CHAPTER 2
An Unfamiliar Side of Him—Alice’s Lesson
1
Three days had passed since the raid.
Never had so many news outlets from other countries gathered in the Nebulis Sovereignty. An official statement had been issued that the royal family—the targets of this attack—would finally be making an announcement.
So the press had come.
The representative of the royal family stood on the platform in front of them—a burly man in his prime in a luxurious white suit. He looked like a model.
“I am Talisman, serving as the representative on this occasion. I look forward to speaking with you.”
“Please tell us about the state of the royal family,” called out one reporter.
“We are unified by our stance to protect the country,” Talisman answered. “We plan to maintain our composure as we face these barbarous acts.”
“Some people in other nations and neutral cities are worried the Sovereignty will strike back, launching them into a full-blown war.”
“Rest assured, I can tell you that there will be no retaliation or war,” said the head of the Hydra. His confidence seemed to reassure all the reporters. “What we must do is denounce the Imperial forces and call for justice. We wish for the entire world to join our cause.”
“Going off that, do you believe the current queen should take responsibility for the raid?”
“I believe it’s unfair to blame the wounded queen. We have unified around her, hoping for world peace.”
He spoke in as genial a tone as possible, stressing the words peace and justice.
“…Oh, please.” Alice gritted her teeth in the living area of her own room.
The bloody traitor.
He had colluded with the Imperial forces, bringing them to attack the palace. He had even abducted her sister!
“Justice? United around the queen? How can you lie through your teeth?!”
She could barely hold in her anger. Had Alice attended the broadcast, the reporters might have witnessed her launching herself at Talisman.
…It’s aggravating.
…I know he was the one behind betraying the Sovereignty, and I can’t do anything!
Behind his gentlemanly smile, Talisman was a sorcerer.
Alice’s only recourse was to rescue Sisbell.
“Ugh.” She held herself up by holding on to the edge of the table, suddenly light-headed and depleted of energy.
For the three days following the raid, Alice had not gotten a wink of sleep—instead she’d been issuing orders in place of the queen and desperately trying to conjure a method to deal with her abducted sister.
“Come on… I need to work for just a little longer.”
A glass bottle lay on the table.
She picked up the stimulants—caffeine pills—and chewed on several tabs. The bitter aftertaste and distinct smell that lingered in her nose were difficult for Alice to stomach.
She needed those pills—just for now.
“…I wonder what Rin is up to. She reported that she met with Iska at the safe house yesterday, but she hasn’t said anything since…”
Alice hadn’t received any messages since the day before.
The five servants should have been with them. As their employer, Alice was worried, wondering what had happened to Rin.
Bip. The communications device she had left on the sofa went off. An incoming call.
“Rin?! I was worried about you. Are you all right?”
“I’m sorry. All the servants are safe. I was hoping to update you on the status of their health and the news they have relayed to me.”
“I understand we’re in a difficult situation, but I did want to hear something from you…”
After all, the queen had been targeted. There was no telling whether Rin would be safe.
“……”
“Lady Alice?”
“…I’m glad. If something had happened to you, I have no idea what I would have done.”
The anxiety inflating in her chest subsided. Somehow, that seemed to dispel her drowsiness.
“And what about them?”
She didn’t name the Imperial unit on purpose. They didn’t know who might intercept the communication.
“I have transported them to a hotel in the city. I’m sure keeping them in the safe house would have caused issues of some sort.”
“You’re right. It would be a problem if they stayed there too long.”
The Zoa and Hydra knew nothing about the safe house. All floors were under heavy surveillance, so the Lou could review the footage.
…I don’t think Iska would do anything suspicious.
…If anything, the most difficult part will be reporting my findings to Mother.
She had a duty to report the use of the safe house to her mother. And Alice herself needed to check what had happened in that place with her own eyes.
“Oh right, Rin. About how to use this.”
Alice looked at a portable computer screen. The device was set up to capture the footage from the surveillance cameras at the safe house.
“Mother always reviewed the cameras; this is the first time I’m doing it myself.”
“It’s simple. The red power button starts it up, and the blue square button will allow you to see the footage from the beginning.”
“Oh, it’s started.”
The monitor showed the front entrance of the safe house, a black-haired boy heading into the building followed by the servants. Alice recognized his face.
“Oh, Iska is in frame! Ha-ha, he’s noticed the camera! Now, he’s on his guard.”
“Lady Alice, am I imagining the excitement in your voice…?”
“What excitement?! I—I take watching this footage very seriously, that’s all!” She fast-forwarded through the recording. “Rin, how do I change the angle on the camera?”
“Press the triangular button. It has other rooms recorded as well… Oh…” Rin stopped speaking. She had just realized something. “Oh, n-no, Lady Alice! You can’t press that button!”
“What? What’s gotten into you?”
“Th-there’s something…that should never have been recorded! You cannot look at it, Lady Alice—”
“Huh? What are you talking about? The cameras are here—to record the bad things that could happen.”
“Um… Th-that’s not what it is…!”
“If you won’t spit it out, I’ll check it for myself.”
Alice switched cameras, landing on the small room in the back of the safe house. Displayed there was—
“…I was taking a shower…”
Iska, fresh out of the shower. Before he had put on clothes.
His wet, naked form displayed right before her.
His body was different from hers. A boy’s body—strong and seemingly vying for her attention. Alice couldn’t look away from Iska, someone she had thought she knew, someone who was in the nude in front of her for the first time. At the same time, it was far too much for her innocent side.
“Coo…” She let out a sound that was indecipherable, even to her.
The young maiden turned bright red and fainted.
“Lady Alice?! Lady Alice, please respond! Please keep it together! …See? That’s why I told you not to look!”
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