Villainess Of Hearts

Something strange occurred when Mary Ann served tea to her and her brother—Rosalyn Lockhart could have sworn that her older brother stared at Mary Ann far longer than what was appropriate. Her cook bowed and fled the drawing room due to shyness or possibility from the intensity of his looks.

It was enough to make the Queen of Hearts realize one thing.

The Lord of the Lockhart House, Reinhard Lockhart, was still unmarried. And if it weren't for the occurrence in their family a few years back… he would surely be a bachelor that many would vie for—a position in the Lockhart family and immediately the wife of the Head of the House?

There weren't more important roles that one can get than that.

"There seems to be something on your mind, Rosalyn?" he asked. The Lord said after he sipped his tea and gave her a small bow, "I pay compliments to the tea, it is… sweet."

Rosalyn Lockhart's face flushed red, and she waved a hand, "I can have Mary Ann prepare you a fresh batch if the taste is not to your liking." It seemed like the servant had been so diligent enough that she had narrowed down how many teaspoons of sugar were to be included in the teapot that fitted her tastes.

But it was different from others.

Reinhard could have probably drunk bland tea and say it was flavorful, one of the things opposite once again between them.

"Mary Ann, you say?" He raised a brow. "That is the name of your servant?"

She blinked and opened her mouth, "Are you interested in her?"

"Huh?"

It was one of the moments that she caught her brother off guard and it was a sight—she cleared her throat, and determination formed in her chest. "I noticed that the Lord of the Lockhart House has been unmarried for such a long time… it may cause some rumors that the Lord is infertile."

"..."

Did she say too much? The Queen of Hearts peeked at her brother's face and he looked unamused. Yes. It was far too much.

"I do not understand how that is related to my question, and furthermore—I do not think that baseless rumors would affect me." He looked at her, "People are free to say whatever they wish, it is difficult to find a woman that suits the Lockhart name."

Rosalyn Lockhart blinked. "So you weren't asking me… because you were er… nevermind it. Her name is Mary Ann, yes. Does she remind you of someone?"

"I am curious that you know and refer to her by name. It seems that you've taken a liking to her, quite unlike when you chased away the maid servants in our House." 

She could have melted like honey in tea right now, and yet she twisted her lips. The appearance of food truly made it easier for smoother conversations to occur. This was a prevalent evidence and was once again verified. The Queen of Hearts didn't think he would mention anything about their childhood, and yet he just did. Rosalyn Lockhart smiled briefly, "Yes, I know that it may seem like a bad thing… but she is the only one I can tolerate. The others here are frightened of me for varying reasons."

"Your reputation precedes you, even I have heard of the Queen of Hearts that stained her hands in blood and murdered a servant in cold blood." Reinhard picked up a tart and broke it into two. He offered one to her, "But I believe that's just an over exaggeration thing with gossip and rumors, is it not?"

Rosalyn accepted the other half of the tart—and bit into it. "Of course, that's nonsense." She grumbled underneath her breath, and yet somewhat happy all the same. Her reputation was still scary… but perhaps she really wasn't supposed to be pleased at all the fear.

"You have Gine with you to do the beheading, so I deemed it false." he said. "Murdering someone would stain your hands and dress. I doubt you would go as far to that."

The Queen of Hearts could have choked on the tart, but eventually washed it down with a gulp of her tea. She gave him a look and chewed on her lip, "I am not petty enough to kill servants for no reason."

"Of course, you must always have a reason for doing so, if you do it without any heed then you're simply wasting a life."

"Indeed," At the moment she thought she would receive some more peace and solitude for having her brother along came this awkward time. She was always aware that her way of dealing with things was something she had observed from her own family.

Her brother pointing out, however, still made her feel a bit awkward.

Even someone like him understood that life was important, whereas she never batted an eye about it before. Although it mostly came to utility. Her brother was more likely to find more good reasons to keep a person around and have that person accept him, which of course suited more with a King. 

She had been more than taught to work and support him in the shadows.

That was what she did for the current King of Hearts, and she never deemed it wrong or strange. It was how things functioned and bloodshed was truly unavoidable. Even the Joker had spilled a lot to keep the Four Suits Kingdom together and even Hearts Kingdom to not fall into anarchy. Eliminate those who posed a threat.

It was the fact that her family and others that were sacrificed that made her upset.

Perhaps if it was somebody else, she could have batted an eye. But there were more important things, of what was to come in the future, and so she had to focus on those. It was better to be prepared for tomorrow than to get stuck in yesterday's nightmare.

"Are you alright, Rosalyn?"

"Yes."

"There seem to be a lot of things on your mind, but I suppose it is natural because of your role." Reinhard sipped his tea and looked around the room. "Has there been any chance that you and His Majesty have planned for children already?"

The Queen of Hearts' eyes bulged, "What… what has made this question come to you all of a sudden?" This was her retribution for asking him and also mentioning the 'infertility' rumor, wasn't it?

A small smirk might have played on his lips, but it disappeared too quickly for her to confirm it. He opened his mouth to speak, "The previous trouble with the Royal Family prior to your current reign is their loss due to the extinguishing of their bloodline with the unfortunate and tragic accident that beset the castle—and it was what had paved way for the Noble Houses, including that of the Lockhart to fight for the crown."

She had just relayed it to Nicholas Hatter recently… the man coming to mind for a moment. The Queen of Hearts had made him excuse himself with her incessant and outright denial of his perspective. She chewed on her bottom lip, but focused on her brother. "Yes, I understand that it is also the responsibility of the King and Queen to produce heirs."

"And on the chance that I fail to do so, then perhaps your second child may take after the position of the Lord of the Lockhart House."

His words made her look up at him and truly look at the face of her brother. She gave him a look, "What are you saying, Reinhard? Do you have no plans of getting married at all and wish to retire from the position?" Did he want to live his entire life alone and without anybody beside him?

Those words made her body shake slightly.

It wasn't just him who wanted this kind of life—it was present in Gine who had sworn himself to her and refused to leave her side even if it meant that he was to stay alone. The Time Man stuck in his world all by himself and now even this man, her own brother would say such a thing and make a remark about her child succeeding him? She didn't worry about Nicholas… albeit she was going to kill Alice, but at least that man had friends!

She couldn't say the same thing for Gine, Reinhard and the Time Man!

"This is ridiculous… you should get married!" Rosalyn sat up from her seat and slammed her hands on the table. "Is it because you have such high standards for women to fit the Lockhart name and think no one will measure to it? Is it because you wish to leave me alone? It's just the two of us, and yet you wish to..."

Her voice trailed off. 

She shook her head and corrected herself. It wasn't always about her; she needed to stop thinking that it was about her… this was about her brother's situation. Rosalyn Lockhart frowned at him, "Now that you no longer have to be King, consider it is a blessing that you are free from such burdens—I understand that being the Lord of the House is still a tiring responsibility, but there is nobody holding you back anymore."

Reinhard Lockhart blinked and then gazed back at her with an unreadable expression, "Rosalyn…"

"Our parents, I'm sure that in their own ways that they've wanted the best for us and that of the family and thought that to gain the crown was the best possible way that we would be unburdened from that of other Nobility Houses sharing similar terms of power… but I know it may seem demeaning, or even rude of it to say to you—but I think you have a chance for a better life than me, Reinhard. Seize it. You can do whatever you want and possibly even be with someone who makes you happy and not care about anything else. Have a good life."

Have a good life… 

What ironic words to say.

Even for the Time Man himself, really.