Villainess Of Hearts

While a person's thoughts could be so far away, disconnected from the present and reality—it did not change the fact that what was to occur in the next hour would bring everyone to the dinner table together. Yes, everyone would be there.

That was an inescapable truth.

Worries and all franticness aside, Rosalyn Lockhart soon ended up heading towards the Royal Dining Room, once again escorted by her Knight. She had made a promise and thus she would arrive there, even if she wasn't looking forward to it...she'd keep her word.

That was all she could do.

Amidst the rejection and the sudden onslaught of a prophecy, Neo Anasthasia also forced herself to head to the same place—ignoring the hums of the Joker beside her. Compared to the King of Hearts, she did not leave at all.

But even so, the prophecy had ended once the man left.

She might have wished to return and search for the King of Clover's side, but the Joker had his way of retaining guests with his presence and word. She would have wanted to learn if there was anything she could do to prevent a catastrophe. Similar to Alex however, her methods of gaining answers from the Joker would all be for nothing. It was a hopeless case, there was no way to return—she paused and realized someone was coming in from the left wing of the Castle.

Neo's eyes widened, "Your Majesty of Hearts!"

And it was for that matter that all four of them met up in the corridors of the Castle of Hearts. Neo's voice was enough to rouse the Joker's attention. Rosswall lifted his gaze and perked up, "Ah, little Queen—"

"It would be a considerate gift if the Joker could stop scaring the King of Hearts." Rosalyn Lockhart frowned and eyed the Joker—barely giving any glance towards the other woman. There was no time to mince words or be more careful—all four of them knew Alexander Hartsmichdt. Rosalyn did not think that he would hide his nature from a close friend, the other Queen might be even more familiar with it.

The other Queen.

Sighing inwardly she nodded at the Queen of Clovers, "Greetings Your Majesty of Clovers—it's a little surprising to meet up during a time like this."

"Is it strange that she's with me?" The Joker included himself in the conversation. He pursed his lips, before glancing over her shoulder—undoubtedly at the Queen of Heart's Knight. "Ah little P—"

"Greetings to the Joker." Julius Ginellevé spoke up from behind the Queen. He inclined his head and held a hand over the hilt of his sword, akin to a formal bow. He then turned to the Queen of Clovers, "Your Majesty, I greet you."

"A-ah… thank you, to you as well, sir Knight?" Neo Anasthasia blinked, a sheepish look on her face. She curtsied in front of the man. 

Rosalyn Lockhart frowned but then looked back at the Joker, she'd much prefer to address him than the other. "It's no use standing around here in the hallway, it's supper time and we cannot let the food grow cold. May I ask that we continue this conversation in the dining hall?"

"Very well then." A chuckle escaped the Joker's lips, "I doubt that it's a conversation meant in good company and food, but let us head there now." He glanced back at the Queen of Clovers and extended a hand, "I'm sure that the little bird is missed by her keeper."

The Queen of Hearts did not miss the narrowed look that the Queen of Clovers did before accepting the Joker's hand. However, she failed to understand the little nickname that the man gave the woman—it was strange, but was it one way to demonstrate that Neo Anasthasia was simply kept caged by Ivan Nordskov?

Albeit not exactly liking the Queen of Clovers that much.

Those mere words were enough to make her ground her teeth—it was enough to make her blood boil. The phrase 'a bird in a gilded cage' was perhaps what the Joker meant, and the idea of a decorated and well-kept woman presented itself to her mind. The Queen of Clover's ditzy, quiet and demure self started to make sense.

Nevertheless, Rosalyn Lockhart continued to walk away.

"Gine, let us go." She called and heard the footsteps of her Knight following right behind her. But she wasn't exactly able to keep the words of the Joker out of her head, even when she entered the Royal Dining Hall and parted ways with her Knight.

She might have found it distasteful that the Queen of Clovers was nothing but a titular namesake awarded to the woman, but even so, it was not her part to intrude on such a thing. It was actually better that it remained this way, if the Clover Kingdom continued to have a weak Queen then it would ensure that the Hearts Kingdom would remain fundamentally better.

At least that was how she saw it.

"Your Majesty of Hearts!" The King and Delegate of Clovers was already present and greeted her. The two of them both stood up in respect, the former nodding and the latter bowing to her.

In the corner of her vision, the Prime Minister was also bowing to her. 

Rosalyn Lockhart smiled at them and inclined her head, "Good evening to the King of Clovers and his Delegate, the Queen of Clovers and the Joker shall join us soon."

"Ah, that is good to hear, you have my thanks, Queen Lockhart." Ivan Nordskov's brows furrowed together as the man took his seat. He tapped his finger on the table, "I have been looking for her for the last couple of hours, so that is where she went." 

"It's probably the Joker and the Queen catching up, Your Majesty." Delegate Dimitri was quick to say and waved a hand at him. He was already doing his best to put the other man who was ill at ease to relax instead.

The King of Clovers sighed but then looked back at her. "What of the King of Hearts? Him and I were supposed to meet together, I also failed to see him for afternoon chess."

"...Is that so, King Nordskov?" Rosalyn Lockhart began to follow suit in terms of address. Should she tell the truth? If she lied, it would be quite easy to invalidate it. But even so, what was she even supposed to say? She shook her head, "I'm afraid that something urgent came up and he was forced to take care of it."

Running out from the Castle to accuse the Hatter?

It was urgent but not important. Hardly important, but that was one way for her to phrase it. She gave the King of Clovers a small bow, "I extend my apologies in his stead, but if the King of Clovers wishes for it—I can have a match with you if one desires it."

"Is that so?" The King raised a brow, perhaps completely puzzled until a smile formed on his face. "I'll consider a match with you then, I have already played with the King of Hearts before. I'll look forward to ours, Your Majesty."

Rosalyn Lockhart took her seat beside the Prime Minister, "Likewise."

It didn't take too long for the Queen of Clovers and the Joker to arrive—the entrance of their arrival was enough to change the atmosphere of the room. "Ah, thank you for waiting for us~" Mister Rosswall stepped into the room and moved with apparent ease. He practically strutted down to his seat.

He was the only one who did not read the room or ignored it as always.

Bold-faced in spite of the straight-out displeasure that formed on the King of Clovers face. Somehow, the entire room's temperature dropped and the already dark skies on the windows somehow darkened even further. A terrible sensation crawled all over the dining room. It was quite thick that she instead paid more attention to Neo Anasthasia walking towards her seat rather than notice the glare that the King gave to the Joker.

It spoke volumes of the relationship.

Did the King of Clovers see the Queen as his property and found the mere interaction enough for him to disregard civility and courtesy?

The tension in the air was comparable to when the King of Spades mentioned replacing the Joker, but this much pressure was palpable to her. It wasn't exactly directed at her, but this instance still made her think of the differences between Kingdoms.

Perhaps it was a matter of self-gratuitous pride but it did not change facts.

The Queen of Hearts was no supportive role to the King—she was someone that moved and changed the Kingdom alongside the King of Hearts. Even more so than him if she were to actually number them. She couldn't help but consider it better than that of the Clover Kingdoms. 

If the Clover Royals kept their Queen like this, untrained and nothing more but a trophy to show off too—then albeit having a King and even the background support of the Nobility, it was still not enough. A King and Queen needed to stay together and present themselves as the pillar of the Kingdom.

She might thought of herself as capable, but even she was not capable of handling all the affairs and management of the Kingdom by herself. If it weren't for that fact, she would have already forsaken the King of Hearts long ago.

It was a little begrudging thing to admit that her reputation was feeble to the King of Heart's beloved one—she needed him.