Villainess Of Hearts

The Queen of Hearts wasn't even sure if all the words she said had made any sense now that she thought of it and promptly fell back to her sofa—she had said it all in a flash, every word that left her mouth came from the tip of her tongue. But did she have any right to say such a thing to her brother?

His silence made her a bit queasy.

And yet she couldn't apologize. Especially when she felt that there was some reason in them, even if it was too wordy. The Queen of Hearts leaned back against her chair and sighed for a moment to await a word from her brother, but none came.

She would come to look back at her brother, who was only silent, and it looked like he was mulling over her words. Which was a good sign, wasn't it?

He finally sighed and then returned her gaze, "I did not think that you would think of me in such a way. It is frankly a little surprising. But thank you, Rosalyn. I appreciate the thoughts."

Of course it wasn't so easy to change someone's mind—Rosalyn was aware of it, that it might take a lot to have someone change their perspective and actions especially. So all she could do was smile and then nod, "Of course. This is the least that I can do for my brother and it is natural to care about one another's well-being, is it not?"

He nodded. "Indeed."

Their relationship wasn't the smoothest one, she knew that. But she did wish that there was something else that could happen beyond her bursting into a number of emotions and then having the other party respond to her. Which somehow comprised the majority of her interactions with a lot of people she had interacted with before…

Rosalyn Lockhart would satisfy her thirst and then continue on with the 'tea party' because this was the least that they could do for one another. It had been many years, so perhaps this could be one of the first steps to a better relationship?

… And she wanted it, didn't she?

The thought made her blink and look down at her empty teacup. She always took what she wanted, and it was easy to procure it when you were a Queen, but this felt like the first time that she truly wanted something. Or at least one of those emotions that brought her a certain jolt to herself.

Had Mary Ann actually been on to something when she spoke about the beauty of relationships? Or perhaps this was just her imagination.? Some kind of relief that her brother did not have any begrudging emotion towards her? It was something she thought he would contain for her. Uncommon emotions swirled around her.

"Would you like me to refill it for you?" came her brother's voice. And though his look wasn't the most warm, it was always serious and calm—she at least thought that it was an action that he wouldn't have done in their earlier years.

Time did change some things and so she accepted it, taking a sip and thanking him afterwards. There were things that could not be rushed and her own relationship with her brother was one of them, and so she would appreciate and savor it each one. 

. . .

Julius Ginellevé's heart pounded, and his head throbbed in pain. He gritted his teeth and stood outside of the doors to the Queen's drawing room in spite of all the emotions swirling around him. He was frantic, anxious and just uneasy—the conversation between brother and sister was taking far too long.

Or perhaps it was the long overdue one.

He knew and saw that the relationship between the two was distant at best, and he also knew that Reinhard Lockhart was the one meant to become the King. It filled him with suspicion and just a gnawing feeling that bordered on him wanting to stroll inside and keep watch over the two of them.

His Queen had changed.

Rosalyn Lockhart had changed. And it wasn't because she refused his affections at all, but it was because she became kinder and soft-hearted no matter how much she tried to give Mary Ann a nasty look or word. There was still some gentleness in them. He couldn't exactly say that he hated this recent change to her.

Yes, she had forgone with more intimate and physical actions between the two of them… but the Queen of Hearts also laughed more and smiled. Rosalyn Lockhart had even prepared him tea before and comforted him when he had worries about their relationship, something that she wouldn't have done before.

The relationship dynamics between them were different because she was a Queen and he was a Knight, and he accepted it fully. He couldn't imagine anything else at all until today. But it was something he placed aside when her brother arrived. There was fear, anxiety and some trauma when she prepared herself to meet with him.

But now they were talking until this hour?

He had heard a table slam earlier, but even then, when he peeked in—it was the Queen shouting at her brother and not the other way around. He could hear some of it, even if he didn't want to listen to it… but he did want to. Perhaps the Queen didn't find much use for him and wanted him to find somebody else, but he still esteemed her above all.

But what else could he do?

The nagging suggestion filled his mind once again, even when he wished to dismiss it. Julius Ginellevé hit the back of his head against the wall—furiousness taking hold of him. He didn't want to do it, but what if? What if it was the only way to prove that he would do anything for her and finally make her acknowledge him?

Julius had asked her if she loved him… and he thought she did. Maybe not in the same exact way that he loved her, but she cared for him, right? That was all that mattered to him.

. . .

It was her.

Nicholas Hatter knew it was her. He recognized her voice and laugh, he could imagine her smile, and it was as if everything all came back to him at once—it made his head spin and hurt. Unlike the Chesire Cat who easily and was laid back enough to knock on the carriage door to see who it was…

"What are you doing?!" Nicholas found himself hissing at the cat person.

And yet he was ignored and the cat person knocked again, "Knock Knock?" he said. "Hello there Miss, will you let me in?"

"Are you a wolf?" came her melodious voice.

Chesire responded with a chuckle, "I'm a cat."

"Huh? Talking cats? How peculiar." The carriage door began to open.

Nicholas Hatter knew what… or rather who was on the other side, and although he was conflicted before. The desire to see her again made his head spin and heart pound—the only resistance he had managed to salvage all throughout the passage of time.

He still ran away.

The man rushed past the Knights at work and other carriages still heading inside of the Castle and escaped to the town outside, and he caught his breath. He placed a hand over his chest and took gulps of air—and it wasn't as if he was winded out or anything like that, but it was because of his emotions.

It affected him more than he thought it would.

"Why did I do that?" he whispered to himself and began to move further and further away from the Castle and that of the two people that somehow intruded his very whimsical and peaceful Hatter life. Nicholas Hatter was a simple man that enjoyed making hats and having tea with his friends. He also enjoyed riddles and singing where he had once received enough acclaim to get inside of the Castle before promptly saying something that earned him the ire of the Queen.

He could hardly remember what it was… but it triggered the Queen back then.

But had it really happened this time? Nicholas Hatter took off his hat and scratched his head, "Both Mary Ann and Harold can recall it, but my memory… I guess it's not as good as I thought it would be." This was what that Time Man said about him recovering it on his own—and Nicholas could suppose that this was fine?

He couldn't exactly say that it was a wonderful thing to remember, but surely it was important to get the entirety of the picture of all that happened, right? And then he remembered something once again that was a little odd. The banner of the Lockhart House and her who had ended up there.

That didn't happen the last time, didn't it?

"Tea… I invited a stranger to the tea, but he hadn't been referring to the Queen but to her." He couldn't even say her name aloud, which was strange, because he was slightly afraid of what would happen once he finally acknowledged everything. The man hit his head slightly with a fist, "Oh you silly man always involving yourself in this situation—you couldn't help yourself at that time, didn't you?"

And the time after that?

He still had trouble with distinguishing time. Perhaps an after effect of trying to battle with the personification of Time itself—which was perhaps something he should be proud of. And yet he finally remembered something, "I was supposed to meet with Harold this morning—that man's going to get antsy again."

He rushed to Mallory's house.