Villainess Of Hearts

When Nicholas Hatter smiled, it was disarming. A certain roguish but soft alluring charm to it, especially with his disheveled hair and the hat in his hands.

Rosalyn needed to get her grips together—beauty was one thing, pleasant to the eye. But if she were to live her life as indulgent as before, then things might have been better off if she had never changed her ways. She could have eaten more tarts, slept with her Knight and had everyone who tested her nerves to be sent away from her sight or even killed if possible.

The Queen of Hearts needed to steel herself. There were other things of more importance.

In a future where she would face Alice, a woman the man in front of her had probably loved. The Queen wasn't really sure what had enamored men with her—if it came in terms of beauty; she was a cut higher than anyone. But it was probably because that girl had befriended him. Something along the lines of what Mary Ann said.

Or magic.

She couldn't exactly rule that out—what with floating cats, annoying Jokers, and a man who governed time? A girl who could actually charm men and make them drool and throw themselves at her feet wasn't something she would dismiss. And the thought of that was enough to make her frown. Now she wouldn't mind having it—but to have it in the hands of another person wasn't fair.

"Well, I already don't need to have that kind of skill, magic or whatever it is…" she muttered to herself. It was a thought that was enough to make her both sullen, if not a little temperamental.

"Pardon me, Your Majesty?"

The Queen of Hearts had almost forgotten that he was here, a little too caught up in her musings. A minor slip in her mind, but now that she realized he was around—Rosalyn Lockhart pushed back her soft blonde locks behind an ear and gave the man a sultry smile. "Surely you would agree with me if I say that I'm the fairest in these lands?"

Rosalyn Lockhart hadn't travelled past her own kingdom, so this was a conservative remark.

Nicholas Hatter blinked for a moment. Until his face grew red and he coughed, tugging his hat closer to his chest. "Well, Your Majesty…"

She pursed her lips, "What's with the stalling of an answer? Say yes or no—but if you say no, I might have your head."

His eyes widened. He placed his hat back on his head. "Then surely it's a yes, Your Majesty! The fairest in all the lands."

"Don't agree with me simply because I threatened you to say so." She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him. Although to hear it from his lips was enough to make her smile, at least briefly. Compliments were good to hear, she enjoyed hearing them. It wasn't as if she was starved for them—but to be reminded now and then was a solace.

A small laugh finally broke out from him, racked from both disbelief and relief.

The tension in between them dispersed—although she hadn't exactly meant for this to happen. Rosalyn Lockhart arched a brow at him, at his sudden disposition. Perhaps this man was truly mad?

"Your Majesty, I think you are the most beautiful person I have ever met, even at this very moment that we speak." He began with a serious look, "But there's something that could change it."

She blinked and looked up alarmed, "... What?"

Rosalyn Lockhart's nerves were jittery. Steel or not, she was afraid of the chance of him remembering. No matter how absurd the thought, she had it in her mind. An occasion where everyone would remember and then turn their backs on her—the thought nestled in the back of her mind.

"I think when the Queen of Hearts smiles—then she can beat the one right now who is upset." He answered. The man had placed a hand over his chest when he said it, the faintest red in the bridge of his nose, but he said it with a smile.

She stared at him and made a face.

Nicholas Hatter coughed, "Was that too much, Your Majesty?"

"It was." The Queen of Hearts agreed. "If you say anymore, then I might have thought that you were lovesick." Rosalyn Lockhart snorted and then reached for her teacup. She took a sip. "You are a kind and truthful man for humoring me with your response."

"You're welcome, Your Majesty. However, I truly meant everything that I said."

She sipped her tea and nodded. "Justly so. I had not been kidding over the matter of you disagreeing with me and the consequences for it." And this made the man look at her even harder, disconcerted and confused. Rosalyn Lockhart didn't mind it at all and gave him a smile, "Well then, Hatter. I will accept the gift that you had made for me—I dislike fascinators. They get tangled in my hair, but I accept it. I'll even wear it during the meetings with the Nobility, I will put a good word for it."

