After Kirakishou's emotions had settled somewhat, Alice asked with a bit of curiosity, "Why did you only come to find me now?"
If you'd seen long ago that I could complete Suigintou, why only appear now?
Kirakishou pouted, a little unhappily, and said, "Because I couldn't get in."
"Couldn't get in?"
"Couldn't get into Master's mansion." Kirakishou waved her hands about, animatedly explaining, "I couldn't reach Master's mansion from the N-Field."
"Why? There are mirrors in the mansion too," Alice tilted her head, puzzled.
Although it was the Second Ticket.
Kirakishou shook her head, puffing out her cheeks in displeasure.
"Every time I tried, I ended up in a strange place. It looked like Master's mansion from the outside, but I just couldn't get out."
Couldn't get out?
Could it really be because of the Second Ticket?
It seems it can also block the Rozen Maiden from entering.
Alice gently wiped away Kirakishou's tears, and the doll in her arms responded with a blossoming smile.
Watching this rather mother-daughter-like scene, Suigintou snorted and turned her face away disdainfully.
"Jealous?"
"Absolutely not!" Suigintou shouted angrily, then paused for a moment.
That voice wasn't Shinku's.
She whipped her head around to look.
A doll with chestnut-brown hair tinged with red, cut short, was watching them with a smile.
Another doll with deep chestnut-colored long, curly hair was hiding behind her, only half her face visible, looking fearfully at Suigintou.
The others who had heard the commotion earlier also looked over.
"Souseiseki, Suiseiseki!" Seeing them, Shinku called out happily.
"Shinku~" Suiseiseki rushed out from behind Souseiseki, tears welling in her eyes, and moved to hug Shinku. "I missed you so much."
Shinku spread her arms open with a look of triumph.
The two dolls embraced each other tightly.
Souseiseki also cast a fond glance at Suiseiseki before turning her gaze to Kirakishou in Alice's arms.
"Is she the Seventh Rozen Maiden?"
"That's right," Suigintou played with a lock of her hair, responding nonchalantly. "A very mischievous little sister."
As she said this, she suddenly clenched that strand of hair and muttered under her breath, "Even though she's the one who ambushed us, Alice just..."
"Alice?"
The twins accurately caught the keyword, looking up simultaneously.
Their eyes fell on Alice as she approached. They were silent for a moment, then simultaneously lowered their heads.
Not the perfect Alice.
Seeing the twins' reaction, Alice felt an inexplicable surge of irritation.
She suddenly felt like giving them both a good thumping.
Suppressing her displeasure, Alice slowly walked up to the dolls.
Suiseiseki hid behind Shinku again, while Souseiseki politely took off her hat and bowed.
"Greetings. I am the fourth Rozen Maiden, Souseiseki."
"I am the third Rozen Maiden, Suiseiseki." Suiseiseki peeked out with half her face, murmuring in agreement.
"Hello, elder sisters~"
"Alice." Alice gave a slight nod.
"What are you two doing here?" Suigintou interrupted the harmonious introductions, hands on her hips.
"We sensed Shinku fighting over here, so we came to see."
"Ara, so you rushed over as soon as you sensed a fight?" Suigintou's eyes widened in feigned understanding. "Here to reap the spoils, perhaps?"
She drew her rapier again, smiling coldly. "Perfect, I'm feeling a bit irritable right now. Let's begin our battle."
No sooner had she finished speaking than the dangerous glint in Alice's eyes from behind made Suigintou's hand tremble almost imperceptibly.
Gulp... I can't fight in front of Alice.
Suigintou pressed her lips together slightly, the hand holding her sword freezing instantly.
"Apologies, it's not very convenient right now," Souseiseki offered an apologetic smile.
Refused?
Alice immediately narrowed her eyes. She remembered Souseiseki wasn't one to refuse the Alice Game.
Suigintou, beside her, breathed a sigh of relief and immediately chimed in, "Hmph, luckily my mood for it has passed anyway."
She turned away, spinning around haughtily.
Only to find Shinku staring right at her.
