Villainess Of Hearts

When the Hatter and the Joker returned back to the Kingdom of Hearts—to the world that they originally dwelled in, it was already another day. And whether that was a testimony of the duration of the discussion that had happened whilst in the realm beyond normal perceptions, or simply done out of spite... the two were back.

Unforgiven.

Unforgiven.

Was it even possible that Time would hold such a grudge and be so biased? Even the Joker was mildly surprised and then interested in the 'sudden' development that happened while he hadn't met with the 'Time' personification.

'Either way, a mad man like him would eventually recall it as he had done so before and for someone who once even tried to refute me—but what happens for this particular time? Things are becoming messed up in this loop and she is different now. Keep that in mind.'

The Joker looked positively refreshed as he glanced out the window and grinned, "Ah, another day—how kind."

The Hatter nearly barfed then and there, the traveling from... one dimension to another? Whatever one could call it, it was exhausting and mind-draining. He felt it in every limb of his body and all he wanted to do now was rest in a bed or—the man nearly staggered down at the sudden shove.

"I believe that if you do not wish to be thrown into the cells again for trespassing, you ought to go ahead and be leaving." the Joker smiled at him. The man had his own kind madness, or perhaps just plain sadism.

Nicholas Hatter picked up his top hat and nodded, "I'll do just that—thank you for your attempt to help me."

The Joker glanced out of the window and then pointed outside to a garden? Or rather to the hedges of green shrubs, the labyrinth inside the Castle gardens. "I suggest you take your path there to avoid being seen. There's even a hidden escape route there if you're lucky enough to come across it."

"Well, since that is a suggestion..."

What were his chances of actually finding it? This was as suspicious as the time when the Knight of the Queen dragged him to the forest—at that time he thought he was a goner. It was almost a terrible thing that he encountered these two men.

"Oh, did I say a suggestion? Go there, shoo shoo." the Joker motioned for him to leave out to the available doors that led to the garden. "It's an important and auspicious day today, at least that's what my intuition is telling me so head over there. You see my Hatter, when time moves, so does the world."

And so the Hatter followed the instructions of the Joker.

He'd go through the labyrinth garden, passing through the hedges and avoiding the eyes of the people... which thankfully seemed to be non-existent. It was as if the people had gathered elsewhere. Nicholas Hatter peeked through some bushes and then saw several carriages coming in from the entrance gate of the castle???

The Hatter wasn't anywhere close when he first walked in, and so he said,"What the—" he bit down on his tongue and observed the knights and carriages strolling in and the soldiers allowing them to do so after some inspection.

And among them were one of the most known Noble Houses, the Lockhart House.

Was this the auspicious thing that was being said by the Joker?

He didn't want to call himself as some sort of spy, stalker, or anything else with terrible connotations but instead of heading out of the labyrinth—he found himself rooted in the scene that took over.

. . .

What a greeting it was—when the first four great Noble Houses came, there weren't much of a reception except for the Prime Minister coming over and ushering them to the throne room to be granted an audience with the King of Hearts.

This time around?

It was a different matter entirely when both the Queen and King stepped out of the premises of the Castle to meet with one Lord. And there were other Lords and even Ladies that had arrived on the second day of the gathering (fashionably late) but it was obvious to whom the attention was redirected to.

The Lord of the Lockhart House.

Now that they have finally arrived, one of the Lockhart Knights stepped forward to the door and opened it, allowing the Lord to finally step out of the carriage—and his presence was enough to indeed cause some hush to occur between the Eris sisters who had followed after the King.

It was only natural to say that he was handsome.

His hair was brilliant white that was close to winter's frost and he had blood-red eyes that matched the Queen of Hearts' own. He was garbed in simple but suitable clothing befitting a man of his position. Once he met the gazes of the audience in front of him, the man would give a smooth bow  that coordinated with the other Knights surrounding him.

"This Lord greets the King and Queen of Hearts, the Majesties of the Kingdom."

.

.

.

And he was exactly as to how Rosalyn Lockhart remembered him—albeit it was from years ago. The Queen of Heart tried to form words but they stuck to her throat like thick honey and molasses. There was no hate in his eyes, not really much anything except for the calm and stoic look on his face.

His presence carried a regal aura all on its own, and it was as if even the King of Hearts was possessed. She had to speak up and say something, and so she nodded her head, "Welcome Lord Reinhard Lockhart, we greet your arrival and those who have joined you today. I would like to invite the Lord into the Castle, I will leave the Prime Minister to handle the affairs of facilitating the carriage..."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." he looked her in the eye and bowed.

It was enough to make her suffocate, the treatment seemed cold—but it should have been opposites. The original situation wasn't supposed to be him bowing and treating her as the superior, and yet there was nothing to be done here. Rosalyn Lockhart wished to grab for Julius' hand and seek for comfort, or anyone really... but she simply smiled.

It was going to be a long day.

. . .

When the Lords, Ladies and the King and Queen and all of their men left—at least a vast majority of them had done so, Nicholas Hatter let out the breath that he was holding in. And it made him recall the previous sentiments that once were shared during tea when life was much more dangerous before than it was now.

It was true that there had been beheading in the Queen of Heart's reign.

But there were civil wars during the split between factions. And though their opinions mattered not to most people and it was uncouth to speak of one's privy thoughts at that time, he, Harold and Mallory each held strongly different opinions back then. 

Mallory was quite a staunch traditionalist and was steadfast on the idea that it was the Lockhart House that should have taken the throne. Harold just wanted the war to end because business was bad unless you were a producer of swords and arms… while he, Nicholas had been willing to give either party a try if that might have been actually possible.

Now he wasn't very sure, because the current King of Hearts did seem a lot more nicer than the Queen of Heart's brother. But he had also been riddled with suspicion before, not just suspicion—but legitimate reason to find trouble in trusting the Queen before. And if there was anything that had rung through with the 'Time Man's' words was  that things were different.

He could agree with that.

Nicholas didn't think he'd see the day where he found that the Queen was—

"You're acting pretty shady." a nonchalant voice suddenly said.

The Hatter's eyes widened and he drew back towards the hedges, only catching the look of a naughty cat person's grin right before he caught himself from making any noise and crashing on the ground. The Knights were all busy carrying luggages to notice him and the soldiers' attention were to other incoming carriages—Nicholas made a beeline to the Lockhart carriage for cover and dove under it.

His stomach fell flat on the ground.

Thud.

A cloud of dust emanated around him and he hacked his throat—until he heard a sound. Four steel boots came towards the carriage at the same rhythm that it was almost believable that it came from one four-legged man instead of two people, and then he caught the voice of a female and then some hushed exchanges from the Knights.

"...I really cannot go outside can I, Theodore?" she asked.

"Unfortunately not." one of the male voices replied. Obviously the one named Theodore. Until there was a clang of an armor, and a stepping on the foot.

"What if we came with her, brother?" the second male voice suggested. "Surely we'd be able to keep her safe and there'd be no questions asked at all!"

"We can't do that Thomas." Theodore sighed, "The Lord had requested that we keep you protected and for not one person to see you, Miss. It would trouble the Lord."

"... Now that I think about it, Julius is here and he's a scary man and he'd eat your heart!"

A small huff escaped from the young woman, and Nicholas could almost imagine her pouting. "You're trying to scare me, Thomas!"

"He just bathes in blood then."