Food really does wonders to lift the spirits.
With a full stomach and a bit of drowsiness settling in, I finally felt a sense of calm.
After going over everything in my mind, I concluded with a simple “So what?”
Yes.
So what?
This wasn’t the first ti soone unexpected had suddenly appeared in my life. I’d already been through sothing similar with Lena.
I was already aware that the Emperor viewed as sothing extraordinary. From the beginning, he’d been giving all sorts of orders. He’d openly commanded to assassinate a count and had even tried to send to the battlefield instead of the academy.
And yet, it wasn’t my ability that got out of those situations. It was Alice. She’d stord to the Emperor after finding morphine in my room and resolved the matter face-to-face.
A limit to my power? It was bound to happen sooner or later. Honestly, my power was ridiculously overpowered. Other protagonists in novels, comics, or ani who had ti-reversing abilities usually had to pay so kind of price—often even dying to trigger it. Truthfully, I’d been spoiled by how convenient my ability had been.
Besides… thinking about it, nothing so far had been so catastrophic that I’d needed to rewind to fix it.
So, I decided to stop worrying about it.
If that guy shows up again, I’ll deal with it then.
There was sothing a therapist had once told out of curiosity: “Don’t waste energy stressing over things you can’t resolve right now. At the very least, try not to worry.” Right. Agonizing over a future I can’t prepare for is pointless.
"…"
I could feel Alice staring intently at my expression.
We were sitting across from each other. Outside the window, the trees stretched endlessly, marching along as we moved. Technically, the trees weren’t moving—we were.
“Really, your resilience is sothing else.”
“…Is there sothing on my face?”
“Yep.”
Alice nodded at my question.
“Last ti, when we ca back from the battlefield, you were like this too. You’d sit alone, deep in thought, but then a few hours later, you’d be back to normal. The sa thing happened this ti. Right after eting your father, you looked devastated, but now you’re fine again.”
“True. When I ca to your room this morning, you looked completely out of it.”
Claire, sitting beside , added her observation.
anwhile, Leo was sitting next to Alice, looking incredibly uncomfortable. Though we were all mbers of the student council and had gradually broken down so barriers over ti, eting the Emperor yesterday seed to have reminded him that Alice and I were, in fact, princesses.
Claire noticed my gaze shifting to Leo and gave him a slight glare, as if to say, “Are you seriously making her uncomfortable with that attitude?”
…A little guilt crept up on .
“I had a lot to think about.”
“Did you?”
"…"
Since I didn’t elaborate, Alice didn’t press further.
“Are you really not going to ask anything?” I finally asked.
“Hmm.”
Alice considered my question for a mont, then responded plainly, “No, I’m not.”
I watched her silently, and she gave a slight smile.
“Curious why?”
“Yes, I am.”
Of course, I was curious.
If it were , I would’ve rewound ti several tis to try to pry out every bit of information. Though if I couldn’t get anything, I’d have given up eventually.
I’d already scoured the Empire’s restricted archives. I’d confird there was nothing concrete about my existence in the prophecies.
Granted, I wasn’t seeking personal secrets—I was just looking for clues to move forward with the story.
“There’s no particular reason.”
Alice leaned back in her chair, turning her gaze to the window.
The forest outside seed never-ending, lush and proudly stretching as far as the eye could see. Occasionally, we’d pass through small villages or cities buried within it. If this world had other races, this would be the perfect place for elves.
“You don’t need a logical reason to ask or not ask sothing. I just… don’t feel like asking right now. In fact, I probably won’t ask directly in the future either.”
Her head remained facing the window, but her blue eyes shifted toward , a faint smile at her lips.
“Not until you decide to tell .”
"…"
I couldn’t respond.
Alice… she had already told what she thought before. Back when she’d infiltrated the casino in that bunny girl costu. In the ga, her motives were simplified to her inferiority complex toward Claire, and it was mainly played for fanservice.
If there’s one difference between the ga and this world, it’s that the ga’s characters moved according to the story, while here, people moved to create the story themselves.
“I understand.”
“You look relieved sohow.”
"…"
Alice once again seed to read my mind, so I turned my head to Claire.
“Claire.”
“Huh, yes?!”
Claire, who’d been watching my conversation with Alice in a daze, was startled. She hadn’t expected to address her.
“Does my expression reveal my emotions that easily?”
“Um… uh…”
Claire stamred, trying to process my question’s intent.
“Well, no? I an, sotis it does? I guess… usually, not so much…”
Her response ca out jumbled, like a broken machine.
“Hmph.”
Alice snorted lightly at Claire’s answer.
Claire’s brows furrowed at Alice’s reaction.
“What’s that supposed to an?”
Her tone wasn’t exactly hostile or cold, but it did carry a hint of irritation.
“Did I say sothing wrong?”
“No, it’s not wrong. It’s just… sotis you can’t help but feel a little superior when you see soone struggle with sothing you find easy.”
“What?!”
Um…
Claire, you do realize we’re on a 20th-century train where soundproofing isn’t great? When you yell like that, everyone around us stares.
Not to ntion, standing up like that only draws even more attention.
Most of the onlookers likely wore expressions of shock. They were well aware of who Claire usually hung around, and regardless of the reason, shouting in front of soone like —a princess—would be considered terribly improper.
Leo, sitting beside Alice, was the perfect picture of a typical noble reaction.
“C-Claire…!”
His face had gone pale as he tried to calm her down. But since he wasn’t sitting right next to her, he couldn’t easily reach her. A small table sat between us, after all.
And to top it off, Alice was holding Leo back from standing up.
Leo froze in place, sending a pleading look…
…Sorry.
I’m just as confused as you right now.
“You’ve spent so much ti with Sis! If I’d been given that much ti, I’d definitely be able to read her emotions better than you!”
Um…
If you two want to argue over this, could you at least wait until we get to the academy? Or at the very least, lower your voices?
Actually, I’d really appreciate it if you could hold off until we reach the academy. Arguing right next to is just incredibly embarrassing.
I’m barely managing to keep a straight face as it is.
And Alice, watching , just gave a smirk.
She definitely caught my expression.
“Well, how would you know? You’ve never had that experience. So how can you be so sure?”
“Urgh…”
Claire’s expression grew briefly angry at Alice’s words, but then…
“…”
She took a deep breath.
Then she composed herself, sitting back down with poise and grace, as if she hadn’t just yelled.
But that calm deanor was rely an act. Claire’s determination was far from subdued.
“Sis.”
As soon as she sat down, she looked at .
“…Yes?”
“Look at my face.”
She adjusted her posture slightly, turning toward .
Silently, I did as she asked.
Claire’s deep blue eyes t mine. While both she and Alice had blue eyes, if Alice’s were like a clear lake, Claire’s were like staring into a mysterious blue hole. Looking directly at her was a bit intimidating.
“From now until we arrive at school, I’m going to practice reading your expressions.”
"…."
I glanced at Alice, but she only looked back with a smug expression.
…
Great. Just great.
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