"Ah, that would be too much, Your Majesty!"

"I insist—this is the benefit of having me for a friend." The Queen of Hearts replied. Whatever it was that Alice had to make men swear fealty with her—she would purchase them if necessary. Bribe them with money, power and influence. These were what she had, and she would make use of it vastly.

Gain their friendship if she must, but also provide whatever it was their hearts desired. She could do it. There was no time for her to hesitate—the fruit of her labor was in front of her. Rosalyn Lockhart had thought she had messed things with her relationship with the Hatter, but the man still arrived to visit and even present a gift.

"—exhausted really."

She raised her head and met his eyes. Rosalyn Lockhart hadn't quite caught what he said. But she smiled and placed her teacup down, she leaned forward. "Are your materials exhausted after producing a bulk order of hats for the Kingdom of Clovers? There is nothing for you to worry about, I can give you a loan and purchase the necessary items in the making of your hats. They'll surely turn up a profit."

"U-uh… that would be most gracious, Your Majesty, but—"

"Consider it done." Rosalyn Lockhart sat up. Determination flowed on her nerves. She clenched her fist. The sadness was still present, but she needed to continue with her endeavor. Too much grief and mourning for a man that would surely awake?

If she would grow weak now with her Knight's state, then the loss of her position would soon happen. She couldn't let it happen, not when she had traded her life away for this. The Queen of Hearts gave the man a smile.

"I have many contacts, the land of Hearts is bountiful. What do you even need to make a hat? Leather? Let's have some processing done. You have made a brilliant choice of allying with me than say the Queen of Diamonds—I admit she has jewels in her mine, a plentiful amount, but she cannot provide you everything. Purchase them she could… but would I let her buy them?" she gave him a coy smile.

There was a trade agreement that they needed to comply with, but it also couldn't be denied that each Kingdom cared for its own foremost. If there was no supply to provide, well, it would be an unfortunate thing.

Nicholas Hatter finally coughed, "It's alright, Your Majesty. I am actually happy with my current work schedule as of late—I haven't quite recovered from the bulwark of hats that the First Prince of Clovers had ordered. A little downtime has hurt no one, Your Majesty."

His sudden burst of words made her blink.

Rosalyn Lockhart once again realized that she hadn't exactly been listening to what he was saying and had instead made her own conclusions. She cleared her throat and nodded, "Very well then. If there is anything else that you have in mind then do let me know, Nicholas."

"I do not think I can ask for anything more… but if I could become more privy to the things that are bothering, Her Majesty? It would be an honor of mine to hear your woes and travails. It is what a friend would do, and I am not sure how I could be one to the Queen who lacks nothing."

.

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In the tundra-like lands beset by the eternal winter—in a castle of glass-like and gems that stood despite the harshest winds lived the King and Queen. And in one of their private halls was where a minor event occurred that might have dispelled rumors about the two Royals' relationship with one another.

Her Majesty of Diamonds, wielder of steel and gems, Jeanne la Monique sneezed and rubbed her nose. The Queen was normally used to the cold and tempestuous climate in their lands; it was an odd reflex as of late.

"Are you alright, Jeanne?" Francis le Diamant asked and lifted a brow. He placed his long winter fur coat over her shoulders and clicked his tongue, "I suppose there is a time when baring your naked shoulders for everyone should be questioned now and then."

She frowned at him, "I am not cold and my shoulders are lovely to be displayed." But she didn't exactly remove it from her shoulders. It was cozy and warm.

"Well, a nice coat like mine is still fashionable." The King of Diamonds responded with a tut. He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. "I think I got hay fever when we were back at the Kingdom of Hearts—a terrible allergy that makes me sneeze."

The Queen of Diamonds shook her head. "Or maybe it was the people there—their mere presence makes me want to sniff."

He chuckled in response to that.