“Hey, Cheshire… do you think she’ll remember me once we eventually meet?”

Alice’s voice was softer than usual, barely above a whisper.

Cheshire, for once, didn’t respond immediately.

Instead, he watched her.

His glowing eyes studied the way her golden gaze lingered on the distant horizon, lost in thoughts she rarely voiced aloud.

It was that look again.

The same faraway expression she always wore whenever memories of the White Queen resurfaced—back when she had once called that woman ’Mother.’

A past long buried beneath blood and betrayal.

A silence stretched between them before Cheshire finally spoke.

“I don’t have the exact answer to that, Master…” he admitted, his usual playfulness subdued. “But I’m sure once you two meet again, she’ll undoubtedly recognize you. After all… you’re her great enemy now~”

He added a teasing lilt to his voice, attempting to lighten the mood, but Alice didn’t immediately respond.

She simply stared ahead, her fingers lightly tapping against her knee.

Then, after a moment, she murmured:

“Great enemy, huh…? So, I guess being her daughter was all just a façade in the end?”

Cheshire stiffened.

“Ah—no, that’s not exactly what I meant—”

“I know~”

Alice suddenly turned to him, a small, teasing smirk playing on her lips.

“I’m just playing with you. Got you there, huh?”

Cheshire blinked, then let out a dramatic sigh. “You probably shouldn’t follow my example, Master~”

A soft giggle escaped Alice’s lips, and for a fleeting moment, the weight on her shoulders seemed lighter.

Seeing her like this—laughing, teasing, momentarily freed from the chains of her fate—brought a rare, genuine smile to Cheshire’s face.

No matter how powerful he was, no matter how cunning—he couldn’t bear all her burdens for her.

Even he had limits.

And against the **White Queen—an existence akin to a god—**those limits became painfully clear.

But at the very least…

He could stay by her side.

Even when the day came that she’d have to face her past.

This burden Alice carried—he wished she didn’t have to bear it.

If it were up to him, he would take it all.

Every responsibility, every ounce of suffering, every battle that chipped away at her.

A part of him, the selfish part, whispered temptations.

He could just take her away. Kidnap Alice, lock her in Wonderland, and shut out the mortal world entirely.

Let it all crumble.

It wouldn’t matter—not as long as she was safe, untouched by the cruel fate that awaited her.

He could give her a perfect fantasy.

A place where she would never have to fight, never have to suffer.

Where she could laugh without restraint, dance without a care, and live freely in the world he would shape just for her.

But he knew better.

Alice would hate him for it.

Because perfection wasn’t what she wanted.

She had chosen this fight. Chosen to bear the weight of stopping the White Queen, even if it meant carving her way through blood and tragedy.

As much as it pained him, he had to let her go.

Still, as deep as his worries ran, Cheshire found himself grateful for one thing.

At least now… Alice wasn’t facing this burden alone anymore.

Yes, he was always by her side, but he wasn’t human.

He could understand her pain—but he couldn’t share it. He couldn’t truly feel the weight of her choices the way another person could.

But someone else had come into her life. Someone who had taken a place even he couldn’t fill.

Riley Hell.

At first, Cheshire thought the boy was unreliable. Too soft. Too laid-back. Not the kind of person Alice needed to depend on.

But then, he caught a drop of Riley’s blood.

And in that moment, he saw something.

Something hidden.

A strength lurking beneath the surface, waiting to be unleashed.

And now, Cheshire was sure.

With him around, Alice was in safe hands.

And perhaps, just perhaps… that boy might be the one thing Alice truly needed.

Riley clearly being in love with her was a plus as well.

But more than that, their fates were intertwined.

Even if tragedy were to strike, fate itself would intervene.

No matter what obstacles stood in their way, no matter how much blood was spilled or how cruel the world became, they would always find their way back to each other.

It wasn’t just a fleeting romance.

Their very souls were bound together—entwined, married in a way that not even the gods themselves could undo.

Cheshire was intrigued.

Something like this wasn’t supposed to happen. Riley was, by all accounts, a mystery. An anomaly.

How had such an unbreakable bond formed between them?

Had it been fate? A cosmic accident? Or something far deeper, something beyond even his comprehension?

But…

Did it even matter?

The “why” and “how” of it all didn’t interest him anymore.

All that mattered was that Alice wasn’t alone.

As Cheshire gazed at his master once more, a sly grin spread across his face, a playful thought bubbling in his mind.

Why not lighten the mood?

“By the way, Master~” he purred, his tail swishing behind him.

“Hm?” Alice barely glanced at him, still lost in her own thoughts.

