Alice, who's very thankful, heard Meriane's squeal as she hurriedly stood up, "Did she— no, that's impossible—", she thought as he watched Nick fight for her.

"Run Alice", Nick yelled at her and so she did.

"WHY ARE YOU HINDERING ME, I'M TRYING TO FREE YOU, CAN" T YOU SEE?", Meriane thrust the blade, gritting her teeth in annoyance.

"I don't know what everyone's deal here is, but you should not just go around killing people", Nicolas yelled at the princess, pushing her back once again.

"Coming from you, as if I don't know you tried to kill her just today", she landed on her knees, "You know— I really wish you had succeeded. So that I can see your handsome face, terrified and despairing when you find out that she's the person you admire the most."

"You're delusional", Nicolas pushed her away again and again but she just went back again for another slash every time.

"You're really dense, aren't you? You don't even recognize Alisa."

"Don't BRING HER INTO this; she's dead,"", Nicolas replied, not giving in to her obvious lie.

"Don't worry, if you let me be, she really will", Holding her blade with her right hand, she deflected Nicolas's sword to the side, then delivered a punch with her left. It took Nicolas by surprise, as he was rendered immobile for a second.

"Did not expect that, didn't you?", Meriane proudly grinned at Nicolas, who's grasping for air and kneeling on the ground. She gave her one last kick before continuing her chase with Alice.

As soon as Nicolas caught his breath, he pursued too but Edmund had other plans. Calmly, the crown prince of Algernon covered the path as he slowly removed his gloves, throwing it to the ground, "Would you give me the honor to test your skills, Prince of the now fallen Gregoria", he smirked, condescending and full of pride.

The girls, on the other hand, continued their game of tag.

"Are my ears deceiving me or did she really call him Nicolas?", The thought lingered on Alice's mind as she tried to disappear into the shrubs and trees.

Despite her efforts, the princess can seem to find her wherever she go, "Run, girl. Run. It's the least you could do, I will always find you."

Alice kept running around the forest, traversing her normal path, passing the traps he laid out for her hunts, but none seemed to work. The princess always finds a way to avoid it, if not free herself immediately. As she reached a familiar grove of Oak trees, she knew that shooting her by surprise was her only chance. So, as quickly as she could before Meriane popped out the bushes like a morbid wolf, she hid behind one of the trees, preparing to shoot with no intention to miss.

"How does it feel to be loved by the prince?", Meriane shouted, echoing through the woods.

"P— Prince?", Alice's assumptions was confirmed upon hearing it loud and clear.

"How rude of you. Didn't your mother educate you on how to treat a princess, AAALLLIIISSAAAA?"

She had no intention to answer at first, but with her dragging her mother into the fight, she lost her cool.

"Enough with this nonsense", Alice cried, The echoic grove saved her from being immediately found. "I don't know who you are but Nicolas is dead almost ten years ago on his birthday", She fired a shot, seeing that she had a stationary target.

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Meriane was surprised for the most part, but with a grin, she sliced the arrow with ease before charging towards where it came from. She sliced the tree with all her strength, not giving mercy, hoping that it would take Alice with it but to her disappointment, no one was there.

"I see, you fancy hide and seek. I had a little bit of bad experience with it, though. Do you want to hear my story?", Meriane eagerly waited for her to ask but it never came. "Your insolence knows no bounds, huh, Fine, I'll just tell you whether you like it or not."

She continued surveying the area, saying, "Would you believe it. That bastard, Nicolas, trapped me inside a cabinet. If only I had not screamed, Selene would not have found me. He later got scolded and slapped by my late Uncle Frederick, so I guess we're even."

"Enough with your lies; stop bringing someone dead into this. Besides, you only have your gullibility to blame."

"You're the one who lies to yourself. But that's an old story, and that story wont change the fact that you'll die here."

"Start the chant then and come find me."

Meriane beamed before starting to chant the game's song, all while chopping every tree she came across, "Hide and seek, the moon is bright, no one in the front, no one in the back... When I count to three, to behead will be—"

"ONE—", Alice's heart began to rise as she heard the voice getting closer and closer with each count. "TWO—", she's already tense but there were no more large trees to hide so she's out of options. "—", the third count, did not come. For a moment, she thought she was spared, but as soon as she felt safe, Meriane fell from above, catching her by her long black hair. "THREE"

Meriane laughed at her prey, the despairing look in Alice's face was peak entertainment for her, matched with her squeals as the soundtrack: "Such well-groomed hair you got here, Alisa, the strands are strong and long. Good for aesthetics but not for combat. Although not for me, I'm both aesthetic and skilled after all", Meriane threw her to the ground.

"How did you know my name?"

"Shush, this is supposed to be my monologue as the victor; I don't care what your name is, so shut up", she kicked her on the side. "How do you feel being the target for two murder attempts in just a day, Was it fun? Was it fun especially when the other one was by your prince?", she did not hold back and finally fulfilled her desire to kick the poor archer in the face. "A perfect place for my foot."

"NICOLAS IS DEAD; let him rest in peace, and even if he's alive like your deranged mind is saying, he'll never do that to me", Alice said weakly, her nose bleeding.

"Are you implying THAT ME, Princess Meriane Algernon, is a liar?, She again caught her by the hair.

"A— Algernon?", Alice uttered as she felt a bit enlightened and even more confused.

"Oh my, you remember, how nice of you—", Meriane rejoiced, delighted that the girl knows who she was at the very least. "For that, I'll give you a chance", she whispered, "Run, and if I can't tag you after five seconds, I'll let you live; am I clear?"

"And if I don't,"

"You'll die, of course; how silly of you", Meriane giggled, pulling Alice close to her face. "Now be a good girl and prepare to run, okay?", she had let go of Alice, who wobblingly stood on her weak knees, determined to get out alive. "One, two, three, go!", Meriane clapped.

Alice placed all the hope she had left on her first step as she desperately ran. She felt the fresh breeze and the rays of light from the setting sun as she pushed forward. For a little bit, she felt a spark of hope—a spark of hope that only lasted like a cheap sparkler on a new year's eve.

"Woops", Meriane covered her mouth innocently before retracting her feet.

"YOU LIAR", Alice squealed as she once again hugged the ground.

"I thought we're clear that I don't tell lies?", she pinned her even more, stepping on her legs to prevent any chance of escape. "You're not listening; I said I'd let you run, just that. I made no such statement that I couldn't impede your escape", Meriane explained, proud of her accomplishment.

Alice tried her best to crawl, trying to get away with the little strength she had left. There she is, hopelessly fighting for her life, while the princess laughed her ass off to what she thought was a comedic act. Meriane raised her blade up in the air with its point towards Alice. Thrusting it down with a smile on her face, she can taste victory.

"That reminds me, this is the first time we ever spoke. Well, nice talking to you, I guess."

The blade bore itself deep and fatally as Alice accepted her faith on the forest floor. Not knowing the truth about Nick and Nicolas. She saw a bright light illuminating her field of vision, similar to her bow. With her cherished memories of her childhood flashing in her eyes, she knew it was the end of her. Bleeding on the foliage, food to the passing wolves, and fertilizer for the trees, she finally closed her eyes.

"I'll be there soon, Nicolas."