Villainess Of Hearts

"Preposterous!"

"This is—"

"Unbelievable!"

The outrage of the Nobility clamored across the entire royal dining hall and demanded to be quelled. The mere suggestion of the Queen of Hearts was enough to incite them to protest angrily. Servants who had been serving the guests froze in their movements, witnessing the calm dignity of some Nobility turn to behest.

How could the Queen of Hearts assume that one of them had done all of this?

A lot of them had already known and understood that the Queen often made questionable decisions brought forth from emotional swings comparable to a child's—but to point her fingers at such loyal and good men and women?

Is that how she wished to reward their steadfast support to the Kingdom of Hearts and the crown?

Now not everyone was quick to rise from their seats angrily.

Some like the House Hawthorne would take it as a test of the Queen to see who acted out of noble integrity and turned to raucous madness. The loud and angry protests of some Lords and Ladies were undignified and utterly unsightly to them.

While it upset some, they did not rise to their seats and only looked antagonized. The head of the Lorie House turned to their kids to stop them from rising, but still looked anguished.

Others like the House of Marius were firm and thoroughly upset, that while they may have brought tributes and gifts, spoke words full of flowering flattery—the Queen still thought of something like this.

The Joker's gaze flitted around.

A chagrined look was on Lord Reinhard Lockhart's face. The man himself would have done nothing like it—but his sister often acted on impulse.

She could sometimes take ten paces forward in a chessboard, skillfully throwing enemies aside, but also end up having to take seven steps backward to avoid getting the backlash of her bold actions.

Rosalyn Lockhart held up a glass of water and took a delicate sip. She looked behind her and motioned for one of the Knights to get her meal. While the noise was aggravating to her ears, she ignored them like buzzing flies.

Once she was done, she held a hand up.

"Lords and Ladies, if there is nothing to be feared about—then all of you should remain calm. Why are you so upset, Lord Eris?"

The red-faced man glared at the younger woman. "Why certainly! It's not because there is anything to hide, but you fail to take into account how much all of us, especially the Eris House, have contributed to the Kingdom. Are we not allowed to air our displeasure at this treatment?"

"Feel free to do so, but understand that it'd be impossible for any other groups or factions, save for that of the Nobility to have men willing to launch a coordinated attack on the Castle of Hearts—and it is always the Nobility who have much to gain if the crown falls."

"Why, some of us enjoy stability offered during this current reign, thank you very much." Another one said.

The Queen of Hearts shrugged. "And some are discontent—shouldn't that be acknowledged?"

"Is this because the Castle of Hearts cannot conduct a proper investigation?"

"Surely, Your Majesty, it is folly to have someone suddenly throw themselves out as the victim—"

"But you could also point out another House to me in a private meeting."

Rosalyn Lockhart lifted a brow.

"This is a perfect time to air your grievances, is it not? I admit that there is some difficulty lately. Prior to this, I have already been attacked before and Lord Warth Duke had already conducted investigations. Each one of our employees had already been interrogated and inspected, and I hope that the Nobility would also allow the same."

"Nobody is stupid enough to have evidence on them—"

"Yes, nobody is idiotic enough to have them." The Queen of Hearts smiled. "That means there is no trouble in having everything go through an inspection once again and if I may have the pleasure of asking the Joker to conduct them?"

"Oh, I was thinking about a trial." the Joker looked up from his teacup.

The Queen of Hearts nodded. "Please proceed."

A grin simply crossed over the man. It was enough to make men and women shudder as he spoke.

"Have all of them gather tonight and provide an alibi on why it wasn't them who arranged the attacks. Clear evidence, we will not accept any witnesses from your own people and neither will we allow any of you to bribe the Castle servants, nor do I hope anyone would be greedy."

"This happened after dinner and we have already retreated to our chambers! It's impossible—"

"Then all of you are our suspects." the Queen of Hearts finished. She glanced briefly over at the Joker and felt grateful. It was obvious that the Joker simply wished to relieve his days of conducting Card Trials—but who else was the perfect judge and arbiter over this?

