The sovereign I encountered at the royal castle of the Arclesia Empire... Emperor Chris was the very same dragon carriage driver who had transported me when I went for a barbecue with Kuro.
As I stood there, dazed by this shocking revelation, Emperor Chris spoke with a gentle smile.
"It is only natural that you would be surprised. I apologize for keeping the truth from you."
"Ah, no, it's fine!"
"I was once indebted to the Underworld King. When I heard that she had taken an interest in an otherworlder, I insisted on acting as your driver because I simply had to see you for myself."
"I... I see..."
"...At the time, I thought Miyama-sama was just an ordinary person. It seems my eyes were clouded. I apologize here and now for inadvertently looking down on you."
After addressing me with such refined, polite language, Emperor Chris bowed her head deeply.
She seemed like a truly sincere person, but having the ruler of a nation bow to me like that made me feel incredibly awkward.
"P-Please raise your head, Emperor Chris."
"Then, if you will excuse me... Miyama-sama, there is no need for such titles with me. In fact, if you continue to use them, the Underworld King will surely scold me."
"Then... Chris-san?"
"Yes. I look forward to our continued acquaintance."
"Same here. I look forward to working with you."
Despite her status as Emperor, Chris-san was exceptionally humble and well-mannered.
With hair like sapphires and eyes like emeralds, she was a slender, handsome individual who looked exactly like a fairy-tale prince, yet there wasn't a hint of arrogance about her.
At Chris-san’s invitation, I took a seat, and Alice naturally sat down right beside me.
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, Chris-san turned her gaze toward Alice.
Come to think of it, the usually noisy Alice had been uncharacteristically silent ever since we set foot in the castle.
"That lady must be your companion, Miyama-sama. I apologize for the delay in my greetings—"
"Ah, I don't really need a greeting."
"!?"
Alice’s response to Chris-san’s gentle smile was spoken in a voice so cold it was impossible to reconcile with her usual personality.
At that freezing rebuff, I saw the knights standing behind Chris-san twitch, their expressions hardening.
"Alice? What are you—"
"...The only people I care to interact with are those I consider worth the effort. Therefore, I have nothing to say to the esteemed Emperor."
"What!?"
The air in the room instantly grew heavy at her nonchalant declaration.
And for good reason. Alice had just stated that she only associated with those of value, then followed it up by saying she had no words for Chris-san. The implication was unmistakable.
"...In other words, you are saying that I am a person without value? Is that it?"
"Exactly."
"!? You impudent—!"
She said it. She said it without a shred of hesitation.
Alice had just looked the Emperor of the Arclesia Empire in the eye and flatly told her that her existence was worthless.
As the tension peaked, Chris-san raised a hand to restrain the knights, who were already reaching for their swords in a fury.
The Emperor didn't look angry, though surprise was clearly visible in her emerald eyes.
Alice, however, didn't seem to care in the slightest. She produced a small knife from thin air, toyed with it for a moment, and then set it on the table.
"Well, everyone has their own set of values, right? I have a habit of putting a price on people in my head... and for the Emperor? Well, if I’m being generous, I’d say she’s worth about a single copper coin."
"...Hoh. It seems you've appraised me quite cheaply."
"You wretch! What could someone like you possibly know about His Majesty!?"
"...Chris Dia von Alcreasia. Third child of former Emperor Duran Dia von Alcreasia. Graduated at the top of the national magic academy at age ten. Originally pursued a career in finance as a treasury official, but fearing for the nation’s future, she ousted her two older brothers to take the throne. She has displayed such political acumen that she’s hailed as the Wise Emperor, with some calling her the greatest ruler in history. Currently twenty-four years old. Hobbies include horseback riding. Favorite book is 'Sing to the Banner'... This is the kind of information anyone can find if they look hard enough."
"!?"
As she fluently recited Chris-san’s history, Alice produced a second knife and placed it on the table.
Faced with this eerie atmosphere—so completely different from her usual self—I was left speechless. Even the enraged knights stood frozen in shock.
"Everything is for the sake of the country. For the nation and its people, she will shoulder any infamy and bow to anyone. She views herself as nothing more than a tool to better the empire... A noble sentiment, surely. But it’s boring."
"...Boring?"
"I have zero interest in people who discard themselves, or people who have nothing inside. Oh, I’m not saying the Emperor is a bad person. As I said, you’re noble, and you’re clearly a genius worthy of the title 'Wise Emperor.' But I have no interest in you. To me, you look like nothing more than a well-made doll."
"!?"
"Alice! That's enough! You're taking it too far!"
Stung by those cold, sharp words, Chris-san stood dazed. I finally found my voice and shouted at Alice.
I had no idea why she had suddenly started acting this way, but she was clearly not herself.
Alice ignored my outburst, placed a third knife on the table, and finally turned to look at me.
"Kaito-san, you’re as kind as ever. I like you, and I really do want to listen to what you have to say... but unfortunately, I can’t let this slide. Not this time!"
