It's obvious from the younger girl's reaction that this is just natural to her. It really must have been drilled into her, even with how young she is. Obey or die. Wouldn't every kid eventually start to listen to that, if not out of fear then just out of sheer length of exposure to it?

But that still doesn't make it right. No way.

"You don't have to." Alice's hands tighten to fists, knuckles turning slightly wide at the pressure applied. "I also met someone who expected her every order to be obeyed at the threat of cutting off someone's head if they didn't listen." Maybe not the ideal thing to say to a kid, but hey, if she's dealt with the threat of being burned to death, it's not like it's that new.. "So you know what I did when she tried to order me around? I took off hers instead."

Or.. well, more like made her explode, but still. Details. The queen did lose her head in the end either way.