"And if none of us are suspects—will you let us all go free after wasting our time here?" Someone in the back complained. "This also happened because of the Castle not prepared for such an infiltration."

Rosalyn Lockhart considered ending them all here. But with numerous Nobility all having their own Knights, soldiers or even just bodyguards and mercenaries… it would truly be a bloodbath. And there was the possibility that she was wrong, and none of them were traitorous.

But that seemed a little impossible right now.

Perhaps when she had gathered information from her Informant, who claimed to arrive here? He had already told her that her life was endangered, and how else would the man know it if not for him gathering intel? She paid him to scour information across the entire Kingdom of Hearts.

It narrowed her options.

"Have you considered the other Kingdoms, Your Majesty?" another one asked. This man sounded more reasonable and had a calming voice—to placate everyone—perhaps. "They came here during the Gathering of Suits and might have been able to study the map of the castle and organize a group."

Now the Queen of Hearts considered it. While she had gone to meet Mary Ann and went here to meet with them, she thought about it. "It would still mean that there's a traitor in the group—any Kingdom must still pass the borders of the Hearts Kingdom, to which many of you hold authority over."

Rosalyn Lockhart eyed the man and then to everyone listening.

"If it means that a large group of dangerous assassins had trespassed into our lands without detection, then someone has switched sides or at the very least is incompetent enough with their position."

Their silent reactions were a yes.

She smiled. "Now isn't that more worrisome? Incompetence. Why, it's better to have the title of Nobility stripped from your House if we consider that as simple failure."

A tense emotion swept across the dining hall and silenced them further.

The idea of a traitor being found amongst them was upsetting, but even more so to have the distinguished title of one's House to be removed. Somehow it was more effective in quieting the people.

It allowed the ideas to get through some thickheaded men and women that the consequences were grave.

A person hesitated.

Maybe one's Noble death was fine?

Were the Queen's words of a swift death really true? Maybe the King of Hearts would make it so. Or at least sentence a less harsh punishment.

The Queen's presence, and current power was an example.

Lockhart House has survived their own treacherous acts because there were still two heirs to the name—which was outstanding when other Houses were wiped away after the fight between the Joker's Trial and the Lockhart House and their allies.

If one could take away all of their ancestors' hard work and achievements and also prevent their future generations from reaping the benefits—it was a nightmare.

Someone had to ask it. "Your Majesty, if by any chance that one discovers that there is a traitor—say, only the head of the family. Will you spare the rest of the family?"

Rosalyn Lockhart frowned. "The family who let the head of the house take part in the atrocious act of going against the kingdom? Spare them. Ridiculous."

"The family who are innocent from the crimes of their superiors—children, Your Majesty."

'If you and your brother were spared—we expect the same treatment.'

The Queen of Hearts gritted her teeth. "Fine—it is better to let the children live, but their Noble title will still be revoked. Let the children survive to understand the foolishness of their parents and ensure that they do not walk the same path."

"But they are innocent!"

Rosalyn Lockhart raised a hand to her forehead. If she gave in and listen to their pleas, then it would be a weak act.

She finally looked up. "I do not think that is something for Nobles who are clear of record should worry about—if you pity the children, then adopt them into your households and teach them to live upright lives. That is fine, isn't it?"

A solution that was still as sharp as thorns.

Now it was only up to them to make the choice. She might have a need to do further investigation, but rattled and shaken people were easier to control. Their movements were to be more manageable, even if anyone would go erratic and throw a dinner plate now.

Much better, actually.

—-—-

Author's Note: Hi, thanks for sticking with this story.. While it's not heavy in romance, and might have turned into a slightly grimmer and political intrigue, rest assured that we'll also return to happier times. Thanks for sticking around, I had to take some rest due to my carpal tunnel… but the show must go on!