"!?"
The moment she said that, Alice slammed the edge of her palm onto the pommels of the three knives. The impact sent them spinning into the air.
In the blink of an eye, she snatched them from the air—or so I thought. Before I could even register the movement, the knives had vanished from her hand and were buried deep in the walls and ceiling.
It was a feat of speed so absolute I couldn't even see the throw.
As I stood there with my mouth hanging open, Alice spoke in a voice like ice.
"I don't trust people who extend a 'friendly' invitation only to hide soldiers nearby using Recognition Inhibition Magic."
"...What?"
"They’ve been following us since the castle gate. You three over there... come out now. Otherwise, the next ones won't miss."
"..."
Following Alice’s quiet command, the scenery on the wall and ceiling rippled like static. Three figures clad in solid black appeared from the shadows.
They had been following us since the gate? So that was why Alice had been so quiet since we entered the castle...
But why hadn't I noticed them? I should have sensed their approach with my Sympathy Magic.
"It’s not your fault, Kaito-san. Their clothes are made of a material that blocks magic power from leaking out. It’s only natural you wouldn't notice."
"...How did you find them?"
The three exposed guards quickly moved to form a line behind Chris-san.
Chris-san asked the question with an expression of pure disbelief. Alice didn't answer; instead, she tugged on a set of nearly invisible threads.
It seemed she had attached them to the knives. One from the ceiling and one from the wall snapped back into her hand instantly... but the second one in the wall was buried too deep and wouldn't budge.
"Oh? Maybe I put a little too much oomph into that one. My bad, my bad."
Realizing it was stuck, Alice scratched her head with a sheepish grin and walked over to the wall to pull it out.
"Huh? It's really in there. It... won't... move... fugya!?"
"..."
The knife was stuck firmer than she had anticipated. When she pulled with all her might, it suddenly gave way, sending her tumbling backward onto her butt.
How should I put it...? She just couldn't maintain the cool act when it mattered most.
The moment I let out a sigh of relief at seeing the airheaded Alice return—a complete reversal from the chilling presence she had projected seconds ago—a quiet voice whispered in the room.
"...You let your guard down just now, didn't you?"
" " "!? " " "
The Alice who had been sitting on the floor was gone. When I spun around toward the voice, I saw her standing behind the three guards. She held a slender blade in her hand, the tip resting against their throats.
"That's no good, relaxing like that. You three just died, you know?"
" " "... " " "
Her voice was lower than usual—a freezing, lethal tone that made my skin crawl. She stole a glance at me.
"...I don't usually do this. Guard work is only for when the pay is good and I'm in the right mood..."
Keeping her sword steady, Alice slowly let her gaze drift over Chris-san and the surrounding knights.
"Well, Kaito-san has let me earn quite a bit lately, so consider this a bonus. As long as we're in the Arclesia Empire, I'll be serving as Kaito-san’s bodyguard. So, I have one thing to say before we start our little chat."
Alice turned back to the three guards.
With her features hidden behind that expressionless opera mask, the usually goofy girl looked like a seasoned assassin.
"...If you skulk around Kaito-san again... I'll kill you."
" " "... " " "
The line was delivered with terrifying naturalness.
It was spoken like a simple fact, as if she had taken countless lives before and wouldn't hesitate to take more. The room fell into a suffocating silence.
"Just kidding~!"
Breaking the heavy quiet, Alice chirped in her usual flighty voice and lowered her sword.
After she made the blade vanish—presumably into her Magic Box—she hopped back into her seat next to me and crossed her arms.
"And on that note, I'd like to request a truly extravagant dinner—Ow!?"
"..."
"What was that for, Kaito-san!?"
"I should be the one asking questions! What was with that sudden personality shift!?"
I reflexively brought my knuckles down on Alice's head. I couldn't help it; the whiplash from her return to her "usual self" was too much.
"I can't help it! Staying in 'Serious Mode' for too long gives me the creeps! I need to switch gears!"
"...'Too long'? It was only a couple of minutes..."
"No way! Anything over a minute is seriously exhausting! My facial muscles felt like they were going to cramp up. My whole body is stiff now! So, Kaito-san, how about a nice, gentle massage—gyan!?"
"..."
"Eh? A play? Is this that kind of play!? I mean, I'm adaptable to many situations, but if it hurts too much—another one!?"
She started fooling around with enough energy to make up for her previous silence, so I kept thumping her.
But when I thought about it, I realized I didn't truly know Alice at all.
She was a foolish general store owner with no business sense, yet she was incredibly well-informed and occasionally spoke with a sharpness that suggested a completely different person.
It was the terrifying intensity of someone who had survived countless bloodbaths. Of all the people I had met in this world, she might actually be the most exceptional.
Dear Mother, Father—I caught a glimpse of a side of Alice I never expected today. A presence as sharp and lethal as a cold blade. I have to wonder... who exactly is she?