Part 1

After eating, I ordered one of the servants to call for Mira.

The reason? Nothing in particular, I always call out to her in the morning and I guess it's become sort of like a habit of mine.

More than that, today, I'm bringing her along to see if I can use magic.

Earlier, a guard commented about how great my magic is, but that was probably from years ago.

I waited for a few minutes but Mira didn't come.

Eventually, the servant I ordered earlier came back and told me,

"My lady, His Grace, Duke Icelance and his guest want to speak with you."

The servant bowed as he spoke, asking me to come with him.

"Father? I see. Let's go."

A guest too, huh? Hmm. I don't really need to think about it.

Without another word, I followed the servant.

The servant led me down a hallway that even Alice hasn't been in before.

This particular hallway was twice as extravagant as the others with black armors positioned left and right in rows.

I knew they were empty and simply served as statues but for some reason, I felt like I was being watched.

Rather than being oppressive, they gave off a warm, reassuring feeling.

Almost like guardians...

I followed the servant quietly while thinking such thoughts.

"...This way, milady."

The servant bowed, opened the door and extending his arm as if saying, 'Please go inside.'

Hmm. I at least have to show my gratitude here.

"Thank you."

When the door was right in front of me, I turned my head to the side and looked at him.

"Hey, boy. What is your name?"

The servant, still bowing, lifted up his head slightly to look at me with surprise,

"U-Uh... erm?"

"I'm asking for your name, boy."

"Ah...!"

"Hmm...? What's the matter?"

I moved closer because I couldn't hear his voice, but the servant looked nervous and he lowered his head quickly before answering,

"I-It's Saldonius... my lady."

I nodded with an "Mm." before entering the room, leaving him with a,

"I see. Saldonius. I'll remember it."

I didn't say anymore and looked away from him,

I entered the room. Before me is another hallway with only one door ahead.

So even servants aren't allowed to go here?

Ah... Better go, father is waiting.

"Ah... welcome, Alice. Come, sit."

Jorgan greeted me the moment I opened the door.

"Yes, father."

I sat down next to Jorgan and quietly observed the room.

Needless to say, it was gaudily designed with purple ornaments and didn't really fit my tastes.

Other than Jorgan, there were four other people including me.

Sitting opposite of Jorgan is a young blond gentleman with handsome features, reminiscent of a young lion prince and his blue eyes fierce and unwavering.

He looked about twenty or so.

Standing behind us is Handsome, he has recovered from my prank and is now good as new with his usual pokerface while a man who wasn't wearing anything from the stomach up except for a turban on his head was standing behind Lion with his hands behind his back.

I'll call him Monk. 

By the way, this is obvious but Handsome is about the same age as me. Which me? Alice, of course.

...Who am I explaining this to...? W-Well... anyway.

Monk's body was well-toned and unbelievably muscular but more striking than that is the fact that he's wearing a blindfold.

A blind practitioner? Can't healing magic cure blindness? Better research on that later.

...For some reason, even behind that blindfold, I can feel Monk focusing on me.

E-Erm...? M-Moving on!

I only moved my eyes as it would be rude to move my head and continued to observe the situation.

Lion turned his gaze to look at me and smiled,

"Ah. So you are Lady Alice. I had thought that your beauty was greatly exaggerated by rumors, but it seems I have been mistaken."

Hmm. Not bad, Handsome #2. No, wait... Better stick to the one I gave. It's Lion.

I turned to look at Jorgan and he nodded his head.

That means I'm free to respond, right?

I turn to Lion and thank him. Of course, it doesn't displease me when Alice's beauty is praised.

"Thank you. Um...? You know my name but I don't believe we've met...?"

The man's eyes looked surprised before he returned to his previous expression as if realizing something.

"Ah. Once again, I apologize. I am the first prince of the Bravis empire, Artaxias Kira Bravia. A pleasure to meet you."

Part 2

Good day, my name is Alice Icelance-- Well, no. It's actually Dylon Milodius. Hmm... Well, let's just say I'm both right now.

Well, anyway. Today, a lion named Taxi came to my house.

I say house, but it's actually a castle. More than that, standing behind Lion taxi is a really buff man with a blindfold and a turban covering his hair. Thinking that he might be bald, I arbitrarily decided to dub him as "Lee S*n", but since it is illegal, I won't use that name anymore. I'll call him Monk instead. He won't shout "HIKKUUUUU~" while suddenly kicking me with his 4th skill and send me flying, right?!

