Villainess Of Hearts

Rosalyn Lockhart stopped at last, a melancholic smile formed on her lips. Was this supposed to make her feel better? All it did was remind her of all the faults and flaws that she had in her life. The Queen of Hearts paused and picked up her teacup, she would take a long sip.

The gaze of Nicholas Hatter was on her, perhaps expecting for something more but she would not budge.

"I think I've already said a lot, and as for its effects. I do not think it has particularly helped me, but thank you for sharing your method." She finally placed her teacup down and then eyed the man. "How are your friends… I haven't seen Harold and Mallory for quite some time. I hope that they are in good health and being."

"Your Majesty—" he began, hesitation visible on his face, until he nodded. A decision possibly coming into play. "They are doing fine, thank you for your thoughts. I will relay it to them if that would please you, Your Majesty."

"What were you supposed to say but it stopped you?"

Nicholas Hatter managed an awkward laugh, "It's nothing of importance—"

"Tell me."

"I would have liked to say that they are your friends too, Your Majesty." he scratched his cheek. "But neither have you actually said that you desire them as friends so it came to my judgement that it was better to shut my mouth."

The Queen of Hearts remembered the time when she had tea with those two people. Nicholas had assured her that Mallory had nothing but good intentions when she had spoken to her—but it was still weighing in her mind. Rosalyn Lockhart managed a smile, "Thank you for your consideration. However, I still doubt if they are interested in me."

"Your Majesty why would they not—"

"I would like you to be completely honest with me, do not say things simply to please me. I'd rather have you be blunt and laugh at my face than to act like a dog wagging its tail and panting after me."

Her words silenced him.

Perhaps she had spoken far too much, even comparing a person to a mere animal, but she hated when people were cloying and ingratiating themselves with her. Or at least there was a certain amount of currying favor she'd accept before she'd find it intolerable and for someone like the Hatter—the level of it that she expected from him was quite low.

She wouldn't mind if a Noble would try to pretend and court favor from her, that was expected.

Even Gine was someone she was used to as someone who would do his best to please her, but for Nicholas Hatter. It didn't fit with her image at all. If there was anything that she had probably changed too much in this time, it would be this man's personality. Possibly because he was the first one that she approached.

There was supposed to be nothing wrong with this. She wanted to steal the hearts of the people who aligned themselves with Alice.

"Harold is frightened of you—terribly frightened that he is against our friendship, Your Majesty. It has made him antsy and as for Mallory, perhaps she shares the same sentiment, but I think she can also understand your position, Your Majesty."

"Are you saying that she understands my position as a Queen?" She raised a brow. "Isn't that a lofty and arrogant thing to say."

"Mallory is often a harsh woman, especially with Harold. But it is only because she wants the best for him, and that is similar to Her Majesty's harshness with ruling over her kingdom. It is a necessity of position."

She managed a laugh, "Ah… is that how you think of me? No, is that how she thinks of me? Is it the same for you?" Tears could have pricked her eyes at this very moment. She wiped the corner of her eyes and chuckled. "I suppose that is present to some extent, but I hope that you recall that I once ordered you to be beheaded. Does that sound like a necessity?"

It was brought on by irritation and apathy towards bloodshed.

"People change, Your Majesty. I do not think you have done anything atrocious like that. Instead you have begun to treat people kindly—your sincerity is felt, Your Majesty. When I was having tea with the two of them, Mallory spoke of wanting to have tea with you."

… was that really the case? The only reason why she was doing all of this was to ensure her own survival. It might be true that she had begun to enjoy his presence to some extent, but it didn't change the fact that this was far from benevolence.

If she mentioned the fact that she had been ousted as a Queen because of him, what would he do? Rosalyn Lockhart stared at him but then nodded. She had no desire to be seen as even madder than this man. "Is that so? I'll look into a schedule for a tea party then. Is there anything I can do to help her with her business? What does Harold even actually do?"

"He helps Mallory in taking care of her dormitory."

"Has he ever wanted to take another job? I'm sure that his cousin, the Prime Minister is in need of assistance. Perhaps the man could take up Harold under his wing for a while and then give him a position?" she said. It was a good offer if she were to be honest. "I understand that Mallory always keeps him around, but that doesn't like a very good thing in the long-run."

Nicholas Hatter picked up a tart and weighed it in his hands, possibly mulling over what she had said and then he shook his head. "I am grateful for such an offer, I must thank him in his stead as he is not present, but I do not wish to have any troubles within your Castle, Your Majesty. To uh, take in Harold, even by his own relative will still be a difficult thing."

The man did not comment on the latter part.

She shrugged, "Very well then—I will not insist, but I still leave the offer open. It is a difficult thing to find people that one can trust, it is better to hire someone I know who dislikes me."

"Your Majesty!"

A smirk crossed on her lips, "Unfortunately for your friend—he lacks a backbone to muster up a fight. Everything will be fine. If what you say is completely accurate, all I need is to smile at him and he would run at the sight of me."

Nicholas then coughed, not exactly debating about it. Perhaps he agreed with her and he instead turned to another topic. "Speaking of which, Your Majesty. I do not see your Knight, have you sent him on an errand of some sort?"

Rosalyn Lockhart's smirk vanished at the mention of Gine. 

The memory was still fresh in her mind. The blood that had clung to her hands and the gaping wound brought on by the man's own sword. It was as if she had seen this scenario occur multiple times over. She managed a smile and shook her head, "No. He is..." Vulnerability, what would such a thing do? It didn't help at all but—"The man was under a critical condition last night after an accident. He is currently resting until this very hour."

Nicholas blinked and stood up in alarm, "Your Majesty, I am glad you are unharmed—but what had happened? Is your life endangered once again?"

She tilted her head at him, "Are you that ruffled? The two of us are safe." The Queen of Hearts scoffed and picked up a tart, "I assure you that there is nothing like that sort anymore. We have the Lord Warth Duke staying here and continuing with the investigation, not to mention that there are guards patrolling everyone. Be at ease."

"... then what had happened, Your Majesty?" He didn't exactly sit back down. It was as if he was ready to move at a moment's notice. Perhaps it was this alertness and readiness that helped him to escape the castle in the past and prove himself as a valuable ally to Alice.

The thought of it now didn't exactly hurt that much when she thought about the condition of her Knight. And even her failure to turn back time to prevent it from happening.

The Queen of Hearts sighed inwardly.

Rosalyn Lockhart stared at him until he coughed and returned to his seat. She held back a shaking of her head and wondered what she would even say to him? This information should have been hidden from the start, but it was only him that she told about this. There was no doubt that the King of Hearts and the entire castle knew of this situation, but none had exactly approached her in regards to it.

… but she had no reason to expect anything from anyone.

Most certainly not from the King either. Albeit, since she hadn't exactly been summoned to meet with the Nobles, perhaps that was his way of showing that he understood the position that she was in. Or perhaps that was a fabrication done by her own mind.

"Your Majesty?"

She raised her head and met the man's gaze, "He had wished to leave this world—and we stopped him from doing so. That is what happened to my devoted Knight. Perhaps the burden was far too much for him to carry, now it's a fault that I carry on my shoulders.. I am no doubt the one most to blame—and yet you tell me that I changed. Funny, isn't it?"