52 Promises Are Promises

There would always come a time when he would have to make a choice. Would he always follow what the Queen of Hearts had wanted or to go against her wishes? He was afraid that he had to intervene once again, he stared at the Hatter in front of him.

Julius Ginellevé's fingers hovered above the hilt of his sword, before giving the man before him a smile, "What could you do for me? You could leave immediately or accept my blade if you are able to follow what I truly want."

The man's expression paled for a moment, their body stiffened—he eyed the man, the Hatter was still holding his utensils, a knife and a fork. If they were as skilled as he gauged him, this Nicholas Hatter could throw the knife at his face and he would have to block it or dodge.

That was just enough time for the man to escape or jump through the window. They were on the first floor, the man would survive. But the man simply eyed him warily, "I'm afraid the Queen of Hearts, the one I assume you serve would be upset if an esteemed guest like me were to be harmed."

Julius Ginellevé clicked his tongue for a moment and managed to give them a shrug, "Well said, I'll be direct with you. Are you by any chance related to the ones that are harming my Queen?"

"My Queen?" Nicholas Hatter raised a brow at him before coughing slightly, "And I believe that everyone who you ask that question would answer yes, treason against the Kingdom is equivalent to death after all."

He narrowed his eyes at the man, their answer wasn't still enough to satisfy him… but based on their previous actions, they did take care of Rosalyn. Had saved her from those trash assassins that attempted to lay a hand on her. 

"I'll let you know right ahead that I do not trust you—your intentions might not align with what the Queen wishes for or what is essential for her." He walked around the room for a moment, reigning back a sigh.

What Rosalyn Lockhart wanted is clearly different from what she needed. Although it was questionable why she had wanted to interact more with this person. 

He eyed them once again, "And though I probably do not need to let you know that if you ever do something wrong, you shall taste my blade."

"...I think that was very clear from the start, Sir Knight—"

The door swung open.

Rosalyn Lockhart stepped into her waiting room and found Nicholas Hatter in his seat while accompanied by her Knight. She raised a brow at the odd sight.

"Our greetings to Her Majesty." Both of them gave their respects, standing up to give a proper bow.

She really didn't expect anybody else to be here except for the Hatter, "What are you doing here, Sir Ginellevé?" It wouldn't have been odd to see him outside the Royal Dining Hall but choosing to be here instead?

"I've decided to ensure that Her Majesty's guest is properly accommodated and is in good spirits." Sir Julius Ginellevé explained with a warm smile, his amethyst eyes were twinkling as he radiated an aura of innocence.

That just made it more suspicious.

But she decided to focus on what she had missed, "Are you eating well, Nicholas Hatter?" It was a bit strange to use his full name but then again, he was simply a mere commoner. 

The Queen of Hearts made her way to one of the available chaise lounges and took a seat, she ignored that it was in splashes of white—it kind of suited her wine red walls, and instead she awaited his response.

He inclined his head, "Her Majesty of Hearts has been very gracious with this one. I give you my gratitude."

"This simple meal is not enough to give me your gratitude and neither is it enough for me to repay my own debts." She told him with a small frown, as she propped a hand underneath her chin, "Indeed, I've already relied on you as soon as you've arrived and had you take on the role as an entertainer for the other Queens. So it actually seems like I have become more indebted."

"Your Majesty—"

"Do not refuse me. I've already promised you yesterday to repay you for saving my life." When she had assumed that someone like them would choose the opportunity for ill and harm to come to her… he saved her instead. 

She placed a hand on her chest. "And I am a person who keeps their promises, so name your price, Nicholas Hatter. I will not spare anything that is within my means to repay you and settle my debt of gratitude."

Her life was valuable.

Even more valuable now that she had already lost if before. And despite feeling a sense of begrudgement that she had been ripped out from the choice of simply resting after death, to have someone fight for it—especially someone she had wronged before.

It was the strangest of feelings.

"Anything, Your Majesty?" Nicholas Hatter repeated her question, a slight bewilderment in his expression.

On her right side, she could already see that her Knight was giving the man a narrowed look but she nodded her head. "Yes, I am serious. If it is within my means to do so, I shall give it to you. Would you like wealth or power? Perhaps you would like to marry a beauty, a lady of noble standing? And that song of yours from earlier. If you wish for it, I can still make arrangements with either the Queen of Diamonds or Clovers for it to be distributed and be well received."

This was her chance to seal a deal.

To gain this man as her ally would deal a debilitating blow in the future camp of Alice when it occurs. If he became her friend then there was in no way that he would fall for the vixen—she would make sure of it.

And what was the best way to gain a friend?

Well surely by giving him whatever he wanted. Gifts were understandably the best way to do it, it was perhaps the only way she felt that she could truly get her message across.