Villainess Of Hearts

There was a certain amount of time where distance was appropriate, even needed—one should ensure that they're not bothering an individual over and over again. She was sure that the person would soon grow to hate someone pushing herself on them. If Rosalyn Lockhart could see Catherine Duke every few months then her patience would run far longer than if the Lady would visit her every week for tea.

She might even enjoy the woman's presence every now and then.

That was how the world worked.

This applied in every relationship from friends, families and even in marriage. The Queen was sure that although there might be happy times where one couldn't help but wish to have one's partner at your side at all times there would also be an opposite feeling to that. A point where seeing the person's face would make her sick. There was a need for distance. "Yes, absence makes the heart grow fonder?" The Queen of Hearts said it to herself.

"Pardon?"

She blinked and looked up, seeing Mary Ann sitting across her. She had almost forgotten that she invited the servant to have tea and tarts with her. And though it may have been initially a precaution… it didn't exactly hurt to see to see the woman more often than not

Even if her face was a sickening reflection to Alice.

Well, it wasn't an exact copy.

She waved a hand at her and managed a tight smile, "I have recalled a saying I had heard from someone before." It might have been the Joker. "Do you not agree that by allowing one to be away from a person for a certain duration would allow them to start missing you? That is one way to grow their fondness and longing for you."

Now that she thought of it ...it probably wouldn't have applied to her Knight that well, he always missed her. But certainly, for normal people—it would work, wouldn't it?

"Ah, if I may be allowed to speak my mind, Y-Your Majesty?"

"You're already speaking, Mary Ann." Rosalyn Lockhart sighed and shoved a tart into her mouth. Of course this woman would have her own input, but this was something that she needed to listen to—she needed to understand how an average person's mind saw things.

The woman ducked her head, "My apologies, Your Majesty. What the Queen of Hearts said is certainly true and it possibly works, but as for me, I would like to think that if I sincerely visit someone and genuinely am happy in their presence and they share the same feelings as I do—surely it wouldn't matter if we see each other every day." Mary Ann raised her head and smiled brightly. "Each day would feel like a new one to have new memories with your loved one."

Rosalyn Lockhart pursed her lips.

She pondered about the woman's words. 'Would this be something that Alice would say? It sounds like something she would say.' The Queen of Hearts leaned down and studied Mary Ann's face. It wouldn't have made much sense to remember how exactly your enemy looked like—but Rosalyn had it memorized down to the shade.

Her memory in regards to this specific fact was immaculate.

The servant in front of her had the golden-spun sheen that was similar to Alice's locks—she would confirm that. And yet the woman's eyes were a shade of bright blue that resembled an ocean turquoise and not the royal and lush blue of sapphires gems. Alice had straight hair while Mary Ann's was slightly wavy. Yes, there were differences between them.

Somewhat minute details but at first glance she would have been fooled.

Absolutely fooled to see her.

It was still a surprise that the woman was alive at this time, but then the servant girl could make absolutely delicious tarts. Mouth-watering tarts. It would be a shame to lose a skilled chef in exchange for her practicing about beheading Alice.

"F-Forgive me for speaking too much, Your Majesty!" Mary Ann squeaked and bowed once again, her knees almost knocking back against the leg of their table. The table in between them shook along with the platter of tarts and pot of tea.

And yet if one were to look closely, the color of the girl's cheeks were a bright red.

Embarrassment?

Well, it was a natural response to have and yet the Queen of Hearts shook her head. "No. There is no need to apologize for what you said. All of us are free to have our own way of perceiving things." Similar to how the Queen's role was more complicated than a servant's—it also applied to this. It showed that even their method of keeping relationships were different. She required much more structure and rules to abide in than the servant.

Mary Ann could have probably gotten away with how she would approach a simple man and ask for attention every single day—but she was no... tart! She would not lower herself to something like visiting a man everyday because she wanted to. "I have more need for tact." The Queen of Hearts picked up her teacup and took a sip, observing the woman silently nod.

Possibly mulling it over since the influence was certainly not one-sided.

Although that didn't mean that Rosaln Lochart would simply look and pay attention to every word that Mary Ann would say—her earlier advice about friendships might have been outstanding, but there was no guarantee that it would be the same this time around. Someone like Nicholas would be resting and completely exhausted after working so hard making the hats and she wished not to interact with him during a time like that.

. . .

In a small but comfortable room, three people were gathered together at their own table. A celebration happening at the very moment. "You're rich!" Harold cheered and lifted an empty teacup! "Cheers to that!"

Nicholas Hatter laughed and clinked his own teacup at the man, watching the fragile porcelain shatter at contact. It only left the handle in his hand and yet he laughed, "Indeed! Pour us some tea, Mallory! Let us drink and be merry!"

"Even while it's hot?" The woman asked dryly.

"Yes, yes! That sounds like a marvelous thing!' Harold agreed, picking up another teacup. They had multiple teacups and saucers because of how much they broke.

Mallory was at one side of the table, the three of them forming a triangle. 

She was observing the two idiots make themselves look like even more fools as they celebrated the Hatter's finished project. She was often the one who was more business oriented and accomplished than the two, but this time around, Nicholas finished the Delegate of Clovers' order for what might have been a hundred hats or more.

Her friend was filthy rich.

She had accounted for each coin paid to the man. And it was an enormous sum, the Delegate was surely happy but so was her friend.

Nicholas Hatter had decided to celebrate the momentous event at their place.

She was the one watching the two laugh and pretend that they were drinking tea while she kept the pot away from either of them. It was freshly-brewed jasmine tea. If Mallory were to assent to their request, the two men might be stupid enough to scald their tongues and actually drink while it was burning hot.

Stupid enough to use chipped teacups and wound their lips and she could not flick her wrist and fix it for them.

And yet she was happy to see them like this.

...It was almost enough for her to forget. She shut her eyes for a moment and tried to wash away the incident from her mind. It had already passed but the piper would soon come and collect—

"Are you alright, Mallory?"

Mallory eyes snapped up. She caught the kind look that Nicholas gave her and felt grateful for it. She really was... but it only made her feel bad about this. The woman managed a weak smile and waved a hand, "I've grown a bit weary of ye two idiots. It can't be helped that I'm the only sane man here."

"The only woman here?" Harold pointed out with a tilt of his head.

She felt her lips twitch, because she had expected that the man would say something along those lines. Mallory shrugged and crossed her arms, "It wasn't so bad when the Queen of Hearts was here—at least the two of ye weren't playing pretend tea parties. There ain't even any tea or biscuits in the plate yet."

"T-The Queen of Hearts?" Harold shuddered. The man straightened up immediately and gave her a look, a nervous smile on his face. "Are you serious M-Mallory? I didn't mind seeing cousin Blyke but the Queen—"

"What about her?" Mallory snapped. "She ain't gonna eat ye alive, Harold!"

"W-Well, because I haven't given her any reason yet!" Harold answered back with a shake. The man placed his teacup down and shuddered again, he reached for the pot and poured himself a drink. "I know that the two of you might like her, but it's not easy for me to forget what she has done. If Nicholas here had been any second slower in the past then he might have lost his head and we would have lost a friend."

Mallory blinked and tried to open her mouth.

But this man had made every bit of sense that she couldn't even say that he was a coward for thinking the way that he thought. But more than that, nobody came in the Queen's defense. Nicholas had quieted down.

She had expected the Hatter to say something in favor of her but he said nothing.

Did he not care?

Was she mistaken about the man's feelings?