Villainess Of Hearts

"... What's wrong?"

"Hah, ah... forgive me, there's something in my eye, brother." She began to rub her eye and look away from him. She refused to meet his gaze and chose to stare at the grandfather clock in the drawing room. "I will have to ask for Prime Minister Blyke Edelweiss to check the documents and see if the King has sent a response, but I believe that he has done so. I may have simply forgotten about it right now, but do not worry."

Lord Reinhard Lockhart stared at the expression on his younger sister's face and couldn't help but feel a twinge in his chest. It was an uncomfortable feeling that blossomed in him and seeing her eyes looking swollen.

It was strange and it made him feel a tad irritated.

Not too used to feeling such sudden bursts of emotions after such a long time, the Lord raised a hand to his face and then stood up. He walked over to her and then knelt in front of her, befitting of a Lord to pay respect to his Queen. But he didn't focus on that and pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket and offered it to her, "Those tears don't belong on your face—wipe them away. It looks undistinguished."

"I know that—but it was the dust." She stole the handkerchief from him and blew her nose. "My apologies but it seems that I have to punish a maid for not keeping this drawing room clean… I do not have a lot of guests who come around."

The gesture she did right now was a little disgusting if one were to ask him, and the white handkerchief would surely get tainted by snot... he shook his head and held a hand up. "That's yours now, Rosalyn. I believe that you will put it to good use, but for now wipe that look from your face. It would be reprehensible if we were to go out and you looked like that, rumors would sprawl about like pesky flies."

"I... I am aware of that."

"Do try to convince yourself when you tell that to your Knight, he is defensive as always—it feels like he wants to strangle me for no reason." He smiled. The Lord knew that he was unwelcome here and it was for good reason that he avoided such visits.

It was better to stick in their lands and focus on what he could do. But he didn't think he would come across this state of his sister in tears... it bothered him much more than he thought it would. And perhaps it was a testament of something that he had not acknowledged.

The Queen of Hearts—no, his younger sister, Rosalyn Lockhart looked up at him and sniffed, "My apologies, I'll rebuke him the moment that we leave this room, I was not aware that he was disturbing your peace with his mere presence."

He raised a brow, "I think you've noticed it or otherwise he would still be with us... do tell me that when you meet with other Lords that you keep him at your side at all times."

"I do."

"Good." Her safety was almost unequivocally linked to his own, and so if she suffered and faced circumstances that put her in danger... it would also put him in a strained position. That was what he had to keep in mind at all times. The Lord then pulled up to his feet and then bowed, "Now that I've ascertained that, I shall be leaving now."

He turned to leave, albeit his own steps were heavy for some reason.

"Wait!"

The Lord Lockhart glanced over his shoulder, "What is it, Your Majesty?" It was disrespectful to turn your back to the Royalty and of people higher in position than you, but at the same time, familiar hierarchy were still at play. Even while she was Queen, he would still always be her older brother.

This didn't change a thing.

Not a thing would change.

It was a little late to come to this realization, but now that he thought about it—it made sense. Even if it wasn't necessarily formed out of pleasant and warm memories as some families had no want of... their blood was the same. And he found himself displeased and irritated at seeing her tears.

She chewed on her lip, "I haven't been able to eat properly during lunch—but are you perhaps interested in having desserts, brother?"

Brother.

She used those words without hesitation and without even a signifier of 'elder' to give him respect. The young Lady of the Lockhart House was still rambunctious as ever and it was the same child who spilled ink all over his coursework while he was studying... his temper had erupted at that time.

And perhaps it was one of those memories that solidified a certain gap and detachment from one another.

Their maturity and growth were different... but would he be willing to overlook it now? The situation was a little different, their positions exchanged even, but he nodded briefly. "I suppose I can join you for this, but the Joker's effects on you is clearly seen that it worries me."

"A-ah, I assure you that is not the case." She was quick to reply, and even somewhat eager-to-please. It was almost the same exact expression when she offered to help clean up her mess and instead only soiled their clothes with ink. "That Joker... his status is always separate from the Four Kingdoms and his decisions are mostly on when there are trouble between all of the Suits."

He had been talking about her acquired taste for desserts, but it slipped her mind.

And yet the memory was unpleasant, compared to her who enjoyed the man's visits—it was the exact opposite for him. He was completely aware of what the man's intentions were and the reason for their parents departure every time he arrived.

But that was all in the past.

He cleared his throat, and glanced at her. "I believe you were going to do something about the tea and the desserts, unless you wish to play some sort of make-believe tea party?"

The Queen rose up to her chair and flushed, "Right—I'll ask Gine to get us some. One of my servants is an excellent cook, and it would be a delight to be served by her. Excuse me for one moment, brother." She then made her way to the door and opened it.

Even the slight movement revealed the Knight with a guarded look, "Your Majesty, are you alright?" The tangible rawness in that white-haired orphan made the Lord click his tongue. That lovestruck look still evident in his face despite the Lord clearly being present in the room and having a clear view of their interaction.

His talents were put to terrible use because the entirety of his attention was on one person alone—it had been well and good during a few years ago, but when Rosalyn had left the House. Lord Reinhard Lockhart pressed his lips together and turned away, disliking the shimmer in the man's amethyst gaze.

Perhaps he should have given the Knight a more severe look, for that hopeless buffoon. And yet he knew that it was better off not getting on the man's wrong side. At least when he was alone and without the other Knights. But there was still some unfinished business with that Knight.

At least on some other occasion where the two of them could talk.

The person who had turned a blind eye when the young Lady departed from their House… that Knight could have stopped her, but refused to do so. A selfish Knight through and through.

"It will not take too long, brother." The Queen of Hearts returned to her seat and gave him a small smile. 

It wasn't exactly the brightest one she had mustered, unlike when she was much younger, but it was enough to at least calm his nerves. The past five years was a terrible time for him that he had to face alone and without any assistance… he inclined his head, "I do not mind waiting, Rosalyn. At the least I believe they will arrive faster than when the other Houses from around the Kingdom arrive in their tardiness."

As much as he wanted to nitpick and possibly once again point out a deficiency in the method, and especially how late it was when the letter arrived when compared for the promptness asked in RSVP—it wasn't his place to intervene. This wasn't his place at all, but it was hers.

"Indeed. While it cannot be helped, we will not take too much of your time and those who have arrived early and for the certain duration, I assure you that all of the accommodations here will simply be of a service to you and others."

"You have my thanks, Your Majesty." That was the appropriate reply.

"It is our responsibility, Lord Reinhard."

As it was taught to them, responsibility above all and passion poured from their entire being. The two had no need to say it aloud, but it was what had been taught to them from when they were kids.

But now he wasn't exactly eager to give a response to that.

The two of them already knew this by heart.

And so a certain lapse would come in their conversation, it was a natural occurrence. Except what could one say to fill in the void? The silence was also rather stifling, even when he was so used to it. Another strange realization.

She changed that.