Villainess Of Hearts

Rosalyn Lockhart stared at the man that the King of Spades saved and felt an initial attraction—even with a disheveled appearance, the uniqueness of his looks warranted him some attention. 

But it was bitterly sequestered. How could she think of such things like that even at this hour? Beauty was beauty, but a time for seriousness and grieving was in order. She couldn't accept simply being this shallow.

The Queen of Hearts curtsied once again, "Thank you for saving one of my people—I will have it arranged that this man be tended to. But first and foremost is your own arrival, Your Majesty of Spades. I did not expect you could arrive here."

He gave her a grin, "For you, Your Majesty—I'll travel through numerous sunsets, dark skies and arid deserts alone to meet up with you once again. The troubles of giant sandworm monsters, and drinking out from the juice of cacti poses no threat. I have promised, and so I come."

She couldn't believe that she had forgotten, or rather, had this man been this forward before? Rosalyn Lockhart cleared her throat, stifling an amused smile. "Yes, I remember your promise and so have I." She led him with company through the castle's hallways. "I have promised to bring you to the Lockhart House and meet with my brother to acquire swords, and it is why you have come."

A silent nudge into a proper direction.

Perhaps she had underestimated how troublesome it would be if this man directs this much flirtatiousness in the company of others. Not to mention that she had to make it clear about the current climate within the walls of the Castle of Hearts.

And yet, she didn't need to look any further or explain it.

This Nobleman walked with a small company of men in discreet and simple clothing, but she recognized the portly man still. "Lord Jericho Marius, what a fine afternoon it is! Are you out for a walk outside of the garden?"

He stopped dead in his tracks, caught in the act.

"A-Ah, Your Majesty of Hearts! What a lovely afternoon indeed, haha. It is a bit hot and crowded in the castle, and we were actually looking forward to asking permission from the King himself to get a chance for a brisk walk through the gardens and enjoy the breeze. I've actually yet to properly pay respects to the Gazebo of Dreams, or tour the rose garden well-cared of Her Majesty."

In the corner of her vision, the lips of the King of Spades, Alfred Villeuce twitched. He found this amusing then. While he may have been a master in the battlefield, nobody could deny that battles fought in social settings were all the more dramatic.

Rosalyn Lockhart clasped her hands together. "Is that so? That is unnecessary! I can give you permission to leave."

"Really?" Lord Jericho Marius looked at her bewildered. Then he quickly bowed, "It would be an honor—"

"Julius, why don't you escort the Lord Marius and his men around the gardens? Surely, they would enjoy sightseeing the labyrinth." The Queen of Hearts smiled. "Did you know that the hedges are so tall that you can hardly see a man even if he were to stand in there? It's almost like you could disappear into there and never find your way out."

Sweat could have bursted through the man's face, and he wiped his arm. "Haha, it seems like the perfect game of hide and seek then, Your Majesty? Was it by virtue of that maze that both Her Majesty and His Majesty were completely safe during the night of the attack?" 

His words struck a nerve.

If there had been any other people, then someone would have immediately grasped upon it. It was a redirected attack that shifted the blame from the Nobility to her and the King. Why was it so convenient that both the King and Queen were gone last night and only arrived late?

Already, an assistant of the Lord rapidly whispered something into his ear that made the man stand taller and gain more confidence.

Rosalyn Lockhart stifled the urge to bare her teeth, it was unseemly, but through accident or luck—it was easy to fabricate a lie, and spin words to another story. She could already see it: The King and Queen of Hearts ordered men and women to assassinate all of the Noble Houses in one night.

Why else had they been summoned?

It was terribly simple to have a counter. Why were the Nobility the only ones who were getting accused? This was a way to divide them wasn't it? The Queen of Hearts could already imagine all the thoughts that ran through the Lord's mind.

"Perhaps, Your Majesty… I may have to instead return to my room, I'll actually just have a nice and refreshing drink instead." Lord Marius bowed. "The fresh fruits I've presented to Her Majesty would go to waste if they are not used after all. Please excuse us, Her Majesty of Hearts."

