Chapter 231: Morning Visit.
Ok, let's try to piece together what actually happened last night...
If I remember correctly, after the intense cleansing ritual with Emilia, I went straight back to my room.
I crashed immediately, hoping to get some solid rest before early morning training and the dungeon raid planned for today.
Beyond that... everything is blank.
"Hehe~ JuNIor... do... you like it... thiiisss way~"
Alice's soft, sleep-filled mumbling interrupted my thoughts, making me squirm a little.
The way she was pressing against me was... well, borderline dangerous.
I could wake her up, but something told me I'd probably end up launched out of bed if I did that. Isn't that how these "waking up together" clichés usually go?
The curtains were open, meaning Yui had been here already and must have noticed this whole situation.
But since I didn't smell breakfast drifting through the room as usual, it was clear she'd slipped out immediately after cleaning, likely to give us privacy.
Typical Yui.
Knowing her, she wouldn't spread any strange rumors, but just to be safe, I should have a word with her later.
Sighing, I tried to figure out how Alice ended up in my bed, but the only plausible explanation pointed back to one likely culprit-Cheshire.
That damn cat probably had a hand in this... no, it was more reasonable to think he planned this whole setup from the start.
"Cheshire..."
I muttered his name, hoping he'd pop up to explain himself, but predictably, there was no response.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om
I tried expanding my mana sense, scanning the area for any hint of his presence, but of course, he was nowhere to be found.
If I had to guess, he was likely somewhere out there, watching this unfold with a smug satisfaction.
Sigh...
I considered just going back to sleep and letting Alice wake up on her own.
Turning to look at her, I noted how peaceful and comforted she seemed, her body snuggled against mine.
Despite that, the dark circles under her eyes were easy to spot.
She must have been pretty drained.
The White Queen must be very active at this point in the story.
In the game it was only mentioned that Alice was consistently fighting off waves of the White Queen's armies, but not exactly shown.
Looking at her now, I couldn't help but reflect on how much Alice sacrifices, and feel a wave of admiration.
For all the power she wields, the weight she carries to protect everyone from the shadows without so much as a whisper of acknowledgment-it's a rare kind of strength.
Watching her peacefully asleep, her usual fiery resolve softened by the quiet.
I brushed a few stray strands of hair away from her face, my fingertips careful not to disturb her.
As she murmured something unintelligible and her lips curved into a soft smile, I whispered, "Thanks for all the hard work, Senior."
Even if she couldn't hear it, somehow, I hoped she'd feel it.
With that, I eased back down beside her, letting my eyes close. Just a few minutes more of this rare, peaceful morning wouldn't hurt anyone.
-----
"Remember, Alice-only Red and White are the truths in this world..."
As she woke, Alice felt a dull ache pulsing through her head.
Her vision was hazy, and without fully understanding why, she found tears slipping down her cheeks.
The remnants of a gentle, almost joyful dream lingered-moments spent alongside her junior, Riley, laughing and at peace.
But at the end, as if torn from the depths of her memory, another face appeared, one that had once meant everything to her.
Her heart twisted as she recalled that soft, familiar voice, bringing with it memories she'd tried to bury.
It reminded her of everything that followed her casting out of the fantastical realm-of the fall of the White Queen, her once cherished mother, now twisted into something unrecognizable.
The woman she had idolized, the one she had once followed unquestioningly, had transformed into a monster of unspeakable power.
Alice shivered as the memories surged, the burden of her secret battles and unspoken pains growing heavier.
Though she could face armies without a second thought, the ghost of her mother-the woman who'd once guided her was a wound that remained raw, festering beneath the surface.
Shaking herself free from the tangle of memories, Alice opened her eyes wide, trying to assess her current surroundings.
She remembered falling asleep in a random forest near the academy, certain that with Cheshire keeping watch, nothing dangerous could sneak up on her.
But... the sensation beneath her was anything but the cold, hard ground or a tree's rough bark.
A soft yet firm warmth surrounded her, rising and falling gently with a rhythmic thump that sounded suspiciously like... a heartbeat?
Alice's blurry vision gradually sharpened, revealing a solid chest beside her, faintly rising and falling with every breath.
A warm hand rested against her, and as she fully came to her senses, she realized she wasn't in the forest at all.
The bed beneath her was unfamiliar, the room was clearly someone else's, and she... was holding someone in a close, almost intimate embrace.
"Wha-"
Questions rushed through her mind as her cheeks bloomed into a deep blush. She scrambled
up, her reasoning finally catching up to her.
But as she looked down and saw the peaceful, sleeping face of the person beside her, the flush on her cheeks only deepened.
"J-Junior?" she stammered, her heart pounding faster than she'd like to admit.
