After leaving the Mad Tea Party, Alice continued her journey through Wonderland. She wandered through the whimsical forest until she came upon a beautiful garden filled with vibrant flowers and lush greenery. The air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers, and the colors were more vivid than anything she had ever seen.
As Alice walked through the garden, she noticed that the flowers were not just beautiful; they were also alive and could talk. She bent down to admire a particularly lovely rose, and to her surprise, it greeted her warmly. “Hello there, dear! What brings you to our garden?”
Alice, delighted by the talking flower, replied, “I’m exploring Wonderland and came across your lovely garden. It’s the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen!”
The rose blushed with pride and introduced Alice to the other flowers. There was a dainty daisy, a proud tulip, a cheerful sunflower, and a shy violet. Each flower had its own unique personality, and they all welcomed Alice with open petals.
As Alice chatted with the flowers, she heard the sound of footsteps approaching. She turned to see a group of playing cards, each painted with red hearts, marching into the garden. They were carrying brushes and buckets of paint, and they seemed to be in a great hurry.
“What’s going on?” Alice asked the rose.
The rose sighed and explained, “The Queen of Hearts has ordered the white roses to be painted red. She’ll be here soon for her garden inspection, and she doesn’t like white roses.”
Alice watched as the playing cards frantically painted the white roses red, hoping to please the Queen of Hearts. Suddenly, a trumpet sounded, and a procession of more playing cards appeared, followed by the Queen of Hearts herself. She was a formidable figure, with a crown on her head and a scepter in her hand.
The Queen of Hearts inspected the garden, her eyes narrowing as she looked at each flower. When she reached Alice, she demanded, “Who are you, and what are you doing in my garden?”
Alice curtsied politely and said, “My name is Alice, Your Majesty. I’m just exploring Wonderland and admiring your beautiful garden.”
The Queen of Hearts looked suspicious but decided to let it go. “Very well,” she said. “But remember, everything in this garden belongs to me.”
Alice nodded, trying to stay out of trouble. The Queen continued her inspection, and when she reached the newly painted roses, she noticed a spot of white that had been missed. “Off with their heads!” she shouted, pointing at the playing cards responsible for the painting.
Terrified, the playing cards begged for mercy. Alice, feeling brave, stepped forward and said, “Please, Your Majesty, it was an honest mistake. Perhaps you could spare them this time?”
The Queen of Hearts considered this for a moment and then said, “Very well. But don’t let it happen again!”
The playing cards sighed with relief and thanked Alice for her kindness. The Queen of Hearts continued her inspection, and eventually, she and her entourage left the garden.
The flowers thanked Alice for standing up to the Queen and saving the playing cards. Alice felt proud of herself for being brave and kind. She bid farewell to the flowers and continued her journey through Wonderland, ready for whatever adventure awaited her next.