Chapter 110

Alice stared at us for a really, really, really long while. I couldn’t get a glimpse of her face because I didn’t want to look down where Alex's, you know what, were, but I could tell from the atmosphere alone that I should keep my mouth shut.

“Alice, it’s not what you think.“

“Oh, really? Then why are you on top of Nyx like that?”

“Heh? Nyx!?”

Confusion was evident on his face when Alice mentioned my name, and he quickly looked back at me as I expressionlessly looked back at him, even more confused than before.

“Hey there, Alex. Umm… can you get off of me?”

“WHAT!?! No way.”

Quickly looking back at the ceiling as Alex immediately got off me, I only sat up after I heard him hastily wrap some clothes around himself so he wasn’t completely exposed.

“How? You look exactly like that stream girl.”

“Stream girl?”

Repeating the last part of what Alex had said out loud, I looked at Alice, who was wearing a bathrobe for some reason, and two things crossed my mind.

One of them—I still can’t believe it—was what Alex called me. That name seemed kind of rude, don’t you think? The other thought that crossed my mind was… Oh god, I’m screwed.

Alice looked at me, then at Alex, then back at me again, and so on. With each turn of her head, the air seemed to grow increasingly colder.

Oh, goddamn it, Alex, why did you mention that one time you saw me naked like that?

Slowly yet ominously, Alice walked toward me and placed both her hands on my shoulders.

“Alex, you can go now. Nyx and I are going to speak for a bit.”

Nodding up and down desperately, he quickly made a run for it like the coward he was.

Hey, wait a minute; you’re the main protagonist, so stand up for yourself… Goddamnit, mark my word, Alex, I will sic Clare on you later for this.

“Come, Nyx,” emphasizing my name. “We’re going to have a long… long talk in my room.”

Digging her fingers into my shoulders hard, hard enough to hurt, so I wouldn’t try to run away as she spoke, she finally let go and walked back to her room, as I meekly followed after her.

“So… Nyx, mind telling me everything?”

By the time I stepped out, however long it had been, my eyes were lifeless—but something burned beneath the surface. I wanted to punch Alex… no, something far worse would be more fitting.

After being interrogated by Alice about my relationship with Alex to see if I was going to be a romantic rival or anything, I only managed to convince her I wasn’t interested in him by promising that I would never, under any circumstances, fall in love with Alex.

Walking back to my room, I entered and saw Clare patiently waiting with some potions and bandages prepared for me. She looked like she was expecting to see me in a good mood, but grew concerned when she saw my dead expression under my expressionless face.

Shutting the door behind me, I wanted to plop down on my bed, but my blood-stained clothes would just make a mess.

Unbuckling my belt and unbuttoning my cloak, I handed them over to Clare to quickly put away as I headed to the bath.

Already having prepared everything by the time I came back, there were towels and a basin of warm water set out waiting for me.

With Clare’s help, I got out of my clothes and cleaned the dried blood from my body before starting the bath with hot water.

Once that was done, she left as I got into my bath, and after my mood had sufficiently recovered a bit, I called for Clare to help dry me and put on my pajamas.

Stepping out of the bathroom, Clare brewed me some tea to better my mood as I finally began explaining what had happened the time Alex saw me.

Suffice it to say, I saw multiple veins throbbing across Clare’s forehead.

“Anyway, that is all, but tell me, Clare, do you know how Alex managed to find himself here?”

“That would be me, my doing, my lady. Shall I correct it?”

“No, he’s already here. Just make his life… a living hell and, hmmm… start stuff when everyone is here, when he least expects it; that’s where all the fun begins.”

If I could make a maniacal smile, I would, but my expressionless face would do as I stare out the window.

“Yes, my lady.”

“Good, anyway, tell me, how did you find Alex?”

Proceeding to tell me how she had brought Alex here, it wasn’t really special since they just ran into one another, figuratively speaking, not literally, just to specify, since he is a main protagonist and all.

Clare said that he nearly hugged her at the sight of a familiar face, with tears in his eyes. She then led him back here, and when Alice saw Alex after months of separation, she practically dropped everything she was doing and has stuck close to him ever since.

This all led to what happened in the hallway, where Alice happened to, ahem… seduce Alex until Alex kicked the door open to run away.

After hearing all that I needed to hear, I felt a yawn coming on and decided to go to bed. Even though I hadn’t eaten any dinner when I came back, I was too mentally drained to care since that was the last thing I needed to worry about.

We still haven’t gotten an idea of what to do with the box my brother had given me, and tomorrow, knights from the fourth knight order are coming by in the afternoon to pick up all the evidence and testimonials Clare had collected.

Hmm… since the fourth knight order is coming by tomorrow, I wonder if opening the box during or before they come by would be a good idea, since there would be extra capable bodies around if that leads my father to send out my family’s remaining black knights for me.

I should consult with Alice early tomorrow morning, before everything, since this was her home after all.

Sleeping with those thoughts in mind, I woke up with the same thought in mind. After ringing for Clare, she informed me that I’d be joining Alice and Alex for breakfast to discuss what should be done with him.

