𝓦𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝 𝓘𝙩 𝓑𝙪𝙧𝙣, 𝗔𝗡 𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥 𝗔𝗙𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗛𝗜𝗚𝗛 𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗟𝗬 𝗙𝗜𝗖

𝓒𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝓣𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙚

Scarlett Rouge's POV

"I'm still failing to comprehend why you volunteered to stack all the chairs in the Legacy Plaza for Headmaster Grimm," Scarlett told Chase Redforth. In the whipping wind, his black with red streaks flew all over his stoic face. He wore a red suit with a cape draped over his shoulder for his Legacy Day outfit with white ruffled cuffs. Carrying a chair, Chase marched over to the stacks of dozens of chairs while Scarlett followed. He didn't reply at first, he had a vague habit of that. "Well, at least let me help you."

"Grab that one," he said, finally uttering a word. The layers of Scarlett's skirts bustled as the Wonderlandian duo scurried throughout the plaza. After Raven Queen rejected her destiny, Headmaster Grimm shut down Legacy Day, so those who were supposed to go after Raven didn't have the chance to sign. "Professor Rumpelstiltskin." Chase didn't give much of an explanation. "I failed his exam, as one does with an unfair teacher like him, and needed some extra credit," he added as an afterthought.

Satisfied with that answer, Scarlett continued to help drag chairs across the plaza, making smalltalk with Chase as they went on. It was odd—though, that was expected since they were from Wonderland—routine of Scarlett being too chatty by oversharing and Chase quietly observing, occasionally smiling or adding his input. It just worked. "The breeze is really strong tonight," she commented, squinting her eyes. "That means a thunderstorm is near."

Chase had a glint in his eyes. "It reminds me of all the times I came sopping wet in the Red Castle..." Oh, for Grimm's sake. Scarlett let out a laugh, giggling and wiping tears from her eyes. The Red Queen, Scarlett's mother, loved Chase Redforth as his own, but the death stare she gave him when Chase would unintentionally track mud across the castle's pristine floors. If looks could kill... "Stop laughing at me," he grumbled as Scarlett wrapped her arms around her waist, laughing until she couldn't speak.

"I'm not laughing at you, I'm laughing with you." Gathering her composure, she straightened her spine and rolled back her shoulders, back in her regal position. Old habits die hard. "Sometimes, I wonder how you still serve my mother after everything." It was a tease, but a genuine question that has been on her mind lately. Even if she adored Ever After High, Scarlett Rouge dearly missed Wonderland, and she suspected Chase felt the same, though he'd never admit it verbally.

"It's my role to fill." Chase gave a mere shrug, stacking the last of the chairs. Scarlett tried to smile, but it wavered. "As the next Red Knight, it's my duty to protect the Red Queen, no matter the cost. I am forever loyal to your mother."

Scarlett hesitated before asking, "Even if my mother's actions question your morals...?" She instantly regretted the words that fell out of her mouth. I shouldn't have said anything, she thought as Chase froze, suddenly speechless. Scarlett blinked blankly as seconds passed, the silence deafening them. "It's past curfew, we should go back inside," she said to make up for the awkwardness, clasping her hands. "Sorry."

"No, no, don't apologize. Valid point, I guess." Silence yet again. It was nerve-wracking until Chase extended a hand towards Scarlett, the corners of his lips tugging upwards. "The plaza reminds me of the Red Castle's ballroom, doesn't it? Care for a dance?" As the howling wind pounded against Scarlett's ears, she grinned wider than the Cheshire Cat and took his hand. There was a strange, yet tangible sense of déjà vu in the air as Chase took the lead, somehow gliding across the plaza, his hand overlapped on Scarlett's, without fail. Effortlessly, he followed through with the ballroom dance's positions, leaving Scarlett to catch up, narrowing her eyes in deep concentration. When did he get so good at ballroom dancing?

She only ever saw Chase sparring with a sword hand-in-hand, horse riding on Crimson, or other knightly duties. Even if she was failing to comprehend the dance and its moves, Chase slowed down the pace so they were reasonably at the same level. "Where did you learn all of that?" she exclaimed, truly stunned. Knowing Chase for most of her life, this had never come up.