Villainess Of Hearts

Before The Maze Incident

Julius Ginellev?? was invited by the Lockhart Knights to dine with them once more, and even though he could barely recognize any of them anymore???new recruits, he decided to give them a chance. If the Queen of Hearts was willing to reconcile with her brother, then perhaps there was some actual use to meeting with the new ones.

The Knight would realize that it was a bad idea.

It was apparent in his gaze inside of this small barrack. He looked at the young men that called themselves the same as him. None of them had been present during the war, and though he might have wished to see those who were in the same group??? he was more pained at the quality of Knights.??

Were these really the men that Rosalyn's brother had hired?

Had they really gone through some training?

A bunch of alcohol-loving fools?

Terrible postures, obnoxious laughters.

He was sure that if by any chance that the Queen of Hearts herself would come to see the state of these Knights, she would request for the Order to be disbanded until all of these young men were turned into actual Knights.

Julius eyed the pair of brothers, one of the twins was laughing obnoxiously at another and he fought the urge to stifle the gritting of his teeth. Was this really the thing he left the Queen's side for? He could have been waiting for her to finish dinner and yet he was here.

It wasn't worth it at all, even if he had wanted to instill the idea that it wasn't simply the Lord of the Lockhart House to whom they must stay loyal to, but Her Majesty, Rosalyn Lockhart should be served as well.

He understood instinctively that it was something that should be reminded upon these men.

"Uhhh???. Mister Julius?" One of the Knights gathered in the soldier's barracks finally spoke up, somehow gathering the courage to address him.

Another man elbowed him. "Call him, Sir Julius."

Sir Julius Ginellev?? fought the urge to down the drink that they've provided for him. If he was dealing with these kinds of people who didn't even know how to address a fellow Knight, then he needed a stronger drink than what he had with him right now. "What is it that you want to ask, Sir Thomas?"

"As expected, that Sir Julius would be able to distinguish between the twins with just one look!" Ace??? the Soldier had managed to sneak inside of the company of the Knights despite it being outranked by the others. "That's the amazing Sir Julius, alright."

Regardless of the nose this guy was making, he was less of a headache than the question that was to come.

"Is it true that Her Majesty of Hearts is the prettiest woman and that's why you're serving???" The knight's mouth was covered by his twin, the other man apologizing in his stead.

Theodore bowed his head repeatedly. "Ah, please excuse my idiotic brother. He had too much to drink???"

Julius cut him off. "I would like to agree with his statement that Her Majesty is not only pretty, but beautiful, but that is not the only reason I serve her after all." He did his best to smile and address his fellow Knights and help them understand his motivation. "We are all Knights under the Lockhart House, and we have a vow to serve both the Lord and the Lady, and that is why I serve Her Majesty."

He did not need to announce that he loved her, because he knew how people would react. And even now, his own answer was still not enough to satisfy them at all as one of them reacted and spoke up.

"Sir Ginellev??, I understand you serve the Lockhart House by serving as Her Majesty's protector, but I'm sure that you'd agree with me when I say that you'd be more of use with the Lord???"

"Her Majesty needs protection and someone she can feel comfortable with, Sir Arnold. She personally requested me to come with her and when you take into account her position as Queen, is there any reason for me to refuse her?" What he said was true and filled his heart with warmth.

She asked for him, and not the other way around.

Precious memories that he kept in his mind and heart.

Murmurs of agreement sounded amongst the Knights, and he wished they could understand his own devotion??? until he realized that he already had enough competition for the Queen's heart. It wasn't enough that the King himself had decided to put himself in between him and that of the Queen, the addition of many people in Her Majesty's life placed him somewhere along the third, or fourth place.

Possibly even fifth in Rosalyn's importance.

"Sir Gine???"

His gaze focused and sharpened on one of the Knights. "Nicknames already?"

Some laughter burst among the circle of Knights, and a red-faced Knight cleared his throat. "You didn't let me finish, Sir. I was only interested in your perspective regarding the other Knight Orders, for example those from the Lorie House???"

He raised his brow. "Who?"

"We're not only the order of Knights that had arrived, Sir." One of them explained, placing their mug down on the table. "Other Knights from other Nobility have come and are also staying with their respective Lords. I heard that they are currently being accommodated in the guest rooms of the Castle."

"Huh, we didn't invite them?"

"This is an all Lockhart Knight gathering???we have no need for them."

"But on a scale of one to ten???"

"Eight, I suppose." Julius sighed. "But that is only because you men have lost your edge."

"Wait, Sir???you can't just tell us that just because you fought in the???"

"I can." He stood up and took out his sword. He rested the blade underneath the closest Knight's chin. "Come at me if you wish to prove yourselves as worth the name and resources provided to you by our Lord or else taste my blade."

"Woah, woah, maybe he's got too much to drink." Ace laughed nervously and stood up. "We should take it easy, guys." As the only soldier from the Castle's, he probably didn't want to involve himself in this mess. His decision to join on in the fun was probably something he regretted now.

But there was no time for escape.

The entire group of Knights had turned to Julius in hostility, a vast majority of the seniority turning to him darkly, and in part with the poor and only soldier as well. To the Knight of the Queen, it would be a stretch to speak about how this one was two men against more than a dozen of Knights. Julius eyed the soldier and simply said, "Hide underneath the table if you wish to be spared."

The young man didn't need any other invitation.

He ducked down underneath the table before the fight could actually begin. The other Knights moved out from their chairs and took out their swords. Unfortunately, the barracks was a small and tight space and it was an inefficient way of doing things. Julius sheathed back his sword and struck one of the Knights in a pressure point, the man collapsing over the table. This was where the Knight, no, it was where Julius Ginellev??,?? would let out his pent-up emotions. The sheer thrill and excitement from an unfair match was one of the few things that he could look forward to.

And thus when he came to realize what was happening outside of the barrack???it had already been late.