A Test Of One's Resolve

It wasn't often that one would be in the presence where Four Kingdoms gathered together. In the Royal Conference Hall, the delegates were nervous despite being trusted people of their respective Kingdoms. Most of them had stayed when the King of Hearts left, and perhaps it was only the Kingdom of Clovers who had gone out and left no one to stay behind. That was no doubt a faux pass but who would tell that to the King? And yet this was something that Rosalyn Lockhart would have to get used to for many years—if the situation worked out well for her.

But what had the King of Diamonds tell her? She cleared her throat and managed a disarming smile. "The pleasure is mine, King Francis le Diamant. I know that the situation between Her Majesty and I are a bit terse due to both of our families having the same line of business. But I assure you that as the Royal of Hearts, it is in our best interest to maintain good ties with the Diamond Kingdom."