章節 31: Dealing with the Queens

Her question hung in the air for a moment—as if she said something wrong but that couldn't be the case because they were the ones who had requested her to come and visit them. Surely if they were to make her wait while they were still eating breakfast would be some sort of insult. They were after all simply guests and she was still the host.

Olivia Deuce was the first one to stand up from her seat as she locked gazes with the Queen of Hearts, "After you, Your Majesty." She gave Rosalyn Lockhart a brief nod. It seemed like she was concise but it also didn't match why she was eager to get away from the banquet.

Rosalyn Lockhart shifted her gaze to the other Queen who stood up without much of a word, Her Majesty, Neo Anasthasia simply gave a nod and that only left one person remaining in her seat. Jeanne La Monique rested a hand underneath her chin, "What if I wanted to be left alone?"

The Queen of Hearts bit back the urge to roll her eyes, "If that is what you wish, Your Majesty. Well then, we shall leave you here."

Without even waiting for any other response, she curtsied in front of the other Kings and then took her leave. She could already see the other two Queens take their place beside her and she simply walked on without a fuss. It was a little foolish of the Queen of Diamond to try and be sassy with such a reply—relationships were important.

Remembering that, she slowed down her steps by a margin and glanced at the other two women. "Please forgive my rushing, suffice to say that Queen La Monique and I—"

"The two of you have already met and are not on good terms, we can tell as much. But surely we can discuss her faults behind her back once you've at least toured us around, Your Majesty of Hearts." The Queen of Spades was direct to the point indeed as she flicked her wrist. The woman's tone was both straightforward but also held the lackadaisical 'I don't really care what we discuss'.

And the other Queen she had to deal with was—

"Queen Anasthasia, how about you? Do you have any preferences where you would like to visit?" Rosalyn Lockhart didn't want to be too subservient or anything of that note but the other woman's silence was somewhat unnerving. Or rather it was a bit hard to read.

Somehow they might really have ended up in the most proper of Kingdoms befitting their personality. Except for their short exchange with the King of Hearts, she couldn't exactly find any other interest in their dark eyes. A small smile once again formed on her lips, "I have no preferences, Your Majesty of Hearts. Please feel free to show us whatever you wish."

Rosalyn Lockhart's eye twitched slightly as she tried to recall which was the closest place they could head to that was remotely interesting for any of them. Would the Heart's Grand Library be any delight to them? She didn't exactly favor going to the Garden or Gazebo of Dreams without the presence of her Knight.

Thunderous steps followed after them.

"How unbecoming," She muttered underneath her breath and glanced back to see the Queen of Diamonds approach them with a huff.

Jeanne la Monique narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest, "How rude of you to not wait for me to agree to come with all three of you, I'm quite disappointed that the other Queens would simply leave me behind."

It looked like the Queen of Spades wanted to retort but held back her tongue and on the opposite side, the Queen of Clovers retained her somewhat blank expression. Dealing with entirely different people was a little bothersome in her own way but at least she could take the opportunity in answering them.

Perhaps a more cool-headed person wouldn't have dignified a response but she would.

"Forgive me, I simply thought that you truly wished to be alone." Rosalyn Lockhart's lips formed into a smile, it would have been better to simply ignore them but she'd personally enjoy to wipe that arrogance off the other Queen's face, "Or perhaps you would like to stay among the Kings' presence? I do recall that you have a tendency for that."

Jeanne la Monique gritted her teeth as a flicker of anger showed on her face. But it quickly vanished as they adopted a cool tone. "It's simply because I'm quite aware that there's not much to do here—surely you have something else to show besides the sights, if I wanted to see them then I could have simply enjoyed it via a crystal ball's projection."

"Ah, then it must have been better if Her Majesty had never left her Kingdom, didn't she?" The Queen of Hearts turned Jeanne la Monique's own words against her but considered their question, what else could she show them? Even Rosalyn Lockhart herself didn't exactly tour around her Kingdom admiring every needless sight. She wasn't that patriotic enough to be blind that they paled in comparison to other Kingdoms despite her pride for her birthplace.

The Queen of Diamonds shrugged, "It can't be helped that my King wanted to bring me along. It's actually a little surprising that his Majesty of Hearts doesn't try to bring you anywhere, he visited our Kingdom last time and I didn't see you there, Your Majesty. Had you also been ill that time, Lady Lockhart?"

Rosalyn Lockhart pursed her lips and fought back the urge to respond at that remark. Did they really think she'd be upset, well she should be upset at the improper form of honorific! But she'd much prefer being a Lady if it meant she didn't need to deal with everything that was on her plate.

Perhaps then there would have been no beheadings.

Biting back a sigh, she then opted to focus instead of finding a place or some form of entertainment for the other less nuisance of Queens to go to.

So where—

"Your Majesty! Oh—"

A certain man found himself in the presence of four Queens and blinked stupefied. The Queen of Hearts blinked back for but a moment until an opportunity found itself in her mind.