NOVEL WEB Chapter 23.3: Alice
Chapter 23.3: Alice (Side Story)
Alice side
Inside a room. A girl is mumbling a lullaby. Sitting on her bed as she gazes outside the window.
Thinking of what happened these past few days.
Recalling how she was adopted by Antelmo and how she was so scared to meet her brother because of the rumours she heard that he was a tyrant; impulsive. A horrible person in short.
But after her interaction with him at the time they ate launch. She couldn't help but doubt whether the rumours she heard of him were true. Despite that, she soon shrugged her thoughts away as she speculated that her brother, Alfonso is just acting and is probably planning on doing something much more horrible to her.
‹What if he is just acting?› she inwardly questioned with fear lingering around her head.
With that thought in mind. Her body suddenly shivered when she recalled how she was treated by her half-blooded siblings.
Couldn't bear the trauma rolling inside her head, she bit her lip and deeply took a breath to calm herself down.
"Mother... I miss you... Father... Why?..." Alice quietly whispered with a trembling voice. Soon, however, she looked out her window again. Only to notice the mesmerizing view of the garden this time.
Roses and some yellow flowers made her eyes glimmer. But as time passed only one thing caught her interest to its fullest, the 'BUTTERFLIES'
Feeling curious and intrigued by the beautiful scenery. Alice decided to go to the garden.
She was actually not planning on going out, except when dinner comes. But after she found out that Alfonso went to the training ground. She dared to go out.
With excitement, she then opened her door and rushed to her destination. While using air magic along the way.
When she was about to cross the stair, Alice jumped at full speed and used her magic ability to control air and help her land safely on the ground.
With only such one jump, she crossed downstairs in an instant. After that, Alice immediately ran again as she used some silly magic powers until she finally reached the garden.
With a curious face, Alice watched the butterflies that flew. She even sometimes used her earth magic ability to create some humanoid toys and control them. Along the way met some maids and some people who were just doing their duties in the Alfonso mansion.
Sometimes Alice even picked up some flowers and used her air magic to make them fly on top of her head forming a crown; like she was some queen. It didn't take long before her mana ran out because of this though.
However, even after she realized she has run out of mana. Alice still stayed and just decided to watch some butterflies with a smile blooming on her face. Enjoying the moment that she forgot how much time passed.
‹This is fun!› Alice thought as her smile grew wider. However, her cheerful smile soon died down when she noticed a similar figure appearing at the gate.
It was no other but Alfonso who is standing there deep in contemplation.
Alice felt her stomach jolt and immediately tried to run back to her room but because of the bumps she created on the ground while making humanoid earth toys. She suddenly tripped.
"!!!"
Crash!
Leaving her to let out a cry of pain, "Ouch!!!" she could have prevented getting hurt by using her magic but when she tried to use one, her crash still continued. Why? Because she has no mana left to perform magic.
With pain surging through her knee, Alice bit her lips however her agony was replaced by fear when she heard footsteps approaching her.
Without giving her time to recover, a boy who had red eyes and a gaze cold as ice appeared out of her sight.
His cold demeanour and crimson eyes made Alice shriek. Her heart beating so loud that she could hear it.
Suddenly,
"Are you fine?"
Alfonso asked. But his question only brought terror and horrible memories to Alice.
An image of the past flashed inside her head where she tripped in the past and was laughed at by her siblings. Followed by her being belittled by them.
|' Why don't you eat that food like a pig?"| a girl's voice echoed through her ears and at the same time, a scene where her head was bashed on food flashed in her mind.
At that instant, Alice bit her lips and tried to stand up as she maintained her composure as best as she could.
She has decided to this day to never be treated that way again. Even though she is scared. She forced herself to fight her fear because she knows that nothing will change if she doesn't make any changes or actions.
After being with those siblings of hers. Alice has realized that if she showed her weakness to people. Then they will only take that advantage to hurt her.
With that in mind. Alice immediately stood up and tried to respond to Alfonso's question.
"Y-Yes!"
However, with fear still affecting Alice, her legs trembled and because of it her balance made her ankle twist and led to her stumbling again.
However, instead of feeling the pain of the crash. A warm body caught her and helped her not to stumble.
"!!!" Alice's eyes then widened. But before she could process her thoughts.
"Careful" Alfonso worriedly said, even though it had a cold tone. This time it felt warm for some reason.
But Alice didn't let her guard down and tried her best to straighten her posture and show that she was okay. Before responding,
"Thank you" with a forced smile blooming on her face.
"I guess you're fine now?" Alfonso enquired when he looked at her feet.
Alice then nodded her head with a fake smile.
"Ye-yes... I'm okay!" she forcefully replied.
