Just like Mashiro and the others, will she too swear that she will be by my sword?
No, don’t be anxious. With my heartfelt letter, Alice’s affection for me will surely increase! I’ve won, hahaha!
Precisely because I’m facing a formidable enemy, I must first solidify my inner circle.
“Lord Ouga, the dinner preparations are ready.”
Speak of the devil.
With a modest knock, Alice lets me know that dinner is ready.
“Alice, come on in.”
“… Understood. Excuse me.”
… Hm? For some reason, she feels a bit more distant than usual… Ah, could it be that she was waiting by the door, thinking I would come over right away.
I was lacking in words.
Well, no help for it. I’ll approach her.
“Alice, this is for you from me. It’s the gift I promised.”
“This is…”
“Didn’t I tell you? I’d get you something nice. This is a letter of gratitude from me to you. Will you accept it?”
“Lord Ouga… No, I’m not worthy of something like that.”
“What are you saying? You fought against Flone and protected Mashiro. You’ve been diligently serving me as well. You more than deserve it.”
Surprised by the letter, Alice’s eyes widen as she tentatively takes the envelope with the stationery inside.
She gazes at it for a while, then gently hugs it to her chest.
Handling it as if it were a precious treasure, so delicately.
… Being treated this way is rather embarrassing.
I had expected her to cry excessively and shout excessively like usual, but it seems I was off the mark.
It appears I still don’t know Alice well enough.
“… Lord Ouga, thank you. I’ll cherish it and read it later.”
“Do so. I’d be embarrassed if you read it right in front of me.”
“You must have written such a passionate letter. … I am truly fortunate.”
Alice wipes the corner of her teary eyes with her finger, bowing her head.
Just by writing a thank-you letter, to be this deeply moved is rather bittersweet.
Let’s change the topic and the mood.
“Oh, and Alice. I have one more thing… Would you correspond with me by letter?”
This is something I thought of while writing the letter.
During the recent ear-cleaning as well, I realized that I don’t know much about Alice’s private life.
It’s all been on paper, and I’ve never directly asked her about it.
I had thought she would just follow me without that.
In fact, even without doing that, she would likely wield her strength as Ougai-Verett’s sword until she realizes my misdeeds.
But that won’t do.
I’ve realized that it’s my day-to-day conduct that will save me when I truly need help.
Mashiro, Karen, Reina. And Alice.
They are indispensable presences in my villainous noble life.
Among the four, Alice is the one whose private matters I know the least about, due to the nature of our relationship.
“Here, I’ll write a question for you, and pass it on. The rule is that you write the answer and the next question, then pass it back.”
“W-wait, Lord Ouga. Is it really alright for me to be the one? Isn’t this a mistake?”
“No, I specifically want to do this with you.”
“… Lord Ouga…!”
After all, I can just directly ask the other three without this tedious process…
But with Alice, the relationship of master and servant gets in the way when we’re face-to-face.
This way, through the medium of paper, there should be a bit more ease.
I’ve already written a question for Alice at the end of the gratitude letter.
[Will you continue to be my sword?]
The answer is probably already decided, but it’s best to start with something like this to get used to it.
“Write your true feelings. No need to hold back with me.”
“… Understood. I will humbly accept this.”
Alright, that’s the end of my business.
All that’s left is to ask her to help with Mashiro’s training.
I summarize the contents briefly and tell Alice.
“So Lady Leiche and Lady Levezenka will be participating as well, I see.”
“That’s right. Please lend them a hand as well.”
“… Understood.”
Hmm, that completes all my missions.
Now that I’m done with what I needed to do, I’m starting to get hungry.
“Alright, let’s go. I shouldn’t keep everyone waiting too long.”
“… Lord Ouga, I apologize greatly. May I please go to my room first to place your letter there?”
“Hahaha, of course. I’ll go ahead first.”
“Thank you. Excuse me.”
With a bow, Alice hurries off towards the servants’ quarters at the edge of the manor.
What an Alice-like refusal, in a way.
But I see. To be treasured that much…
My standing in Alice’s heart will surely soar.
It seems my hunch that she had been feeling lonely because she didn’t get a letter was right on the mark.
Haha…My own powers of observation are rather frightening.
I let out a chuckle, and proceeded in the opposite direction from her.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT GADGETIZEDPANDA.COM
First day of the early morning training with Mashiro and the others.
I woke up at my usual time and got up as always.
But the greeting I always hear first thing in the morning from her was absent.
“…Has Alice overslept?”
Alice, who normally comes to my room to wake me up, is nowhere to be seen.
She has never been late even once since I hired her.
It’s not just in the mornings – Alice is consistently punctual in her actions.
Ruling out oversleeping, there are two possibilities:
Either she’s preparing the training equipment for Mashiro’s special regimen, or she’s gone to wake them up.
It’s understandable that she would prioritize Mashiro over waking me, since I can wake myself up.
It’s far more difficult than one might think to break the ingrained habit of sleeping in.
On the table lies my neatly folded training attire.
“It’s been a while since I’ve had to dress myself.”
I’ve grown quite spoiled, haven’t I.
This might even be the first time I’ve found it troublesome to change clothes.
Feeling slightly awkward putting on the gear, I head to the training room attached to the mansion.
This facility was built at my father’s behest, so it’s relatively new compared to the rest of the estate. In fact, it was completed just a week after I requested it.
Father’s family affection manifests in these ways as well.
“Ah, good morning, Ouga-kun!”
“Morning, Ouga. Hehe, looks like we beat you here.”
“Good morning, Ouga-kun. Now that everyone’s here, let’s begin…Eh? Ouga-kun, isn’t Alice with you?”
Three people greet me as I enter.
What I saw was not what I expected to see.
“…Didn’t Alice go to wake up Mashiro and the others?”
“Nope. I woke up on our own.”
“I went to bed super early yesterday to make sure I’d be on time.”
“Me too. I just thought you’d be coming with Alice…”
Something is amiss. There’s an anomaly in our daily routine.
Before I can inquire further, Morina approaches me.
“Young Master Ouga.”
“Morina! I have a question about Alice…”
“Regarding that girl as well. She hasn’t shown up for her morning duties, so I came to confirm if she was with you, Young Master…”
Hearing those words, I immediately turn and rush towards Alice’s room.
I have an awful premonition.
If she’s merely overslept, that would be fine. I’d laugh it off and forgive her.
But with Alice, of all people, I can’t help but feel anxious that something may have happened.
…There is one potential lead.
Juke Andraus.
The noble who had extended an invitation to our party – a virtual adversary to me.
If Alice had learned of his existence and tried to act independently…
That’s why we didn’t tell Alice about him. Yes, we did not.
Then, did he contact Alice? How in the world did he get in touch with ……?
No, I mustn’t speculate further.
First, I need to confirm Alice’s safety.
Please, let it be just a needless worry…!
Reaching Alice’s door, I fling it open forcefully.
But all I find is the curtain billowing in the breeze from the open window – the scene I had dreaded is nowhere to be seen.
Has Alice left? Am I trapped in some sort of nightmare?
Unsteadily stepping inside, a familiar-looking notepad catches my eye on the desk.
“…This is the kind of letter I never wanted you to write, Alice.”
A single sheet of paper, bearing the neatly written words:
“I hereby resign from my position.”
The neatly written letters, straight like her character, were the last thing I wanted to see.
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NOOOO ALICEEE NOT LIKE THISSS