NOVEL WEB Chapter 27: Misunderstanding
Chapter 27: Misunderstanding
......
Alice Side
Ever since Alice and Alfonso's interaction where Alfonso helped her. Alice started to observe Alfonso. Following where he goes and noting his schedules.
Since she couldn't believe the rumours that surrounded him, she decided to know it for herself.
However, what Alice only saw was Alfonso training the entire day, without a halt. Followed by an everyday routine where Alfonso's first schedule in the morning was to swing his sword in their backyard. Not only in a normal swing, but in every swing a destructible amount of force is applied to it.
Alice knew that if Alfonso truly wanted to kill someone like her, she would be obliterated. Despite that, that's what not made Alice astonish, but because of how Alfonso's bones sometimes make a cracking noise when he surpasses his limits.
Every day his swing and thrust of swords would increase but at the next moment of each try, Alice could hear how Alfonso's bones echoed in the process. Making her think how mad Alfonso is in training and how dedicated he is. To the point of almost breaking his bones, she couldn't help but speculate just how painful that is.
However, as if that's not enough, Alfonso would even try to practice his magic ability. There were times when Alfonso would find his nose bleeding because of how he is perfecting every skill and ability he does. Alice saw all of these however Alfonso hid them from Gregory followed by Mary, silently wiping his blood away with a handkerchief.
It's as if Alfonso always wants to look flawless in front of everyone, and of course, Alice already has realized this after she was scolded by Alfonso for how she behaved in front of Antelmo.
At that same moment, Alice recalled how she was pressured to meet Antelmo's expectations for her but that also didn't make her forget what happened to Alfonso that day.
|"I hope you won't disappoint, or else you'll experience something much worse than death"|
Antelmo's voice rang through Alice's ears as an image of him appeared.
Because of this though, Alice couldn't help but speculate as to why Alfonso is so hard on himself is because of how he is pressured by his father. Not only that, but Alice also realized just how lucky she is with her previous family because... Antelmo looked like he didn't treat his son as lovingly as her mother and her father did.
She then soon shook her head as she recalled the talent Alfonso possessed. And that's how he controls geological things with the speed of a bullet. Alice couldn't understand how Alfonso could do that but there was one thing she noticed.
That's by using something of a force on them. Because of this observation, Alice tried to combine her wind ability with her earth elemental ability and her experiment's result was the same as Alfonso, however, just a little bit slower. Alice considered Alfonso's skills top-notch, yet Alfonso always calls himself trash and his abilities. She noticed that by watching him demonstrate his abilities on multiple occasions.
It's as if he deeply hates himself. She couldn't help but pity him because by the looks of it. Alfonso's efforts were disregarded by his father and himself without even considering the work his abilities were put into.
"..."
Despite that, Alfonso still strives to improve to the point of overworking himself, which itself made Alice respect Alfonso.
However, today, she also needed to train too and stopped observing Alfonso as she has already some good speculation about him. She's also trying to improve to meet Antelmo's expectations; He is the one who saved her from being sold after all and even gives her what she needs to get stronger.
If Alfonso is working so hard Alice decided that she should too. After all, she made a promise to Antelmo.
Recalling the past when she was bought by Antelmo, however, made Alice's brow frown.
"Why..." Alice quietly mumbled as a flash of that time rolled inside her mind.
It was no other but a figure of his father who committed suicide from her disappearance.
Could not bear the guilt of losing his daughter, Alice's father decided to kill himself. What made it worse was when Alice was bought by Antelmo. Alice tried to beg to see his father first before making a promise that she'll do anything for Antelmo in return. However, when she arrived at her home, she was seconds too late and she witnessed her father's death.
Whilst her two other mothers immediately took her father's wealth.
That day, Alice's tears flowed like a river but she needed to fulfil her promise to Antelmo that's why she's in Quiñones territory instead of avenging her father and her mother.
Yet it was also a good thing for her since in the Quiñones family she'll get stronger at a much faster rate.
"..."
She then shrugged her shoulder to shake off the bitter memory in her mind and thought of Alfonso again.
"Alfonso..." She quietly whispered with her head down.
All she can say to Alfonso was that he is quite different from the nobles she knew. How it led her to this? Well, Alice saw how Alfonso treats her. He was not a person who would humiliate her or do something that her past siblings did. Instead, he treats her like an equal just as he said before.
He may seem prideful and even arrogant to her sometimes, but surprisingly he is reasonable, unlike the rumours says him to be.
People even say he is lazy but what she saw of him was the complete opposite, because of this, Alice vowed to herself to never believe the rumours so easily.
With that in thought, a footstep suddenly pierced her ears. Upon hearing the footstep she then turned her head only to see a familiar graceful figure.
'Alfonso'
Alice who was deep in her thought suddenly came out of her revere from the unexpected arrival of her brother. Followed by a question in her mind,
‹Speaking of Alfonso... Why is he here...?›
"C-Can I help you with something L-lord brother?" With a flustered face, she spoke.
However, Alfonso only stared at her with his cold gaze.
"..."
Because of the silence, Alice felt her heart beat faster as her sweat started to run down her forehead.
