CR AU - CR In Wonderland Chapter III

Chapter III : The Duchess and The Knave

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Part I :The Duchess

"You said you're going to take me to your Mistress' place, right?"
"Indeed, I said that."
"Where is your Mistress' place?"
"Come and see it for yourself."

It doesn't take really long until the floating grin took Senzen to a certain house that's placed at the other side of the forest. Calling it a house wouldn't actually be considered as correct, as it's more suitable to be considered as a Royal Mansion rather than a house.

"And here we are."
The floating grin said as the whole body of a cat starting to form around it, allowing Senzen to see the full appearance of the floating grin that has been leading him for a while.

That of a chubby black cat.
With black eyes that's ever so slowly gradating to purple.
And a huge teasing grin placed upon its feature.

"Your apperance's really making me uneasy, cat."
"In this place, there's more than what meets the eye."
"And what are you implying with that?"
"If you simply believe what you see, you're getting nowhere."
"I don't get what you mean, cat."

"Oh you will," the Cheshire Cat said before pushing the door of the mansion and stepped inside, "Soon enough."

Inside of the Royal Mansion, the figure of a seemingly young girl with shoulder-length blue hair could be seen as she gracefully sat upon one of the sofas inside of the living room of the Royal Mansion. She's dressed in a low, elaborate fur trimmed dress, that is slightly revealing her ample cleavage while a tiara could be seen placed upon the top of her head. Noting the entrance of the Cheshire Cat and the other guest, she simply smiled before poking her lap with one hand.

A really graceful figure, Senzen noted.

"Welcome back, Cheshire Puss."
"I'm sorry for taking so long just for a stroll."
"That's alright. And I could see that you're bringing a friend along."
"A friend would be an exaggerated terms, Mistress."
"Ah so she's not your friend?"

"Actually, Mistress," the Cheshire Cat said as he jumped to the Duchess' lap and coiling itself upon it, "I would think twice if I were to befriend someone who's dressed with the clothes of the opposite gender."

"Ah," the Duchess placed a hand in front of her mouth while the other hand stroking the Cheshire Cat's body, "It's my fault for mistaking her, I mean, his taste in clothing."

"Indeed, but you shouldn't think about it too much, Mistress," the Cheshire Cat said, "After all, even I should admit that seeing someone having such a quirky taste in clothing could be really distracting."

"Let me tell you first," Senzen said as he gritted his teeth, "I'M NOT DRESSED LIKE THIS BECAUSE I WANT TO!"

"Ah, of course you're not," the Cheshire Cat replied, "Everyone would say the same."
"You damn cat-"

"I would really appreciate it if…" the Duchess said, "You could refrain from any violence tendency."

After trying to contain his annoyance, Senzen gave a sigh.
Well, he'll get to that cat sooner or later.
And the Cheshire Cat simply grinned a bit wider.
Before reverting the grin back to a small smile as the Duchess pokes its head.

"You should be politer to our guest, Cheshire Puss."
"I'll be sure to keep that in mind," the Cheshire Cat replied with a grin.

"Would you mind to introduce yourself then?" the Duchess asked.
"Ah, I'm Senzen, Kashiwagi Senzen," the male replied.

"My name is Rina Atherina, people who are close to me call me Rina," the Duchess replied with a soft giggle, "But in here people tend to know me as The Duchess. This is my pet cat, NyaNya the Cheshire Puss."

"Meow to you too," the Cheshire Cat said as it swished its tail.

"And how may I help you?" the Duchess asked.
"Ah I was told that maybe you could help me."
"It would be appreciated if you could elaborate further."
"To find his way through this place," the Cheshire Cat said.

"Well, something like that," Senzen confirmed.
"Ah I could only give you hints," the Duchess replied, "But certainly not directions."

"Well, I would really appreciate it," Senzen said, figuring that it'd be best to get on the Duchess' good side, "If you could help me finding my way."

"Before that," the Duchess said as the Cheshire Cat jumped down from her lap as she stood, "Would you like to enjoy a cup of tea along with meals? After all, we're having another guest and it's about the time for having tea."

As soon as she finished that sentence, another figure could be seen standing by the door of the Royal Mansion.

Part II : The Arrival of The Knave

The figure standing by the door is that of a female.
With long blond hair that's flowing down past her waist.
Dressed in a white royalty clothes.
An overcoat could be seen draped over her shoulder and almost reaching her heels.
And a thigh-high black boots.

As the figure pulled out the lance that was attached to her back and placed it by her side as she get into one of her knees, the Duchess ever so slowly made her way towards the figure, extending a hand towards the figure as she spoke, "Welcome, Knave."

Taking the extended hand of the Duchess, the so-called Knave kissed the back of it before gazing up and replied in turn, "I'm terribly sorry for my late arrival, Duchess."

Another familiar figure, Senzen thought.

"The Knave?" Senzen repeated in a low voice as he looked at the Cheshire Cat.
"Indeed, the Knave," the Cheshire Cat replied.
"What's the connection between the two of them?"
"Well…" the Cheshire Cat paused before vanishing into nothing more than a floating grin, "That's something that you have to see for yourself."

