Villainess Of Hearts

There were actually more problems that the King of Spades might have forgotten to mention as the two Lockhart siblings discussed and offered him sample prices and the worth of a sword to him. They even provided an estimated time of completion of the production amongst with other details like 'lead time' and other terminology that made his head hurt.

He cleared his throat, his reputation was on the line—and he needed it very much.

Well, it wasn't like he needed it that much. He was already known as an amazing King, but he didn't want to disappoint the Queen of Hearts or make himself look like a fool to the Lord Reinhard.

"You see, I usually leave or have this discussion with Lucielle—he tends to these little, er, detailed matters as this one."

"We can still make a contract, and I believe that you can also make decisions on your own, Your Majesty of Spades." Rosalyn Lockhart smiled at him. 

The reputation that preceded this Queen now confounded him and now he wasn't sure on what to believe now. He had admired her for the gossip of her tyranny and even harsh nature, actually quite similar to his own Queen, possibly even more hot-blooded than Olivia if he had any guesses.

But now she was kind, polite and even accommodating to him.

This was all well and good—he was not blind enough to appreciate these facts, but he cleared his throat. "I suppose I could place an initial order and then have it revised."

"Perfect, then we only need a downpayment then."

The King of Spades, Alfred Villeuce looked up at the blank expression and even tepid smile on Lord Reinhard Lockhart's face. Now this was actually what he had been expecting, but that didn't mean he was prepared.

"I'd like to have it placed as a bill to the Kingdom of Spades. I did not bring exorbitant amounts of money to avoid thieves and other unsavory elements." Alfred Villeuce surprised even himself at making these kinds of excuses.

Rosalyn shared a look with her brother.

The Lord Reinhard Lockhart stared at him, and then finally relented.

King Alfred Villeuce of the Kingdom of Spades still had all the charm with him!

—-

Bitter tea.

That was the taste and expression on Julius Ginellevé's face right now as he left the meeting room to acquire the necessary meal for the guests of the Queen. He didn't mind this menial work when it was for the Queen, he could at least serve her by hand and foot and then not bat an eye at it.

However, this time, he felt the bitterness of seeing her brother once again.

It shouldn't have mattered. But it did to him.

Memories of younger days and lessons inflicted on him stayed. Only the greatest of Knights were supposed to stay and back then he had been weaker, soft. The young Lord Reinhard was brutal enough to remind him about it everyday when the Lord himself couldn't even spend an iota of the day with his sister.

It sickened his guts.

The constant desire and approval that Rosalyn Lockhart desired… even he couldn't fulfill it if it meant that she wanted acceptance from her brother. That stupid man. Julius was jealous even with the familial love that Rosalyn harbored for her brother. He didn't deserve any of it and it took all of Julius Ginellevé's will to act as a third and outside party when it came to her decisions surrounding the Lockhart family.

She clung to it even throughout these years.

And Julius didn't trust the man's rekindling… no, he wanted to believe it. He truly did, but the scars of the past still left him with a gaping wound. It was even more worse than what the Joker himself had wrought.

Although was there anything actually worse than either?

Julius Ginellevé finally stepped inside of the kitchen and was greeted with the sight of Mary Ann. The young servant once again now currently hard at work, he cleared his throat to address her. "Mary Ann."

… at least, he had started to tolerate this girl.

Her gaze quickly whipped out from her kneading the dough to him. A frantic and even flour-cloaked appearance beset her as she nervously grinned at him and bowed her head. "Ah Knight Ginellevé, has Her Majesty requested more tarts and tea? I'll prepare them right away—"

"Have a separate pot, earl grey squeezed with a lot of lemons."

"Pardon?"

"Someone wishes for the sourness and tangy taste of earl grey. Give it to them." If the King of Spades chose the sweet rose tea, then he could enjoy the sugar-laden tea or suffer the sourness of earl grey. Julius could actually be petty like this, but he did not mind it.

The confused servant, Mary Ann stared at him, but then began her work.

She didn't question him.

After all, she trusted his words were at least second to the Queen!

Now that might have placed questions on where the King's words were placed, but this was about the diet, tastes and preferences of the Queen so the Knight was second in command. Mary Ann would have liked to consider herself as the third person.

"Mary Ann."

The woman glanced once again from the fresh hot water and back at the Knight. There was a look on his face that was sort of blank and made her worry… the memory of how he got injured before still stayed in the minds of the servant.

He wasn't the untouchable Knight they thought he was.

He could still get hurt, bleed and actually feel pain.

The Knight looked at her up and down, almost scrutinizingly and then said. "Have you ever considered or seen any of the dramas and plays performed by wandering bards and actors? Some do travel across the Kingdom of Hearts. Artists."

Mary Ann blinked and stared at him, perturbed. "Huh?" What was happening with the Knight this time? She couldn't understand a singular thing that ran through his mind.

Which was probably a good thing, all things considered.

—-

Rosalyn Lockhart inwardly sighed in relief and glanced at the good handwritten notes of the Prime Minister. At least, he was second to her in this kind of activity. Acceptable, really. While she might have expected that the King of Spades did not have money with him right now, it still made sense that they accommodate him.

He was still a King that deserved respect, lest they be considered enemies in the future.

Treaties, relationships and business agreements were different bonds that placed them all together and it was in her intention to make it blossom like a beautiful rose. But this was a temporary pause from her conversation with the Joker and the upcoming trial later.

Even she and the King of Hearts needed an alibi.

It was a ridiculous notion, but the Lord Jericho Marius would be sure to bring it up later and then paint herself and even Alexander as evil people who desired to have no one oppose them by silently cutting the extra fat from the meat.

Somehow, she was no butcher, but… after getting in touch with so many knives, somehow it sprung up naturally.

Her brother and the King of Spades chatted mildly, even the Prime Minister now joining along, and she paid half-attention. A bit lost in her thoughts and the agreements currently penned down.

"I suppose this is really everything then," the Prime Minister smiled kindly. "Until further revisions when the Highborn Lucielle arrives and takes care of the other matters..."

"Yes."

"Yes it is! I'm sure he'll come along soon to chase, er, follow after me like I told him to."

Both men had different reactions, that somehow it seemed like Lord Reinhard was the one meant to be in Spades while Alfred belonged in Hearts. His responses were lively, and he had a much more confident charm about him that even put the Queen of Hearts at ease around him.

"I guess now what's really left is for the snacks." the King of Spades said with a chuckle.

The Queen of Hearts gave an apologetic smile at that. Rather confused as to why Gine was taking so long, or was it because of Mary Ann? "Food preparation is taken seriously here in the Castle of Hearts. You can call us a bit of gourmets. The desserts and tea will only be the best, which is appropriate for our guest."

Rosalyn Lockhart failed to see the twitch in both the Prime Minister and her own brother's eyes at the statement. Both of them were aware of the reality of things, discovering it in their own ways and methods. One through rumors and recent experience and the other by having grown up with said woman for a good part of his life.

And yet she said it wholeheartedly and with a sense of truth. 

"I'm looking forward to it then, Your Majesty." Alfred Villeuce inclined his head. "I was only feeling a bit parched after my ever so wearisome travels."

It was a silent pitch, or beckoning for her or anybody else in the room to ask.

The Queen of Hearts raised her brow. "Is that so, Your Majesty? Forgive us for letting you wait too long then, but it is incredible that you even still had the time to save another man's life despite your troubles."

Some people were truly easy to read.

Even while the battlefield was scary and countless blood poured into the sand, the King himself could have been likened to a child. Praises and smiles were enough to make him content.