Inside she was questioning whether she was caught by Alfonso watching him. Now that she thought about it, she looked like a creep, her actions were a creep.
‹Is is he going to punish me because of that?›
While she was filled with those thoughts an abrupt question came out of Alfonso, "Do you have the affinity of elemental earth?"
Which made Alice come out of her revere of thoughts.
‹"Huh...?›
She couldn't help but gasp inwardly, confused as to why Alfonso is asking that of her.
With a dazed face, Alice could only reply, "Y-yes..." in a worried tone.
Upon her response though, Alfonso elegantly removed the wrinkles from his suit before he continued speaking.
"May I see? You demonstrate it in front of me"
"Hm?" Alice squeaked in a startled tone.
Trying to figure out why Alfonso would like to see her abilities on earth affinity. She was about to ask why but Alice came to halt when Alfonso spoke in a cold tone again,
"I'll... Just compare it to something..."
Alice then stared Alfonso into his deep red eyes.
‹Could he be...›
Without delaying any more time, Alice then started to show her abilities and control in earth elemental.
Tak!
The sound of the earth cracking resonated and soon. A rumbling sound of dirt followed as a huge rock formed out of the ground.
However, the formed rock didn't stop there, instead, a golem made of dirt and rock slowly came to form.
In just a matter of seconds, Alice was able to make a huge golem with her ability.
"That's... Impressive..." Alfonso suddenly complimented with his cold gaze and sophisticated expression.
Leaving Alice speechless.
She didn't expect Alfonso to compliment her, she most likely thought that Alfonso wanted to see her abilities to humiliate her. But that thought of her made her think she is foolish since the Alfonso she observed is not that kind of person.
However, deep inside, Alfonso who just complimented Alice felt his stomach twist into knots. But, the other soul inside him—Blake's compliment came to heart because he was just that baffled and impressed by Alice's skills. Unfortunately, Alice wouldn't know what was going on inside Alfonso's mind or the merged soul in him.
Because of what Alfonso said though, Alice suddenly asked, "D...Do you want to see more... Lord Brother?"
Since Alice was always criticized by her half-blooded siblings, she felt a little happy that Alfonso acknowledges her ability. The other reason she felt happy too was that Antelmo called her talented but was never impressed by her abilities making her wonder if she is good enough.
"..."
Alfonso who heard her then nodded his head, "Go on" which made Alice smile in response. Wanting to show Alfonso how capable she is.
.
.
.
.
After a brief show-off, Alfonso soon questioned Alice, "How can you control them at that level?" as she continuously controls the movement of the golem.
"Hm? Well, it's quite easy Lord Brother... You just have to build first the proper foundation for them to work properly and won't crumble" Alice nonchalantly said as she followed it with a question, "Why you... ask Lord Brother?"
Alfonso then shook his head as he responded, "Don't mind it. I just thought that a peasant like you is very talented with this compared to someone incompetent I know... You are fitted to have the name of Quiñones and as my sister."
But upon Alfonso's response, Alice suddenly halted the control of her golem as her eyes widened for a second. Making her realize who Alfonso is criticizing...
‹Himself!›
Since Alice knew that Alfonso has an affinity with the earth, who could he be comparing other than himself? The fact that he is always just with his maid/butler and never interacts with people, she realized this.
Because of this, Alice immediately thought that Alfonso is degrading himself because she is quite better than him.
However, she felt tightness in her chest.
‹Is it to this extent?›
Alice muttered inside her head.
She has finally grasped why Alfonso is the way he is. She even thought that they are quite similar.
Since she was always criticized by her siblings in the past, she also wanted to look perfect and always compared herself to them. She felt inferior to them because she has the blood of a commoner.
Acted like a commoner, Alice in the past tried to copy the etiquette of nobles/royals to fit in.
But whatever she did, she was always looked down upon by her siblings until she didn't care anymore when she discovered her worth being a Mage/Elementalist.
In Alfonso's case, it's his father. The fact that his father should be the one supporting him broke Alice's heart because of how horrible Antelmo is a father compared to her father.
‹I miss my parents...› Alice thought inwardly, but she quickly shrugged her thoughts away and replied to Alfonso
"D-Don't be too harsh on that person. I bet that his trying his best..." Knowing the pain of not being enough, Alice reassured.
"Hm..." Alfonso who heard her then just shrugs her words away while Alice smiled at him; A warm smile that's not shown to anyone except for her parents.
......
Alfonso's POV
As I saw Alice smile at me I couldn't help but frown inwardly.
[Ding!]
1[+150 Points! You have changed your image toward Alice]
‹Huh...? I was criticizing someone yet she found it... Pleasing? is she a sadist or some sort?› I speculated, couldn't help but scream those words inside my head.
However, I also could not help but think that I have caused some misunderstanding without knowing it. Despite that, I could only shrug my thoughts away since I'm getting free points.
‹Whatever...›
Without further ado, I then continued my plan of observing and indirectly making Alice teach me; with some little points along the way that keeps increasing.
{Ding!}
{Ding!}
{Ding!}
{Ding!}
[You have changed your image toward Alice]