Helping me get dressed in boys' clothes and then having my hair tied up in a ponytail, I headed to the main dining room, a place I had never been to since I needed to hide my identity.

There, a long table was laid out with all kinds of breakfast dishes, while maids and butlers stood along the walls, awaiting instructions.

Then I noticed Alex and Alice sitting really close to each other, uncomfortably so, because Alice was literally sitting on Alex’s lap while spooning him porridge like a pair of lovebirds.

Though the only one that looked like a lovebird was Alice, because Alex had a really awkward and embarrassed expression, since a dozen maids and butlers were watching those two.

Noticing us, one of the maids and butlers helped Clare and me to our seats. Alex just stared at me again like yesterday, with his mouth slack-jawed when he looked at my face.

This caught the notice of Alice, and Alice glared at me for a bit, reminding me that I should not interfere with their love life even when I am not trying to.

“Good morning, Young Master Alex and Lady Alice.”

The first to break the silence was Clare, who greeted both of them, followed by me.

“Morning, Alice, Alex. You seem really tired. Did you get a wink of sleep last night?”

Seeing the bags under his eyes, Alex looked completely exhausted. I tried to get him out of his stupor from looking at me by making the conversation focus just on him and Alice so Alice wouldn’t get mad at me.

Honestly, two things came to mind when I saw him like that, and I’d actually be surprised if they really went through with it, considering he’s the main protagonist and all.

Starting some rumors among the staff seems like a good idea to start getting back at him, because I bet Alice wouldn’t mind it, if not want it to happen.

“No, umm… I’m fine.”

“I see, but next time don’t get me involved and just keep your nighttime activities private because I don’t want to walk in on you two, you know.”

“What!?! It’s not like that. We–”

“Really, Alex? I’d expected better from you. You're not going to take any responsibility.”

Cutting Alex off, I noticed his back was dripping with cold sweat as the maids and butlers in the room suddenly fixed him with cold stares, as if he were nothing but complete human trash.

Alice, who had been remaining silent all this time, looked shocked, almost about to cry.

“Oh, Alex…”

This intern caused the servants around us to glare even more at Alex, though, seeing through Alice’s acting, I could tell she was really happy with what I was doing.

Alex, trying to plead his case, desperately looked at Clare for help.

“Ms. Clare, I didn’t do anything. You know Chelsie, Lucia, Wendy, and Maria would kill me if I even laid my hands on her with them, right?!?”

Responding to Alex, Clare added more fuel to the fire by saying, “But, young master, didn’t I see you two come out of the same room earlier this morning? It is not my place to judge, but please take responsibility for anything that happens next with Lady Alice.”

Alex grew speechless at her words, as the only person he could rely on had suddenly stabbed him in the back.

“But… But…”

Like a broken record, he tries to plead his case, but the shock of Clare’s sudden betrayal broke him.

Seeing the opportunity, Alice rested her hand on his head and patted him gently, trying to soothe him.

“There, there, Alex.”

Cradling his head against her chest, she gently patted him while whispering words of comfort, though those soothing murmurs felt eerily close to brainwashing, but who am I to judge?

Seeing that shocked, betrayed look gave me some satisfaction for what happened last night. I signaled one of the maids to serve me some of the dishes on the table, and Clare the same after I had gotten everything I wanted.

Before I could dig in, I turned to look at Alice.

“Alice.”

Saying her name, she looked away from Alex, knowing why she said her name. So, telling all the servers in the room to leave, Alice dejectedly got off of Alex’s lap and sat in her own seat.

Not noticing that the servants had left and Alice had gotten off of him, Alex finally got out of his stupor when I called for him.

“Alex, you’re wondering why I look like this, aren't you?”

Taking a moment or two to respond after recovering a bit from Clare’s sudden betrayal, he asks, “You’re Nyx, right?”

“Yeah, why do you ask? Oh, right, I look like that stream girl you had pervertedly crept up on when she was bathing, right?”

“What, no, that was by complete accident. I’m telling you, that was an accident.”

Having the look of a wrongly accused man, I switch back to the original topic I was going to talk about.

“Anyways, the reason I look like this is that I somehow got dragged into some noble affairs; specifically, I am substituting for a noble lady as a body double.”

“Body double?”

“Yes, that. I can’t really give the full details, but Alice is helping her, and her name is Rita Lucendi, the stream girl you were mentioning.”

I let out a loud “Huh!?” when I explain that to him.

“Wait, what?”

Alex still seems to be confused by it, which I can’t really blame him for, since this was the summarized version.

Repeating what I said, with a bit more detail this time, in addition to some lies mixed in for convenience's sake to keep up the lies I had made with Aria consistent, along with everyone closely related to her.

I just told Alex that I got involved with them when we separated, when Aria and everyone were looking for Rita, Eric’s sister, who ran away. By sheer coincidence, I encountered them, and one thing led to another, leading me to be her body double since I look practically like her, but a male version of her, which started the whole mess to begin with.