The moment Senzen shifted back his eyes towards the Duchess and the Knave, he can't help but widening his eyes the slightest bit in a surprise as the two almost kissing.

However, the scene didn't continue as the Duchess placed a finger upon the Knave's lips and spoke, "Not here, my dear Knave. I have a guest at the moment."

"Certainly your guest has a quirky taste in clothing," the Knave said.
"I'm not dressed like this because I want to!" Senzen replied almost instantly.
"Well, of course everyone would say that," the Cheshire Cat added.
"Shut up, cat," Senzen grunted.

"Well, putting the quirky taste in clothing aside --"
"I said that I'm not dressed like this because I want to."
"-- it would be good if you could introduce yourself first."
"Me? I'm ehh… Senzen, Kashiwagi Senzen."

"Feisha Noaidea," the Knave replied as she placed a hand to her chest and tapped the hilt of her gunlance to the floor, "Known as Feisha the White Knight of the White Kingdom, but I'm also known as The Knave."

"The romantic interest of my Mistress," the floating grin added.
"Cheshire Puss," the Duchess suddenly called.
"My bad," the floating grin replied as the whole body of the Cheshire Cat starting to form again.

"How was the trial, Knave?" the Duchess asked.
"It went longer than usual."
"The trial?" Senzen asked.
"I was accused to as the thief of the Red Queen's tart," the Knave confirmed.
"But that's certainly not true!" the Duchess replied hastily.

"Even though the Queen of Hearts said that they shouldn't mind such trivial matter," the Cheshire Cat said as it swished its tail, "The same couldn't be said as the Red King found the gesture as really impolite. He has been really protective of the Red Queen, after all."

"But it hasn't been proven that the Knave was really the one who stole the tart!" the Duchess said, "My dear Knave would never ever steal something like-"

"I appreciate your kindness, oh Duchess," the Knave said as she took one of the Duchess' hands and pulled her closer, "But still, we need to remain optimist in such a case. Not to mention that any unnecessary movement might really lead into the war."

"War?" Senzen asked.

"The Red King made a declaration of war against the White Kingdom shortly after the Knave's last trial," the Cheshire Cat said, once again vanishing into nothing but a grin, "But it is still uncertain of how the White Kingdom would respond to the Red King's declaration of war."

"But that's really exaggerated, isn't it?" Senzen asked.
"You're not the only one thinking like that," the Cheshire Cat confirmed.
"But the Red King has half of the authority over the entire Wonderland," the Knave added.
"And if the White King didn't respond, a war between the two Kingdom, the Red Kingdom and the White Kingdom might really happen," the Duchess ended.

"Regarding the hints of how you might find your way around this place," the Duchess continued as she gazed at Senzen, blushing slightly upon noting that the Knave's pulling her a bit closer as she spoke, "I could only direct you to see the Hatter."

"The Hatter?"
"Cheshire Puss?" the Duchess called.
"Yes, Mistress?"
"Would you mind taking him to the Hatter's place?"
"Ah certainly."

"Be on your way then, Cheshire Puss," the Duchess said, "For now I would like to spend some quality time with the Knave, only with the two of us."

Part III : Attending the Mad Tea Party

"I never expected that the Duchess would harbor romantic feelings for the Knave."
"Why, me neither."
"But you're her pet cat, right?"
"Even so, that's her romance. I have nothing to complain about it."

"And so about this Hatter…"
"What of him?"
"Does he really… make hats?"
"Oh, he used to."
"He used to?"

"He used to make hats every now and then," the Cheshire Cat said, "Before at one time the Red King claimed that he made a different hat compared to what the Red Queen asked and banished him."

"That doesn't make sense."
"Common sense doesn't work in this place."

Senzen sunk in thought, gazing at the floating grin in front of him before giving a shrug. He might as well believe it for now, but he'd certainly ask for the real deal when he got to see the so-called Hatter later.

After a while following the path from the Duchess' Royal Mansion and making their way through the seemed to be secluded forest, the two eventually reached a certain spot where a table filled with various teapots and tea cups.

And by the table three figures could be seen.
A man dressed in a suit along with gloves and a top-hat.
A small boy wearing a bunny suit, complete with a pair of bunny ears.
And a sleeping girl with a pair of mouse ears on top of her head.
The man with the top hat and the boy with the bunny ears could be seen chatting.
While the girl seemed to be dozing off with her head placed on the table.

"Isn't that… Strav… Bonchi… and Melli?"
"Allow me to introduce you to the Hatter, the March Hare, and the Dormouse."

Nothing the arrival of Senzen and the Cheshire Cat, the Hatter paused his chat with the March Hare for a moment before pointing at the two and spoke: "Wake up the Dormouse, Hare," the Hatter said, "It's not nice to sleep while knowing that we're having a guest."

"Err, it's okay just leave her sleep like tha-"

"You came at a bad timing. Well, that's a pity," the Hatter said with a shrug, "But oh well, reliable help is so hard to find these days. Don't strain yourself, come on in. You're just in time for tea."