After finishing her call with Klein, Alice thought for a moment, then gently picked up Evelyn from the ground. Looking around, she placed her on the sofa.
…So being mentally absent probably isn't the explanation here, right? Can't be, right?
Staring at Evelyn on the sofa for two seconds, Alice decided to go to the bedroom and get a blanket for her.
The weather in early February hadn't yet warmed up—it was still easy to catch a chill. Alice knew where Evelyn's room was. She turned to go, but then frowned.
Alice quickly walked over and crouched down, making eye contact with the blood-red eye under the doorknob—where the keyhole was supposed to be.
"It's a shame Amon isn't here to see this... Ah!" Alice muttered to herself, then suddenly screamed and fell to the ground.
—The eye was moving.
"No, actually, better not let Amon see this," Alice quickly changed her mind. "Be brave, Alice. What can a Sequence 9 Beyonder even do?"
She gave herself plenty of pep talk, then retreated to the sofa while keeping her eyes fixed on the rolling eyeball.
She didn't intend to just go in like that. Although her subconscious told her that a Sequence 9 Beyonder couldn't pull off anything too crazy… it was better to wait until Evelyn woke up and ask her directly.
Charging in recklessly wasn't necessary.
But still… that thing was creepy as hell.
Alice stared at the door for more than ten seconds before finally deciding to look away.
…Kind of tiring.
She didn't know how long she waited on the sofa, but at last, Alice heard Audrey's voice in prayer. Deeply moved, she grabbed Evelyn and vanished on the spot.
Facing Audrey's startled gaze, Alice blinked and suddenly realized—she could've handed off Evelyn's creepy situation to the Church of the Night.
Oh well, she thought, I'll deal with it later... She pouted, then looked at Audrey and said, "Help me… help me find out what exactly happened to her."
After a pause, she added, "Not an interrogation."
Audrey was momentarily stunned. She accepted Evelyn from Alice and, after helping her sit in a chair, asked tentatively, "Is she your friend?"
Alice was silent for a moment before giving a barely noticeable "Mm."
Audrey glanced at Evelyn hesitantly, then asked, "Do you have a way to wake her up?"
Alice stared at Evelyn for a bit, then stepped forward and pinched the spot below her nose, following her memory of how to do it.
The method was undoubtedly effective—Evelyn opened her eyes in pain. Alice pulled her hand back, nodded in satisfaction.
So that's how painful that actually is, huh… Alice thought idly while watching Evelyn.
There was a moment of confusion in Evelyn's expression. She looked at Alice, who was leaning over her, blinked a few times, and slowly came back to her senses. Still a bit dazed, she said, "Bruel."
Even though she used the real name, she still defaulted to calling me Bruel… Well, that makes sense. Bruel Rose is the friend she knew. As for me…
In the jumble of thoughts, Alice heard Evelyn ask cautiously, "How should I address you now?"
Alice stared at her for over ten seconds, then suddenly straightened up and sat unceremoniously in the main seat Audrey had intentionally left open. She chuckled and said:
"If we go by common conventions, perhaps you should call me… Your Grace?
"But for now, 'Lady of Destiny' still feels more natural."
"Your Grace…" Evelyn's expression showed realization. She went blank for a second, then sighed and said, "You are the Goddess's… chosen one?"
Audrey, standing beside Alice's seat, looked at Evelyn in astonishment, then turned to Alice with a complicated gaze.
Alice looked up at Audrey but didn't respond to her confusion. Instead, she smiled and said to Evelyn:
"If one of us had to be placed in the role of the chosen one, in the past, it would've been Night who was my chosen."
Evelyn's body went stiff.
Audrey swayed slightly.
"Do you remember what you did before, Evelyn?" Alice's smile became a bit more sincere. "And Audrey, to prevent you from collapsing in a moment, I suggest you sit down."
Evelyn's body stiffened even more. She sat frozen in place, unsure of what to do.
Audrey, who wasn't new to being startled, had solid nerves. She obediently sat beside Evelyn and smiled.
"Thank you for your mercy, Great Lady of Destiny."
Alice stared at her for two seconds, then covered her face with a groan and changed her tone:
"Don't call me that to my face!"
After a brief pause, and to help Audrey better immerse herself in the moment, she lifted her head, placed a hand over her chest, and said in a solemn, lyrical tone:
"Oh, it's a pleasure to meet you, the brightest jewel of Backlund.
"Your beauty shines so brilliantly that the moment I saw you, I couldn't help but fall for you, captivated beyond measure.
"Oh, my dear, you are so beautiful, so kind, so enchanting…"
Watching Audrey's expression slowly spiral out of control, Alice shut up and seriously asked:
"Now do you understand?"
Audrey nodded with difficulty. "Yes, I completely understand what you mean, Lady of Destiny."
Evelyn watched the scene in a daze, then suddenly blurted out:
"So… this is your true personality?"
Alice paused. She instinctively wanted to be cheeky again, but didn't know what to say. In the end, she just murmured softly:
"Evelyn, I'm no longer your friend, am I?"
Evelyn didn't answer. She lowered her head. But Alice hopped off the chair, walked over to her, and after making her look up, said:
"In that case, Evelyn, you have two choices.
"Believe in me—or die."
Evelyn looked up into those familiar blue eyes—gentle, but filled with sorrow. Yet the words were no longer teasing. They were lofty and cold.
She wasn't stupid. She understood what Alice meant—now that she knew the secret, she either had to remain under her complete control, or be stripped of the ability to leak it.
"Of course," Evelyn responded calmly, "I'm willing to believe in you."
Alice let out a breath of relief and smiled sincerely. Her tone was light and cheerful:
"Recite my true name—then… leave behind your blood."
Her eyelids drooped skillfully, hiding the emotion in her eyes with shadow, and only then did Alice release the ease and melancholy she'd been holding.
—This is fine too. At the very least, an ordinary believer can't be used as leverage against me.