Villainess Of Hearts

There wasn't much trouble that would happen—because what happened, already happened. One might say that it was fate conspiring things, or perhaps time moved faster than usual. If one could say that such a thing could happen. 

But it worked in ways that the Queen of Hearts wouldn't be able to understand… she was keenly aware that the King of Hearts was at fault and the two of them had been debating with each other during the night, but then the very next thing she knew was her head was leaning across his shoulders and it was another day.

She didn't even wake up due to her own body, but it was because of someone intruding.

Only the sound of someone gasping was enough to make her blink and rub the back of her neck. Her muscles were aching, but mostly it was around the neck for a good reason. The sight of the servant in front of her with a gawking look in his eyes made her snap. Somebody finally opened the door and this was how he was reacting?

"What's your problem?" she asked. Her eyes narrowed slightly at him and she straightened her back, gazing back at the man with a commanding look.

"G-Good morning, Your Majesty of Hearts!" the man said. "My deepest apologies for disturbing the two of you, Your Majesty!" With a quick bow of his head, the man nearly left his broom as he scampered off and left her in the hallway. 

Beside her was the King of Hearts still dozing off in the land of Nod.

How exactly the two of them managed to sleep while sitting down on a shared couch was beyond her understanding and she stared at the man's sleeping face with some annoyance. Her fingers brushed the air close to his forehead… she wanted to poke his cheek, but that urge was a terrible thought to have. 

The Queen of Hearts pulled herself up to her feet and huffed. Whatever was discussed last night didn't change things—not at all.

She didn't find herself to be someone so easily swayed by a pretty face and a look of relief in his face. 

Although the memory of it was enough to make her want to hang her head in shame, because the man addressed her so casually, she found herself doing the same. Of course the customs and language were different, but she didn't think that she'd also learn new things along the way.

It was almost pitiful that she didn't meet the Time Man while she slept, surely he would have something to say about this. Someone like him should know this and yet he kept the information to himself. Rosalyn Lockhart rubbed the corner of her eyes and sighed. She glanced one last time at the King of Hearts and made her decision.

She left the man then and there.

Alexander Hartsmichdt would be able to handle himself perfectly well, and she didn't want to give him any strange ideas by having him wake up with her beside him. It definitely would send a wrong message and she had no time for it—not at all. The Queen of Hearts stomped her way down the hallway and to her room.

A thought would slip its way to her mind… she hadn't been able to see Gine last night. Now the information that she had gathered was vital, marvelous and life-changing, but that didn't mean that she had an excuse. The Queen of Hearts tackled everything that she could and the words of both the Hatter and even Alexander wasn't enough to change her mind.

If they think that they could do it—well, she'd give them points for effort.

Other than that, everything was the same. Meet Alice, show off all the friends that she had gathered before she beheaded Alice and then live the rest of her days in peace. As to what would happen after the beheading, whether or not the so-called friends would still be by her side… the Queen needed to find a reason to have her beheaded.

There was also the opportunity to have Gine assassinate her and that was cleaner and swifter. She wouldn't be able to fully play out the revenge she had in her mind—but efficiency trumped everything else. Albeit that made the act of friendships useless? Rosalyn Lockhart shook her head, "It's to prevent her from gaining them on her side."

"Your Majesty!"

Rosalyn Lockhart raised her head with a frown and then realized who it was that called her name so loudly this morning… it was Mary Ann. The woman who looked strikingly close to Alice. Yes, that was all that the woman was to the Queen of Hearts. Except for the tarts though.

And yet one could always obtain the tart recipe, couldn't she?

Precise measurements and only the best of ingredients—she'd be able to recreate the tarts she so loved with ease even without the woman in the first place. Said woman would curtsy in front of her, and unlike the first time they had met, the young woman shook and convulsed less in fear.

The Queen of Hearts mumbled something underneath her breath. "Hah, I really have lost my touch…"

"Your Majesty, shall I deliver your breakfast to your office now?" Mary Ann asked and dipped her head low. 

The woman now carried a certain amount of grace and confidence, it wasn't what she was like before… that was because of her, and Rosalyn Lockhart pursed her lips. Was this the same girl that told her to make friends? Had she really listened to this woman before? The Queen of Hearts must have been so desperate before to change her life and listened to someone's advice.

Her life and that of the servant's was too different despite what the King of Hearts… what 'Alex' had tried to tell her. Their standings were too far apart and their own ways to get through life were different. A servant girl needed to make friends to survive and she—

Rosalyn still did think that the advice had somehow worked. Somehow it really did, if she needed to be honest. Her thoughts were much more clearer in the morning than in the afternoon, and the spikes of emotions during her bout with Nicholas Hatter and the King had made her cool down.

Or at least she didn't want to do it now so early in the morning.

"Very well then, Mary Ann please take it to my office."

The woman's face perked up and she nodded, "At once, Your Majesty!" Mary Ann was about to scurry away but then paused one more time and then turned back to the Queen, with a quick curtsy, she said these words. "I am glad that Her Majesty is in a much better mood today, I hope that you find more reasons to smile, Your Majesty!"

And then the young woman finally scampered off, gone was the elegant and graceful girl that had talked with her respectfully. Or rather, that Mary Ann had relaxed enough to act like that and hurry for the Queen's tarts and tea.

Rosalyn Lockhart didn't know if she wanted to smile, laugh, cry or all three. There was nothing of assumption in that girl's tone, and she didn't even bother to talk about her Knight which the Queen of Hearts knew that the girl was aware of it happening. No promptings to speak her heart out and confide in her or anything like that.

It was only a simple wish to find more reasons to be happy.

Maybe there was really something different when talking with men than women? Either way, the Queen of Hearts would look back at the servant disappearing over the hallway before she made her own way to her bedroom. There was no time to sulk or bemoan her situation, she'd get ready for another day.

Each day was a battle on its own.

.

.

.

In the comforts of a bed, a man was still resting in it before he let out a sigh, his gaze was stuck on the window outside and the sun was already beginning to peek out from the clouds. Julius Ginellevé had waited all night for her to arrive and he knew what he said to the Royal Doctor—he didn't want his recovery to be learned by the Queen so soon.

He thought that the old man said that the Queen had stayed at his side all night the other day, but she didn't even visit last night. Was he that easy to forget? He didn't place his troubles into words, but it stuck to his head and repeated itself.

It was torture.

Mental torture.

And he was restless in bed. This wasn't a place for a Knight meant to be used for war and the Queen's desires. He probably should have left since yesterday from the moment he had woken up. The Knight needed to get himself out of this kind of thinking. Didn't he say that he cared about the Queen? He had gotten too insatiable with her attention when this wasn't supposed to be this way.

"I am here for the Queen and not the other way around—that's obvious, Gine." He placed a hand over his face for a moment. "I should relish that she already provided some of her time for me, I shouldn't be too greedy…" Had he honestly thought that he was deserving of that much attention?

Some part of him said yes.

He demanded it.

And yet another part of him argued with that logic. The Queen was for herself alone and she could freely give and take her affections from him away…