Villainess Of Hearts

The Royal Dining Hall was filled with numerous individuals, as befitting that of the Castle of Hearts that once granted audiences with numerous people from around the world. A frontier of its time. Now in its present time was and at the forefront of them all was the King of Hearts who toasted to Nobilities' arrival. It was almost a routine by now, whether it be a small gathering or a large one, there was always someone raising a wine glass or goblet.

One only difference was that of the seating arrangements.

The Lockhart House wasn't one of the largest four Noble Houses, but the Eris sisters were forced aside as the Lord of the Lockhart House took the seat opposite the King's. Some had given disapproving looks, the open secret of the Lockhart House's opposition in the past was also made relevant in the minds of the people, but it couldn't be helped. It was natural that there was some preferential treatment to the fact that the Lord of the Lockhart House was related to the Queen.

Now all the King had did was be pleasant and accommodating to him and everyone else.

Alexander Hartsmichdt did his best to be the person that was reliable and dependable—he truly did, especially when he saw how the Queen of Hearts was doing her best to put on a brave face and a regal demeanor. The Queen was even talking with some of the other Ladies, a smile on her face. But every now and then, she'd glance at her brother.

The Lockhart Lord received some greetings, but they were far and few in between. He mostly ate and sipped his wine, and yet it only made him seem more regal in nature as if detached from everyone else. Only observing.

But it wasn't him that the King cared about, but the Queen's state.

If Rosalyn Lockhart could do it even when she was nervous and pale, then it was only right that he'd do his best to support her. It was lunch and a good number of the Nobility had arrived already. Except for those from the farthest regions of the kingdom and those who perhaps decided to arrive fashionably late, but regardless of that, things were fine. The King of Hearts considered it a success when many of the Nobles complimented the dishes and such.

Pleasantries were exchanged amidst it all.

Even the Lockhart brother seemed capable... now that Alexander thought of it, the man was his brother-in-law, and was also capable of holding conversations. And he had even caught the two Eris sisters' attention which was good for Alex.

He just wanted to be at peace and undisturbed.

Until came the time that it ended, almost the end of lunch, and it was there and then Rosalyn's brother addressed him. "Your Majesty of Hearts, can I ask for a moment of your time?"

He blinked, but then managed a smile. "What is it, Lord Lockhart?"

"I would like to request for a private audience with the Queen of Hearts."

Alexander had been ready for anything—a sudden death match for the throne? Alright. He would be willing to throw away the crown, if it weren't for the fact that it'd upset the hierarchy. But the Lord's question brought him to stupor. "Pardon?"

"Please excuse my straightforward manner, but it has been some time since I've been able to see my sister." the Lord spoke and addressed him politely, he cleared his throat. "That is to say, the Queen of Hearts. That is my primary reason for coming here rather than the meeting that you've invite."

Instead of asking his sister, the man asked the King instead. Which was proper protocol, even if the man sort of made the meeting appear 'useless' or unnecessary, but it was still enough to make him uneasy and look back at the Queen. What a terrible spot to put her in—everybody was listening in and could either take it the wrong or right way depending on the answer.

Alexander thought of one, but before he could say a thing, the Queen already intervened.

"I would be delighted to, Lord Lockhart. We have a lot to catch up on, I will invite you to my waiting room." Rosalyn Lockhart said with a smile, and the Queen of Hearts pulled herself up to her feet. "I am willing to have our conversation now if you do not mind, Lord Lockhart. It has been long overdue."

She said it with a calm expression.

But even Alexander could feel the slight trembling or taps that the Queen had made all throughout lunch, a terrible indicator of a nervous tic. That meant her brother was someone who could make the Queen act out of composure.

Although... that seemed natural, now that he thought about it—but it didn't matter. It also didn't sit well with him that the Queen would be alone with another man, even if it was their own sibling. There was something about the Lord of the Lockhart House that made him wary. He was cold, but polite. And yet, it was also different from the Lord Warth Duke's own personality.

Was this him being intimidated?

Or maybe it was his paranoia once again striking him.

. . .

Julius Ginellevé wanted to be at the Royal Dining Hall—he felt like he needed to be there, but there was always something that prevented him from being where he should be. How could he leave her alone with his brother? The Knight doubted the King's ability to read the atmosphere, and even if he was able to do so... it would amount to nothing if one could do nothing in the face of things.

He had almost been dragged back to reunite with those of the other Lockhart Knights, but the man had narrowly escaped it. And yet only a few of them were recognizable to him, most seemed to be new recruits.

The Lockhart House kept a notable Knight Order.

He ground his teeth and glanced at the door, and the invisible barrier that he couldn't push himself through—a difference of classes. It was what always placed him at odds. It was how he was raised and brought up, solely as a weapon and nothing more than that. The reason why he was at his position now, why the Queen thought of him as someone not worth fighting for and finally...

"So we don't just have cats trying to be with the Queen, but also her most loyalest dog too." the Joker teased him lightly. But their words held weight, almost close to a punch.

And yet he only smiled, "Even the strongest of men would fall down  to their feet in front of Her Majesty. I believe that the term is apt."

"Is that so?" the Joker rubbed his chin, there was a thoughtful look on his face. His impish grin turned into a thoughtful look, "I always saw her as a little girl—sometimes a brat, but ah, I believe that is not the case for you and others."

"Whom are you referring to?" he asked.

There were already people that the Queen attracted—be it the King himself, the Hatter's own looks at time and even the cat person that he had seen. It made things a lot harder for him when his temper was always tested by these people and if there were more...?

.

.

.

Doors swung open before the Knight could speak, and there came out the Queen and her brother. Julius Ginellevé inclined his head and bowed, "Greetings to Her Majesty and Lord Lockhart." Lunch was far from over, but it seemed that the man wished to converse with his sibling?

Or was it the other way around?

He looked at Rosalyn for any indicator but only found a resolved expression. It was what she always did even while they were younger—a younger sister that still felt like she was behind her older brother's shadow.

"Ah, Gine it is good to see you." the Lord greeted him with a small nod of acknowledgement. "You've been taking care of Her Majesty well, thank you." Perhaps those were the words that had the most emotions in them, compared to the words he said while outside of the carriage. But even a small look from the man's eyes made the Knight  think of it as repulsive.

And yet, it was also similar to the Queen's.

The same look that only measured him by his own measurement of worth. The Queen and her brother were more alike even when the two had not seen each other for some time. What would happen once the two were left alone? Even he was not sure.

"You seem to be forgetting to greet someone important—the most important of them all, if you will." the Joker spoke up, allowing the attention to shift from the Knight to him.

Whether that was intentional or not, the Knight didn't care and simply fought off the urge to grab the Queen's hand and take her away.. Be it good or bad, what mattered was letting Rosalyn Lockhart actually catch her breath before all of this.