Alice's Life in Wonderland

Chapter Thirteen - After the Ball

The following week flashed by like lightning, yet filled with hope and excitement. Every day, the two still did their chores and daily work, but both could sense something new and fresh. Both Alice and Hatter's face glowed with unspeakable happiness and their eyes shone with tender and merriment.

Most customers sensed the change to, including Countess Chester.

"You look... different," said the Countess to Alice as she handed her the orders.

"Do I?" said Alice and her face turned pink.

"The change on your face, you look lively and... happy mostly."

"Perhaps that's the symptoms when you're in love with somebody."

"What?"

"No, no."

"Quit lying, who's it then? It is the master of the tea shop, right?"

"I... I... umm... yes."

"I knew it! Congratulations, Alice. You're going to be very happy, and so will him."

"How do you know?"

"Master Hatter will do anything, anything to please his loved ones. And he would protect them, even it means killing himself. Much less his fiancé, Alice you're very lucky to have him."

"But... killing himself?"

"Sorry, that's a bad phrase. Sacrificing himself, maybe."

"Countess, how do you know so much?"

"I just know, I just know."

There was a strange gleam in her eyes as she spoke, yet Alice never knew what it meant.

Although all this happy change had affected the lovers the good way, it did the Queen of Hearts badly.

"The shop's nosier than I expected," the Queen muttered to herself one day as she sat at her usual table at table number eleven.

A while passed, and Hare hopped by.

"What would you like to order, my Queen?"

"Where's the Hatter?" she demanded.

"He's gone to the village to buy some... err... ingredients."

"Why can't you go and buy it for him?"

"His orders, ma'am. But he should be back by now."

"What's the matter?" asked Hatter and he poked his head in the middle of the two.

"Oh! You're here, finally."

"Leave this to me," whispered Hatter to Hare."

"But you and Alice..."

"I can handle the Queen better."

Though the Queen didn't hear the conversation, Bunny heard every single word. She smiled at as Hare spoke 'You and Alice'.

"Why are you smiling?" asked the Queen.

"Oh nothing ma'am. I just thought of something funny, ridiculously funny," answered Bunny and chuckled.

The Queen's breakfast passed on with great progress. Bunny chatted along with Alice at the counter as usual.

"So how's the affair?"

"What affair? Oh! You don't mean..."

"Yes! Tell me everything."

"Bunny, I... I do like him immensely. Don't tease me."

"Like him? Wow, you only like him?"

"Bunny, the Queen's here."

"Okay, okay. But Alice! It's going to be the greatest love story of all time! Did he propose?"

"Not yet."

"Why? You love each other so much..."

"Bunny, we only confessed two days ago..."

"Okay, fine. But you must tell me everything, everything and don't leave even the smallest detail."

Matthew Hatter himself sat across the Queen, yet his eyes were fixed on his beloved Alice and no more.

"And do you know what happened to them? Hatter? Hatter!" cried the Queen and she shook him to his senses.

"Ow... that hurts. What?"

"Didn't you listen?"

"I kind of did..."

As the Queen left, she turned around and saw the blond girl who came along with Hatter at the Mid-summer ball. She looked familiar, that hair, her blue eyes and her dress. It reminded her with someone.

The Queen observed the Hatter and the blond girl for a few more days. When she talked to him, he always had a dreamy gaze on his face and was never paying attention on what she was saying. She found out Hatter's gaze was always fixed behind her at the counter, the blond girl.

The more she saw that, the angrier she got. She felt her blood boiling inside her. Hatter was supposed to be hers and hers alone, not some stupid girl.

Finally, one day, she could take it no more. As she returned to the palace after another unhappy breakfast, she questioned Bunny,

"Who is that blond girl with those blue eyes that stays near the counter in that blue dress? Tell me Bunny!"

"The one I always chat with?"

"Yes, Bunny."

"Alice."

"What?"

"Alice Wonders, the mistress of the Mad Hatter's Teashop."

"Mistress?"

"Yes, that's what all people say. They say that the shop was originally her idea all along! And the Hatter was just the second planner."

"Repeat that name again."

"Alice, Alice Wonders."

"Alice..."

The Queen clenched her fists and grinded her teeth. Alice Wonders, that stupid little girl that came to Wonderland three years ago. That stupid little girl that wore a blue frock and a silly bow in her hair. That stupid girl that stood with the gardeners, who joined in the croquet party, who grew up so tall that she broke the rules and ruined the court. Her mother, the former Queen of Hearts, hated Alice.

And she hated her too.

And now, she wanted to take revenge. Revenge for her mother, once and for all.

"And it's time for me to act," she muttered.

"What act?" asked Bunny, then it hit her. "You don't mean... Oh! No, you can't to this!"

"Yes I am, Bunny. And don't even stop me!"