Alice Tale in Phantasmagoria Chapter 93

A knife and fork play music on a keyboard of dishes.
This isn't a sort of conversation of bad manners.
It's normally to an extent where it's a basically unnoticeable sound but, it rings especially loudly in the ears in this day's morning dining room.
In short――it's too quiet.

「……」

I tried obliquely looking over everyone's faces at the table.
Was my house's morning mood, this heavy?
As Saira questioned the appearances around her in the same way, her ears drooped.
Our eyes met.
Nyafu, I got that sort of frail smile, thank you.
Is there stomach medicine in this world?
After this I'd like to prescribe some you see.

「……Ah～, today's meal is also delicious isn't it～」

My facial muscles couldn't be stiffer than this but, I forcefully made a smile.
The responsibility to break down this mood is mine, the source that created it I suppose.

「That does seem to be so, delicious meals are the source of health.」

The one going along along with me, while clearing the food elegantly and wiping her mouth with a napkin is Kran.
Kran has an easy smile from something like this mood's weight being none of her concern.

「Alice.」
「Ha, hai.」
「I thought this, it is a foolish thing for an adorable kitten to, just as expected of it, be captured only by a human's ego.」
「Is, is that so.」

……That heart is?
As Kran had recognized the interval of my heart her smile deepened――she turned her gaze to a person releasing a negative aura.

「That vessel, is cramped.」

For a moment, the sound of my heart shrinking up reverberated.

「Hii!? Ve, vess? Is it not enough for Kran!? A small vessel……are your dishes too small!?」

Without facing my eyes in the direction from which a loud sound was made with a knife's handle, I asked Kran a question.

「No? I am fully satisfied, Alice. That eating meals with affable friends is something that fulfills the heart to this extent is……Something pleasing.」
「Kran……」

Before asking something that seems to create a sad atmosphere, could you stop throwing in a bomb like it's a replacement for a greeting okay?

「Nn, by coming to master's house I can eat meals without restraint so, it's not bad.」

Seconds, and with Aim pa.s.sing her tableware to a maid-san she has a my pace manner.
Maa, go ahead go ahead.
Please go ahead and eat without restraint.
Aim really seems happy, seeing her eating her meal like it's delicious comforts me.

「So, Alice. In the end what happened yesterday?」

s.h.i.+on-san being a glutton of the same level ate up her food and faced her water at me.
Naturally changing the topic so that the conversation doesn't get cut off part way is a great help.
I love oneechan!

「I was captured by a witch and my magic power was sucked out of me.」

And so I became tired and slept……
Having taken in nutrition the witch is just now currently in highly praised repose.

「Fu～n? She does handy things doesn't she.」
「I'm thinking that next time I'll suck it back when she's sleeping.」
「Hahaa, that seems like it'll become something enjoyable.」

A witch without magic power isn't an enemy!
Look at the present!

「――However ojousama, sucking too much magic power is not good for the body you know.」

Ilya pushed a service wagon as she came into the dining room with an excuse me.
She came bringing the aftermeal tea.
That girl rarely takes her meals with us.
I told her that holding back is forbidden so she eats when it's time to eat but, it seems that within herself this is a sort of situation in which to know her place, that seems to be so today.
Telling us feel free she make black tea with a practiced handling.
Finally when Ilya comes to make black tea before me, I tried offering my arm out.

「Ilya, will you eat my magic power?」
「Fufu, then maybe someday.」
「Is that true.」
「How is it?」

I can't get a hold on Ilya can I.
Doing a cheerful bow, Ilya withdrew from the room.

「You all get along well like always don't you.」
「Is that how it is.」

I believe the one I'm most familiar with is oneechan though right.
But well, with Ilya I've never had a strange mood happen you know.
……I notice that I seem to have had strange things happen to me though.

「――」

While questioning the circ.u.mstances of how to deal with something, the person that was questioning those circ.u.mstances wordlessly stood from her seat.

「Ah……」

Before I said anything, that girl turned her body and left the room.
……Gusun.

「Fufuu.」
「……Please don't laugh, oneechan.」
「Sorry sorry, you all are pleasant to the upper limit, like always.」
「Is that soo……」

The person in question didn't have a pleasant feel……

「Would it not be best to chase after her, Alice?」

Kran warned me as she elegantly enjoyed the smell of her black tea.
What is said by a half serious person……
That resentful gaze of mine was none of her concern like always.

