57 The Most Opportune Timing

There was a question that the King of Spades had in mind but failed to ask due to the arrival of the other people within this corridor—and as they finally made their way out to find the King of Hearts and the other Royal Delegates, Alfred Villeuce inwardly sighed in relief.

Was this his chance to ask her?

So far, he could tell that their interactions were of pleasant manners. She was more willing to converse with him and be honest, standing up for her own Kingdom and taking decisive actions to ensure that the trade deal between the Spades and Hearts would be in their favor. He had liked that, especially when the two of them spoke without any hint of concern to the other Royals they were in.

He enjoyed the look on the King of Heart's face as they watched.

Alas when he gazed upon the Queen of Hearts, she seemed to be truly fatigued from the mere conversation between her and her servants. Perhaps there truly was a grain of truth in her words of saying that she needed to rest? And yet she kept up with her appearances for as long as she needed to do so and had done it with an air of noblesse oblige.

Now that simply added more to the allure of theirs.

It was akin to a fragile glass…dragon? Dangerous but there was a certain sensitive part to her that simply made it feel like it was appropriate to leave her be for now. He wouldn't bother her right now. Surely despite their earlier words of not having any opportunity to get to know each other during the Royal Conference—He would surely encounter her more on a later date.

Alfred Villeuce took a quick bow towards the woman and offered them a smile, "I hope that Her Majesty has found my present to be much better than the King of Diamonds. Or perhaps you would wish for it to be inlaid with jewels as well?" Although he found that their relationship seemed to be smooth, he wasn't exactly so sure that he could impress her despite the bravado he presented to her.

If anything, that might prove to be a fatal flaw for him in the future.

Her brows furrowed at him, knotting together before they smoothed over. The Queen of Hearts returned his smile, "I am not quite sure if I'll find much use to it in comparison to the necklace of the King of Diamonds but I thank you for your thoughts. Not once did I expect to receive a present such as this."

A glow of pride made its way to his chest at those words, there was a certain pleasure in knowing that she liked it far better than the other King. He smiled, "Well then, Your Majesty. I shall no longer take too much of your time—if there is a need for rest and recuperation then do not keep leaving your bedside. It is much more important that you are always in good health, Queen of Hearts."

"I-I will keep that in mind, thank you once again, Your Majesty." Curtsying in front of him, she was an epitome of grace and royalty. At least in his traditional perspective of a woman of her stature as she raised her head and met his gaze, "Have a good day as well, perhaps you will find more satisfaction in our Kingdom today."

She hadn't let that comment of his slip by, did she? He stifled a chuckle and before he could make another reply, she went on her way.

Travelling down the corridor and perhaps back to her own personal chambers. He had an inkling of a thought to follow her—there weren't a lot of opportunities where her own personal Knight had a lack of their presence. He had heard that there was a certain commotion in the barracks. But for now, he simply watched her leave until the last sight of red from her gown disappeared from his vision.

Surely his good friend would understand that he was waiting for the most opportune of times.

. . .

Rosalyn Lockhart stepped into her personal study room and let out a long sigh as she shut the doors. She had escaped relatively safe from that encounter—although she could already imagine Catherine Duke mentioning to the King of Hearts that they'd met each other in the hallways.

Nevertheless, she had also gained something else.

Drawing her sleeve lower, the beautiful hilt of the dagger revealed itself to her and she pulled it out carefully. It had been electric—not the dagger itself but the way that the King of Spades offered it to her and even pulled her sleeve down to fasten the gauntlet in her arm. Such contact was a little seductive perhaps. Her lips quirked up, still it was only possible to have such an interaction with this Alfred Villeuce as they were equals in rank. It was something that neither the Mad Hatter or her Knight could essentially do.

She returned it to its sheath and frowned, "But perhaps that was an intentional action on their part. Nobody would do anything for no reason and those words of his seemed so familiar…" It was as if she had heard it already before. She repeated them in her mind once more:

'I believe that there may be occasions where you must lift your own blade and take a decisive strike, Your Majesty.'

"But I've never encountered him before," Rosalyn Lockhart took a seat in her office chair and picked up a quill, "So perhaps it's my mind playing tricks with me? Associating things with one after another." Shaking her head, the Queen of Hearts opted to continue with her paperwork and other official duties.

At least that was what she assumed the rest of her afternoon would go, alas the sound of the grandfather clock struck far sooner than she liked. It was now six o'clock in the evening and she reminded herself that she needed to at least join the dinner tonight. "Ah, I'm behind on the paperworks, it's annoying."

She half-wondered if she should skip dinner entirely but she had a specific target in mind. Rosalyn Lockhart would have to ensure that Catherine Duke would find herself more close and in touch with her than Alexander Hartsmichdt could ever do—the other Royal Suits would surely leave in a matter of time, but it was this lady and her husband that would stay in the nearest of proximity.

It was difficult gaining a friend but what was even more troubling was maintaining such relationships.

At least she hoped she would be able to suffer the woman or the King's presence, she clicked her tongue and propped a hand underneath her cheek. If things didn't go smoothly and either one of them grated on her nerves or perhaps one of the other Royals did such a thing, "Well, I hope they won't begrudge me for stabbing them if that occurs."