After Trimmau brought back the meal, Charlotte placed a plate of chicken in front of Sigmund.
She then propped her cheek on her hand, watching Alice with sparkling, curious eyes.
"So, how'd it go?"
Alice held her knife and fork gracefully, carefully cutting the food on her plate. "Well enough."
They had obtained some quite useful information this time.
The Divine Machine might be related to the Third Magic—at the very least, Edward's description seemed to match it closely.
Alice slowly brought a piece of meat to her mouth.
She'd noticed from the very beginning that the Rozen Maidens possessed souls within them.
But the souls inside them were fragile, nowhere near the level of a human's.
Through devotion… That, too, was indeed a necessary condition for a Rozen Maiden to become Alice.
Forcing it through battle was useless; it required the other Rozen Maidens' willing offering. Only then could the one who gathered them all become Alice.
And besides… this Night Party was connected to the Divine Machine.
Since that prophecy was somewhat similar to future sight, and not entirely baseless, it could more or less serve as a reference.
It seemed she'd have to make Charlotte take things more seriously. No—rather, she needed to take this Night Party more seriously herself.
Thinking this, Alice slowly turned her gaze toward Charlotte, who was eating beside her.
Feeling Alice's eyes on her, Charlotte paused, a puzzled look on her face. "What is it?"
"Speed up the intelligence gathering for the Night Party. I will provide more assistance when the time comes."
Hearing this, Charlotte blinked in confusion.
Did that mean… Alice was finally willing to take the Night Party seriously?
"Okay!" A happy smile spread across her face.
Alice was finally showing interest in the Night Party.
Before, she'd always seemed so indifferent, but now she was finally willing to get involved.
With this, Charlotte couldn't imagine how they could possibly lose.
Her cheerful mood made her eat even faster.
"My, seems I've overheard something about the Night Party."
Just then, a voice cut into their conversation.
The newcomer had a head of silver curls—it was Alice, the one they'd just parted from earlier.
Holding her tray, she unceremoniously took a seat next to Alice. "Hello, Alice Kuonji~ Let me introduce myself. I'm Alice Bernstein."
"Rank No.87, 'Elf Speeder'," Charlotte's voice came from across the table just as Alice sat down.
She pointed toward a distant direction. "Seems you've been getting rather close to Rank No.74, Rosenberg lately."
Having her identity laid bare so instantly didn't seem to bother Alice Bernstein. She just shrugged, a smile playing on her lips as she addressed Charlotte. "Hope I'm not interrupting your date."
"Wh-wh-what date?!" Charlotte's face instantly flushed bright red, so flustered she could barely keep hold of her fork.
It had just been a tease, but it seemed she'd stumbled upon something quite interesting.
Alice Bernstein watched Charlotte's flustered state with amusement, the corner of her mouth quirking up.
She tapped her lips, about to continue speaking.
"Have you finished speaking with your grandfather?"
Alice Kuonji's words instantly froze Alice Bernstein's movements.
She whipped her head around, a flicker of shock in her eyes.
They'd been found out?
Although she'd anticipated the possibility of her magecraft being detected, being directly exposed still made her a bit nervous.
She defensively brought her hands up in front of her chest, but in the next second, she let them drop back beside her tray.
She felt such a defense would be useless anyway.
At least, that's what her father's attitude toward her and the previous skirmish with Magnus suggested.
But… grandfather?
Alice Bernstein tilted her head in confusion. Why would they think it was her grandfather?
Then, thinking of her father's face—that of a man in his sixties or seventies, with a beard—she couldn't help but let out a silent laugh.
"He's my father, actually," Alice Bernstein said, leaning in closer to Alice Kuonji and speaking in a hushed tone.
After saying this, she frowned slightly, a bit puzzled. "How did you know we're related?"
Although practically all the higher-ups knew about it, so it wasn't really a secret.
Even if someone tried to use her to threaten her father… he wouldn't care.
Alice Bernstein's expression darkened slightly, the previous liveliness vanishing from her face.
"I could tell," Alice Kuonji's reply only made her frown deepen.
Even if she had seen through her 'Magic Circuit', she shouldn't have been able to deduce her relationship with her father.
Over half of Alice Bernstein's body was mechanized, allowing her to use her magic anytime, anywhere.
Otherwise, she'd require cumbersome magic circles and lengthy incantations.
Watching the confused Alice Bernstein, Alice Kuonji silently continued eating.
It seemed she truly didn't know about the matter of her heart.
To place one's own heart inside another's body, and use one's own body to protect that other person's heart…
That wasn't something just anyone could do. It implied either family or a life-and-death bond.
Given Alice Bernstein's age, the former was more likely.
But… so it was father and daughter? She had thought it was grandfather and granddaughter.
A faint, silent smile touched Alice Kuonji's lips. "Did he send you here to relay something?"
"Not at all. I just came on my own, purely to propose cooperation." Alice Bernstein returned to her initial demeanor.
She raised a finger, gently wagging it. "The magi's ultimate goal is the Divine Machine. So, wouldn't the fastest path be to go directly to the prophesied witch herself?"
"Your goal is the Divine Machine as well?"
Of course it's to help Father… Not that she'd say that.
"Of course," Alice Bernstein nodded readily. "If anything, it'd be strange not to be interested in that perfect life form, wouldn't it?"
Alice Kuonji gave an understanding nod, then looked across the table at Charlotte, who was still flustered.
"We… we are not on a d-d-d-date…!" Charlotte was muttering, her hands covering her burning red cheeks.
Sigmund looked on at his master with a resigned expression, thought for a few seconds, then went back to eating the chicken on his plate.
"Work has arrived."
Alice Kuonji's voice snapped Charlotte back to reality. She patted her cheeks, trying to compose herself.
"W-work? Oh, related to the Night Party?"
Charlotte had just managed to slightly reduce the blush on her face, but when she saw the meaningful smile on Alice Bernstein's face opposite her, her cheeks exploded with color again.
She cleared her throat lightly, trying to cover her discomposure. "I have no need for assistance from someone ranked so low."
"How very fitting for the 'Tyrant Rex', Rank No.6."
Alice Bernstein gave a soft round of applause. Just as she was about to continue speaking—
"Then, would I suffice?"
A male voice abruptly joined the conversation.
Looking over, they saw a blond man with a strange hairstyle and a smile on his face standing before them.
"Good afternoon, ladies."
He greeted everyone present with impeccable etiquette.
Then, he turned his gaze to Charlotte, his smile widening.
"Long time no see, Charlotte."
"I never gave you permission to call me Charlotte."
"He's Felix Kingsfort, Rank No.4 in the Night Party."
Charlotte's blunt refusal and Alice Bernstein's introduction sounded simultaneously.
The latter's voice was full of amusement. "He's currently publicly pursuing Miss Charlotte, you know."
--+--
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.