P-Probably not...

Alright, alright. Enough jokes.

"Ah...! I-I've been rude to you, Your Highness. Alice Icelance. Only daughter of Duke Jorgan Icelance. How do you do?"

I apologized while in a fluster, introducing myself as graceful as possible, bobbing a curtsy towards Lion before returning to my seat.

For some reason, Lion only showed an awkward face before answering with a wry smile,

"Ah... you don't need to be so formal. Even though I'm the first prince, I'm... erm... Well, I'm going to be sent to another country to study for a few years."

"Hmm? Why's that?"

Tilting my head in wonder, I asked quizzically.

He is a prince, after all. He doesn't need to go to another country to study.

With his father, the king's authority, he can simply call for the best of the best to teach him whatever.

I don't understand.

"To make it simple, Prince Artaxias is going to be exiled."

Jorgan answered in Lion's stead, making Monk frown.

But he didn't say anything.

Lion nodded,

"Right. That's exactly why I'm here. Your father, Duke Icelance wants to support me for when I return so I can become King.

But... that is still a ways off from now."

Jorgan nodded at those words,

"Indeed. Worry not, Your Highness. I am not the only person with influence on the Artaxias faction, but the other factions are rising to power. Before anything else, we need to gather forces so we can crush then when the time is right."

He spoke with a serious face, fully bent on helping Lion become king.

"Enough about that. I didn't come here to talk about the throne or my siblings."

Lion heaved a tired sigh and closed both of his eyes.

Shortly after, he opened only one eyed and took a peek at me.

"I just wanted to see the face of the one who burned down the [Moon Garden] within the span of two hours.

I didn't expect it to be a frail lady, I'm honestly impressed."

He then grinned warmly before laughing like a person his age.

Jorgan's eyes widened as he quickly stood up, slightly angry,

"If that's what your Highness wished to talk about, you should have informed me first."

Lion was surprised so he inquried,

"Hmm? Why is that?"

My father then began to explain, but for some reason, the words started to become incoherent and I couldn't understand them.

Weird...

What's he talking about anyway? Wanted to see the one who burned down the [Moon Garden]...?

Frail lady? That's... I'm the only frail lady here.

Unless... gasp.

I slowly and sneakily turn to look at Handsome.

Hmm... Nope. He's a guy, I can confirm.

So, what are they...?

Huh...? M-My head is... What the... I...

Burned...? Burned what? Where... Father? I...

Fire... Purple... Did I...? I--'m...

And with that, while utterly confused--

I fainted.

Part 3

"...I shall bring Lady Alice back to her room."

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

After saying so, Luke walked towards Alice, who fainted on the sofa and carried her like a princess.

"...Thank you, Luke."

Duke Jorgan thanked him with a solemn face.

After Luke had left the room, Prince Artaxias, with furrowed brows was the first to speak,

"W-What happened?"

he said with surprise.

Duke Jorgan sighed heavily before responding,

"My daughter, Alice... In order for her not to receive trauma, I have temporarily blocked her memories regarding the event of three days ago."

"Trauma? What do you mean?"

Prince Artaxias wondered,

"After that incident, she hasn't woken up until now. In her head, her memories start from four days ago.

She will be sixteen this year. She is still young. Very young. That event has instilled fear even in the hearts of our servants.

They fear those powerful flames. They fear my Alice. Tonight, I will talk to her myself. Besides that, undoubtedly, your father, the king himself will ask for a report. At that time, I don't know if I can protect Alice."

Duke Jorgan spoke solemnly, his eyes had a hint of sadness in it.

Noticing this, Prince Artaxias wanted to comfort him.

He stood up--

"But is my Royal Father not your old friend? I'm sure if you asked, he could be more lenient."

But Duke Jorgan only sighed once more before looking at the man standing behind Prince Artaxias.

"Artaxias, my boy. You, too. I already know you are of the Nehorune race. Both of you sit down."

"...!"

The man with the blindfold was surprised and became alert. Jorgan told him off with a,

"It's fine, it's fine."

He then reluctantly removed his blindfold and turban, revealing his red eyes, smooth white hair and floppy ears.

His hair was quite similar to Alice's, except his was white while Alice's was more silky and slightly silver.

The man with red eyes, Song, sat down without saying anything.

Just quietly staring at Duke Jorgan.

