Shinku didn't know much about Father—the one who had created her.
She had never laid eyes on him, nor exchanged a single word.
All she remembered was his focused presence while she was still taking form, before her own consciousness had fully awakened.
She remembered the hope in his heart when he finished his work.
She remembered his silent departure once it was done.
By the time she first opened her eyes and truly awoke to the world, those memories had already grown hazy.
All that lingered in her mind was the confusion over why her father had left.
The fear of this strange, unfamiliar world.
The uncertainty of where she ought to go, and what she ought to do…
And the Alice Game.
A contest played among the seven Rozen Maidens, where the final victor would become the perfect girl—Alice.
Shinku wasn't particularly eager about the Alice Game, but she didn't resist it either.
Since she didn't know what else to do, she might as well try to win.
And so, the still-ignorant doll stepped out of her room and began to search for her sisters.
The first Alice Game had begun.
In that game, Shinku encountered five of her sisters.
"Why are there only six of us? Where is our last sister?" asked a doll with reddish-chestnut hair cut short, a puzzled look on her face.
"Who knows~ Maybe she's off somewhere napping," chimed another, her dark green hair coiled into spiraling twin-drills, swinging her legs idly.
"Hina wants to sleep too… and eat," murmured a golden-haired doll with short curls, nibbling on her finger.
"Here." Shinku offered the biscuits she had found.
"Wah! Thank you, big sister~" The golden-haired doll happily threw her arms around Shinku. "I'm Hinaichigo, the sixth Rozen Maiden."
Her innocent, joyful smile lifted Shinku's spirits as well.
Each of her sisters had their own personality, their own quirks.
Of course, among them were some whose aim was victory in the Alice Game.
"Since there can only be one perfect girl, it's obviously going to be me," Suigintou declared.
The silver-haired doll launched an attack against her sisters around her, moving in an oddly contorted manner.
"Why do we have to fight?" protested a doll with long, deep chestnut curls.
"Don't be ridiculous—you think we're here to play house?!"
For some reason, Suigintou didn't seem to like her sisters very much.
"There's only room for one winner in the Alice Game!"
Black feathers scattered like snow.
Suigintou gathered her power, though the wings on her back seemed less imposing than her presence suggested.
Even so, her strength was immense—none of the other dolls could stand against her.
Under Suigintou's assault, the sisters were scattered.
Shinku grew frustrated; no matter where she went, Suigintou would somehow track her down.
"Ara, you're the only one who can hold out this long against my blade," Suigintou mused, stroking her rapier as she leisurely approached Shinku.
"Where are the others?"
"Who knows." Suigintou shrugged. "I saw a few at first, but then they all just… disappeared."
She raised her rapier. "But you—I always seem to find this vivid red of yours."
"Are you trying to seduce me, little sister?" She smiled arrogantly, like a queen ruling over her kingdom.
"Shinku." The red doll gave only her name.
Suigintou paused, then her lips curved into a wider smirk. "I'm Suigintou. The first Rozen Maiden."
With that, rapier and cane clashed once more.
--+--
Inside a clothing boutique, Shinku panted wearily.
Why… why was she growing so drowsy in battle, unable to muster her strength?
She forced the bread she'd managed to collect into her mouth, staring in alarm at her trembling hands.
Her magic energy was draining faster than it could recover—why was this happening?
What would happen when her magic ran out?
Before she could ponder further, fear and exhaustion clouded her mind.
She crawled with difficulty toward a case.
The moment her hand touched it, she sensed something wrong.
"This isn't mine…"
Shinku flung it open—inside lay the golden-curled doll, fast asleep.
Her brow tightly furrowed, Shinku shook her sister's small body.
"Hinaichigo! Hinaichigo!"
Hinaichigo didn't respond, lost in some deep slumber.
Shinku quickly checked her condition and found that Hinaichigo's internal magic was completely depleted.
Had she exhausted herself evading Suigintou?
So this is what happens when magic runs out…
Gasping for breath, Shinku dragged her weary body to her own case and slowly drifted into sleep.
--+--
Feathers and petals collided in the air.
The dark wings had once again sought out the crimson rose.
"Just surrender, Shinku~" Suigintou wore her usual composed expression. "Hand over your Rosa Mystica~"
But Shinku noticed keenly that Suigintou's attacks weren't as fierce as before.
It seemed her constant searching and fighting had drained her magic as well.
"What, couldn't get any from the others?"
"Tch." Suigintou clicked her tongue, her expression darkening. "Those cowards hid who-knows-where. They started running after just a couple of strikes."
"Suigintou, your magic is fading too, isn't it?"
Shinku tried to reason with her—this was no time for them to be fighting each other.
If things continued like this, all of them would fall asleep.
"We should stop fighting. We need mediums to replenish our magic. If we don't…"
"Once I take your Rosa Mystica, I'll have all the magic I need."
The rapier shot forward.
So stubborn!
Shinku hastily raised her cane to block.
