Karin stared at her with a blank expression, thinking: Does she really want to include me in this?

"Do I have to come?"

"Yes…"

Perceiving that the conversation had indeed been that serious and that Alice was deeply remorseful, Karin placed her hand on her shoulder and said: "I'll help this time. Next time, learn from it and do it yourself."

Adjusting her glasses, Alice replied, with the sunset before her: "Thank you!"

"Let's hurry… It's practically night already."

The two girls and the goddess walked through the entrance of the mansion in the east wing. Passing by a large fountain with a decoy, set in a vast green yard, they spotted a large forest in the distance.

"Well, Alice! She's most likely over there. In the old days, when she was stressed, she would go to the most enclosed place possible."

"Hmm… That's complicated. At night in a forest—even within Rutherford District territory—the presence of venomous animals from around here is dangerous…"

Karin put her hand on Alice's shoulder and said: "At night, in the cold? Are you sure?"

"Yes… We'd better go back…" said the princess, adjusting her glasses.

"Where do you think you're going? I promised I'd help convince her and everything. Where's that confidence of yours?"

"Well… You know how it is…" said the girl, blushing and trying to hide it.

"No way! Are you afraid of snakes?"

Jumping with a shiver, Alice fanned herself and replied nervously: "It's not what you think… The snakes in this forest… I can't… If you get hurt, I won't be able to carry you…"

"Seriously?! Afraid of snakes? To me, they're companions!" she said, then burst out laughing loudly.

"Since I want to eat quickly, I'll follow your advice. Besides, convincing my mother and escaping from these 'special' snakes won't be possible."

They then began to walk. The moon seemed increasingly present in the night sky. With Alice shivering from the cold, they all headed toward the mansion, entering through the enormous door.

"Innova… t-teleport us?" the girl stammered, cold.

"Seriously, Alice?! Are you cold?"

The goddess looked at Karin and said with a smile on her face: "Well, miss, Alice lives on the coast where it's quite warm. Right now it's about five degrees Celsius. I don't think she's used to it."

"Hmm… I see… Imagine her in my country during winter—even with proper clothing, snow up to her waist…"

"Enough! Karin! Innova, take us to the dining hall! If Yunna is okay with being pulled along… I can't take it anymore!"

Karin laughed in front of her, and Alice began to intone the spell, levitating into the air and again touching her fingers between her hands. "System activation, multi-instant teleport!"

The three materialized inside a room. The floor and walls were pale pink; white and pink stripes covered them. A brown carpet adorned the floor, and beside it stood a large white bed with enormous silk sheets.

"I don't think this is the dining hall…" said Karin, confused.

"Innova! Why?! In my room!?" shouted the princess, irritated.

"Didn't you want to warm up? Take a shower with Miss Karin, then I'll take you there…"

Staring at the goddess, Alice's face heated up, reddening like a strong tomato extract. She retorted, embarrassed: "What?! Take a shower with her!?"

"And what's the problem with that?" said Karin, bored.

Rubbing her fingers together, Alice averted her gaze and said quietly: "In my land, that's a taboo for marriage…"

The princess grabbed Innova's arm and demanded: "Can you take us to the dining hall?! We'll sort this out later!"

"Well… All right, Princess… Sorry about that. System activation, multi-instant teleport!"

After a short but embarrassingly exhausting conversation, they finally arrived at the dining hall. The large round table was quite evident. The young lady's gaze was one of appreciation. Behind it stood an immense buffet, with several butlers around, ready to serve.

"Julius! Please seat Miss Karin and me tonight!" said the princess.

Responding to the call, a tall man in a suit came over. He walked with short steps across the wooden floor to the table. "Good evening, young ladies. I'll ask the others to help me seat you… What would you like to eat, Karin?"

"What's the house specialty today?"

With his hand holding a fountain pen and a piece of paper, the butler looked up and thought for a few seconds, then quickly answered: "We have Roast Dinner as the main course. What do you think?"

"Alice, what's in that?"

"Julius, forgive me for not explaining, but our guest is a foreigner from the country of Tsugaki. She doesn't know this dish. Could you explain what's in it?"

"Forgive me… It contains beef steak fillets, roasted and cut potatoes, tomatoes finished with rosemary, and a meat sauce."

"That will be fine… Do you happen to have temaki for an appetizer?"

The waiter stared at the girl for a few seconds, adjusted his glasses, and said: "Yes, we do. Anything else?"

Alice found his delayed response strange and questioned him, showing caution: "Do you really have it? Could you order one for me?"

He was surprised by her response, realizing she had noticed his hesitation, but answered: "Certainly, Princess."

The man left the area and went to the adjoining room. The young lady nudged her friend. "You too?"

Alice pulled Karin by the shoulder and whispered in her ear: "He was acting strange. We'll look into it later. Here comes the food."

As their two appetizer plates arrived, Alice nudged Innova and signaled. They began to communicate telepathically.

Do you have any information about this man? said the princess.

He was hired less than a month ago. He seemed far too strange when Yunna and her daughter arrived in this room. Shall I inform Lord Hunter?

Yes, please.

"Here are your plates, young ladies. Two salmon temaki. Bon appétit! And for you as well, Tanoshimu!"

As some other waiters served them, Hunter approached from a secret wing of the mansion. "Thank you, Innova, for the warning!" he said telepathically.

"You're welcome, my lord."

Karin picked up the food in her hand and smiled at the large temaki, taking her first bite. "How delicious! It's been so long since I've tasted something from my homeland!"

Alice initially looked warily at the temaki in Karin's hands. Then, slowly, she picked up her own and took a bite. "Hmm, it really is good! I never thought seaweed, rice, and salmon all together would be so tasty!"

While they ate, Hunter tried to find the waiter in the kitchen. He noticed footsteps covered in dirt and followed them. But it was too late. A large structure in the wall was destroyed, apparently opened by explosives.

"Innova, do you read me?"

"Yes, my lord!"

"Julius was most likely a spy from the Umbras Corporation. Keep an eye on anyone who enters here. Understood?"

"Yes, sir!"

The girls had already finished eating their temaki, and as the Roast Dinner was about to be served, the princess remembered her friend Yunna and became downcast.

"Do you think Yunna will apologize to me and Hunter?"

"Don't worry about that, Alice," Karin said, placing her hand on hers and smiling.

The door behind the hall opened slowly and dramatically, letting out several creaks of wood. And there she stood—a tall woman in white and red priestess garments.

"Alice, I am the one who should apologize. My impatience went too far. Forgive me."

The young lady who had been sitting quickly stood up, ran, and gave Yunna a tight, strong hug. She stayed there, clinging beneath Yunna's chest. Yunna blushed, apparently enjoying this position, but…

"Alice, could we eat? That's enough hugging…"

"Why? You're so adorable!"

"Alice! Please! Enough, Alice! I can't stand this!"

The long dinner was pleasant and light. Soon they were about to go to sleep. As mother and daughter headed toward the bedroom in the east wing, the princess nudged Karin and asked:

"Karin, would you like to sleep with me?"

"Why such a sudden question?" said the girl, already beginning to blush.

"To strengthen our bonds of friendship, of course…"

"I don't have to take a bath with you, do I?"

"No… but you'll love the bed. Tomorrow, a nice training session awaits you," said Alice with a little laugh at the end.

"If it'll help… so be it. Just don't do anything weird!"

Alice smiled with her eyes closed, following Karin toward her room, quickly bidding farewell to her mother.

This will be my greatest trickery… she thought.