“It seems your fiancé has returned~”

Cough!

Alice choked on her own saliva, her breath catching in sheer disbelief.

She whipped her head toward Cheshire, her face slowly turning a deep shade of red.

“H-He’s not my fiancé!” she spluttered.

“Oh my~ Still in denial, are we?” Cheshire teased, stretching lazily. “Even after you so graciously accepted his proposal with that ever-so-passionate kiss?”

Alice froze.

Her face burned hotter.

“W-WHAT!?”

Cheshire smirked, tail flicking. “My gosh, even I was surprised at how long you kissed him that night, you know?”

“I—I didn’t kiss him for that long!” Alice practically shrieked, hands flailing in panic. “And I only kissed him because… because it seemed appropriate in the heat of the moment! A-And also—”

She suddenly paused.

Her golden eyes narrowed.

“Wait. You were watching!?”

Cheshire hummed innocently. “Well, but of course! How could I possibly miss such an amazing scene?”

Alice’s eye twitched.

Cheshire barely had time to dodge before a mana-charged book went flying past his head.

As Cheshire struggled to think carefully, nursing the growing red bump on his head, he suddenly felt an unsettling force.

A crimson energy wrapped around him, pulling him forward.

Before he could even yelp, Alice was already gripping his face.

Her golden eyes bore into him, flickering between their usual brilliance and a deep, ominous red.

Cheshire gulped.

“M-Master…?” he squeaked.

Alice didn’t blink.

Her fingers tightened slightly.

“For how long,” she asked slowly, her voice dangerously calm, “were you watching?”

A tense silence followed.

Cheshire’s ears twitched. His tail stiffened.

“…Since the beginning?” he admitted weakly.

Alice’s expression didn’t change.

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“Then…” her voice dropped a note lower, “you were already aware that Riley came into the room that night… weren’t you?”

Cheshire hesitated.

“…Yes?”

“You were already aware… that my undergarments were left on the bed that night?”

The tips of Alice’s ears burned pink, but her golden-red gaze remained deadly.

“Y-Yes…?”

“And you were already aware…” Alice’s grip tightened further, “that I couldn’t properly sense mana inside his room because of all the protective wards in place?”

Cheshire’s tail bristled.

He froze.

This… was a trap.

“…Y-Yes?” he barely managed to whisper.

Alice’s face twitched.

Then—

Snap.

Her patience snapped.

“…Die.”

Red energy surged in her palms.

Pure, crackling power, ready to fry the stupid cat responsible for her deepest humiliation.

“W-WAIT, MASTER!**” Cheshire yowled, frantically waving his paws. “B-Blaming me for all of that is totally unfair, you know!?”

Alice’s eyes narrowed.

“You were the one who got so comfortable living in his room that you practically made it yours!” Cheshire quickly pointed out, ears flattening. “A-And besides! That situation actually turned out to be a plus!”

Alice’s energy flared.

“A plus?” she hissed.

Cheshire nodded rapidly.

“Y-Yeah! Now we know what Riley likes!”

Alice blinked.

Her mana faltered slightly.

“…What?”

“You saw how he reacted, didn’t you?” Cheshire grinned, sensing his window of survival. “He was definitely into it. Which means…”

His tail materialized and flicked mischievously.

“…We can confirm that everything you like wearing—he likes as well.”

Alice’s face turned scarlet.

Cheshire leaned closer, purring.

“Seducing him will be **easy, Master~”

“I—Is that so…”

Alice muttered, quickly letting go before her embarrassment could physically kill her familiar.

Cheshire sighed in relief.

He was safe. For now.

His tail flicked, ears perking up, as he managed to escape Alice’s wrath—this time.

Honestly, his master was so gullible sometimes.

But that’s exactly why he liked her so much.

Her strong, determined, fiery side was admirable.

Her easily flustered, awkwardly adorable side?

That was even better.

But before he could bask in his small victory, a sudden image flashed before his eyes.

One of his clones—left stationed near the academy gate—had finally spotted it.

Riley’s carriage.

It was getting closer.

Very soon, he’d arrive.

Cheshire’s ears twitched.

A devilish grin curled on his lips.

Perfect.

“Master,” he purred, his tone dripping with mischief. “How about we surprise your fiancé again while we’re at it?”

Alice, still recovering from her earlier embarrassment, narrowed her eyes.

“…Surprise?” she echoed, already suspicious.

“You know~” Cheshire drawled, stepping back.

Then—

Swish!

Out of thin air, elegant red ribbons suddenly materialized.