The sound of clashing weapons echoed under the night sky.
--+--
Shinku's magic was so depleted she could barely manage daily activities.
The day before, she had met the dolls with long deep chestnut curls and short reddish-chestnut hair.
Their names were Suiseiseki and Souseiseki, the third and fourth dolls respectively.
They weren't faring well either—hungry, worn down, and suffering from Suigintou's attacks.
Shinku suggested they stick together, and the twins readily agreed.
And so, a peaceful interlude began.
They brewed tea for one another, shared cups, and Shinku began to develop a fondness for black tea.
Suiseiseki shared scones she had baked herself.
Sadly, the brief, lovely tea parties came to an end when Suiseiseki fell asleep.
Suigintou found them, too.
With Shinku and Souseiseki fighting side by side, they managed to drive Suigintou back.
During the skirmish, Shinku noticed marks of battle on Suigintou—her condition was worsening.
Was it that sister with dark green spiral drills fighting her?
I think her name was Kanaria, the second doll.
Some time later, Suigintou's attacks ceased entirely.
The first—and possibly last—Alice Game came to an incomplete close.
"Did she fall asleep too?"
Shinku sat inside her case, her body growing stiff, little by little becoming like a true, lifeless doll.
"My time… is near too."
After hiding Hinaichigo's case in a safe place, she carried her own and wandered aimlessly.
Was this what Father had wanted?
What a joke!
Shinku bit her lip hard.
If… if I ever find him, I'll give him a good smack.
Thump—
Shinku tripped over something in her path and tumbled into a patch of overgrown grass.
It was a case, identical to the one in her hands.
As if stirred by the noise outside, the case rattled slightly, then opened.
There, before Shinku's eyes, lay the silver-haired doll.
"Suigintou…"
Suigintou slowly pushed herself up, her slender hands trembling slightly.
"Have you come to laugh at me, Shinku?"
Shinku shook her head, raising her hands. "As you can see, I'm not in good shape either."
She set down her case and slowly sat on it.
The two dolls, who had fought so fiercely, now sat together in rare calm.
In the silence, Shinku spoke first.
"Suigintou, why are you so determined to win the Alice Game?"
"..."
"Have you ever met Father?"
At the word "Father," Suigintou's expression shifted abruptly—grief, pain, anger flashed across her face.
"…No," she answered slowly, her voice thick with fury.
"Then why?"
"…I want to prove that I am Alice, that I am perfection." Suigintou straightened up slowly, with clear effort. "Not some flawed, discarded thing."
"I want him to regret it. I want him to know it was a mistake to abandon me half-finished and move on to making the rest of you."
"How could he… why… did this to me…"
Perhaps because she was too tired, or because Suigintou's voice had dropped too low, Shinku couldn't make out the rest.
Before Shinku could respond, Suigintou drew her rapier once more.
Her trembling hand lifted the blade Shinku had seen so many times.
Shinku only shook her head. "I won't fight."
"…So you're giving me your Rosa Mystica?"
"No." Slowly, Shinku produced a teapot, poured a cup of now-cool black tea, and offered it to Suigintou.
Suigintou stared at the tea, hesitantly accepted it, and took a small sip.
The unfamiliar flavor made her narrow her eyes slightly.
"It's good, isn't it."
"You're not completely without merit~"
Seeing Suigintou's reaction, Shinku allowed a faint smile. "This isn't even the best. Next time we meet, I'll brew you a better cup."
"…Fine." Suigintou finished the tea and raised an eyebrow. "Don't think that means I'll go easy on you."
"Hmph, likewise."
There in the weed-filled field, the two dolls drank cup after cup of cooled black tea.
"This red water is definitely a morning drink."
"It's called black tea, and don't be absurd—it's clearly for the afternoon!"
"..."
Two small fists lightly bumped together.
"As expected, I really hate you, Shinku."
"Don't imagine for a second that I like you, Suigintou."
Night deepened, the growing darkness unsettling Shinku.
The two dolls returned to their respective cases.
"Goodnight, Suigintou."
As if no one had ever bid her goodnight before, Suigintou took a moment to reply.
"Goodnight… Shinku."
--+--
"Shinku."
"Shinku?"
"Shinku!"
Shinku snapped back to attention, the glaring sunlight making her squint.
Suigintou hovered in front of her, holding a teapot and staring with clear impatience.
"I'm talking to you, what's wrong with you? Do you want this tea or not?"
"The food's here," came Charlotte's slightly pained voice.
"Even if I got whacked for it, this amazing flavor makes it worth it," Robin mumbled around a mouthful of food from his plate, face full of bliss.
"Agreed," Sigmund chimed in cheerfully, devouring his chicken without a hint of sympathy for his master's wallet.
"Time to eat," Alice's cool voice reached Shinku from just behind her.
Shinku blinked. The scene before her remained, solid and real, not dissolving like a dream.
She released her hold around Alice and stood up on her seat, answering softly.
"…Alright."
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.