Villainess Of Hearts

'The Kingdom of Hearts was said to be built on the foundation of mutual respect between the commoners and nobility: the redemption of a House, passion and determination of a man, the faith of the masses and the image of a King and Queen brought together, and finding the love and commitment with one another.'

Rosalyn Lockhart dragged Alexander Hartsmichdt across the town, tugging him forward. The two of them moved past streets and ignored the glances thrown their way. Her Knight was behind them, she didn't need to look twice, and though she might have wondered where the Delegate of Clovers was now—it didn't matter.

What mattered was bringing the King back to the Castle.

If only to avoid the eyes of the people who'd continue to see them and perhaps decide to have the word shared out. Perhaps it was possible to have simply avoided everything, returned to the Castle the same way that she and her Knight had gone through... but she also wouldn't like to hear of any word of a man in distress in their Kingdom. It was easy enough to have rumors spring up and use it against them, of a King not fit for his role.

For the most part, it almost felt like she was dragging a doll.

Alexander Hartsmichdt simply followed her along, but she never let go of his hand. Who knew what may cross his mind? If he suddenly ran off, that would cause more problems than her simply keeping in contact with him. He wasn't that disgusting that his touch made her retch. Rosalyn glanced behind her once, and saw the man's head was down. Golden hair spilled over and clouded his face, but it never stopped him from looking magnificent and regal.

If that was of any particular importance.

And to some extent it was, appearances were of priority and whether it be a curse or a blessing, he managed to maintain it.

Alexander raised his head once and his blue eyes met hers, questioning and confused. 'What are you doing?' Perhaps that was what came to his mind. She shook her head and continued on forward. She fought the urge to grit her teeth, he was a nuisance, but he never failed to make her head spin. Confounding and conflicting emotions struck her as she finally saw the Castle in the distance.

The two of them would finally return soon.

'In far-flung villages, there would be stories of how the King and Queen fell in love at first sight along with several other woven tales. A rags to riches story, a simple man of the people, who had come from an unnamed place that rose up to the trials and challenges of the Joker. Who then became King and standing equal to those of Nobility who had looked upon the peasants. The Queen who accepted him at once and adored him.

Yes, those were the stories made.

One would never pay attention at all. Two brothers looked at one another and doubted it, but were content to live their lives as is. Someone saw through the cracks of the well-fashioned mirror and desired to shatter it and trample it underneath their feet, but there were those who found that the beauty of it also considered the fault lines in the pottery.'

The truth however, couldn't be any farther from it.

Several Soldiers looked up at the entrance and straightened, "Your Majesty—"

She moved past them without any heed. Had it never crossed their minds to follow after the King? Or perhaps Alexander was stupid enough to order them not to? She would figure it out later, but for now, they entered the Castle grounds and she pulled him along.

He spoke up, "Rosalyn?"

"Not one word from you until we reach your chambers," Rosalyn had never experienced taking care of someone younger than her, but in this hour it felt like she was dealing with a child. She glanced back once again, past the King, to see her Knight who had quietly followed all throughout this ordeal.

What possibly came to his mind?

No. She had no time to think about it. She looked at him and raised her chin and met his gaze, "Gine, look for the Prime Minister—"

"But what about…?" The look he threw at the man was unadulterated disgust—something that would have received a punishment if the King had found it as a slight. But Alexander was only looking at her, and even she doubted that he would do anything even if he saw it—and the Knight protested, "I cannot let you take care of this matter by yourself, Your Majesty."

Rosalyn Lockhart sighed and threw him a look, "Follow your orders."

"Yes, Your Majesty." The Knight had no response to such a command and so he left.

Her gaze returned back to the King, and the man had a solemn look on his face. 

Had his senses finally returned? 

He took a deep breath and scratched the back of his head with his free hand, "Please do not worry about me, Your Majesty—"

"It is not only for your sake that I do this, and I do not wish to have this conversation in the hallway." She still found him oblivious and that was no good sign at all. Had he always been this naive? It reminded her of his friend in a certain way. She did not do this for him alone, he did not deserve that much attention. 

The two of them continued down their way down the hallway until they reached his room. "Please do not get confused, Your Majesty. How you conduct yourself outside is even more valuable than how you conduct yourself here. Everyone has their eyes on you."

Silence was his answer.

'The man who won the Trial was no brave and courageous man who fought with valor, honor and dignity. If anything, he might have survived, and he had the scars to show for it—but there were wounds that continued to remain unhealed and it was through the effort of a begrudging Queen that the Nobility, a familiar crowd to her, were unable to devour and tear the man asunder thanks to her interception.'

She glanced back at him annoyed.

Indeed, the King of Hearts carried himself as if he were trapped in a dark cloud, his thoughts faraway and unable to comprehend the duties that beset him.

She clicked her tongue and pushed open the door, presenting herself the view of his chambers.

The Queen of Hearts didn't think that she would come here again

But it hadn't only happened once, nor twice, it happened multiple times over. She led him into her room, the door shutting behind them. Rosalyn finally let go of his wrist, "Please take a seat… Alexander." She couldn't call him 'Alex', but 'Alexander', she was willing to do if only to have him cooperate.

Two images presented itself to her as she watched him step towards his bed. In between the perfect and gracious smile, the unending patience that he showed to the Queen were points where he would never leave his room, curl up and place a blockage to his door as if stuck in another time.

An event that perhaps had only started making sense to the Queen as of late.

Was it the Card Trial?

She didn't think it would matter, but somehow, it really did seem to affect him. It tested her patience. She had delegated the task of taking care of the King to the Prime Minister, especially the times where the King could not be the 'face' as he was right now. Those were the times where she showed up in events and occasions and presented herself to the Nobles. Rosalyn Lockhart could still put up a disarming smile and lie through her teeth. "His Majesty is ill."

She eyed him right now.

Perhaps that truly was the case.

And yet it had been so long since he... since Alexander Hartsmichdt had an episode. It felt like this was the beginning of a nightmare again. What had prompted him to act out and lash out this time?

She would wish to know and strangle whoever had been the cause.

The Queen of Hearts watched the King plop down his bed and sigh to himself. 

She narrowed her eyes at him, but said nothing. She would have wished to say multiple things but held back from it, and the memory of a naive younger Queen came to mind, that incident... she wished not to think of it, but she hoped that there would be no repetition.

"...My apologies."

She glanced and saw the man's troubled face. She pursed her lips, and averted her gaze, "What had occurred had already occurred, there is no use apologizing for it any longer." Hypocritical words, but it suited the situation now.

"Even so, I should have done better." He said to himself, or perhaps it was meant for her.

It was hard to tell.

But he really should have performed better—and yet there was no point to any of this. All of this wishful thinking did not change anything. He once again accused the Hatter for something that wasn't his doing and attracted the attention in town.

She shouldn't have thought of it.

Rosalyn Lockhart rubbed her face, but that wasn't everything. She glared at him, "I'm upset that you would think that I was foolish enough to accept a drink from someone I had barely met." And yet those were the exact same thoughts of Nicholas, wasn't it? The reason he had refused was the same reason why she wouldn't fully trust.

"....but you favor the man, do you not? And that could make all the difference."