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.
Alice’s soft, sleep-filled mumbling interrupted my thoughts, making me squirm a little.
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.
I muttered his name, hoping he’d pop up to explain himself, but predictably, there was no response.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Her initial impulse was to escape before Riley woke up, but a moment’s thought stopped her.
Knowing him, his instincts would likely catch even the slightest shift of movement, given that he was a knight his mana sense was sure to be sharp, any disruption would rouse him immediately.
The last thing she wanted was to make a scene at this embarrassing moment.
Besides, the longer she lingered, the more guilty she felt for the unintentional invasion of his space.
‘What am I supposed to do?’ she thought, heart racing.
She felt almost ridiculous, embarrassed that she was caught up in something so trivial, yet here she was, unsure of how to even express gratitude or say goodbye without waking him.
She glanced at Riley again, the peacefulness of his sleeping face catching her attention.
His guard was completely down, and for a rare moment, he looked utterly at ease.
A small, reluctant smile tugged at her lips.
Despite the whirlwind in her chest, a part of her felt strangely content just watching him, soaking in the fleeting serenity of the moment.
Maybe just a few more minutes, she reasoned, feeling her earlier panic subside slightly.
She knew it was dangerous to linger, but perhaps… perhaps she could allow herself this one indulgence, just for a while longer.
Slowly, despite the flutter of nerves and the whisper of reluctance, Alice let her fingers gently brush a strand of golden hair from Riley’s face, her touch as light as the morning breeze.
He could be so outwardly ordinary, yet carry an air of mystery that made him appear far from simple.
In all the time they’d spent together, Alice realized she had never fully seen Riley as just Riley, always layered with the roles he played and the guardedness he held.
Gazing at him now, Alice could see the same deep, rose-pink glow that shimmered just below his surface, an essence of strength that seemed almost ethereal.
He was the one who carried the shades of both red and white, the same colors the White Queen had entrusted her to seek.
Her mind wrestled with a frustrating mixture of certainty and doubt, a conflict that she’d buried deep but could never quite ignore.
But was he the one who could truly understand her?
The one who could hold her hopes and fears without bending under the weight of what their connection might mean?
For all her hesitation, she knew she wanted to trust him.
Even without the White Queen’s decree or the tangled threads of destiny, Alice felt a pull toward him, one that was purely hers.
Shaking off the weight of her thoughts, Alice took a quiet breath, her gaze drifting cautiously from Riley’s face to his chest.
This was a rare chance, she told herself again, eyes darting as if half-expecting him to awaken any second.
Though she tried to reason it away, her hand was already moving, tracing over the hard lines of his chest, feeling the warmth that radiated from him like a silent reassurance.
‘He’s so… solid.’
She’d always known Riley was strong, but feeling the toned, unyielding muscles under her fingertips was a completely different experience.
Her curiosity urged her hand to trail downwards, exploring, feeling her heart pounding louder with each movement.
This closeness was new, thrilling, and terrifying all at once.
The deep, familiar voice made her hand freeze. Her eyes snapped up, finding Riley looking at her with a sleepy confusion that only made her own shock hit harder.
What am I doing? she thought, her face instantly heating up. Riley’s gaze was questioning, his voice still thick with sleep, as he asked, “What are you doing?”
A nervous chuckle escaped her, barely masking her inner panic.
The embarrassment was suffocating, far more intense than she’d ever felt before.
Love has the power to change a person.
It was a phrase Snow had heard many times, spoken by those who had truly experienced love’s embrace.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“You are?” the maid asked, her tone slightly informal, though Snow didn’t mind.
“I’m a friend of Riley,”
“Excuse me?” Snow blinked in confusion, momentarily thrown off by Yui’s sudden dismissal.
“The young master is busy right now,”
“Busy?”
