Villainess Of Hearts

Dimitri Nordskov placed the top hat across his head and looked at himself in the mirror, he was fitting the latest design of Nicholas Hatter. The felt was perfect atop his hair. He pursed his lips and glanced back at the man on his workstation. "I think it looks great, but are you alright? That fall from yesterday—it was nasty. You shouldn't be working so soon and creating masterpieces."

A laugh escaped Nicholas Hatter's lips, the man shaking his head. "Don't worry about me, Sir. I'm fine." The man gave him a smile.

It wasn't assuring, but the former crown prince would take their word for it.

The Kingdom of Clovers had ordered a great amount of hats and for whatever reason, the making of it, the expected output would turn out to be longer than the Gathering of Suits. He was fine with waiting but seeing the Hatter collapse made the Delegate wonder if he had been overworked that much.

Should the Kingdom of Clovers stay for a while longer?

If it weren't for the Hatter's friend coming around yesterday, Dimitri Nordskov wasn't so sure what he'd do with them—but the Hatter also ended up waking up not too long. The guilt that twinged in his chest made the Delegate ensure that the Hatter was truly fine, even if he ended up missing dinner at the castle.

And it was also for his reason in visiting the man again.

But now the Hatter had actually spent his night again in creating this hat? Dimitri Nordskov took off the hat and assessed it—artisans and craftsmen were plentiful in the Hearts Kingdom, they were also available in Clover Kingdom, but the passion… no, the obsession to such an activity was only present in the Kingdom of Hearts.

It was fair to say that the Hatter was truly mad in this aspect.

...perhaps this was something to be admired? Such passion and vitality poured out into their chosen profession, but not only that—for it to be present among most of the people of Hearts. It was a thing to be respected and even envied. DImitri Nordskov did not wish to compare, but if he were to place a person from the Kingdom of Diamonds and Hearts, it was inevitable that the Hearts one was more rigorous and hardworking.

Perhaps it was the frosty weather in the Kingdom of Diamonds that made most of the people there too reluctant to move, if not only to gather the jewels and precious stones stored in their mountains. 

"—Ah, Sir Nordskov." 

The voice of the Hatter finally broke through his reverie. The man looked at them and tilted his head, "What is it?"

"Pardon me for asking it from you," Nicholas Hatter took off his own hat and ran his fingers through it idly, "But has there been any news in regards to the attempted assassination to the Queen of Hearts—"

He raised a finger and shushed them. "We don't talk about that here, it's not that widely spread and I think it's for the best that it remains unknown for most of the people. Once word spreads, can you imagine what effects it'll bring to the Castle?"

The Hatter shut up at once. 

Dimitri Nordksov had almost forgotten that this skilled Hatter of his also happened to be involved in the ongoing case of assassination—a friend of the Queen? It was almost impossible to believe. Dimitri still remembered his first encounter with the Queen of Hearts and she had been distant and aloof.

What did this Hatter do to be her friend?

Her Majesty, Rosalyn Lockhart had declared it in the courtroom and made it known to everyone listening. She had even slapped her own husband, and it was all for this man's sake? Dimitri Nordskov felt incredulity within him. He sighed and looked up at the man, he managed a smile and inwardly sighed. "I had almost forgotten, but you happen to share a friendly relationship with the Queen of Hearts."

"...I happen to be her new friend is all." The Hatter admitted. "But even so, it's not that deep of a friendship, and as I've said, it's quite recent. I think it's because Her Majesty is only amused with my presence."

Dimitri Nordskov raised a brow. "Is that so? I don't know Her Majesty of Hearts too well, but I had heard something else about her. I wouldn't think that she would be the type to be amused by people though, from how much I've noticed before."

"I guess you were right, there truly are numerous gossips and rumors that surround her." Nicholas Hatter picked up his hammer and the materials for a new hat. What kind will they make this time?

But regardless, their answer was avoidance?

"The source I heard this from was from the Prime Minister himself—I don't think that a man like them would take the opportunity to lie about this." Dimitri shrugged. "And even then, he would be risking his position by saying something false about her."

"Sir Nordskov seems interested in the rumors about the Queen of Hearts?"

He shrugged, "Not particularly—but I am interested in knowing how her people think of her. While I am in the Kingdom of Hearts, is it not only fair to be interested in how this kingdom of yours functions? Perhaps I'm simply a little bit too intrusive, my apologies if it appears that way."

The sound of the man's hammer sounded in the hat shop. 

"It's hard to explain the situation of our Kingdom to a stranger is all, especially in regards to the Queen of Hearts." Nicholas raised his head and met his gaze. "Actually, I'm not sure if everyone understands the Queen either, even her own people. But we don't even know ourselves so who are we to judge other people?"

"Ah, quite well-spoken." Dimitri nodded. "It's a little strange that a simple Hatter like you is quite well versed in conversations—I often forget that I'm conversing with a commoner."

"I am a man of many talents, Sir."