Chapter 15: The Trial Begins

The White Rabbit, panting, serves as the court’s reader.

He holds a scroll and says loudly in an exaggerated tone:

“The prisoner at the bar! While playing games with us, she willfully, deliberately, and maliciously offended and angered our great Queen!”

The Queen of Hearts grows impatient and interrupts sharply:

“Enough! Just read the part where I am angry!”

The White Rabbit shuts his mouth in fright.

The Queen stares at Alice, her tone dark and pressing:

“Alice! Are you ready to receive your sentence?”

Alice lifts her head, gathers her courage, and says loudly:

“No! Sentence first, verdict afterwards!”

All the card soldiers, servants, even the King, gasp in shock.

Who dares to contradict the Queen? This is the first time!

The Queen bursts into fury, her voice echoing through the maze:

“What?! You dare tell me how to act?!”

She rises suddenly, waves her scepter, and cries:

“Off with her head!”

The King quickly pulls her back and says cautiously:

“My dear, at least… at least call a few witnesses first.”

The Queen snorts coldly and agrees reluctantly.

The White Rabbit fumbles with the scroll and shouts loudly:

“Call the first witness — the Hatter!”

The Mad Hatter walks nervously to the stand, his hat almost falling.

He stammers and cannot say anything important.

The Queen grows more and more impatient.

The White Rabbit quickly calls:

“Call the second witness — the Dormouse!”

The Dormouse immediately starts dozing.

He mutters nonsense, throwing the court into chaos.

The witnesses speak nothing but nonsense, without logic.

The whole “trial” becomes more and more ridiculous.

Alice watches the farce and instead grows calm.