Chapter 27 – Alice’s Determination

Translator: Lioness

When Stella returned to her palace, she couldn’t hide and control her anger anymore.

“All out!”

As if she had waited for her yell, the maids who were guarding her room ran out. Fearing that they would be punished, they quickly went outside, and Stella threw everything she could get her hands on.

“How dare you do that as a mere extra!?”

It was unforgivable to disrespect the beloved heroine of this world. Stella blew out a harsh breath. It was hard to recognize her as the same woman who had so pitifully received Gale’s affection at the Empress’s palace earlier.

With her eyes widened in her rage, she threw down the vase in her hand. Only then did the anger subside a little when the vase knocked on the floor and was smashed.

“I will make you just like that.”

God responded as if he were responding to the words she spat out while gritting her teeth.

“That’s right.”

“Where did you go and only showed up now?”

“I am not directly involved in this world. Even more now.”

“You mean your strength has weakened?”

“Yes.”

Stella’s eyes widened at the god’s voice of meekly acknowledging it.

“It looks like the empress is circling around, but it doesn’t matter. After all, the empress can’t outlive me, right?”

The barely real Stella brushed her disheveled hair and a smile overflowed on her mouth.

“As long as you are in this country, you can’t get out of my hands. We’ll see.”

The maids waiting outside shuddered at the hostile voices filling her room.

****

Leaving the Empress’s palace, Alice stamped her feet in anger. With the movement she makes, she looked like a cat in a fit of rage. Lawrence, watching from the sidelines, chuckled, and whispered.

“If we do this in the imperial palace, rumors will spread?”

“I am not afraid of rumors. Now I have to go to the Nakran Empire, but do I have to worry about rumors about the Erha Empire?”

“Indeed, you’re right.”

Lawrence was very pleased with Alice’s attitude. Shouldn’t he leave without looking back when he leaves the Erha Empire? He was already ready to take Alice and head to the Nakran Empire.

She was fortunate that she hadn’t given the Diamond of Abyss to Stella. Since it was a waste to wish a healthy and happy life for such a woman.

‘I found the Princess, so there’s no need to give it to him.’

The plan was to stay in the Erha Empire if it took longer to find the princess. Now that he had found Alice, he had only one thing to do: return home.

“Is there any problem?”

“Because there are many listening ears.”

Covering Alice’s mouth, Lawrence whispered in her ear. The maids and attendants who had been watching from afar turned their faces at the two as if they were making an act of affection.

“When we’re out, you can do that.”

“Ugh, really!”

Lawrence hurried out of the palace, taking Alice, who struggled with him. Sensing the eyes watching them, Lawrence deliberately accelerated his pace.

“Why are you walking so fast?”

“Don’t you want to get out of here soon?”

As Alice climbed into the carriage, Lawrence did not dilly-dally anymore and immediately ordered the carriage to move. And when it moved, he looked behind him.

‘As expected. A sneaky b*stard.’

Just as expected. Looking through the carriage’s pierced window, Karus was watching the two of them. Lawrence snorted at him as he kept his gaze on the carriage, then met Alice’s eyes.

“Who was it?”

“Ah. Duke Shellington.”

“Why is he…”

“Why? He must have come to talk to Miss Alice.”

“To me?”

Lawrence responded kindly to Alice, who didn’t know why.

“It’s all thanks to me.”

“What?”

“It’s thanks to me that you became such a popular young lady that a lot are looking for.”

At first, she thought about what he was saying, but after a while, she must have understood. The cuteness of her face, the tips of her ears glowing red, stunned Lawrence. Alice, who showed a new face every time he sees her, came to him with charm.

His heart trembled at the sight of her teary eyes that sometimes came to mind. It still was. It was a shy expression, but why does she make people’s hearts go crazy?

‘It’s probably because she’s the princess.’

Lawrence struggled to calm his heart. She decided to think only of making a pact with her to fulfill the mission given to him. After that, she will be a greater person than that.

“Well, if that was so, I will say yes.”

Alice nodded her head.

“My popularity will disappear if I go to the Nakran Empire anyway, right?”

He was relieved by her words. Still thinking about going to Nakran, he now had to give her a definite date: His aide, Plein, had made all the arrangements, and they would travel to Nakran the day Marquis Hamilton vacated the Mansion.

“The date has been set.”