「In these sorts of times, chasing after girls for them is the correct answer, Alice.」
「It feels like Kran's words have an underside so I'm afraid.」
「That is because of your imagination.」

In truth I also very much want to give chase though.

「Suu, munya……des.h.i.+～」

And, Rin-chan is currently sleeping on my lap you see.
I can't move you see.

「Nn」
「Ah……?」

As I deliberated what to do, Rin-chan was picked up like a cat as she peacefully produced breath in her sleep on my lap.
Regardless of how much she's called a young girl, this thoughtlessness like lifting a paper……

「Aim.」
「Since I'm still eating, you should entrust Rin to be on this lap.」

And, Aim returned to her seat and sat back down.
With Rin-chan atop her own lap, she promptly started eating another serving.
Aim's own body has a small build so, with Rin-chan atop her lap they looked like young sisters nestling together.

「Thank you, Aim!」
「……It was nothing.」

Saying as such while filling her mouth with food like a squirrel Aim is overly cute.
Saira is looking at Aim with eyes s.h.i.+ning as if in admiration.

「Considerate to strangers child obsessed death G.o.d-san isn't she.」

Staring at that appearance in the same manner Kran sinisterly narrowed her eyes.

「……Nn, it's good that you lived isn't it, hero-princess.」
「I must give my thanks for that.」

That full faced smile looks fake you know Kran.
……Everyone's human relations.h.i.+ps are too complicated aren't they.

However this development seems like deja vu.
I wandered my mansion so as to search for Eclair who had left the room.
I felt like it was pathetic but, from now on if this sort of situation develops again I'll do the same thing any number of times you know.

「Since, that which is Eclair is something that I love……」

When I turned at the hallway's corner while muttering――

「Waa!?」

I was suddenly strongly embraced by a human figure.
I, I thought that my heart would stop……
Even in home ground letting your guard down is forbidden isn't it.
The culprit is……

「E, Eclair!」
「……」

It, it hurts……
Gyuuuuu～～please do that in moderation!

「A, ano Eclair……That is, I'm sooo soorry!!」

Wai……wait a moment!
My insides, are going to come out!!
To what extent are you going to use your full power!
Are you testing my stomach muscles Eclaaaair!!

「Fu, fufufuu! Ah～laughable! Soft and weak as always aren't you! Alice!」

Somehow, her voice is brighter than I thought?
Eei, more importantly right now!

「Kuu! I won't bend to something like power!」

This is the time to show the muscle training I've continued to do without anyone knowing!
Look upon my stomach and back muscle before sleep push up's results!
For example even without returning to a man I don't intend to act like a girl who pretends to be cute and helpless with 『No, I can't carry such a heavy thing.』 or the like.
I'll show that I can at least lift a bag of rice.
Without relying on magic, doing it with only power!
Uoooo, my roaring self's muscles!
Pull my clothes to shreds and rise up with vigor!

「Deeyaaaaa!!」

Penetrate the likes of my capillaries, be dyed in churning blood!
Push off the enemy's bind with full power!

「Ei」
「Ow ow can't can't!!?」

The enemy's hold power became stronger, I did a give up without delay.
……What humiliation!
When I was finally released from her bind, I miserably collapsed in the hallway.

「It's humiliating……!」

Eclair's glare faced me like she was looking at an insignificant roadside stone.
……This is my persecution complex though.
For example no matter how outstanding the magic power, losing in a strength comparison will knock down my pride……

「……Is it so great to enjoy tormenting me like that!」
「Mou, that was wrong of me Alice. Did it hurt you that much?」

But it didn't cause an injury or such……!
Turning her face away from me with a tsun, Eclair smiled bitterly and stretched her hand to me.

「Even if you try to curry favor at this point it's too late.」
「Did Alice not come to curry favor with Eclair? This side's satisfied you know.」

Saying that, I have no reason not to take that hand though.
However with vigilance, I took that hand with caution as if dealing with a wild beast.
Looking at that appearance Eclair smiled showing her white teeth.

「Aren't you really an elf princess-sama? That feeble conduct that's at the level of being sly.」

This isn't sly, it's super serious don't you understand……
I got up by taking Eclair's hand.

「For now, such a conversation isn't something I've heard.」

The secret of my birth is something more indecipherable than that……
Such a series of stupidities ended in place of our greetings, our eyes met together as we stood face to face.

「Ah, eto……」

Setting ourselves anew, I still have to repent for yesterday and it's uncomfortable.

