Chapter Text
”A heart given can never be taken back”
Heartless, a beautiful and heart wrenching story written slightly so differently, Starting after the black and white ball.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It was a beautiful day, Cath noted to herself as her carriage brought her further from her home. The trees were filled with green leafs and through the window of the carriage a faint smell of spring could be felt. She sighed slightly and closed her eyes, trying to think of anything but her gloomy destination. She wasn't anxious by nature, but the knowledge of what her future might hold for her gave her butterflies that were not of the good kind.
She vividly remembered the conversation she had with her parents, or, more her mother telling her and Cath standing there in horror and disbelief. The king had noticed her during the black and white ball, and wanted to court her. She was to be in a courtship with the king, forcing her into a life she had never wished for.
Cath had for as long as she remembered known that sort of life wouldn't be for her. She had dreams of her own, her own little bakery filled to the brim with cakes and pastries.Of course her parents wanted something different for her. She was nobility, and nobility women wweren't meant to serve others. Except of course her parents and the king.
She thought back to the night of the black and white ball, she had felt humiliated as she realized her mother fooled her into wearing the red dress. She had then ran from the ballroom, fleeing into the garden as the king called upon her to join him and bumped right into the king's joker instead. He had made terrible jokes that Cath couldn't help but laugh at, and she had just for a moment forgotten about why she had been upset to begin with. Unwanted proposals and embaressment or not, He had made her world feel just slightly more bright. The small smile on her lips from remembering the joker didn't leave for the rest of the trip
The weather was warm and Cath was bored. She had gotten here no more than an hour ago and had done everything in her power to avoid the king. It sounds like an impossible task to avoid the king during the kings own garden party, but the many guests and large garden worked in her favor
She found herself scanning the area, looking for something that indicated that the Joker was attending. She knew she shouldn't, but unlaced corsets and terrible jokes aside she found him...exciting. She had dreamt of him twice, his lemon eyes that prompted the three lemon tarts that she herself never got to taste, courtesy of a too strung up corset and quick fingers of the king.
Speaking of the king, she noticed him on the other side of the garden, he himself also scanning the area, undoubtedly looking for her. Cath knew she would have to face her mothers wrath later for escaping the kings advances, but if the alternative was stringing along a man she didn't want in a courtship she never wished for, she would pick wrath any day.
Cath found herself by the castle lake and took a deep breath to calm her nerves. She wondered how much longer she would have to stay, since her mother, after realizing Cath was indeed safe at home and not in the stomach of a mythological creature, had not taken too kindly to her leaving the black and white ball early. But considering she would already have to face her mothers wrath for not engaging with the king...
A cawing behind her made her gasp and turn around, and was met with warm lemon eyes.
“Good afternoon, My Lady”.
Cath let out a breath she didn't know she held. In front of her, Jest grinned broadly and cocked his head, clearly waiting for an answer. It brought Cath out of her shocked state and she realized a reply was the polite thing to give when one was greeted. “Good afternoon Sir Joker, You look rather well” Cath answered him before turning back towards the lake. Her heart beating just slightly faster than it normally would.
Behind her, she heard the jingle from the silver bells on Jest's hat as he moved closer behind her.
“I Feel like I should be the one saying that too you, considering your state during our last encounter”. The joker replied and she could practically feel his grin as he took his place beside her.
Cath chanced a glance towards him, and just as she thought, his lips had spread into a broad grin. Cath quickly looked away, unsure how to respond. She had scanned the party for the past hour looking for the Joker, but now that he was beside her it made her skin feel hot and she wasn't sure how to feel about it.
“I'm quite well, and as I told you I only needed a bit of air.” She replied while trying his hardest not to look at him. “And I'm still upset about my corset, you know. Do you tend to undress all ladies who fall unconscious in your prescience? Or am I special” She felt a sting of glee as the Joker cleared his throat. She didn't wish to make him feel uncomfortable, but, making him squirm just slightly from his actions wouldn't cause him harm.
“Well, I WAS concerned for you health, Lady Catherine. I can assure you that no other impropperness took place other than assisting you in your discomfort, My lady”. Jest's voice was light and slightly humorous, and as Cath turned to face him, his eyes were filled with mirth and laughter.
The sight, as beautiful as his eyes were in the bright sunlight, almost made her bristle as it seemed he was making fun of her. She took a deep breath to calm down, getting angry with Jest wouldn't be fair. He had truly done nothing at all to deserve it, as he had indeed helped her quite a bit at the black and white ball. She was upset about her situation, she was not upset with Jest.
“What are you doing here anyhow? Shouldn't you be at the festivities, I mean.” Cath asked him, intending to changing the subject.
“My job is to entertain, and as such, How could I leave such a lovely lady looking so solemn?” He replied. Shaking his head just enough to make the silver bells jingle, as to emphasize his point.
“Is that so” Cath murmured, feeling her face heating up from his words. She felt foolish from taking his words directly to heart, she had only met him once before and It had been less than a 'proper' or 'conventional' encounter. An encounter of which she could tell no one, and she had promised herself ...promised her parents...
“The King has decided to court me” Cath blurted out and she watched the grin on the Jokers face slip momentarily. Cath watched his face carefully as he replied “Yes, I have heard as much.” He didn't meet her gaze. “Did..did you have something to do with this?” She carefully asked, not sure she wanted to know.
“I figured..you would prefer a courtship rather than a proposal. Though..your face indicates that you would have preferred neither.” He told her, still not meeting her gaze.
Cath looked away, letting her gaze sweep over the lake once more as what felt like a rock formed at the pit of her stomach. But also some sense of relief. Even though she had found herself in a rather..unfortunate position with this courtship, it was still better than a giant public proposal in front of both the kingdom and her parents where she would have felt forced to accept.
“Thank you Sir Joker. While you are right I would have preferred neither one, I do appreciate your help. But, I should go back now, before my parents come find me.”
The Joker took his three pointed hat of and bowed, his bright smile back on his face once more. Though, Cath noted it was slightly more strained than it normally was. “I'm happy to have helped, Lady Catherine. Please let me escort you back”. He said and offered her his arm, just as he did the night they first met. She hesitated, but still grabbed a hold of his arm once more. Letting him lead her back to the party, and the King.