Alice’s brows furrowed in confusion as the silky strands began wrapping around her.

“We could try wrapping you up,” Cheshire suggested with a playful smirk, “and presenting yourself to him tonight~”

The ribbons tightened slightly, cradling her figure.

“Trust me, it’ll result in something fun—”

FOOOSH!!!

A blast of pure red energy exploded toward Cheshire before he could even finish.

“ACK—!!”

The smug cat barely managed to dodge, tumbling through the air as Alice glistened with furious mana.

Her face was burning red.

“DIE.”

“W-WAIT, MASTER, I WAS JUST JOKING—!!”

…..

“Hmm… you guys returned early.”

The principal’s voice carried a hint of amusement, but there was also a glint of curiosity in her eyes as she leaned back in her chair.

“Well, that was to be expected… but to return like this? Was the dungeon you faced that difficult?”

At her words, I instinctively glanced behind me.

Lucas, Janica, and Kagami—all of whom looked a little worse for wear—shifted slightly, dirt and dust clinging to their uniforms.

Rose and Seo, though keeping their composure, were just as scuffed up as the rest of us, though slightly a bit better.

Then, as if on cue, they all awkwardly scratched the backs of their heads, letting out small chuckles. All except for Seo at least making me smile slightly at her innocent awkwardness…

The principal’s curious gaze only sharpened at the reaction.

“Well… the dungeon turned out to be a bit more troublesome than we initially thought,” I admitted.

“Is that so?” The principal hummed, clearly intrigued. Then, with a small, amused smile, she waved a hand dismissively. “Well, as long as you all returned safely, I don’t really mind a few dirty faces inside my office~”

A dry chuckle left my lips. “You were the one who asked us to report in person.”

“Fufu~ I did say that, didn’t I?” She giggled, resting her chin on her palm. “But I only meant for you to come in, not your entire group. I simply wanted to see your face, you see~”

Her teasing tone was obvious, and I wasn’t sure if I should be flattered or concerned.

“…But,” she continued, her eyes flickering between my party members, “seeing all of you here isn’t bad either. Talented students like this gathered in front of me—it’s quite a rare sight, you know~”

I raised a brow. “Is that so?”

Without wasting more time, I reached into my coat and pulled out the certificate of dungeon completion—a document signed and stamped by the Merchantry Village authorities, confirming the dungeon near their settlement had been cleared.

She glanced at the certificate, scanned it briefly, then nodded in satisfaction.

“Dungeon completion confirmed~ Congratulations, everyone. You all passed your practicals—100 points each~”

A few sighs of relief escaped from the group.

“I’ll personally send your scores to your teachers, so don’t worry about informing them yourselves. You may all rest now~”

A collective nod of approval spread through my teammates as they turned to leave. Some murmured about heading to the dorms to clean up, others about getting food first.

But just as I was about to follow, the principal’s voice stopped me in my tracks.

“Ah, Riley~ Stay behind for a bit, won’t you?”

I frowned slightly. “…Why?”

“Oh, nothing much~ I just wanted to ask a few questions before you go.”

Something about her tone set me on edge. The teasing lilt was there as usual, but her eyes were sharper this time, serious.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “Fine.”

Turning to my party, I gestured for them to go ahead.

Lucas, Kagami, and Janica gave me quick nods and left without question, but Rose and Seo lingered—both giving me a silent, questioning look.

They didn’t say anything, but I could feel the unspoken concern in their stares.

“…Don’t worry, I’ll see you two soon.”

Rose hesitated for a moment, her golden eyes narrowing slightly, but eventually turned away. Seo, still quiet, cast one last glance at me before following the others out the door.

Once they were gone, I turned back to the principal.

“…So, what did you want to ask?”

She smiled playfully, tilting her head. “Fufu~ Jumping straight to the point? That’s not how you hold a casual conversation, you know~”

I didn’t react.

She let out a soft chuckle before waving a hand. “Oh well, I suppose you’re tired, so I’ll get straight to the point too.”

With a casual snap of her fingers, a holographic screen flickered to life beside her.

My breath hitched.

Displayed on the screen was a recording—clear and unmistakable.

A flash of blinding white light exploding in the middle of the commercial district.

My stomach dropped.

’Shit…’

She tilted her head slightly, watching me carefully. Then, with a smooth, unreadable voice, she asked:

“Riley, I just wanted to confirm… were you the cause of all this?”

Silence.

I could feel her eyes on me, analyzing every tiny shift in my expression, every hesitation in my breathing.

She already knew.

The way she looked at me… she already knew.

’…Fuck.’

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