Villainess Of Hearts

To say that the Queen of Hearts was lost in her thoughts—it was an understatement. A thousand thoughts spun in her head. She tried to connect all the pieces of memory she had with the man across from her.

She gazed at the Joker, the man was lounging on the chair, he was completely at ease within his surroundings. And he knew the Time Man. Knew him personally? Knew him more than she could ever know? He had already mentioned before that it was all because of the Time Man that he was able to look young.

And thus time perhaps functioned differently for Mister Rosswall?

It was indeed a different undertaking. But though she perhaps was interested in eternal youth often whispered in books about neverland... the Queen of Hearts had more concern with how they managed to talk with Time Man.

"Are you alright, Your Majesty?"

His voice suddenly became more audible and she coughed, "Yes, yes I am. Your words of telling me to have fun… it reminded me of someone else." The Time Man told her to have a good time which was slightly different. But in essence, what they were asking from her—it was a difficult task.

"I see, then I believe they have given you good advice as I gave you." The Joker's eyes held a sense of warmth as they gazed at her. It was reminiscent of their earlier interactions, it was a time where she was much more honest and vulnerable.

But their words didn't make sense.

How could one have a good time?

Were those words of kindness given by the Time Man as he gave her the chance of living once more—or was he threatening her with a good time?

No. That threat didn't make any sense. She was more apt to believe the former, and yet she couldn't understand his reasonings for allowing her to return back in time? Was it all for him to enjoy the show? It made sense that the Time Man was an entity that could observe her, and perhaps functioned in a role similar to the Joker.

But even then…

The Queen of Hearts would never go anywhere if she didn't speak up. "How do you talk with the Time Man?"

"The man and I? We have tea together, he's gotten into desserts for some reason—which I can attribute to only one person." The Joker gave her a smile as he tapped his cheek. "Were you serious about giving roseberry tarts to the other Kings? I'd like a box for me to go as well, perhaps I can share them with him, would you like me to tell him that it was from yours?"

He was teasing her.

Rosalyn Lockhart narrowed her eyes at him before crossing her arms over her chest. "I think it's only appropriate that I do it myself, you probably know but I owe him a lot." She owed him this life and the others?

"Hmm… I can see that, Your Majesty." The Joker inclined his head, "You are growing into a fine rose."

The Queen of Hearts could already surmise that she wouldn't be able to get any answers from him, she turned away from him. If only to hide the fact that she was flattered. "If you are looking for some tarts, then I assume you are staying tonight, Mister Rosswall. I will have one of the servants escort you to your room."

"Hmmm.... what about that blondie over there?"

Even though she couldn't see to whom he was pointing at, she knew that the Joker was pointing at Mary Ann. She chewed her lip for a moment, "I see, my servant has caught your eye?" How far did this man actually know of things? Was this his way of teasing her about Alice?

She didn't particularly appreciate it.

"Ah, I didn't know that Her Majesty is the jealous type." A small chuckle escaped the man's lips. "Wait, actually, you were like this when you were younger. It's a little cute that you haven't changed at all."

"...A lot of people say that I've changed." Rosalyn Lockhart said aloud. Her gaze swept past from Mary Ann to a certain someone. The King of Hearts was currently speaking with the King of Clovers? The Queen, Neo Anasthasia was exchanging a few words with her Prime Minister. And she could even see her Knight, Julius Ginellevé greeted by the Delegate of Clovers.

"Hmm? You were always kind as a child, a bit spoiled perhaps but—"

The Queen of Hearts eyed the Joker with an unamused smile. "Even he assumed that I would have been more vengeful when we met so you must be lying right now."

"Oh, but you are—or had been?" The man swept up from his seat and gave her a look from head to toe. His gaze was assessing and calculative. It was as if he was inspecting the very crown of her head to the soles of her feet for some kind of anomaly. "I believe he has his reasons for this time and I can see the effects but I can't say too much—where would be the fun in that?"

Rosalyn frowned slightly, "What?"

Did the Joker know much more than her? No. There was no need for hesitation, he knew. As much as the Time Man did himself?

The man hushed her and smiled slightly, "It's already quite late, Your Majesty. It's time for us to retire, I'll approach your friend for directions but I think she's quite scared of me." Without waiting for anything else, the Joker walked away from her and approached Mary Ann.

The Queen of Hearts balled her hands into fists, a flash of irritation going through herself. Out of all the people she would have feared to know about the situation—it just had to be someone far older than her. And someone unwilling to divulge the knowledge they had. She wanted to drag them back here and demand for complete answers.

"But, I think I know what exactly he's hinting at. I'm already aware." And what he said only made her blood boil. It was similar to her interaction with the Time Man himself. She had asked him for the number of times they've met, and yet he refused to say the number and gave an excuse—would her head actually explode if the Time Man or Joker gave the number of times she'd experienced this?

The idea itself was morbid to think about.

"...Or I may actually get more upset than I am now." That made much more sense in a way. Because Rosalyn was already annoyed now. It felt like she was being played with instead of the reversal of time being a gift meant for her.

And their recent encounter, the Time Man forced her to wake up. That time when she had been so close to seeing him and recognizing him! It was a good reason but still— would she have preferred to stay dead just to see him? It was a thought that made her pause. "But I don't… why should I bother with them even."

The Queen of Hearts shook her head.

She was talking to herself now when she could be doing this in her own room. The Queen of Hearts eyed the still conversing group and moved towards them, if only for the specific individual that she needed. "Excuse me, Delegate Dimtri, but I have my need for my Knight."

"Your Majesty." Julius Ginellevé bowed at her. "I'm ready to escort you back to your room."

The Delegate's eyes widened but he bowed his head, "Ah, my apologies. The Queen of Hearts must have been eager to rest, please don't let me hinder you any further."

...It would be rude to just leave now.

Rosalyn Lockhart managed a small smile, "Thank you, I'm a bit tired. But before you leave for the Kingdom of Clovers, I'll be sure to give you and your King and Queen a box of tarts." In the corner of her vision, the King of Clovers was still talking with Alexander.

"Ah, you have my gratitude, Your Majesty. If I may call you, would I perchance have the honor of calling you, Queen Rosalyn?" The Delegate asked with a sheepish smile.

It wasn't exactly an odd request but she nodded. If only because their interaction before in the town had made her a little more receptive to him. At least more than their King. He had seen her before she had met the Hatter. He had purchased a top hat before. "I do not hold much first name basis with anyone, but if you keep the honorific, then I think that it'll be fine… Sir Dimitri."

"Ah, you remembered my name, Your Majesty." The man perked up slightly. "I'm honoured, Queen Rosalyn." He already tested out using her name and he looked a bit proud and satisfied to use it. The expressions on his face contained a magnitude of emotions. More than either the King and Queen of Clovers could have held in their whole body.

The stereotype of the Clover Kingdom people being eccentric, it didn't seem to hold true for everyone.

"...Our meeting has been," Rosalyn Lockhart glanced at Julius and coughed slightly. Even Julius probably didn't know that she had met the Delegate in the town. "Quite memorable."

"Indeed!" Dimitri agreed and nodded. "I couldn't believe it—"

"Perhaps, it's something that shouldn't be discussed too much." Julius Ginellevé suddenly spoke up with a smile. "But I believe Sir Dimitri has been satisfied with the Kingdom of Hearts beauties?"

"Beauties?" Rosalyn Lockhart raised a brow.

"I came to the town to buy hats, seeing beauties was an unexpected thing." Dimitri coughed lightly. "To be honest, I haven't expected your Knight to be quite a jester when I encountered him before."

She didn't know that either.