Shinku had been watching them for who knows how long, a slight smile on her face.
The subtle upward curve of her lips made Suigintou's temperature gradually rise.
Noticing Suigintou's gaze, Shinku's smile widened, and she silently mouthed the words at her.
'I saw everything, you know.'
!!!
You're done for, Shinku.
Suigintou clutched the hem of her skirt tightly, a cruel smile spreading across her face as she mouthed back.
'I'm going to put green tea in your black tea.'
Shinku's expression grew solemn.
She knew her sister was entirely capable of such a thing.
Silence stretched between them, their gazes locked intently.
Sharp stares collided mid-air, sparks practically flying.
Just as Shinku was contemplating how to secretly stick a crow feather on Suigintou's back, Suiseiseki, nestled in her arms, suddenly tugged on her sleeve.
"What is it?" Shinku instantly retracted her glare, looking down gently.
Suiseiseki cast a timid glance at Alice, then leaned close to Shinku's ear and whispered, "Shinku, can we go out to play together?"
Hearing this, Shinku first looked at Alice, who gave a silent nod.
Having received permission, she spoke softly to Suiseiseki, "Of course we can."
"Yay~" Suiseiseki clasped Shinku's hand, a happy smile blooming on her face.
"You're welcome to come play at our place too. Our home is quite spacious," Alice invited.
Luring dolls required a slow, steady approach.
Best to start by building a good relationship.
"Really?" Suiseiseki looked at Alice in surprise.
Her small, animal-like expression made Alice's lips curl upwards involuntarily.
"Of course."
"It's not a trap, is it? Luring us over so Suigintou can steal our Rosa Mystica."
"..."
Alice fell silent instantly.
Then, Souseiseki suddenly spoke. "Suigintou and Shinku have been standing together for so long without fighting. Perhaps the Alice Game is temporarily suspended."
She didn't quite believe Suigintou would give up the Alice Game.
"Oh, right." Suiseiseki nodded in sudden understanding.
Suigintou, standing nearby, silently clenched her fists.
Suiseiseki tugged on Souseiseki's sleeve, looking at her with starry eyes.
Souseiseki could only offer a wry smile in response.
Their Master hadn't forbidden them from going out, after all.
She looked at Alice and bowed once more. "We apologize for the intrusion."
Just then, Robin fluttered his wings, chirping excitedly.
Alice nodded, casting a barely perceptible glance towards the distant air, then turned and led the way.
Suddenly, a few relatively heavy footsteps sounded from behind.
Alice narrowed her eyes in suspicion.
The dolls were all floating. Whose footsteps were those?!
She spun around sharply, and the startled face of a golden-haired girl met her eyes.
Seemingly frightened by Alice's sudden turn, Charlotte flinched slightly.
Their eyes met.
The dolls also looked over.
"...You're here." After a moment's silence, Alice was the first to break it.
Suigintou and Shinku also widened their eyes in surprise.
"I've been here all along!!! I followed you in when you were captured!" Not expecting that to be Alice's first words, Charlotte immediately glared, her eyes wide. "You mean you didn't notice me at all?!" She looked on the verge of tears, speaking plaintively. "I even blocked the thorns behind you for you."
Kirakishou puffed out her cheeks. "So it was you. I was just about to reach Master."
"What do you mean, 'so it was you'?" Tears instantly welled up in Charlotte's eyes. "Even you, a former rival, didn't notice me!"
Kirakishou 'hmph'ed and turned her head, burying her face in Alice's embrace.
Charlotte's gaze remained fixed on Alice.
"...My apologies," Alice said softly.
Charlotte pursed her lips unhappily, pulling the Sigmond perched on her head down into her arms.
"I noticed you, you know."
Robin flew down from the sky to hover before Charlotte, his blue feathers quite dazzling.
He winked playfully at her.
"..." Charlotte closed her eyes angrily.
"I noticed you, you know."
"..." Charlotte stroked Sigmond's head.
"I noticed you, you know."
"..." Charlotte walked over to Alice's side without a word.
"Why won't you say anything?!!!"
--+--
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.