Villainess Of Hearts

There was no time to waste.

Nicholas Hatter knew that quite well, and yet he hesitated for a moment—it may have been what you might just call a stage fright. Except there weren't any stages and his audience were only four.

Perhaps in another lifetime, he would have done well with live comedy. 

He cleared his throat for one moment and considered the atmosphere, the four Queens were now all seated and their attention was solely on him.

What song should he sing?

He couldn't sing something silly, could he? He once sang a song that had upsetted the Queen and a certain individual—although for the love of all things tea, he couldn't recall the other person.

Nicholas Hatter once fancied himself as a poet, asking riddles were an art that took on many forms. And yet he tried to find a melody that seemed so familiar, a song out of reach that he had to simply grasp. An epiphany that called to him to sing and so he began.

"The seasons and days pass by

Each minute ticks, without asking why

Before we even knew it

Our hearts beat a melody

And I realize, you were with me

A blissful moment captured in time

No matter the distance

We shall meet again

The memories we had forgotten

Tales that had been spun

Disappears into yesterday

What must have been done?

Riding through the flow of time

I'll do it again

Until we meet once more

Fairfarren"

.

.

.

It was a soft and harmonious melody that haunted her—beautiful lyrics that seemed to have come from something deeper than mere feelings, a certainty of what was to come. But for the love of all tarts, she had no idea why it had to be this way. She had wanted him to be her friend and yet...

A series of applause erupted beside the Queen of Hearts, her counterpart from the Kingdom of Clover, Her Majesty, Neo Anasthasia's eyes were brimming with glistening tears that were blinked away that it may just have been her imagination. And on the other chaise lounges, both the Queen of Diamonds and Spades were clapping as well.

Only she seemed to have found herself stunned to even clap.

Despite the realization, she was still less willing to do so and instead managed to smile, lips tightly pressed together as she inclined her head, "T-That was… a lovely song, where have you heard it from, Nicholas?" His name left her lips too easily as she focused on his answer.

A small laugh erupted from the man as he placed his hat down and scratched his head, "Would any of the Queens here believe me if I tell them that I only made it now?"

She froze.

A confirmation.

"Then it must be quite a talent you possess," Already the Queen of Diamonds had a parchment in her hand along with a quill, "I tried to capture down the lyrics, but I'll need your help."

Nicholas Hatter simply bowed their head, "I would be happy to assist you, Your Majesty."

A chuckle erupted from another one of the Queens, Olivia Deuce as she rested her chin underneath on a palm, "I didn't imagine that Her Majesty, La Monique as someone thoroughly interested in talents like this one. But different pursuits I suppose, however it makes sense that the residents in the Kingdom of Hearts have talent in the arts and similar passions."

The praise almost fell on deaf ears.

Rosalyn Lockhart clenched her hands as her nails dug her palm, but she bowed her head, "The Queen of Spades must surely have been looking for a different kind of entertainment, if I recall His Majesty, Alfred Villeuce had offered a gift of showcasing his skills." She lifted her head, lips curving into a well-trained smile, "Perchance you'd like to see a mock battle of arms between him and His Majesty, Alexander Hartsmichdt? Or perchance a joust?"

Having the man fall off his horse and break his back wasn't too distasteful.

It was a somewhat comforting thought as she eased her mind away from the Hatter for the moment. Her mind instead turned towards the lessons of history ingrained to her by tutors in the past. 'The Kingdom of Spades were famed for their battle prowess, several times in the past, they were a conquering Kingdom that had almost overthrown the other Suit Kingdoms—if not for a reluctant treaty between Hearts and Diamonds. Clover Kingdom declared themselves 'neutral' but nobody had doubted that they supplied enchanted weapons to Spades that time.'

Olivia Deuce made a face, "I-I...well, I assume His Majesty, Villeuce would love for a mock combat to occur but I wouldn't exactly want it—he's rather reckless and he would be up against, His Majesty of Hearts, he was the Champion of the Card Trial."

In her previous lifetime, she might have reveled in such a remark but at the moment she simply smiled, "I suppose, His Majesty of Hearts can be an intimidating opponent." Intimidation was only one thing she could say for him, the Title they received brought the respect and awe of most people—but he operated differently privately.

"Have you not watched the events of the Card Trial in the past?" Her Majesty, Olivia Deuce rose a brow, she turned to the silent woman beside Rosalyn, "Queen Anasthasia, you were one of the participants, would you not agree with me on my opinion that His Majesty of Hearts is an opponent to be feared?"

Rosalyn Lockhart blinked as she glanced at the frail woman beside her. Everybody paid attention to Alexander Hartsmichdt but the current Queen of Clovers was as much of a survivor as he had been. At least that was what she had heard—her own parents were less concerned of the Trial that had no victors until he had arrived and proved everyone wrong.

And that had changed the lives within the Kingdoms.

The young woman cleared her throat, she was perhaps a year or two younger than Rosalyn herself, her dark and eyes seemed to draw anybody in if they paid close enough, "His Majesty, Alexander, before he became the King of Hearts… he was a resourceful man."

It was all that the Queen of Clover would say, a woman with quite a few words.

That made Rosalyn all the more warier.

On the other end of her vision, she could already see Nicholas Hatter assisting the Queen of Diamonds with their song—no doubt wanting to perhaps find a way to earn even more wealth for their Kingdom. And yet the only concern Rosalyn Lockhart had was the Hatter's song.

A melody that came upon him at this moment.

....Was it possible that someone else besides her could have a recollection of their memories of another past?