On very long break!

Crowley, the headmaster of Night Raven College, had a smile as he welcomed the students of Ever After High. “Welcome, children of our majestic, historically influential legends!” He stretched out his hands as he bootlicked the children of the seven who modeled his school and the others of twisted wonderland.

You smile looking everywhere. It was weird which you quite like it! It reminded you of Raven in a fun way. "Sure, a gloomy place. Right, n/n?" Raven Queen muttered beside you, and you giggled, "Yes, right! The gloominess is growing in the crowd!" You replied, making an ‘R’ with your body, "Hopefully we'll be together and not be roomies again with Apple white..." Raven Queen sighs.

As you guys enter with everyone else from Ever After High, you see the students who were complaining about the long wait, and others chatting about how excited they would be with girls in the school, and about how they are going to rizz them up.

You can see that seven students seem to be the leaders among them. Oh, with another one of whom is just with them, and a raccoon or a cat? A little fire monster cat! Crowley introduced the program and everything, and how kind he was to accept this collab with Ever After High.

You seem bored with it. It was no longer fun. The walls had mirrors all around and a huge mirror that seemed to come from the tale of Raven's mom. It was the only thing that was fun. You overheard some talk from a red-orange-haired boy with a blueberry boy about how bored they were with the person, who had the fire monster cat, who was equally unimpressed.

“At least they have a talking cat friend. I’ve only got talking hats today!” You whispered to where Earl usually sat. They were strict with pets. You had tried to trick them, but they found out no matter what. You swing your hat side to side until he finishes his speech. It was time to be sorted into dorms. Everyone went in a line by name, and then it was your turn. 

State thy name

❛❛Madeline (Name) Hatter is me, or Maddie (N/N) for short, but also for tall people too.❜❜

“Your soul is...Heartslabyul."

"Ahh, I see hearts...ahh? Heartslabl or heartsabul? Oh, well, under the Queen's dorm, I shall drink tea!" you chimed, spinning once before executing a very unnecessary curtsy. Somewhere in the crowd, someone coughed to hide a laugh. Others just blinked.

The red-haired boy you’d seen earlier, neat uniform, posture as stiff as a ruler, was watching you with the intensity of a chess master planning five moves ahead. You decided to wave. He reminded you of Lizzie. Ahhh... How you'll miss her!

The crowd of NRC students murmured at the sight of you. Your flouncy skirt, mismatched stockings, a tiny hat perched at a questionable angle, and a teacup-shaped purse. Raven Queen gave you a good luck look. You twirled toward the Heartslabyul group. “Madden up, people!”

The red-haired boy, Riddle Rosehearts, stood at the front like a living Mad Hatter ( more like his daughter ). His posture was perfect, his uniform crisp, and his eyes were studying you like you might be a troublemaker.

“Welcome to Heartslabyul,” he said in a tone that tried very hard to be polite. “I am Riddle Rosehearts, Housewarden. You will be expected to follow the Queen of Hearts’ 810 rules at all times! You will be expected to follow the Queen of Hearts’ 810 rules at all times.”

“Oh! 810? What a lovely number. It’s like eight-ten, or tea-ten, or late-ten, depending on how you pour the tea!” you said, clasping your hands with a grin so wide it nearly tilted your little hat.

Riddle hesitated. Most people fidgeted or groaned when he mentioned the rules. Riddle was trying his best to not be so strict with it as how his overbot begin but ( Name ) ? She looked like he’d just offered her front-row seats to a magic teacup race. Oh! Which she must go again to see.

“...Yes. Quite. You’ll receive the list of rules in your welcome packet. I expect you to memorize them.” Riddle said with a disapproving but yet commanding voice, "Oh, I already know them.” She hum without a beat.

That earned you a rare blink from him. “Excuse me?” You spun on one heel, pulling your teacup purse open just enough for a tiny little friend to appeared. “Rule 256! Invite a mouse with a hat to tea. I have a mouse, he is Earl Grey. He’s a gentleman, but hats are cups for heads, so it counts!” Right there in front of them was a mouse with a hat and a suit. Looking at them, side eye, squeaking. You didn't think that the Mad Hatter's daughter couldn't find your way, did you?

