Villainess Of Hearts

When Alexander Hartsmichdt realized where he was… he found himself at an odd place and time. The light had overtaken his vision and now he was in another place and it was a bright day. 

It was morning.

So unless he slept walk and end up some place else, there was only one explanation. Magic. This wasn't the town or village near the Castle of Hearts, it was actually far from it and he couldn't recognize a thing. But if there was anything that he was sure about, this wasn't where he was supposed to be.

"What had happened?" Alexander took his crown off and held it in his hands, immediately wary of drawing too much attention. He walked around and kept the frown on his face. If anyone were to take any step closer, he would hit them with a crown—this thing was pure gold and probably packed quite a punch, didn't it?

And yet he suddenly remembered something and looked around. Where were the two? He had chased after a young woman and then left the Queen of Hearts alone. That was stupid of him, and yet he could only hope that the two were safe. How exactly did he come here?

He had no clue.

But surely he'd find his own way back home, right?

Well, at least back to the Castle of Hearts. He had already left earth for a couple of years that it was almost impossible to imagine that he'd get back there. Teleporting to another location in this world seemed possible enough, but not that. Maybe he could ask around for some directions?

The King of Hearts would approach one of the people and ask for directions. He was always good with people and they tended to love him. Now he didn't have to say that he was King, but perhaps they'd recognized him from one look?

He received a laugh in the face.

This was actually a lot harder than it looked. They didn't even care despite how he appeared in his clothes and even when he asked kindly, but they also eyed the thing in his hands that Alexander had to run away and ensure that he wouldn't get robbed.

He needed to find some help.

Anyone would do.

It didn't matter who they were.

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The Lockhart Mansion, Marmoreal Year XXX

It was like any other day; it was nothing special—but it was still able to hold a certain amount of joy for even the smallest and youngest of its residents. She had an entire day for herself unlike anybody else, and so she wished to do something fun. Something exciting that could bring her happiness.

And yet she had already grown bored with staying in one of the largest architecture throughout the entire land, a building, or even a manor that could have even been called a castle. Yes, it was almost like a castle of its own.

Which was only appropriate when one of its residents was the King that everyone was waiting for!

"I'm sneaking out today, and that's final." A girl crossed her arms over her chest and directed her gaze at the taller boy in front of her. "Either you'd go out and pretend like this talk never happened or you accompany and keep me safe. Now what will you choose?" She would either be heard and have her demand granted or she would make a fuss.

Rosalyn Lockhart was absolutely and positively sure that Gine wouldn't like it when she cried. Not only because she was awfully loud… but it was also because he cared.

Gine played and spent time with her, unlike her own brother. Reinhard never had enough time to spend with her and she didn't like it, although her parents told her to accept that it was the case. Her brother was meant to be the King and when that happened… she was to be a Princess!

The thought made her smile giddily.

The slightly older boy sighed and then offered a hand, "Very well then, my Lady. But you will and must be at my side at all times, and the two of us shall not be separated. It is too dangerous for a young girl like you to be left alone in the streets."

She grinned at him and placed her hand in his; she proceeded to give him a squeeze. "I promise, Gine! You don't have to keep worrying about me though, I'm a big girl now!"

"Tell that to me when you learn how to moderate the tarts that Mister Rosswall keeps giving you."

Rosalyn's glare didn't quite reach the taller boy, "They're delicious, you're only jealous because he gives them to me. Don't worry, next time I'll feed you some tarts and then tea, Gine."

"Not pretend, right?"

She huffed, "I am a big girl and can handle hot tea now. Of course, of course."

Thus began the day of little Rosalyn's escapades. But even with her Knight's careful and wary preparations, the careful method put into sneaking a Lady such as herself… there were always things that wouldn't go as planned. And it would so happen that the little, er, big girl would get separated from her Knight in Shining Armor.

Rosalyn Lockhart had her blue cape fitted over herself, and she didn't like the color of it at all. But she promised to wear it since Gine told her it was for her own good… but why did he have to let her go? Maybe it was she who had let it go and failed to find him.

A Lady like her shouldn't be crying.

That was what her tutors and even what her parents expected from her, but she was so close to tears that she walked into one of the alleys where the adults and other nasty children couldn't push her or do her any harm. And it was there that she would come across a particular sight.

It shouldn't have been possible, but there was a gallant Prince waiting for her!

She wasn't blind to notice his attire and the crest of the Royal Harts on him, and he even had a crown on his hand. The Lady rushed into his arms, "My Prince!"

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Alexander nearly staggered backward at the sheer weight of the blue-cloaked short figure that threw herself into his arms. He thought that his arms would break, and yet he managed to catch the two of them and didn't exactly drop into the ground. "Ack," he dropped his crown though. 

"Prince!" she squeaked out.

It was a child. How exactly and why exactly were little kids running around without their parents around to keep them protected? He placed her back on the ground and picked up his crown; he sighed and put it atop his head. There was no use holding it in his hand if there were other people crashing into him.

He had no idea how he ended up here and how he would return, but for now, another thing… or rather another person came with their own set of troubles. Alexander Hartsmichdt kneeled on one knee to see the child and nearly gawked for one moment. "Rosa...Rosalyn?"

A chubby girl beamed at him, "You even know my name! What's your name, Prince?"

Alexander had to plop down onto the ground for a moment and hold his face. What exactly was happening? Did he accidentally make a tear through fabric and time? What was he supposed to do? How did one get back to their time? Was this even the same timeline? He didn't know.

"I said, what's your name?" She demanded and stomped her foot on the ground.

Alexander didn't exactly find the stomps that cute, albeit he almost laughed and stopped the urge to pinch her cheeks. She was definitely a healthy kid, wasn't she? If he only had his camera with him, then he would have taken a picture for a souvenir. But he wasn't even sure if he could get back.

"Are you really just ignoring me? Gine was right, Knights are the best and Princes are just bad," She huffed at him and then turned around.

Before she could walk away, Alexander grabbed the edge of her cloak. "What exactly is a little kid like you doing around this village and running around all by herself? Where's your parents? Brother?" he paused at the silence that emanated from her. It was chilly. Alexander tried again, "Or your Knight?"

A small sniff escaped from her.

"I… I have lost my Knight amongst the crowd, but I thought that finding a Prince would help me find my way back home. Or to your castle?" She turned back to him. Her red eyes were slightly swollen, but she kept her lips stiff. "From which Kingdom do you hail from, Prince? Why are you so far from home? Did you also leave your castle to have fun?"

Fun.

This little rascal went out of her home to have fun… and her Knight, that Gine just went along with it. Alexander wasn't sure whether he was surprised at the Knight's lack of resistance even when the two were kids or how Rosalyn already acted like a little Lady. Either way, it was a good distraction for him.

He cleared his throat and corrected her, "I'm not actually a Prince."

Her eyes widened, "But you have a crown!" The little Rosalyn was quick to protest and motioned to his head. "It's also a really nice crown and all the jewels embedded in it are so pretty."

"Well, I'm actually a King."

"... you already have a Queen?" she frowned at him.

First things first was looking for this girl's Knight, Alexander picked the girl up and sucked in a breath. "Yeah, I have a Queen. She's a little mean, well… little is not enough to describe it. But I think she's got a good heart deep inside." He'd like to think that there was a good reason for everything.

"Is she beautiful?" She pouted at him.

He laughed, "Very."

"Well, I'll be even more beautiful!"