9 Offering of Hearts

Darkness swirled around her, a comfortable weight that made her want to drift down into the bottom of the lake. Little bubbles escaped from her mouth and soon lifted up towards the light—

Something bright dove towards her. A halo of light that rushed towards her before she closed her eyes and everything went black after that.

Consciousness returned to her in a flash.

Rosalyn Lockhart had been comfortable until she felt herself rouse, something warm that melted with her mouth—her eyes snapped open. Red met blue and Alexander was quick to pull away from her.

"You're awake." A relieved sigh escaped the King of Heart's lips as he gazed at her. He was entirely drenched from head to toe, the man's shirt clung to his torso. He pulled himself up from his feet and sighed once more.

She blinked, feeling a bit hazy and weak all at the same time but she was quick to wipe her mouth. Once again she stared at the man that stood before her, he was completely soaked and when she looked down at herself—the case was the same.

"Ah, that was quite a fright!" Someone behind them remarked.

"Her Majesty was a little too playful to notice that she had been at the ledge of the gazebo. Ah, at least she is fine."

Another simply let out a laugh, "His Majesty, King Alexander really does show himself as a competent one to have survived the Card Trial! To know of such methods to wake Her Majesty, surely an amusing sight."

She paid no heed to them, staring at her hands and feeling something missing. Rosalyn Lockhart wanted to find utter relief in her chest for being safe and alive… but there wasn't anything like that. If anything, she could only find some hint of dismay and disappointment in her chest that she had even been saved.

Moreso that it had to be this man.

"Rosa—Your Majesty, Queen of Hearts." Another man knelt in front of her, in a similar case to the King and herself, Knight Julius Ginellevé was drenched, his white hair was damp on his forehead. He resembled a white cat that had taken a bath.

She bit back a murmur down her throat. Even he had tried his best to save her and yet here she was, unsatisfied for some reason.

His purple eyes looked at her with terrible pain, it was enough to pull her away from her musings. "I'm glad you are alright, Your Majesty. If you would allow me, I shall escort you to your quarters. You will get sick if you stay in the same garments."

That sounded good honestly. She was still a little disoriented as she reached her head. She had been holding onto something. "His Majesty's gift!"

The King of Diamonds was quick to shake his head, "Do not fret yourself over such a small bauble, it is incomparable to your own safety and precious life, Your Majesty."

"Well then, I suppose I must thank you for your kind words—I fear that I may truly need to depart from this meeting abruptly once more." Rosalyn Lockhart tried to get up and was quickly assisted by sir Julius who stood at her right side. "I shall surely make up for—"

"Would it be alright if I were to temporarily put a hold to this tour of the castle? My Prime Minister, Blyke Edelweiss will be here any moment now and can take over for me once he arrives." Alexander Hartschmidt flashed a sheepish smile at his fellow Rulers, and even bowed slightly as he did.

The King of Spades was the first to speak, "It appears that it can't be helped. We shall wait for him here then—though I don't get why a Prime Minister is supposed to be late. You ought to fire him."

"Indeed, quite a strange matter. The man must be quite lucky as if he had been bestowed by two rabbit foot charms to have a kind King." The King of Clovers soon responded with a shrug and a smile.

The King of Diamonds beckoned for him to leave, "Do not dilly-dally, Her Majesty needs to be taken care off."

"Ah the man is quite respectable and performs his duties well except for being a bit tardy—I'm more than willing to look it over. But my gratitude to the three of you." Alexander lowered his head for a moment before turning to her. "Now then, do you need someone to carry you? I'm afraid that you might slip."

Honestly, he had enough time to defend his Prime Minister's honor? It was a silly observation.

She shook her head once, Sir Julius Ginellevé's steady grip on her hand was enough to keep her balanced. "I'm alright, Your Majesty. To postpone this because of me is clearly not something I would like to happen—we need to respect our honourable guests. Once again, I deeply apologize for the King of Diamonds' gift."

"As I said earlier, think nothing of it. As long as you are well, Your Majesty. I wish you a safe trip back to your quarters." A charming smile played on the King of Diamonds' lips and she returned it before she left.

It so happened that her husband was also right behind her.

Perhaps it was good luck that nobody else was passing in the corridors back towards their chambers right now—what a sight it would have been if the King were to be seen following after the Queen! The Queen who was relying on a Knight to escort her no less.

It would fare badly for both of them to be seen like that.

Such a scandalous thing if it were to be exposed.

And so she halted in her steps.

A realization coming upon her mind, "Your Majesty, King of Hearts—" She let go of Sir Julius' hand for a moment and turned to her husband. Curtsying low as she could. "Thank you for saving my life earlier." It had been his fault why she had fallen in the first place. "Forgive my inability to show you gratitude, I am still… what do they call it, out of it and rather disoriented with the events that happened." It was really his fault.

The man let out a sigh as their gazes once again locked together, "Your Majesty, Queen of Hearts—it wouldn't have happened if you would have only allowed me to tie the necklace around your neck."

"I do not find it fit nor suitable for a man to do that in the public eye, moreso that the jewelry had been from the King of Diamonds." Rosalyn really wanted to head back into her chambers, perhaps just her alone and laugh about it. She eyed him with a smile. "I know that you are less trained than me in court etiquette but even a simple husband would turn away a gift to his wife."

He would not win against her in this debate.

"A simple husband can do that and face no consequences except for the mire of his enemy—but the rules of the court are less forgiving of a man that does not show any hint of gratitude from a gift." The King Alexander was finally answering back like she had always wanted him to.

His words were biting and reproachful.

"Even so, if you had trusted me enough to approach me instead of stepping away when I no longer asked to tie the necklace around your neck, then you would have not fallen in the first place." Alexander Hartschmidt eyed her with the slightest hint of irritation.

She merely eyed him back with a blank expression.

The man continued, "I understand that I hold none of your favor or even trust as partners." It was for but a slight moment that his gaze turned to the Knight that hadn't interrupted their conversation at all before it returned to hers. "But you've surely been more uncooperative as of late—even without your fits of anger. Time and time again, you refuse me and take delight in it. I've offered my heart and sincerity and yet you never even do so much as blink."

So the King of Hearts finally or perhaps had always been aware of this? Her distrust of him.

He had even gone on a long speech at last.

"Ah, Your Majesty," Her lips curled into a smile, acknowledging such a thing—this mistrust, she wanted to see even a flicker of pain in his face but the slightest crack of the man's pristine image was also satisfying to behold. "You are quite aware of our situation and yet you seem to act as if you have a change of heart."

But now that she had finally recovered from the fall in the lake—did she realize something a bit late. This was a weird thing, to discuss it in the open and with her lover with them. What if there was someone around?

She shook her head and turned away, stepping away from them. "Your Majesty, I kindly suggest that you change your clothes and return at once to meet up with our fellow Rulers. We have already embarrassed ourselves far enough—if you do not care for such a thing, I do. That will be all, thank you."