Page 59 of Knot My Wonderland

"You must be Alice," he said, his voice carrying a formality that didn't quite mask underlying tension. "I am Heart, Prince of the Court of Hearts." He executed a precise bow that somehow managed to be both respectful and slightly mocking. "Though I suspect my reputation precedes me."

I glanced between Chi and Heart, noting the way Chi's form had solidified defensively, positioning himself slightly between us. "Actually, I've never heard of you," I said honestly, earning a surprised laugh from the prince.

"How refreshing," Heart replied, his ruby eyes gleaming with what might have been approval. "Most in Wonderland know me as either the Red Queen's disappointment or the runaway prince.”

I studied Heart more carefully, noting the subtle differences between him and what I'd expect from the Queen of Hearts' son. Where the Red Queen's court favored ostentatious displays of power, Heart wore simple dark clothing that seemed to absorb light rather than reflect it. The only hint of his royal status was the mark on his face, an outlined black heart on the apple of one cheek.

"I take it you don't get along with your mother," I said, earning another flash of those ruby eyes.

"An understatement," Heart replied dryly. "The Red Queen and I have... philosophical differences regarding the proper use of power." His gaze flicked to Chi, who remained protectively close to my side. "Which is why I'm here. The Caterpillar suggested you might be interested in, alternatives to the current, political structure."

Chi's tail whipped with irritation. "How convenient that you arrive just as Alice awakens.”

"Timing is everything in revolution," Heart replied smoothly, his ruby eyes never leaving mine. "And revolution, I'm told, may be exactly what Wonderland needs." He moved closer, and I felt something stir in my chest—a warm recognition that made the silver patterns beneath my skin pulse brighter.

I glanced at the Caterpillar, who watched our interaction with those knowing golden eyes, smoke curling from his hookah in patterns that seemed almost amused.

I struggled to my feet, grateful when Chi's solid form provided steady support. The moss couch released me reluctantly, its bioluminescent glow dimming as I stood. "Let me guess—you want to use me against your mother."

Heart's expression shifted, surprise flickering across his aristocratic features. "Direct. I appreciate that quality." He took a step closer, and I felt an odd pull, like a magnet drawing metal. The silver patterns beneath my skin flared in response.

“Though, I want you as an ally. I wish to take care of my mother myself.” Heart told me, a flash of something feral on his face before disappearing.

I took an instinctive step back at the flash of violence in Heart's expression, bumping into Chi's solid form. Chi's hand came up to rest protectively on my shoulder, his touch steadying both my nerves and the chaotic silver patterns beneath my skin.

"Careful, Prince," Chi purred, his voice carrying a dangerous edge. "Threats of matricide aren't typically considered charming conversation starters."

Heart's eyes flicked to Chi's hand on my shoulder, his jaw tightening almost imperceptibly. "It's not a threat—it's a promise. My mother has ruled through blood and terror for too long." He turned back to me, his expression softening slightly. "But that's my burden to bear, not yours."

The Caterpillar exhaled a long stream of rainbow smoke that formed fleeting images between us—Heart as a child, cowering beneath a red-robed figure wielding a crystal scepter; Heart older, standing his ground as the Red Queen's magic lashed around him like crimson whips; Heart fleeing through midnight forests, blood streaming from wounds across his back.

"The Prince of Hearts speaks truth," the Caterpillar observed, his golden eyes tracking patterns in the smoke. "He has opposed his mother's cruelty since childhood, suffering greatly for his defiance."

I glanced between Heart and the smoke images, seeing the pain etched in both versions. "I'm sorry for what you've endured," I said quietly, "but I still don't understand what you want from me."

Heart's expression remained carefully neutral, though something flickered in those ruby eyes—vulnerability quickly masked by practiced control. "What I want is to reshape Wonderland into what it once was. A realm of balanceand possibility, not divided territories ruled by power-hungry monarchs."

He spread his hands, palms up—a gesture of openness that couldn't quite hide the tension in his shoulders. "The Caterpillar says you carry the pattern of the First Queen—the only ruler who ever united Wonderland under a single vision. I don’t believe it’s a coincidence that you’ve arrived here, now when Wonderland stands on the brink of war.”

I felt Chi's grip tighten slightly on my shoulder. "And you just happened to discover this information at the exact moment Alice arrives in Wonderland?" His tail swished skeptically behind him.

Heart's ruby eyes hardened. "I've been searching for a way to overthrow my mother for decades, Cheshire. I've consulted oracles, studied ancient texts, followed rumors of dreamers with silver beneath their skin." He gestured toward the Caterpillar. "When I heard whispers of a new dreamer who had created a consciousness ward in a matter of days, I knew I had to investigate."

The Caterpillar's smoke swirled into new patterns, showing Heart traveling through dark forests, speaking with shadowy figures, gathering information piece by piece. "The Prince has indeed sought such a dreamer for thirty-seven years, four months, and sixteen days," the ancient being confirmed. "His search predates your arrival by considerable time."

I studied Heart's face, searching for deception but finding only weary determination. The silver patterns beneath my skin continued to pulse in response to his presence—not the gentle warmth I felt with Chi, but something more intense, like lightning contained in glass.

"Even if I believe your motives are genuine," I said carefully, "I'm not looking to start a revolution. I just want to survive long enough to figure out what's happening to me."

Heart's expression softened unexpectedly. "I understand that desire," he said, his voice losing its formal edge. "But survival and revolution may not be mutually exclusive in your case." He gestured toward the chamber around us, where the floating books had begun to circle closer, their pages fluttering with visible agitation. "The monarchs are already mobilizing their forces. The Red Queen has declared you an enemy of the state. The Queen of Clubs has put a bounty on your capture. Even neutrality won't protect you now."

The Caterpillar nodded sagely, exhaling smoke that formed images of armies marching across Wonderland's varied landscapes. "The dreamer speaks truth when she desires survival," he observed, "but survival requires power, and power in Wonderland inevitably becomes political."

Chi's form flickered with agitation. "There are other options besides revolution. The hidden paths, the Forgotten Lands—"

"Temporary solutions to a permanent problem," Heart interrupted, his ruby eyes flashing. "How long can Alice hide in the Forgotten Lands while Wonderland tears itself apart? How many innocents will suffer while she seeks sanctuary in places that exist outside time?"

The smoke images shifted, showing villages burning under the Red Queen's advance, citizens fleeing as the Queen of Clubs' vine soldiers overran peaceful territories. I watched the miniature scenes of destruction with growing horror.

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