Slowly, her legs gave out and she could feel her body falling again.
But before her body could even think of landing, a hand quickly stopped her body from doing so.
"You don't look like it. Don't move" Alfonso suddenly commanded as he bent his knees and faced his back on Alice.
"Hup on, I'll carry you toward the healers" he followed.
While Alice was left speechless in response.
"..."
She couldn't help but ask why Alfonso is helping her.
Her fear of being carried and dragged to a place where she'll get hurt even appeared in her mind. ‹Maybe... He is even trying to carry me just to put me down which could lead to my ass falling in a hurtful way,› she quietly pondered.
She then inwardly followed a question. ‹ Why didn't he laugh at me? When he saw me trip?› But because her ankle is in so much pain, she decided to hop on Alfonso's back shrugging her thoughts along the way... Because she thought that Alfonso might hurt her if she doesn't do what he wants. Especially now that she has drained her mana from playing too much.
"..."
In that instant, Alice hopped on Alfonso's back. However, instead of Alfonso immediately standing, his legs quivered first as if he would stumble. With a keen eye, Alice didn't miss this detail
She knows that Alfonso is strong the first time they met but it was easy to know why Alfonso struggled to carry her.
‹It's probably because of how tired he is from training at the training ground› she pondered.
However, his quivering body came to halt later on. She then narrowed her eyes because of Alfonso's action, a question popped out of her mind, ‹Why is he doing this?›
After she heard that Alfonso was someone who hated commoners. Alice could not help but feel scared since she also had the blood of a commoner but looking at Alfonso, and how he is struggling just to help her. It seemed like he was not that kind of person.
She felt that Alfonso genuinely want to help her. One thing was left inside her mind though, why is he helping?
However, to pay back his kindness. Alice's eyes then trembled before she slowly opened her mouth. "T-Thank you..." she genuinely said. With doubts still lingering inside her mind. Expecting for the worst.
With that, a footstep suddenly followed. Soon, a beautiful maid-suited woman appeared. It was no other but Mary. Her appearance was that of blue eyes and black hair, emitting elegance with each step she takes. But her indifferent gaze made her intimidating to approach.
Looking at her appearance though, Alice couldn't help but admire Mary's beauty. After that, Mary who has reached their range then spoke,
"My Lord, your father is looking for you" a brief silence then followed as she observed Alfonso.
"Let me carry her my lord" she suddenly proposed.
Alice expected that Alfonso would accept Mary's proposal so she prepared herself to move but contrary to her expectations.
"No need, I should be able to do this much as a brother and don't mind it. She's my sister now, after all, doing this is nothing"
Alfonso rejected and instead forced himself to carry her, no, rather force himself, he chose to.
Alice who heard Alfonso then couldn't help but show a flabbergasted face.
"???"
‹ Is that the reason? It's because I'm just his step-sister in name? ›
She couldn't help but think how unbelievable the words that Alfonso uttered were, he was being kind to him because he is his step-sister in name? Wasn't related blood important to nobles? Shouldn't he despise her?
Alice started questioning inside her mind.
Alice is not dumb; she is well aware of the terrible treatment that adopted commoners of aristocrats endure. The majority of them are treated in a similar manner to how she had been before, with people abusing adopted children or children whose blood was tainted by commoners from a noble house. She came to know how hard their lives are because of what she experienced with her family.
Because of these thoughts, Alice let out a mumble of disbelief, "Uhmm... Lord brother... I think you should accept her request" as she recommended.
But, "No. I can do this." Alfonso insisted.
Unwilling to admit to the fact that he is struggling since his perfectionism was affecting his judgment. While Alice's expression slowly began to change as she watches the determined face of Alfonso.
"This much is nothing..." Alfonso then added with a trembling voice.
His demeanour was cold but Alice instantly felt that he just wants to genuinely help after she saw him struggle to stand up just to carry her.
Alice who looked at Alfonso widened her eyes.
When she heard that Alfonso is rumoured to be horrible, Alice couldn't help but be terrified. But looking at Alfonso and his actions now... She could not help but doubt the rumours that surrounded him. She could not help but question whether those rumours about him were true.
At that moment, she then suddenly remembered what Alfonso said when they first met.
|"If you think that I see you as trash who cannot eat at the same table as me. Then you are gravely mistaken."|
Soon after, Alice put her head down and continued the words that Alfonso uttered that day, inside her mind.
|"Since you are already part of our family... I'll consider you equal to me regarding whether you are a peasant. So don't compare me to some nobles out there."|
After she recalled the words that Alfonso uttered that day. Alice couldn't help but now believe that he is telling the truth.
"..."
Slowly, her view of Alfonso changed a little.
