That… that was the King?!

That frail, brown-haired teenager with round and puffy cheeks, was the King?!

He smiled, put down his violin and walked in my direction. He was still a kid. Just a kid. Still small and everything. A kid.

“I am older than what I look like. In Wonderland, the King is bound to always have the appearance he had when he first got the throne. Would you believe me if I told you I’m more than 50 years old?”

“No”, I immediately but honestly replied. “I wouldn’t believe you. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. You’re only being honest. What’s your name?” he asked as he returned to where he was when I had entered.

“Kui Xian.”

“Kui Xian. I like this name. Welcome to Wonderland, Kui Xian.”

“Thanks.”

He showed me the room with his arm.

“This mansion was built for me to temporarily live in it while the real castle is being rebuilt.”

“Rebuilt, Your Majesty?”

“Rebuilt, indeed. The castle was destroyed exactly seventeen years ago by a crazy character.”

He turned to stare at me.

“Tall, dark brown hair, mysterious eyes, and his legendary hat. The Mad Hatter.”

My eyes became round and huge.

“The Mad Hatter destroyed the castle?!”

“He did. Do you know why he did?”

“I… I don’t know. Because he was crazy?”

“Because dying, buried under the castle of Hearts, is the only way for someone born in Wonderland to go to the Otherworld. The world you come from, newcomer Kui Xian.”

“He… he escaped this world then?”

“He did, and nobody knows what happened to him.”

He approached me and used his violin to point at me.

“You. Do you know? You look. A lot. Like him.”

I frowned, and stepped back.

“I do?”

“You do. You look so much like him that I’m wondering. By pure chance, wouldn’t you be the Mad Hatter?”

“I’m not! I’m a newcomer!”

“Which makes you even more likely to be him.”

“I’m not, Your Majesty! I’m not lying! I don’t even know anything about this world!”

“Then how would you be able to come to the mansion, knowing I’m here, if you’re a newcomer? How would you be able to be here without fearing the guards or the Knave?”

“This place is so big, there had to be a King in h…”

“Not necessarily.”

“Your Majesty, I’m not the Mad Hatter!”

“You’re lying. I know you are. KNAVE!”

“Your Majesty?” immediately replied the Knave through the door.

“Off with his head! Kill this newcomer! Kill the Mad Hatter!”

“Yes, Your Majesty. 6, take him to the dungeon. Tomorrow, we’ll execute him.”

Guards suddenly appeared in the room, all wearing the number 6, and caught me before disappearing from the room. When we reappeared, I was in a dark, humid cell, where I couldn’t see a thing. There was no chance I could ever escape from here.