Villainess Of Hearts

Julius Ginellevé had already lived his entire life as nothing but her Knight and a servant of the Lockhart House—and becoming someone who fulfilled her intimate desires was a role that he only took quite recently if it was to be compared to all his years of servitude. But it didn't mean that each rejection of his advancement didn't exactly sting whenever she refused him.

Because he had come first.

Before everyone else stepped into her life and changed it into what it was right now, he had always been a part of it. And perhaps, he thought that their relationship ran far deeper than those which simply arrived as of recent times, still, each rejection was chipping down his confidence. He inwardly sighed. Perhaps he should only be grateful for the short-lived passions they shared? 

Rosalyn Lockhart averted her gaze, "I still have to finish writing my letter and I wish for you to check on the one I drafted. You know and have interacted far more with him than I have, Gine."

"As you wish, Your Majesty." He nodded without a fuss.

Her gaze focused behind him, she was looking past his shoulders. Did she perhaps regret asking him to leave the tarts? Or perhaps she wished to talk more with the servant girl? The Queen of Hearts' interests and attention now lay elsewhere, so perhaps he should accept it and sigh in defeat—well, he wished to steal it back.

However, the question that left him empty was how?

The man sought for answers. What was it with a common woman like the servant in the kitchen that made her change her thoughts? What was interesting about a Hatter who worked needlessly on his hats and spent his entire life on his creations save for the occasional tea party? Was the foul-mouthed little woman and her emasculated partner really worth all the effort that she was exerting for them?

He really didn't understand their charms.

Perhaps it was because they were all strange and that piqued her interest and curiosity? No. That wasn't exactly it either. The servant in the kitchen was unremarkable—even when he stared at her earlier, there was nothing special. A little prettier than most servants? But beauty was always a gift in the Kingdom of Hearts—it was difficult to find someone unsightly. 

Did the Queen of Hearts perhaps think of the servant girl as a doll?

The young Rosalyn enjoyed dressing up her toys when she was younger—he often caught her playing make-believe despite the admonishments of her tutors. The Queen cleared her throat. He blinked and looked at her, "What is it, Rosa?"

She eyed him, "You know that we're outside."

"And do you think that the servant actually cares about the conventions? She should be grateful that you're paying attention to her, Your Majesty." It came out in a rush, he didn't even think too hard about it—but that was the reason why he managed to blurt it out. He then prepared himself for the admonishment.

But it never came.

She instead stared at him, "Really?" The woman relented as an afterthought, "Well, I suppose that's true, but unless I give her anything substantial and promote her to a higher position than a cook—I have a feeling that a man's attention will please her more than simply serving me tarts. What do you think, Gine?"

He wrinkled his brow. 

Julius Ginellevé would like to think that growing up together all throughout the years had given him a good grasp on the Queen's thoughts and moods, and that was even before she became a Royal—however, perhaps it was true that a woman's words were often confusing. What did she mean by that? He had to make his own suppositions—wait, did the Queen of Hearts wish to pair off the servant girl to someone? 

He distinctly remembered the Queen offering a noble title to the Hatter… and though the man refused it, it didn't mean that she would not consider giving a similar reward to anyone else. And perhaps, the servant girl was her next choice. No, she said something about a man. So it meant that she was more likely to pair her off with some man? A Noble? Did she wish to play matchmaker? 

"Gine?" She probed.

And he looked at her, a tired smile crossed his lips, "I do not think a man's attention is enough to fully satisfy a woman, Your Majesty."

"Of course not, but even so…" She averted her gaze, a melancholic look on her face. "Having someone as a companion, a partner in life? Isn't life actually lonely if you have no person to share a cup of tea with? Can you imagine a life like that, Gine?"

Seeing that look on her face only made his heart pang—she talked as if she never had someone with her. Surely she was talking about the servant girl and not about herself, right? Or has his presence been nothing—no, he needed to have a little more faith. The time they've spent together, it counted towards something. 

Except it wasn't enough. 

"I would not wish that—" Actually, there were some people he wished to have a life like that. But he didn't dare say it aloud, "—anyone would have to experience such loneliness, but not everyone has the opportunity to meet someone to become the love of their life." He sighed and gave her a sad smile, "Do you remember what you said during your coronation? You told me that it is thoughtless to consider it at all, Your Majesty. Especially people of your rank, Rosalyn. One's duty comes before any of that."

The Queen of Hearts shook her head, "That's enough somber thoughts." A small chuckle escaped her lips and she met his gaze, "I have things that I still need to accomplish today, we have things to do, Gine. Come with me, this is enough dilly-dallying." Rosalyn Lockhart turned away from him and began to walk down the hallways.

He studied her movements for a moment, and then he followed after her. 

He had said too much, hadn't he? 

But even so, he meant every word.. If he didn't respect her and her wish to become a Queen, well, he hadn't considered it all before—but he was willing to do anything to win back her heart.