Chapter 10: Out Of Turn

The King of Hearts no longer followed after her.

That was a good thing, but Sir Julius Ginellevé trailed after her—although he said not a word. It was a wondrous thing when the man was simply tailing after her instead of speaking praises, but even the silence was a bit aggravating as she reached her quarters.

She glanced over her shoulder to see the young man, a thoughtful expression on his face. He was mulling over something and she wanted to know what. "If you have anything to say, speak your mind now while I'm willing to lend an ear."

Sir Julius Ginellevé looked up, amethyst eyes twinkling before he gave her a closed-eye smile. "Ah, as you have lent me your heart, now you would lend me an ear."

Rosalyn Lockhart did not find it amusing.

Sir Julius Ginellevé finally opened his eyes and stared at her with a more embarrassed expression. Until he cleared his throat, "Your Majesty, it is outside of my rank and position to speak—but I think you've missed an opportunity to gain favor with His Majesty."

Rosalyn Lockhart stared at him.

"Am I talking with the real you or have you gone mad?" She tilted at him to check if he was kidding or teasing her. She wasn't used to this side of him, he was mostly content to follow with her whims without even a question.

A smile formed on the man's lips, "Whether we like it or not, the King of Hearts is still the Ruler of the kingdom and your husband."

It was unimaginable that she would be receiving a lecture—and from him of all people.

"So you think it was best that I have simply let the man do as he pleased?" She raised a brow at him and crossed her arms over her chest. She would have imagined the man to be gleeful, yet here he was—introspective and even possibly pitying His Majesty.

The Knight shook his head, "Not at all, but it would be more wise to have him on your side instead of against it. You may not trust him, but the two of you should at least have a beneficial relationship."

"Huh, I take it as a no from my earlier request." Her lips twitched, she had found herself proven wrong once again.

Sir Ginellevé chuckled as he stepped closer to her, "Your Majesty, you do not know what you ask. If I bring the King's head, even more madness will befall in our land—I cannot let you carry that burden." He gave her a pout, as he continued. "Your Majesty, since I've already spoken out of turn. I noticed that you've also been acting quite strange for some reason."

Once upon a time, she and him had stood together at the top of the world. Or at least the scope of power that she had possessed as Queen and without interference from the King. This was the man who had stayed with her even with Alice's arrival—she had seemingly both forgotten and paid more attention to their last moments together.

At the end of the tale, or perhaps unmentioned in the triumph of Alice was the sight of a Queen who was felled by her own lover's blade.

Did she trust this man who had sworn his love but also used his own weapon against her?

"...I thank you for your thoughts, Sir Julius, as always you have shown your fealty with me." She averted her gaze from him, feeling her chest thump wildly in her chest. Had she really changed that much? All she needed to do was use him like a tool as she had done so before.

An innocent and bright laugh escaped from the Knight's lips, once again he took a step closer to her and bridged the gap between them. She found her back against the wall. "Your Majesty, fealty is too simple of a word to use." Once more she was pinned between a rock and a hard place—the man's expression more seductive as he dipped his head towards her.

Heat flushed her face as he did, "Wait, I'm still—"

His lips brushed against her forehead before he inched back to stare at her with a pleased expression. "You've been acting much cuter than usual, it's annoying that the King is starting to take notice of a wife he had neglected before." He continued with a frown. "You should start getting mad as you've always been and give him a headache."

This seemed like a complete opposite to his words of gaining His Majesty's trust.

"Pardon?"

He sighed and idly ran his thumb over her lips, "His Majesty had even dared touch your lips in an excuse of saving your life—it really irritates me. Stop being so defenseless, my Queen." His brows furrowed as he ran his hand trailed down to the back of her neck, "I really wish that I could say that I'm all the person that you really need, but I fear that you may have to tolerate His Majesty's presence."

Her brows raised at his words, "Why?"

"I fear that someone is after your life."

And that was where she burst into laughing, she wanted to wipe the tears that spilled her eyes as she stared at him. It really was strange and amusing to see her very own murderer say that, she tried to regain back her control as she gave him a saccharine smile. "I don't really think that's new—but I really will take your words into consideration."

He was right.

Even if she didn't fall by his own blade in this lifetime… there certainly were more than enough candidates to take after his place. She cleared her throat and placed her hands on his chest and gently beckoned him to step back, "Thank you Sir Julius, I'll be thinking about your suggestion—but for now, please leave me be as I do need to change and so do you as well."

He tilted his head at her, a captivating smile on his face. "If you wish, I can undress you and warm you myself. I can even towel your hair and brush it, Your Majesty."

Once again with the offers; and this time with a more innocent and guileless approach.

It was a tempting offer but she shook her head. "I'll be fine."

And there the man would sweep a bow before he raised a finger to his lips. Sir Julius Ginellevé then approached the door to her chambers. His other hand was on his sword as he opened the room and stared at it for a moment, scrutinizingly before nodding. "Feel free to head into your room, Your Majesty. I shall stand guard outside."

Rosalyn Lockhart tried not to shake her head, "Thank you Sir Julius." The man really was paranoid of her safety, but that was only more beneficial to her in the end. Even though he was going as far as telling her to be on good terms with her own husband.

He really did care about her in his own way. Though it really was odd, but still...

Perhaps, she ought to be a little more thankful instead of finding fault over this?

CREATORS' THOUGHTS
RachelRuth

"Curiouser and curioser."

That is all I can say in regards to this chapter. Is it a little confusing? Can you grasp the motivations and nuances behind the characters or will you come to the conclusion that... "She's mad. He's mad. We're all mad here."

It's a really confusing thinking about it now as I feel sleepy but thank you for reading the chapter!

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