Like a slinky fox, the man retraced back their steps and left the castle hallway without missing a beat.

Rosalyn Lockhart ground her teeth, but then let it go. The King of Spades had his hand on her shoulder, his blue eyes glancing down at her. "Your Majesty, it does seem that I've come at an unfortunate time?"

While the slight touches were not exactly unpleasant, it was close to what a friend might have done lightly—she paid much more attention to it than she should. She cleared her throat and looked up, "That is the truth, Your Majesty of Spades. But I will not let it hinder our business."

Yes, this was business.

—-

Some of the people were still trying to gain favor with the King of Hearts, or at least stir the tides for them to get away from this situation unharmed. Alexander Hartsmichdt wanted to smile and say—Finally, you know what it's like to be on the other end of the way how things worked.

To experience it all over again was like a nightmare, induced and forced on his mind again.

He couldn't help but replay the Joker's previous cryptic words. One kingdom shall fall—and so it meant that it was the Hearts Kingdom, and not the Clovers Kingdom. But while he was relieved about his friend's safety, the sting of the words traitor still fixated itself in his mind.

Anathasia—no, Kotori wouldn't endanger him.

The two of them were the only survivors and wouldn't dare fathom harming one another. And he had even talked with King Ivan Nordskov back then, he was friendlier and more approachable than he looked.

So it meant that the attack was from inside of the Castle of Hearts—in the Kingdom rather.

A traitor within one's midst meant it was the Nobility. That was his interpretation of the matter as he let the idle chatter of the Eris Ladies pass him by. He never wanted to be rude, but he was busy figuring out this riddle which was the key to understanding the scenario compared to the Lady what's-her-name to attempt and bat her eyelashes at him.

If her father was a traitor, he was to be killed.

At least that was what he gathered from the Queen's and Joker's suggestion—but it also meant that the Ladies like the one in front of him would also die. Spare the children. They were already young women of age. 

Naturally, they also wished to save their life.

He looked up and finally addressed the Lady, "Did your father ever make plans to defect from the Kingdom of Hearts or steal the crown himself?" Simple, direct and it baffled the Nobility. 

"No… No Sire, never in his entire life, Your Majesty!" the Lady said. Her gaze sharpened on him. "Even if my father failed to bore any sons to take over the House's name, the only thing he could ever want was to allow me or another of my sister's to take the Household name for ourselves without any trouble."

Alexander listened for real this time. Not saying a word.

Encouraged, the young Noble Lady spoke on. "Many have dreamed of taking my hand or my older sister's in marriage, but that is only to unite two Houses. It is something controversial if any of my sisters and I were to do so… for example, if a wedding union was made between House Lorie and Eris, but we wouldn't dare attack the throne! I swear on my breath, Your Majesty!"

It was easy for Alexander to put his faith in a person's immediate words—taken aback by sincerity, and the fire in a person's eyes. However, he had only been betrayed too many times to take a risk. "Is that so?"

The Lady's cheeks heated. "If anything, if there is anything that the Eris House has been seeking—it is for one of us to be taken as a consort of yours, Your Majesty of Hearts. It would secure our position and also give us a more legitimate reason to have one of our bloodline receive a stake for the throne."

And this was…

Alexander now was the one taken aback. The thought made him hesitate, almost like he was a college boy again and trapped by a beautiful lady in his sofa—he focused out of the ultra-specific thought and said, "Er… but it is the Queen's child who is supposed to be the heir—"

"There were rumors about the Queen of Hearts being a barren woman, and that accounts for the reason why she is always hot headed. But it was only through the King's kind heartedness that you did not divorce Her Majesty of Hearts to retain her honor and dignity."

Where exactly did these people get rumors from?!

—-—-

Author's Note: Phew, it's May.. And while I may have wanted to wrap this story last April, because of income issues, I instead took a break and here we are. I'm not sure how many are still reading, because the romance sometimes fizzles out and we're instead thrown into the world's happening, but thank you to those who still stick around! See you guys tomorrow~