Villainess Of Hearts

The King stalked in the throne room, unable to sit still and with the presence of the remaining people around him. They numbered around a hundred or so people, from the loftiest Lords to the humblest handmaiden that worked in the castle. 

It was a cruel joke to put him in this stupid situation again—putting people in a room together and trying to figure out who conspired against the Kingdom of Hearts and the King and Queen?

Madness.

Just plain madness.

He could see it in their eyes, the way the people doubted him at this very hour. A small group of twenty assassins had been initially sent to deal with the Queen, but now its number had risen to how much? 

The information in his hands was not enough. 

Simply getting here had made him anxious. Alexander had to lead Alice through corpses that littered into the hallways before the young woman ran into the arms of Rosalyn's brother.

Who would have thought of such a thing?

Behind him was the Queen of Hearts, sitting in her throne with the Knight of hers standing beside her constantly. Her arms were wrapped protectively around herself, and though it stricken him with pain—he had to focus on all the people around him.

"Order!" his own voice couldn't cut through the nervous chatter and anxious conversation between the people. 

The sharp clang of a sword hitting against metal sounded behind him.

Julius Ginellevé gave him a small nod, as if showing some respect before he addressed the crowd. Alexander Hartsmichdt took in a deep breath and then looked at all the people around them, he tried to give each one a solid look and embedded their faces in his brain. "I am both upset and relieved to see all of you here—it means that we are safe… for now."

He clapped his hands loudly before the people could break off into dialogue.

"This incident is unfortunate, but as people of the Nobility and those who serve the Castle, and more importantly as people of the Kingdom of Hearts now is the time to put our courage and steel ourselves to be up to the test. We are trying to uncover the person or group of people who has tried to turn this gathering into a massacre."

Alexander tried to convey the words he spoke to them, ferventness in his own voice—

"Who is the one at fault? Is it really someone in this crowd—"

Whoever had spoken up at this moment made his head hurt. Somehow he could feel and understand the compulsion of the Queen of Hearts to have heads rolling if some of these people were just like this. 

He raised a hand and studied the faces of the men and women, almost all of them met his eyes, mostly the Nobility while the commoners and workers avoided his gaze.

Most of them were stressed out, annoyed or even just plain aloof—

How dare do some of these people not care? Could he really just call out names… Alexander did. "Lady Hawthorne, could you perhaps spare us a few words about what had happened during this night? It seems like your company has been quite safe, to which something perhaps others could learn from."

The Lady of the House raised her brows and crossed her arms over her chest. "I am a person of the night—I do not fall asleep easily, even with heavy drinking during our meals. It is due to my inability to rest that my men and I were able to apprehend those who attempted to assassinate me."

Alexander would be forced to ask the other Nobility, each one wanting to out-do the other in telling their tales of outwitting their assassin through their own cunning or the superiority of their men compared to that of the others.

But he would quickly remember something else. The Joker's words hung in the back of his mind like a silent omen of what had come to pass and what else would happen.

'A traitor within your midst,

Place your highest bids,

Make a move, do not stall,

A kingdom shall rise or fall.'

Rosalyn Lockhart was getting sick of it.

All of these things surrounding her—the fact that she had to sit in front of all of these people and pretend to care about how their lives were also at stake? It was difficult. She could still feel the warmth of Mallory's blood in her hands and the abrupt end to her life. Like a butterfly, she was quickly cut off with a snap of her wings.

Her shoulders shook in that moment.

If she had known—she would have placed people in Mallory's house and even the Hatter's. It should have made sense that they would target people she became close with to get to her… but Rosalyn Lockhart had been so used to being alone it never crossed her mind. 

Her hand reached out to her Knight's arm, uncaring of the events playing in her background as she whispered.

"Gine, please spare some of your men and have them head to Mallory's house and that of the Hatter's—make sure that they're alright."

"Your Majesty…"

She smiled bitterly at him.

"Your desire shall be fulfilled."

Even amidst this situation, he could not refuse her. And so discreetly as he could, without trying to gain the attention of any glancing Nobility, the Knight would order a small number of soldiers to leave the Castle just for the Queen's request.

Rosalyn Lockhart held her hands together and squeezed her eyes shut. She should focus on the incident happening beforehand, and yet all she could think back on was the fleeting happiness she experienced in another world.

The wonders of television, of towering buildings and the safe and kind people she met, of a young man who saw the good and beauty inside of her even when she doubted it herself—her gaze settled on the back of the King of Hearts.

What did he think of her now?

He will not remember what happened back then. He did not even identify Alice as his sibling yet and was simply focused on the crowd. 

If he had any moment to spare for her, then he would look at her in distrust.

And perhaps the monster she was always meant to be? Alice's presence near him was gone, which was a strange thing. However it was a fleeting notion. Her mind returned to the garden and at the incident. She would have to lie to Nicholas and Harold about the incident of Mallory… or not speak the full truth. 

Rosalyn's heart pounded.

Why did she have to lie?

Imagining the look of disappointment and fear in Nicholas' face was enough to make her heart quiver. What would she say? How could she even find the courage to face the man after this?

There were so many things now weighing on her mind, but only so much she could do to stop this.

This wasn't all of her fault—!

And yet how would she prove such a thing?

Mallory had that certain distant look in her eyes when she attacked. And so it spoke of certain things. Someone who was good with medicines and potions enabled the sudden change in Mallory's actions before her death. Doctor Griphon was also gone.

Possibly to prevent someone from uncovering this, didn't they?

Her blood ran cold.

This was an inside job wasn't it?

Someone who knew about her friendship with Mallory. Had a great knowledge about the effects of certain substances to change the woman's attitude and rid of her free will. 

Even before she knew it, Rosalyn Lockhart was already narrowing it down in her mind. She gazed at Gine. "Has Doctor Griphon ever taken any sort of apprentice? I need records."

"Doctor Griphon's…?"

It was the first time that she'd see a touch of pain flicker in Gine's eyes about something not concerning her. Were the two of them close? Did he feel indebted to the old doctor that saved his life from before?

"Yes. I can understand from your reaction that he is dead like Mallory," she said. "But there is nothing that we can do for them now except figure out who did this. Please inspect everything, even his body if possible for any clues."

It was a callous thing to say, but she couldn't back down now.

"Of course."

There came the gut feeling she would need to have someone inspect Mallory as well. The choice of weapon and anyone caught in this incident were important—until she heard a cry in the room.

And the sight of a pitiful looking Catherine Duke came to the forefront of Rosalyn's view. 

"What do you mean—isn't there anyone here who could treat my husband?" She was looking around the throne room with a pleaful expression. Her eyes met everyone. "I am sure that someone here at least knows anything? Something to help him. My husband is still hanging on to life."

"Where is Lord Warth Duke now?" The King of Hearts, Alexander asked. 

"In our quarters with our men—"

"I will visit him."

Rosalyn Lockhart stared at the man at last. What did he think he was going to do? Did he know anything? Now really wasn't the time to be going elsewhere! The question of who was at fault for this incident was still out in the open. And yet he looked determined. 

It was the face of someone who would weather through this storm.

—-—-

Author's Note: Not sure if anyone is here after my absence, but thank you for the patience and awaiting this story's return. I will give a better privilege offer this May 2021 to make it more affordable despite the slowered update times.. Carpal tunnel is painful, but working and livelihood is a must.