「Do, don't apologize okay, funn.」

Even if you say that I can't calm down can I.
Is this part of the national character?
I won't accept something like an apology, crossing the arms and averting the face like that is also troubling.

「But it certainly is rude to invite someone over, abandon them and vanish……」
「Surely people have their circ.u.mstances as people. I know this much, at least……you aren't a person who takes a sort of att.i.tude which lacks respect for other people.」

While opening half closed eyes as she looked at me, Eclair's cheeks are dyed as if she's embarra.s.sed.
Dangerous……

「Eclair, cute……」
「Wha, doing that in that manner again.」

Eclair's eyes rose up as if something like cheap words wouldn't placate her.

「Furthermore what's cute and such isn't childish……enough that I want to change my wording.」

But between saying Eclair is a beautiful or cute it's cute right.

「I, might……love that which is Eclair.」
「What do you mean by might!」

Huh?

「Might was a figure of speech.」
「Please restate that clearly!」
「……Certain love?」
「Eclair can't hear that you know! No one but you would understand something like that right!」

I see that's the truth isn't it.
I closed my eyes and answered my own question.

While doing that――――on the lips, a soft sensation like a peck happened.

Parting quickly I'm taken aback by that warmth and, open my eyes widely.
There's Eclair right in front of me averting her eyes with a pure red face.

「Be, because closing your eyes right in front of me is wrong isn't it! Idiot Alice.」

I'm insulted with an idiot idiot idiot.

「……Eclair.」
「……What is it.」
「One more time……」
「I don't want to!」
「Just a little!」
「You're noisy aren't you! Please do it from your side!」
「Roger!」
「Wai――!」

I fully embraced the, lovely crimson princess averting her face as if she's in an off put mood.

The two of us returned to the dining room and, were tormented with lukewarm gazes.
Those gazes have heat……
I understand.

「Is, something?」
「No?」

With that Kran's form that's tilting her teacup while smiling is overly elegant.
Starting to look right isn't it.

「……If you have something to say then please say it.」
「Even though it would be fine if you felt worse.」
「I didn't ask you!」

Aim who had been eating silently interjected a comment.
Those two are already getting along aren't they.

「……」

Getting, along aren't they?
Watching those two snarl at eachother makes me lose my confidence.
By the way Rin-chan who had been atop Aim's lap when I went out, is now sleeping tranquilly on Saira's back.

「Saira is not tired? Should we switch?」
「It's okay nya, it's comforting having her like this!」

Certainly isn't it.
Saira's in a good enough mood that it's as if she could leap out while humming or such, she's soothing Rin-chan while she sways on her back like it's a kind cradle.
Haha, it's really baby like handling isn't it.

「Sleeping children grow you know. On that note Alice and Rin, which is stronger?」
「……Eh?」

Why suddenly ask such an obvious question, my sister?

「Oneechan」
「Nn?」

Somehow your face has become mischievous hasn't it, oneechan.

「I am an adult you know.」
「So that's how it is then.」

Cued by that sort of interjection by ane, everyone's gazes focused on me.

「……I wonder if elves have bad development.」
「Nn, master's s.h.i.+shou also is like that isn't she.」

No, I think that's a lot worse?
On that note setting Eclair aside, Aim said that……?
Faced with a dissatisfied face, she smoothed up.
Just what was that……

「It is okay, I will a.s.sist with Alice's development.」

……How?

「Ecchi, idiot!」
「Absurd……」

Please mesh with Kran Eclair……

「Huh? Come to think of it are oneechan and Kran acquaintances?」
「We're acquainted, well enough to exchange greetings I guess.」
「I suppose that is so, there is great worth in relying on s.h.i.+on.」
「He～」

Sociability is something these two have I suppose.
……I feel like those two's traits are exactly opposite though.

「Kohon, maa there's been various things since the invitation’s first day but, thanksgiving is from here, please go ahead and take it easy.」

I was finally able to, face everyone as the host and finish greeting them.
Since thanksgiving is a series of rest days.
As a day off for the people, it's also a day for Kran.
Of course I suppose that if something happens she'll fly back though.

「I will have it be as such, I am enjoying this, Alice.」

Firstly a wink flew from Kran.
……And so a tingling presence came from behind.
Her gaze stabs.
I understand……
Maa, if Kran and Eclair come to get along with this opportunity I'll be happy.

I wonder if it's okay if I hold onto, at least that sort of hope.