises.

He rested his forefinger on his cheek while the rest were tucked underneath his chin. "Is that so? I do not understand what it is that you mean by being uncivil because I was only recounting a fond memory with an old friend. Surely even you who speak of the King's flaws openly without any hint of shame in the presence of us all is a signal that I can do the same." 

She gritted her teeth for that moment.

It hadn't exactly worked—it was as if he had heard nothing and simply continued on with what he had claimed.

The Joker even used her earlier words and actions against her. And that was the reason why she preferred to keep her appearances.

This was troublesome and annoying—but when the King of Hearts was in a state like this, it was up to her to remain calm and smooth over this matter. She glanced at the Prime Minister but found nothing from him to give. Instead the man looked warily between the King and the Joker, would he jump in fright if she slammed her hand on the table? 

A ridiculous thing.

Besides, there was still a difference between him and her. "I can speak with him however I wish, unlike you."

"And what is the reason for that?" He asked. The man raised a brow and gave her a slothful smile. A smile waiting for her to give him a reason.

"That's because…" 

If she had used her position as a Queen to justify it, he could also use the very same reason as the Joker. 

The Queen of Hearts stiffened slightly, an answer in her mind, but she said it, "As a partner to His Majesty of Hearts it is only right that I correct him when I can—it is a matter of helping him understand his flaws. And that is different from you simply reminding him of an awful memory for your amusement."

The Joker tilted his head for a moment but then shrugged, "I suppose that is well-said, although I absolutely mean no offense to His Majesty. Surely you understand that as well, Your Majesty."

"If a snake bites a rat and injects it with venom, does it tell the rat that it did not mean to poison him with its fangs?" She replied with a frown. "I do not think your perception matters in this case, you are not blind."

"I'm alright," A loud sigh escaped the King of Hearts lips, "Please do not talk about me as if I were not in your presence, I can hear everything. It's a little insulting when I can speak for myself." 

Then what did he want her to do?

She pursed her lips and averted her gaze. If that was what he wanted however then she would let him have it—she had already said what she thought mattered. Warning the Joker of any sort of punishment would result in nothing and thus she needed to convince him.

Rosalyn Lockhart thought she had been making progress.

It was disappointing that it had to be cut.

The King of Hearts stood up, "I hope that nobody will take it to heart if I excuse myself early. I am feeling unwell this evening, but please enjoy your dinner." He nodded his head at Mary Ann and the Knight before he proceeded to leave the room.

When the man had finally left the dining hall was the moment that the Joker shook his head, "It's already been years and yet His Majesty still flies off like that? I'm a little apologetic, I'll do it in his stead. But I ask for your patience, even if he's already being unreasonable—"

"Haven't I told you that it's enough."

"Oh, you did indeed." The Joker shrugged and picked up his wine. He glanced to another side and smiled, "Ah, finally eating now, Mary Ann? That's good, how does it taste?"

Rosalyn Lockhart balled her hand into fists. Her attention turned elsewhere now that the situation was more or less resolved. The man had used the very same excuse she had when she wanted to leave the dining hall—it wasn't fair. But he was the first between the two of them to try and escape an important function event in the past… so maybe it really didn't matter.

He didn't need her help.

She should have simply stayed silent. And yet he shouldn't have looked at the gift horse in the mouth. She pursed her lips and tried to continue eating her dinner, and yet the food now somewhat soured itself in her mouth. This was annoying.

Rosalyn Lockhart placed her utensils down—it clattered on the table. She fought back the urge to wince but instead smiled despite her actions. "I shall also be retiring early this evening."

"I thought you were going to eat dessert after dinner, Your Majesty?" The Joker had the nerve to ask her with a smile.

She faked a smile of her own and shook her head. "I'm actually quite full already, if not a little eager to sleep." She then glanced at her Knight who was also rising up from his seat. She made a move to dismiss him with a smile. "I am alright. Gine please enjoy your meal, I will leave this dinner to the Prime Minister's capable hands. Thank you." After one last look and curtsy it was there and then that she left the dining hall.

But as for the reason for it…

The Queen of Hearts did not exactly know it. Perhaps simply talking with the Joker had exhausted her that she wished to rest—yes, that must have been the reason! Although Rosalyn Lockhart had once prided herself in being confrontational about every little matter that spite her... this one was simply draining.

She didn't have to, well she actually had to do it. And that made it all the more troublesome when she hadn't fought for her own sake. For this time she had to defend the King of Hearts while still maintaining her own hypocrisy treatment of him?

She paused in her steps.

Hypocrisy.

Rosalyn Lockhart knew what it meant but she had never thought that there would come a day that it would apply to her. When she despised the man then she showed it—the only reason why she defended him was because she had to. It wasn't exactly being hypocrite, it was an obligation and an unthanked one at that. 

She shook her head and resumed in her walk, "Unbelievable."

And so she made her way across the halls of the Castle and passed through them in silence. There were one or two soldiers doing their patrols but for the most part there was a quiet atmosphere.

"Where might he have even run off to?"

The answer lay right in front of her.