Alice’s expression, which had been smiling brightly, changed. Alice asked, turning her gaze to Lawrence with her serious face.

“When?”

“Two days later.”

“That was sudden.”

“I thought there would be a lot of people who would bother you if I took more time.”

After thinking about his words for a while, Alice nodded her head.

“That’s right. Where will I go?”

“You don’t have to come. I’ll go to Marquis myself.”

“All right.”

Alice was grateful that Lawrence had given her two days of her time.

‘I have to take care of everything.’

In the meantime, considering the money she made for the Marquis after Hamilton, she deserved to move to Nakran with all her possessions. However, because of the little affection she had left for the Marquis of Hamilton, she was going to leave with only the gold coins and deposits she had kept.

The thought of money lingered in Alice’s mind until Lawrence dropped her off at the Marquis’s Mansion front door. She was happy for a moment, making her forget about Stella’s change.

Alice entered her room and immediately opened the box hidden under her bed. She also pulled out the magic pouch she had bought in advance for a day like this. As she carried her hidden treasures of gold and silver into her pockets, Alice pulled out her magic scroll. It was a scroll enchanted with lightning magic that she had bought for this day.

“I bought it for a lot of money, so I have to use it now.”

She could only enchant a target once, and it lasted only one month.

“It will arrive in a month, hmm. I guess so.”

In terms of distance, it was a place to arrive in 15 days. Using magic can save time, but there was no portal from the Erha Empire to the Nakran Empire. It was because of the agreement to prevent a situation where they could lead an army to attack because they were not on good terms.

Alice, who had moved all the jewels, tore the scroll. A faint light appeared and seeped into the pocket. Grabbing her pocket with one hand, she moved it to her other hand.

“It’s definitely light.”

Alice let out a deep breath, checking the security spell in her pocket once more.

‘After tonight…’

Moonlight streamed in through the wide-open window. Alice approached the window, guided by the dreamy light. The scenery she saw every day came into her eyes.

Late at night, the knights and enlisted men guarding the marquis’ residence, and the servants who take care of them. A wagon carrying goods at the front gate in the distance, and even the outbuildings and warehouses she built. Now, she put her eyes on the sights that she may not be able to see anymore.

As the moonlight pouring over people’s heads shimmered and shone, Alice’s heart warmed. Even without her, she felt as if good days would be full for those who remained.

‘Ah, why do I feel so strange?’

She wanted to leave. From the day she heard that voice, she wanted to leave this place and waited for today. People ignored her and treated her carelessly, but why does it feel sad? What was this feeling of wanting to leave yet not wanting to leave?

Alice looked down at her, holding her quivering mind.

‘Since I’m leaving soon, so they could show me a bit of kindness.’

She leaned against the window and watched the people of the Marquis until she fell asleep.

****

The next day, Alice was listening to Lawrence who had come to her in the morning and was brushing her arm. He was shameless when he came and spoke kind words.

‘I never thought he’d say such goofy things without changing his expression.’

Rather, Alice’s face heated up as she listened, and she blushed several times, only lifting and releasing the teacup.

“Why do you keep doing this?”

A burdened Alice spoke in a small voice. The servants watching from a distance were so close that they thought the two were exchanging affectionate words.

“I heard the Crown Princess was grinding her teeth.”

“What?”

“Still, if I were there, even if someone came out of the imperial palace, I wouldn’t be able to do anything.”

The Marquess of Hamilton has been vacant since today due to work at the top. Alice was the one who saw off the Marquis, who was going to another city near the capital at dawn. In the absence of the Marquis, it was impossible for her to refuse the call of the Imperial Court.

“They were going to send someone from the imperial palace?”

“If not today, they will send it tomorrow.”

“Ha! How ridiculous they must think of me!”

Alice bit her lip. She must have known what kind of relationship she had with the empress, but she didn’t give up.

‘What the hell was she doing?’

Alice was the daughter of the richest marquis in the Erha Empire. What was the reason for taking her anger out on her?

‘Could he set an example?’

She was told that the Emperor was giving his throne to her crown prince. The first thing a person in power who inherits power does was show authority. In order to establish authority, there was a way to rob one of the noble families and seize the property.

“But we must leave tomorrow.”

Alice who was awakened by Lawrence’s words, opened her mouth.

“Is there a way?”

“There is.”