Under the fresh morning light streaming through the window, Alice and I sat in tense silence on the sofa.
The awkwardness between us was palpable, and I couldn't help but feel a bit amused.
Despite her usually calm deanor, Alice's reaction hinted at sothing more vulnerable, like a young girl caught off guard.
I almost wanted to tease her because of how genuinely cute she looked in this flustered state. But ti wasn't on our side.
I hadn't ant to fall fully asleep when I closed my eyes earlier I must've gotten too relaxed.
There was a pressing matter I needed to attend to: the [Bishop dungeon] would be opening soon in the library.
In the ga, Alice had intercepted it only after detecting the White Queen's energy, but by then, the monsters had already spread chaos.
Damage had been done, and people were hurt-so students and academy staff even lost their lives.
Clearing it now, before anything could happen, was critical.
I glanced at Alice, who seed to be waiting for to make the first move, her cheeks still tinged with that lingering blush.
"Senior," I began, keeping my tone light to ease her nerves.
"Y-Yes...?" she stamred, her eyes flickering up to et mine with a hint of hesitation.
"I won't ask how you ended up in my bed, but if I had to guess, I'd say it had sothing to do with Cheshire, right?"
She let out a small sigh, as if relieved I'd guessed. "... Yes, how'd you know?"
"Well, you don't exactly strike as the type to just hop into my bed for no reason," I replied with a half-smile.
"That's... true..." she admitted, a faint smile breaking through her embarrassnt.
"So, you don't need to be so flustered about it. I understand,"
Her shoulders visibly relaxed, and her eyes softened.
"I-I see." Then, her usual confidence returned as she tilted her head with a playful smirk. "Hehe~ I guess you're more attentive than you look, junior-"
"Well, I'm not that dense,"
"Fufu~ I wonder if that's really the case..."
"Did you say sothing?"
"Nothing... Anyway..." She cleared her throat, shifting back into a more formal stance as she looked at directly, her tone softening. "I apologize, junior. Though it was an accident, I know all of this was still caused by my familiar..."
"It's fine, really. If anyone should be apologizing, it's Cheshire," I reassured her.
She nodded, though the guilt in her eyes lingered. "But even still, as her master, I ought to take responsibility. Not only did I intrude and fall asleep in your bed... I... I even made such... embarrassing actions...."
She blushed again, clearly recalling her unconscious actions while I slept.
Though the mory seed to mortify her, I found myself more amused than bothered.
'I an, I didn't exactly hate it in the first place...'
"It really doesn't bother ," I said, shrugging, a smile tugging at the corner of my mouth. She glanced up, surprised, and I could tell my words had a calming effect, her cheeks losing so of that telltale redness.
Reassured by my words, Alice seed to relax, her shoulders visibly easing.
She inhaled deeply, exhaling in a slow, asured breath, as if grounding herself. "I-I guess that clears up any misunderstandings..." She paused, then glanced at , a faint glint of mischief returning to her gaze. "But aren't you at least a little curious, junior...?"
I shrugged, eting her eyes with a small smile. "I won't lie and say I'm not, but would you actually tell if I asked?"
Her cheeks tinted pink as she looked away, almost smirking. "Not exactly..."
"Then why even bring it up?"
"Hehe~," she chuckled, a bit embarrassed by her own teasing question. Slowly, she stood from her spot on the sofa, taking a step closer as she fidgeted slightly with her fingers before eting my gaze again. "W-Well, since I'm clearly at fault here, junior..." She hesitated, but then her voice took on a playful confidence. "This great senior of yours owes you a favor... consider it my way of making things right."
With a flourish, she extended her hand, holding out a small card. It was the Ace of Hearts, but unlike any regular card-it bristled with raw energy, pulsing faintly with her mana.
"If you ever need ," she said, a glint of seriousness in her eyes, "just snap this card in half. No matter where I am or what I'm doing, I'll co to help you imdiately."
I took the card from her hand, feeling the soft hum of power coursing through it as her mana resonated against my fingers.
I looked up at her, a sincere smile spreading across my face. "Thanks, senior. I'll keep it safe." She nodded, a touch of pride showing beneath her blush.
"Hehe~ I guess I'd better go now... Can't keep bothering you, right, junior?" She gave a soft chuckle, a mix of humor and reluctance in her voice.
I leaned back, eting her gaze with a smirk. "I don't mind being bothered by you, senior. In fact, you can even touch more if you'd like."
"Wh-What ridiculous things are you saying?!" Her face flared with color, and she crossed her arms in a flustered huff. "Do you want this senior of yours to burn you to a crisp?"
I laughed, watching as she started referring to herself in the third person—a surefire sign she was embarrassed.
"You're really going all out with that 'senior' role, aren't you? Even though you technically sexually assaulted this junior of yours in his sleep."
"I-I did no such thing... I an that wasn't what happened! I-I had my reasons-"
"Hahaha."
"Y-You're such a tease, junior..." She tried to sound stern, but a smile was already tugging at her lips. "Don't tell this is how you usually are."
"Who knows?" I said with a shrug, enjoying the way she half-heartedly turned her head away, avoiding my gaze.