It finally ended when I said, “And that is all. But by the way, I think it’s best that you not meet with her, like at all, because… of your peeping incident. She knows.”

Alex, who was listening intently, had the look of an accused man again.

I mentioned the last part to make sure Alex wouldn’t try to track me down as Rita. Past lessons from games and books, along with real-life experience, like from yesterday, taught me never to get caught up in a lover’s quarrel if I wanted to avoid someone stabbing me in my sleep.

This was just to cover my own ass, but just in case, so I could play the victim card when it comes to it, which I hopefully won't have to use.

With that all explained and taking the last bite of my pancake, I sensed that there was another question in Alex’s mind.

“Yes? What is it?”

“Your arm, what happened to it?”

“An injury I got a couple of months ago?”

“A couple of months ago? Have you seen a doctor about it?”

“Yeah, but there’s nothing they can do for the time being. I can’t tell you the details because that is a whole separate matter.”

“I see. Is there any way I could help?”

“Yeah, you being here is a surprise, but a welcome one. Could you help stand guard around the manor since we’re transferring the evidence we had gathered against Rita’s father to the Fourth Knight Order, and maybe some other things today?”

I looked toward Alice when I said the last part, and she guessed I was referring to the box, since we hadn’t discussed what to do with it.

As I said that, there was a sudden knock on the door. All of us heard it; Alice told them to come in. A single maid had come inside, and she whispered in Alice’s ear about something.

Curious to know what it was all about, since the Fourth Knight Order should be coming in later today, I asked Alice what the maid had said.

“Swordmaster Veyl has come for a visit.”

Swordmaster Veyl? What is he doing here?

Immediately after saying that, the doors to the dining room suddenly flew open, with someone coming in.

“There you are, you bastard; I finally found you!”

Turning my head to see Swordmaster Veyl barging in with a loud and imposing voice, Alex's face suddenly turned pale as he jumped out of his seat upon immediately seeing him.

However, before Alex could make a break for it, Swordmaster Veyl tackled Alex to the ground.

“What is the meaning of this?”

Alice, surprised to see him, recovered quickly from her shock and demanded what was going on.

“Apologies, Lady Alice, for barging in like this, but this idiot right here is under my care. I will be borrowing him. If you have some objection, I will be using the back garden to train him then.”

“Huh?”

For some reason, Swordmaster Veyl seems to be familiar with Alice, given that, seeing Alice's silence, he ran out with Alex on his shoulder, screaming for help.

Seeing that, Alice wore a conflicted expression as she watched Swordmaster Veyl running off with Alex. I wondered how he even knew where Alex was, but the question was quickly answered when Clare tugged on my sleeve.

Reading the expression on her face that had the slightest bit of a smile, I knew… this was Clare’s doing.

Nice job, Clare. Letting her read that in my mind, she had a contented smile.

Looking back toward Alice, who wasn’t really doing anything to stop Alex from getting taken away, I guess this is a good thing, other than getting back at him for yesterday tenfold.

“So… Alice, what is your relation to Swordmaster Veyl?”

“Oh, him, he’s the former master of Garner, Rollo, and Arnald. He tends to visit his former students from time to time to spar with them and see how much stronger they’ve gotten."

“Oh, I see.”

Well, that is kind of unexpected since I didn’t expect Garner, Rollo, and Arnald, all three of them, to be Veyl's former students.

“Huh… It’s unexpected, but it’s good that he is here.”

Alice looked at me questioningly, wondering what I meant.

Before I answered Alice, I looked at the door to make sure that it was closed and tried to sense if anyone was listening to us, but fortunately, no one was.

“It’s about the box. We need to discuss what to do with it.”

“Ah, that. So what do you want to do with it, Rita?”

“Since the knights from the Fourth Knight Order are coming, I guess we could open it a little before they arrive—or when they get here—just in case, since they’d make good backup if my father tried anything.”

Hearing my suggestion on what to do with the box, Alice hmmmed to herself in deep thought.

“I think that is a good idea; however… I think we should inform the knights about it before we open it.”

“That seems fine. I don't have a problem with that.”

“Good, let me prepare my guards to be on high alert, and do you want me to get the box now or later?”

“Later, since it would be a while before the Fourth Knight Order arrives.”

Nodding at my answer, Alice excused herself to set everything up before the Fourth knight's order arrives.

After seeing her leave, Clare and I were the only ones in the room. We discuss our plans, just the two of us for a short bit, mainly about Alex, in which Clare had already made some countermeasures last night when she first found Alex, so he wouldn’t find out that I am a girl.

After that was done, thinking that Alice would be really busy, I asked Clare.

“Could you help Alice out for the time being?”

Since Alex is here, let’s just say that Alice has been skipping her work lately, and I have a knowing feeling that the room was filled to the brim with paperwork that needed to be done.

“Yes, my lady, and what will you be doing?”

“Go see what swordmaster Veyl is doing with Alex.”

Nodding at my words, we left the dining room, each of us walking separately to our separate locations.