Somewhere behind Riddle, Ace choked on a laugh and Deuce elbowed him. Cater’s phone clicked as he snapped a quick picture, his smile a little too lingering. Trey, meanwhile, was studying you I hope that Riddle doesn't feel offended by this.

It didn’t take long for you to experience the famed Heartslabyul tea parties. Riddle insisted you attend the very next day. Which was, oddly enough, weird. But weirdness is your calling.

The garden was all neat rows of rose bushes. Some red, some still white, with paintbrushes and buckets nearby for the next “painting session.” Tables were perfectly set, teapots steaming, pastries arranged in symmetrical perfection.

“Maddie,” Riddle began, motioning to the empty seat beside him. “You’ll sit here. This is the seat for guests of honor.” You plopped down happily. “Oh! The King of Hearts’s Seat! Or it is the Hedgehog seat.” You just pause for a moment, and then you grab gently one of the hedgehogs and put him there.

Ace leaned forward from across the table, smirking. “You’re weird. I like it.” You smile and lean in front of Ace “Thank you! I also like me,” you replied cheerfully, pouring tea without even looking. Somehow, not a drop spilled.

Trey slid a plate toward you. “Try this tart. It’s a special recipe. Not for everyone.” You took a bite and hummed. “Ohhh… that’s dangerously good.” Trey’s lips quirked upward, but there was something in his eyes. Like he was cataloging that reaction for future use.

Cater leaned in on your other side, phone in hand. “Mads, babe, you’re totally Heartslabyul-core. Mind if I post you? You’d break Magicam with that hat.”

“Only if the hat gets credit.” You tilted your head so the tiny hat in your hat could “pose,” and Cater’s phone clicked again. Riddle cleared his throat sharply. “No Magicam during official tea parties, Cater.”

“Aw, come on, Riddle...” Try to complain, but Riddle firmly puts it down. “Rule 76."

“Yeah, yeah…” Cater put the phone away, though you noticed the way he kept sneaking glances at you like he couldn’t quite help himself.

Most newcomers broke at least a dozen rules in their first week. You? You followed them all. Perfectly. In fact, you followed them so perfectly that it was unnerving.

Rule about sugar cube placement? You already knew it. Rule about walking exactly three steps behind the Housewarden in certain corridors? You nailed it. Rule about how to address the flamingos? Easy.

“...It’s almost like she was born here,” Deuce muttered one afternoon, watching you correct Ace’s tea-pouring angle before Riddle could scold him.

Ace frowned. “Yeah, and it’s creepy. But… kinda hot?” Deuce shoved him. “Don’t be gross.”

You twirled by, balancing a tray of teacups on your head, humming about “rule forty-something or maybe four-tea-something.”

Riddle was watching from across the garden, lips pressed thin, not in disapproval, but in thought.

It happened on your third day. You were walking to class when a Savanaclaw student, the usual type. A tall, broad-shouldered beast man stepped in front of you.

“Hey, Wonderland girl,” he grinned. “You’re from that Ever After place, right? Bet it’s more fun than this rule prison. Wanna hang out?”

You opened your mouth to respond, but you didn’t get the chance. “Step away from her.” Riddle’s voice was sharp. He was suddenly beside you, eyes blazing, and behind him came Ace, Deuce, Cater, and Trey.

The beastman rolled history eyes. “Relax, I’m just-” He tried to rebut Heartslabyul's headwarden, but Riddle did not allow him to.

“You’re breaking Rule 317,” Riddle snapped. “No loitering in the path of a student. And Rule 592: Do not speak to another dorm’s guest without formal invitation.” The cheetah boy scoffed. “She’s not-”

“She is,” Riddle cut in, “and you have five seconds to remove yourself before I call for disciplinary action.” The beastman left, muttering.

You blinked up at Riddle. “Oh! Thank you, Riddle. Though I could’ve invited him to tea and asked him riddles until he ran away!” You had experienced this before, so you knew what it took for someone to go mad. Riddle’s expression softened just barely. “You don’t need to bother with people like that. You belong here. With us.”