Riley, oblivious to the world, lay fast asleep, his expression serene and undisturbed.
Alice's mind raced, searching for an explanation as to how she'd ended up here, wrapped around her junior like some besotted koala.
She was certain she'd fallen asleep in the forest, but... how on earth had she ended up here, in Riley's bed, of all places?
Alice glanced at Riley's shirt, mortified to see the damp spot where her tears had soaked into
the fabric.
Her face turned an even deeper shade of red as she shifted uncomfortably, wondering how on earth to handle this awkward situation.
"C-Cheshire, you did this, didn't you!?" she muttered, biting her lip in frustration.
She had no doubt in her mind who was responsible for this predicament. Imagining the smug grin on her familiar's face, she clenched her fists. "I swear, when I find you, stupid cat..." Her initial impulse was to escape before Riley woke up, but a moment's thought stopped her.
Some had changed for the better, others had fallen into heartache-but no matter the path, it
was the purity of their feelings that ultimately shaped who they had become.
Snow believed this with all her heart. Afterall she had never felt so happy.
Humming softly, she walked past a few students, who hardly spared her a second glance.
'Looks like the item's working wonders' she thought, glancing down at the bracelet on her
wrist.
It was a rare artifact called [Swift Shift], a powerful item that could alter her appearance with
a single thought.
Typically reserved for the Empire's Shadow Knights, obtaining one had been no easy feat, even for the Empire's princess.
She smiled to herself, admiring its delicate design.
'I'll have to deal with Father's questions later' she mused, but for now, her attention was
elsewhere.
Snow's responsibilities had grown lately, and her time with Riley, her beloved, had been drastically reduced because of it.
Long days of meetings, training, and preparations had begun to fill her every moment,
making any time she managed to steal with him feel precious.
And so, this was the best solution she'd found.
If disguising herself allowed her to slip away from her duties and find even a few hours with
Riley, then it was worth any potential scolding.
Her heart beat a little faster as she continued down the path, moving closer towards Riley's
room.
Her day was packed with responsibilities, carefully planned meetings, and tasks waiting on her attention. Yet, in this brief window of time, she allowed herself the luxury of indulging in his presence.
Snow couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of Riley's reaction to an unexpected morning visit his surprised face, the small smile he'd try to hide.
Imagining his bewilderment only heightened her excitement, though it also brought a slight
blush to her cheeks.
Today, she had donned a disguise as a boy, making her way for the first time into the boys'
area of Killian Hall.
Her initial confidence wavered slightly, replaced by a quickening heartbeat as she realized the
boldness of her actions.
Her purpose had been simple-just to be by his side for a while-but now that she was nearly
at his door, she felt an unexpected flutter of nerves.
Did she have a plan for once she was there?
Not exactly.
All she wanted was to be near him, but part of her worried if that would be enough for Riley.
Their relationship, though unofficial, had deepened in ways that made her feel both hopeful
and shy.
Her cheeks warmed at the thought, wondering if maybe... 'maybe a kiss could be in order.'
Would he want more than that?
The possibility made her blush even further.
'I wouldn't mind a few kisses here and there, but...'
Riley was too respectful and reserved, yet she sensed that his feelings ran deeper than he
often let on.
She knew he wouldn't push for anything she wasn't ready for, and that gentle patience only
drew her closer to him.
Shaking her head, she tried to calm herself.
She didn't want to rush things-they had all the time in the world, after all.
Yet, she couldn't ignore the small, hopeful part of herself that longed for their connection to
keep growing.
Snow took a steadying breath, her mind made up.
She'd take it one step at a time, savoring every small moment they shared, letting it unfold
naturally.
Snow sighed softly, her excitement briefly dampened as she took in the view of Riley's room.
However, her gaze shifted when she spotted a young maid standing just outside the door, her expression emotionless yet observant. The maid's presence caught Snow off guard, and she widened her eyes slightly in surprise.
Noticing Snow's curious stare, the maid turned to her, tilting her head slightly.
Snow recalled her name from a conversation with Riley-Yui, his personal maid.
"You are?" the maid asked, her tone slightly informal, though Snow didn't mind. "I'm a friend of Riley,"
"The young master's friend?... I see," Yui said, her gaze trying to pierce through the thin veil
of Snow's disguise.
"Is Riley inside? Can I perhaps enter? I wanted to surprise him, you see-" Snow's excitement
bubbled over as she spoke, envisioning Riley's delighted expression.
"That would be improbable at the moment..."
"Excuse me?" Snow blinked in confusion, momentarily thrown off by Yui's sudden dismissal.
"The young master is busy right now,"
"Busy?"
"Yes... he is extremely busy at the moment."