Numbering, maybe sequential somehow – seniority? It's like sides of a dice, there's a, quincunx was he thinks the word – not relevant, why – he might make a joke about seeing the forest for the trees but he can't think of one and also now is not the time –

How does one find oneself dragged into a mysteryland after following a white rabbit and then find out about presumably magic, get arrested and then retain one's ability to do things, he doesn't want to be enslaved as the local mortal if he even counts – they might all be mortal, he might not be valuable.

He is led through increasingly impressive halls, lined with pillars and paintings and tapestries. A common theme in the artwork, if he pays attention, is the triumph of a red-haired queen wielding a heart-shaped sceptre over a variety of foes: a king dressed in red, an army of shadowy monstrous figures, a dragon-like monstrosity in green...

They come to another set of double doors. These are not obviously guarded, but are attended by a pair of unarmed servants in the same white tabards. These ones have a different symbol, which Dante will recognise as the suit of Spades. The one on the left has three Spade symbols and the one on the right has six. 

… Were those clubs earlier. Are these playing cards. Why are these playing cards. (The numbers don't seem to match, they're not in pairs like he expected, why would three and six match up.)

He hesitates and tries to figure out if he can risk asking a question.

"Keep moving," the Eight of Hearts grunts from behind him. 

The servants open the doors, revealing a large room bustling with richly-dressed courtiers. At the far end, a dais is barely visible, framed in red velvet hangings. Music is playing, at just the right volume to be heard over the quiet chatter of the crowd. 

People begin to clear a path for them, towards the dais. The green rabbit seems to have vanished at some point, but the way is clear.

… Eugh.

Dante walks ahead, trying to look – not meek, but also not liable to cause trouble.

As the crowd parts, a figure is revealed, seated on a throne atop the dais. 

She is dressed in black and red, with accents of white fur, and has a necklace strung with the same red gems worn by the Eight of Hearts. There's also one set in her crown, a little larger and somehow redder than the others. Her train looks like spilled blood pooling on the white marble steps. 

"Bow," the White Rabbit whispers to Dante.

(He does not want to bow.)

He bows. He tries to bow the appropriate quantity, taking cues from people around if he can.

This seems to be acceptable. 

"So," she says.

"You are the outsider who followed the White Rabbit into my kingdom?"

"… I take it so, ma'am?"

The queen looks straight at Dante, staring in a way that seems to pierce his soul.

"And why did you do that?" she asks, voice giving no hints as to what answer she would like to hear.

Around them, the room seems to have gone much quieter as the members of the court pretend not to be listening in.

"… Talking rabbits are unheard of, where I'm from… milady."

"Interesting," is the response.

"I would be pleased if you would tell me more about the place from whence you came," she continues, gesturing for a servant - the Seven of Spades - to bring Dante a chair. It is placed on a lower step of the dais so that he has to look up at her. 

"My servants visit the upper world on occasion, but can tell me little of its workings. I would welcome the perspective of a native."

"– Of course," he responds. (What's the title, what do you use to refer to a queen, he should know this he lives in bloody England – oh –) "Your Highness."

… He takes a seat, assuming it is not some sort of trap.

If it is a trap, it is not one which makes itself immediately obvious.

The Eight of Hearts bows and departs, lions trailing after him; the White Rabbit does likewise. 

"Tell me about your world," the Queen instructs Dante. "How, in your opinion, does it differ from what you have seen of my kingdom?"

"The – style of artwork, environment, architecture?" he says. "I haven't seen any large modern buildings, here, and we don't have labyrinths – the ground isn't a chessboard?"

She nods thoughtfully.

"And how is your country governed? Does it have a queen?"

"– It does but she's I think what's called a constitutional monarch, where we have a separate government and she's mostly just a figurehead for I think kinda PR purposes?"

"Really?" 

She sounds fascinated, as though Dante is the most interesting thing to happen all week.

"Why on earth would any monarch permit such a state of affairs?" she wonders. 

"And who is the true power in your queendom, then?"

"I… um, there was a history I think wherein the monarchs did not treat people as they wished to be treated, and – um, eventually there was some sort of rebellion." He does not want to be killed but he hesitates to see her reaction before he continues.

The queen looks unsurprised by this. 

"I, too, face the occasional rebellion," she agrees.

"Some of my subjects simply refuse to acknowledge my authority, and do their best to undermine it. But fortunately, their best is never very good, the poor dears," she says with a conspiratorial smirk.

"So, your monarchs were less capable, or less lucky, and have lost almost all real power. To be replaced with...what, exactly?"

"Um, we have two houses in our parliament, the House of Lords and the Commons – the Lords are I think entitled to things based on historical land ownership and titles but also some are voted in by other Lords, the Commons are voted in by people of the rest of the country, and the main government is made up of the group leading in power in the Commons?"

"What a peculiar way of doing things," is her verdict. 

"I do not believe it would ever catch on in Wonderland. Even the most insane of my enemies do not wish to replace me with such a complicated system. However does one get anything done, if one has to please everyone in the land to remain in power?"

"Elections are only called once every few years, or I think if the public declares no confidence, somehow – it's only a majority that they need to please."

Marcella is clearly about to ask another question when her attention is diverted by the doors slamming open.

A tall, thin figure dressed in black stalks into the room, courtiers scattering from his path. Paying no attention to anyone but the Queen, he makes his way directly to the foot of the dais and drops to one knee before her.

A drop of dark liquid falls from one gloved hand to drip on the marble floor. 

Dante looks over as this happens – instinctively – and then returns to looking at the Queen, trying not to focus on… that all. (In case it gets him beheaded for misbehaving. This place might have beheadings. He does not want to be beheaded. Why did he get here.)