Villainess Of Hearts

Sleeping was such a sorrowful thing to do—when she tried to close her eyes and slumber, it was more difficult to stay still. Thoughts raced through her mind and her chest pounded loudly in her ears. The pulse quickened even when she tried to find peace. All she wanted to do was sleep and then find the Time Man again.

Only that.

So why was sleeping so hard? A loud sigh escaped her lips, and she opened her eyes, staring at the ceiling for once. "Hahh… do I need to imbibe something in order to fall asleep?" she asked herself aloud.

It was something that she sometimes drank, prescribed by the Royal Doctor in order for her to rest when she overworked herself. She had done her best to ease her work schedule and get more hours of sleep—it would wane her beauty if she kept up too late. And so she did it.

But now…

She flung her arm across the bed and let out a louder sigh.

"I need to see you—so let me in." she said. Aloud. Rosalyn Lockhart stared at the white ceiling above her, willing herself to be heard. She wanted him to hear. She had gained access before, and each one except for the first was something that happened because she willed it.

Or he hadn't exactly extended an invitation, but she still brought herself to him. Akin to a blade of grass that refused to die off despite constantly being pulled out—she had to be that insistent. Her goal had gone farther than just rewinding time to stop the incident with Gine happening—she wanted him to know.

She desired him to see the world as she did.

A near infinite timelines and possibilities, but each one ending one way or another. She had to see through it until the end. Until she finally had her own happiness at the end—live a life where she was satisfied. Something like this was unacceptable to her, and she refused to simply allow this to continue.

One way or another, she would go—but better he accepted it.

She didn't want to force herself, but if she needed to do so she would do it. The Queen took in another breath of air, deeper this time as she shut her eyes. She eased back into the darkness that filled her vision. Deeper into it. Once again sink into it and cross beyond the mist and fog in her mind.

Inhale.

Exhale.

One breath. And then another. Focus on her breathing, the pitter-patter of her heart in her chest. Visualize. Darkness. Beyond it. Move past it—deeper, but cross the darkness. She refused to let her thoughts slip, missing one… concentrate. She did it again. One breath and then let it out, and then another one. She breathed and imagined past a hall that fit so small even for a rabbit.

Past squares of white and black, traveling beyond it and further and further. The road to the man she sought—he would find her, she would see him and—! Golden brightness emerged in the darkness, past them all and basked her in the light.

"To request for an audience—no, to demand it, could have only been you." a familiar voice remarked with a resigned sigh. "Take my hand."

She couldn't see him.

Hesitation clouded her chest, and she reached out her fingers, grasping at thin air. No questions for now, she needed to find him and—something, someone touched her eyelid lightly. "What are you so afraid for? It's not like my appearance will blind you, I wear a hood for that reason."

Her eyes blinked open and then found him in front of her, the same cut of emerald blue eyes. The mist and fog that hid his features besides his eyes and the sound of his voice, and the same hood.

"Sometimes I wonder if I'm talking to the exact same person every time that we meet. You could be somebody else." the words rushed out through her lips before she could even hold them back. Her tongue was loose when she was around him, if he would ask about anything, she might feel compelled to give an answer.

He stared at her for a moment.

And then he chuckled, shaking his head. "I would have only truly heard that from you—your suspicion knows no bounds. It was a lie to say that only you demand to see me, countless people do, but it is only you who I accept an audience with. Perhaps this is something that should gratify Her Majesty of Hearts?"

He was a lot more talkative this time around.

"You should be the one honored to have me as your guest this… particular moment?" she eyed him and crossed her arms over her chest. It was hard to decipher how to call time here when he was present with her… it was a little confusing, but also somewhat relieving. "I seem to have managed to call you properly, I didn't think I would have guessed on how to contact you."

"Huh?" he glanced sideways to her. Behind his shoulders was the familiar sight of the dessert table and their seats. "It's not actually particular, although the method of your calling me has been particularly amusing. In previous times you would have crashed grandfather clocks and grab for the magical orbs within it."

Rosalyn Lockhart blinked, "What?"

Hearing the man's words were enough to temporarily shift her attention to that piece of information. "Clocks have… magical pieces inside of them?"

"How else would they tell time?" he asked. "Each piece is attuned to me in order for them to work properly."

She pursed her lips, "Fair enough." the Queen of Hearts did not make a move to the table when the host was still standing around and hadn't exactly formally invited her to take a seat. "Still does it mean that the ones who produce the clocks, clock makers are able to see you if they do that? How does one procure such orbs in the first place?"

This was all fascinating to hear—things she didn't know. Rosalyn Lockhart had never been the most studious child. She had fallen more from trees and ran off far many times than she could count, but this was simply information that she would like to learn now that she was an adult.

"I did not think that Her Majesty of Hearts would come here for this reason—to discuss things like this when she much prefers to be running a kingdom." he said and motioned to the table. "But to answer your question, no—I do not listen to all requests, even if they were the clock maker themselves. As for the orbs, it's a trade secret."

She eyed him with a scrunched up nose before taking her seat. 

And yet his words were enough of a reminder as to why she was here in the first place. However, if there was anything that she had noticed now… he was a little snappish. As if she had come across him at a bad time. She straightened a little and thanked him.

The man would plop down on his seat and nod at her, but otherwise remained silent.

Such a sudden change in temperament, she didn't know what to take it as. Was there any chance that he already knew what she was here for? The thought was enough to make her fidget in her seat and twiddle with her fingers. Surely he would know as much if he truly governed time: past, present and future.

But she would try.

"Mister Time Man, I would like to thank you for granting me an audience when I sought for you—I will not take too much of your time." the words slipped out of her mouth naturally.

Whether or not that was the right answer, this was his reply. "You could stay with me for an eon and I could still send you back to the time whence you left, I have a lot of time to spare. I have it in spades, but even then, even if I could do such a thing—everything also has its consequences. There is always a price to pay for such things."

By the sound of his voice and the choice of his words, he truly knew.

He was a lot more pliant and easy on previous meetings, and even… sweet. Rosalyn Lockhart felt her throat dry for a moment, a parched feeling coming upon her. Had she perhaps misread all gestures before? 

It was almost the same with the King of Hearts—an affable person when he so desired, but still stricken with internal demons and a cold personality underneath. 

And yet he still poured her tea and placed it in front of her along with a plate of a quiche and a pie with gooseberries as a filling. She mouthed a soft 'thank you' and then sipped her tea, the drink calming her nerves for a moment. Once she had regained her composure, thinking back on what she had left in the Castle of Hearts.

Her childhood prince in a once-upon-a-time tale. She gave the man a sugary smile.

"But what if there is a person willing to pay for such prices? As a Royal, I am aware that nothing comes for free, and I would like to afford what I can."

"I can assure you that it is not a small price to pay."

She tightened her fist, she stared into his blue eyes, "Surely I have convinced you before—I'll do it again. I'll be able to do it right this time if I'm not alone, I need a companion and my Knight shall be the perfect one to assure I accomplish my goals. This is what I have come for, Governor of Time.. I wish you would heed my request."