Villainess Of Hearts

A person with a striking red cloak passed through the streets of the bustling town, her destination already in mind and she could see the shop in the distance. The Mad Hatter's Shop. It was a peculiar name indeed. But it suited the man that she knew.

Rosalyn Lockhart stepped into the shop and heard the familiar chimes above her and came across a sight. Or perhaps she shouldn't have been surprised in the first place, it wasn't only Nicholas alone but another known person. Dimitri Nordskov was here. The two of them were lounging on chairs and sharing a meal together—baked pastries in hand. The waft of some kind of bread with piping hot meat inside of it.

It was already lunchtime.

Her presence caught them in surprise.

"Y-Your Majesty?" Nicholas looked up and blinked.

Dimitri tilted his head. "Queen of Hearts?"

Perhaps she shouldn't have come here, but she already was and so she needed to live up to her decision. Rosalyn glanced behind her to see her Knight through the windowpane. He chose to observe from a distance. She soon turned back to them. "I heard that Mister Nicholas here had been ill, I brought something for you." She began to check her basket and pulled out a small potion bottle. 

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Nicholas' brows furrowed together.

He was confused but he didn't reject it, unlike Mallory. He at least knew when to accept her kindness, she strolled up to him at an appropriate distance and handed the bottle. "My… a doctor said it's a little pick-me-up. You must have been exhausted." If she mentioned that it came from a Royal Doctor would show much more bias.

"I didn't think that Her Majesty was this kind to her subjects," Dimitri said.

She glanced at him.

He had already finished his meal and was instead bowing to her, he had risen from his seat and approached her. "Your kindness knows no bounds, Your Majesty. I am surprised."

Rosalyn pursed her lips. She didn't exactly dislike this man, he was a lot more approachable than the King of Clovers and so she shrugged. "This man is my friend, my kindness does have limits, Delegate Dimitri. Otherwise, it would be impossible for me to cater to everyone I wish to help." 

The Queen of Hearts saw no need to lift herself up with false assumptions.

At least she was more concerned in gaining favor with Nicholas than with the Delegate—but that was wrong, wasn't it? As a Queen, she needed to keep her ties with the Clover Kingdom at a good one. She cleared her throat. "Besides, it wouldn't be a good image if Nicholas is unable to produce hats at the proper quality if he was too tired. That would be a shame to the Kingdom of Hearts, wouldn't it?"

"That is also a good point indeed." Dimitri acknowledged with a nod. 

"...well then, I will do my best to resume my work, Your Majesty," Nicholas spoke up. The man dusted his hands on his pants. He smiled. "There's no need to worry about me too much, I do well with my own troubled nights of overworking. I like to think that it helps me create my best creations." 

And yet the smile didn't quite reach his eyes. 

Rosalyn blinked and frowned slightly, did he really think that he could hide his true feelings? But even then, this change was also brought about by her? She needed to concentrate on one thing at a time, "I'm not sure how that works—but I insist that you get some rest."

"It's too early to rest, Your Majesty. And I am working at a deadline."

That was his problem? She should solve it then, She addressed the Delegate. "Does the Kingdom of Clovers have any urgent matters that require you to return back to your lands?" Nicholas' method of thinking about his work's success, she didn't understand it. How could chaos create something wonderful? 

Perhaps the man was truly mad. 

Still, she needed to help him. She continued, "What is the sudden event that requires these many hats? I think it wouldn't be troublesome for the Hearts Kingdoms to transport the goods if it's a non-urgent matter." First were swords and now hats. Sooner or later, she'd expand on tarts and make the Queen of Diamonds drool.

"Hmm… well, I personally don't mind staying a while longer here, Your Majesty." Dimitri rubbed his chin. "It's not a rush, but thank you for the offer. I have faith that your Hatter can finish it within our earlier agreed schedule nevertheless."

"I will, there is no need to reschedule anything!" Nicholas announced, the man already had a hammer in hand and was already checking out the fabric for their next hat. 

The Queen of Hearts sighed inwardly but approached the man's workstation and placed the potion on top of it. "This little bottle says, drink me—you should do it." She had overworked herself before—and will continue to do so in the future, but there truly was time for rest. She placed her basket on his table, "I also happened to brought you something to eat, it's not enough to eat that bread—"

"Pirozhki, Your Majesty," Dimitri said. "It's actually a satiating meal if I do say so myself." 

His presence, while unexpected, was also a bit bothersome from her initial imagination of spending more time with Nicholas. Rosalyn's lips twitched but she relented with a nod and then turned back to the Hatter, "I insist that you eat this while it's still hot."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Nicholas inclined his head. "I won't let you down." 

She didn't exactly like his distant tone right now, his answer didn't make much sense as she was referring to eating than making hats, but she nodded. "It's more for you than it is for me… I have faith in your capabilities." If he was this focused on hats, then so be it then. 

"Even if Her Majesty hasn't actually seen me make a hat?" He looked up and gave her a curious if not doubtful look. Nicholas was more serious now than when he had saved her from those men back then, it spoke volumes of his… immense dedication to this task. 

"I can see all the hats in this shop—and aren't they all yours?"