She sighed, rolling her eyes but unable to hide a smile. "I-I'll go now... wouldn't want that personal maid of yours to see here."
"If you an Yui, it's too late. She probably already knows, but don't worry-she's discreet. I'll have a talk with her later, just to make sure things stay between us."
She hesitated, her shoulders relaxing at my words, then gave a small nod. "I-I see... I'll trust you on that, junior.... Really, I'll be off this ti. Goodbye, junior..."
With a final glance, she focused her energy, and red mana began to glow around her, wrapping her form like a blazing aura.
Cards flickered into existence, hovering briefly before spinning around her, and in a rush, she
rose off the floor.
In a flash of red, she soared out the window, her speed leaving only a faint trail behind.
If anyone saw a sudden red blur streaking from my window, it'd undoubtedly spark so rumors, but without concrete evidence, they'd likely be dismissed.
'It would've been better if she used celestial magic to slip away more discreetly... but I guess
the dorm master would sense her presence imdiately if she tried.'
Watching the faint trails of Alice's mana slowly dissipate, I stood up from the chair,
stretching out my arms as I examined the card she'd given .
Its surface glead with a subtle but distinct aura, the Ace of Hearts seeming to pulse slightly
in my hand.
[Note: New item acquired!]
[Item: Red Queen's Ace of Hearts (Unique)]
[Effects: Red Queen Call]
[Effects: Temporary Mid-rank Barrier]
[Effects: Temporal Call]
This item held more power than I'd expected, with effects that went well beyond what I
thought Alice would entrust with.
Marked as "Unique," it wasn't just an ergency contact-it was an artifact that could
summon her directly, shield with a barrier, or even give the ability to manipulate ti
briefly in a critical mont.
In the ga she only gave this card once you've successfully raced her affection ter by 70% and above... so I guess senior likes more than I thought huh...
I traced the card's edges, musing over the weight of the gift.
I had no intention of actually using it unless absolutely necessary; the idea of putting Alice in
any form of danger sat uncomfortably with .
Yet, the future remained unpredictable and ever-shifting, and I couldn't deny the potential
value this card held if a situation truly spiraled out of control.
For now, I'd keep it close.
I checked the ti. If my mory was correct, the dungeon break for the [Bishop Dungeon] happened shortly before sunset.
By now, it was likely active-a hidden dungeon veiled by the White Queen's own protection.
This was a uniquely insidious threat; it would remain unnoticed until it was too late, as the dungeon's concealnt was designed to prevent anyone from detecting it ahead of ti. Even with all my knowledge, finding the dungeon on my own would be impossible.
In the ga, the only clue given was that the outbreak originated in the library.
But details were scarce, and given what I knew about the monsters, especially the boss-the White Bishop-handling it solo would be nearly impossible.
I'd need an ally, soone capable of imnse mana sensing, soone who could pick up on
even the slightest hint of hidden mana in a flash.
'Rose.'
She'd be perfect for this.
Her mana sense was exceptional, and with her, there'd be a solid chance of detecting and
containing the outbreak before it spread.
I'd have to ask her to join later.
Sure, Alice would have been an ideal choice, considering her experience with the White Army.
Fighting them was practically her specialty.
But the last thing I wanted was to put her in harm's way-especially with her already fraying
health. Between the dinsional cracks and the constant exposure to hostile forces, she was under more strain than I liked. Keeping her away from these monsters was my top priority. For her sake, and the long term, I couldn't risk her any more than necessary. With that in mind, I moved to prepare for the day ahead when a sharp clicking and creaking
sound echoed from behind .
The door opened, and to my surprise, a strikingly beautiful boy with long, wavy brown hair
entered, his deep sky-blue eyes oddly familiar despite this being, supposedly, our first
eting.
Just behind him trailed Yui, her head slightly lowered, an uncharacteristically uneasy expression on her face.
"Who...?" I asked, half to myself, as I tried to place the stranger's face.
Before I could say another word, the young man narrowed his eyes, his stare laced with
irritation. "Riley Hell-... Who was here with you?"
"Huh... what are you talking about? And who exactly are- " I started, but Yui interrupted, her tone tight with apology.
"Y-Young Master, I'm sorry. I tried my best-"
"You may leave now," the young man cut her off coldly, dismissing her with a wave.
Yui hesitated for a mont, her eyes eting mine, filled with an odd, almost pitying look
before she sighed and retreated from the room.
I was left staring after her, a thousand questions brewing.
What's going on right now?
The boy took a step forward, his expression as frosty as it was intense. "Riley Hell~... I'll ask
you one more ti-who was here with you?"
I opened my mouth to reply, but before I could get a word out, a shimr of blue light
enveloped him.
I watched, frozen, as his appearance shifted, softening with every flicker until it revealed a
face I knew all too well.
"Snow...?" I whispered, hardly believing it.
She gave a tight-lipped smile, her expression devoid of its usual warmth. "That's right,"
she said coolly. "So... who was here with you?"
The penetrating gaze she fixed on was enough to drain the words from my mouth.
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