"Listen carefully. I will tell you a story-- it is about the truth of this world."

Part 4

I had a dream.

In my dream, I was in a field with nothing else but grass.

It was night time and the stars were beautiful to behold.

Immediately, I noticed the oddity.

There was no moon.

Where is the moon?

"Hello~"

Just as I was thinking that it was strange, I heard a voice.

"Hello there."

Without thinking, I responded to the voice and turned to see there was a girl there.

"Ah! Lucky me, it seems we finally understand each other. So! How do you do?"

She asked, her beautiful silver hair shining.

But how? There is no moonlight.

While her purple eyes were staring right at me, I responded.

"I'm doing great, I guess. And you?"

I didn't know why I said that. I don't even know what I'm saying. Perhaps this is a scripted dream and I'm only watching from another's eyes.

I don't know.

"Ah, I'm not doing so well. I'm by myself here and it's so lonely. But you're here now, so I'm okay! I... I hope I get to know you better now."

She said with an expectant yet lonely smile.

Gritting my teeth, I answered again,

"I'm sorry. So, so sorry.

Why are you happy that I'm here?

Shouldn't you be more angry?

I took your life, after all.

I don't know why, I don't even know how.

All that I know is that I am sorry.

Please forgive me--

Alice."

Is what I said.

But her reaction was different.

She only maintained her smile.

I can't look at that smile.

I have sinned against that smile.

So why is it directed at me?

I look down at the ground.

She bends down and peeks at my face before letting out a giggle,

"...Y'know... you did not take my life. But if you wish to apologize, I can forgive you if that's what you want."

I looked up again and faced her,

"What do you wish for?"

"What do I wish for...?"

She asked back, surprised.

"Yes. I... I'll do my best, to at least grant you your wishes, so--"

"Oh, I get it~ This is called returning favors, right? I know this, since I understand Daielon the most."

With a beaming smile, her eyes squinted and--

"Well, this way I won't be lonely anymore, so-- My wish is...

To be with you?"

With those words, she held my hand.

Warm... Unbelievably so.

Red in the face, her smile became a little bit shy.

"Y-You're trying too hard..."

"...You already took my first, so it's fine..."

Before me, Alice's body clad in a white one-piece dress began to glow white.

Starting from her feet, her body began to fade.

But I wasn't afraid of her suddenly disappearing.

Because Alice is with me.

I felt a change from deep within.

And as I was waking up, I heard her voice again.

The part that I didn't hear at all.

The part that I didn't know I wanted to hear.

"Daielon. You didn't take my life. I gave you mine."

Part 5 - Luke's Point of View

It had been several hours since Alice woke up for the second time.

I noticed that these days, she has been acting differently but when she woke up earlier, she was even stranger than before.

She called out right after waking up before asking about the [Moonlight Garden]'s situation.

I told her the full truth. I had thought that it might come as a shock to her, but she only closed her eyes while listening intently, waiting for me to finish talking.

When I was done, she opened her eyes and spoke calmly,

"I see. Thank you for watching over me while I was asleep, big brother."

...W-What? What did she just call me...?

B-Big brother?

As I lost my composure to the unfamiliar term, Alice began mumbling to herself.

Occasionally, I'd be able to hear, "From now on..." and "I should start..." mixed in with her whispering.

"Big brother."

"Mm."

I was surprised when she had suddenly called out but Alice kept prattling without stopping.

"Tomorrow, I'm going to practice control over my mana so the event of three days ago doesn't happen again.

More than that, I'd like to speak with Prince Artaxias four days from now as well.

Six days from now, Prince Artaxias will come here to visit as I will invite him over in prior days, so--"

"Alice."

I hurriedly stopped Alice who was talking without taking a breath,

"...Big brother, I'm talking, please don't interrupt...~"

She looked at me with an accusing stare while pouting lightly.

Right. That's lovely and all, but--

"Alice, how can you be so sure that His Highness, Prince Artaxias would come just because you invited him?"

It was a logical argument.

Artaxias is a prince. The first prince, at that. If anything, once he returns from his exile there is a high chance of him becoming king.

Alice should understand at this point, but--

"No, it'll work."

She said it with certainty.

Questioning that confidence of hers, I spoke out,

"What makes you think that? He is a Prince, Alice."

But in response to my honest question, she only showed a wondering face while tilting her head as if the answer was obvious.

"It's because I'm beautiful, isn't it?"