The others didn’t say anything, but you noticed how the rest of the walk to class was spent with Ace and Deuce on either side of you, Cater a step behind, and Trey just ahead.

Over the next week, you noticed little changes. Your seat at tea was always next to Riddle now. Even though you didn't have to be. Trey brought you custom pastries every day, ones no one else got. They taste funny, and sometimes made you a bit dizzy and sleepy, but after a while, you sort of got rid of those symptoms. Cater started “walking you to class” for “Magicam research,” but somehow you never saw him actually post any of the photos. Some of those photos were taken while you were asleep or dressed in some type of cute outfits that you usually wouldn't wear, which was odd. Ace and Deuce became your default escorts, even to places you didn’t need an escort for. They seem to always know where you are. Which sometimes Raven said that it was freaky, but you didn't mind.

It was sweet, in a slightly… oversteeped way. One evening, after another perfectly rule-abiding tea party, you stood to leave, only for Riddle to place a hand lightly on your wrist. “Maddie… (Name). I trust you’re settling in well?”

“Like a hat on a hat!” you grinned. “Good. I’d… prefer it if you didn’t spend too much time outside the dorm. Some of the other houses… don’t understand our ways.” His eyes narrowed slightly. “They wouldn’t appreciate you like we do. (Name). ”

From the table, Trey’s voice was mild but firm. “It’s safer here.” Cater chimed in, “And way more fun. We’ve got you covered, Mads.” Ace smirked. “Yeah, we’re not letting you get snatched by those weirdos.” Deuce nodded. “We’ll make sure of it.”

You laughed, thinking it was all in good fun. “Oh, you’re all mad here! I like it.” They all smiled at that, but their eyes… their eyes told a story you didn’t quite catch.

It was two in the morning when you slipped out of your room, teacup purse in hand. Earl Grey insisted on “moonlight steeping” every now and then, and who were you to argue?

The garden was quiet, the roses glowing faintly under the moonlight. You were halfway to the white rose bushes when a voice murmured, “Couldn’t sleep?” Trey stepped out from the shadows, a plate of fresh tarts in hand.

“Oh! Midnight baker!” you smiled. “Or is it two-a.m.-baker?” He chuckled, offering you one. “You shouldn’t be out here alone. Anyone could wander in.”

“Like you?”

“Exactly.” His smile was gentle, but his hand brushed yours as you took the tart and lingered just a moment too long.

Behind you, a soft click made you turn. Cater was there, phone in hand. “Just capturing the aesthetic. You look… perfect in moonlight, Mads.”

And then, “Rule 81: No nighttime wandering without an escort.” Riddle’s voice again. He approached from the path, Ace and Deuce in tow, all of them looking at you like you’d just broken something precious. Riddle took your hand not roughly, but firmly. “Come. Back to your room.”

You tried to joke. “Oh, is this a tea arrest?” “Something like that,” he said softly, not letting go until you were back inside.

The next morning, something felt… different. Everyone in Heartslabyul was just a little closer when they stood near you. Riddle’s gaze lingered longer. Trey’s pastries grew sweeter. Cater’s compliments turned more personal. Ace and Deuce’s “escorts” became constant.

And when another student, this time from Octavinelle, tried to talk to you in the library, you didn’t even have time to answer before a red-and-black wall blocked your view.

Over the next week, little things began happening.

At first, it felt like friendly dormmate energy. Then you noticed the glares they gave other students who tried to talk to you. How Ace “jokingly” threatened to trip a Octavinelle student who complimented your hat. How Cater’s smile stiffened when you waved at someone from Pomefiore.

Ace started showing up to walk you to class “because the halls are confusing,” though you were sure he just wanted an excuse to skip early lectures.

Cater sent you photos he’d taken without you noticing, always captioned with something like #CutestDormieEver.

Deuce seemed to appear every time you needed help carrying booksmor even when you didn’t.

Trey always had some snack “just for you,” even if it was the last piece.

Riddle… began to sit next to you during tea time. Always on your left. Always close enough that if you moved your elbow, it would brush his.

One night, you were at your desk doing homework, weirdly as you looked for your swirl pencil. You opened your desk drawer to find a perfectly wrapped box of your favorite tea blend. No note. No explanation.