Chapter 174
Chapter 27: Two Possibilities, Confirming with My Own Eyes
“So, who exactly is this Roy Ainbrad?”
The moment Alice spoke, her short twin tails and beast ears perked up like she was ready for a fight.
Alice had a habit of extolling Roy’s virtues, and given that Roy had previously asked her to clear his name from the ‘scoundrel prince’ label, Nia’s inquiry only sent Alice’s enthusiasm skyrocketing.
Everyone in this world should recognize their master’s charm.
However, in stark contrast to her excitement, Alice’s words were disappointingly plain.
“Master is very nice to Alice; he’s a kind-hearted good person.”
“A good person…” Nia’s expression twisted slightly.
“What makes him so good?”
Alice gently placed her hand on her chest, closed her eyes softly, and began recalling those precious, golden memories.
“Master took Alice in, gave her delicious food, let her sleep on a soft bed, and bought her pretty light clothes…”
“I see.” Nia nodded slightly, but something felt off.
It was expected for a master to provide food and shelter for a maid—buying pretty clothes was a bit different, but it was hardly a case of abuse.
From Alice’s tone, it seemed like Roy really was quite nice to her.
Whenever Roy’s name came up, the blonde girl’s expression softened, as though just thinking of him wrapped her in a warmth more comforting than the afternoon sun.
Watching Alice glow with warmth, Nia felt an unexplainable envy.
But as the conversation continued, Nia began to feel something was amiss.
“By the way, Master also said that Alice is a special existence to him. On the day he took her in, she was a little anxious, but Master thoughtfully stayed with Alice to sleep for the night.”
“Wha—Wait, what? He slept with you for a night?!”
Nia nearly jumped off her ladder in shock.
“Wait, wait, what did you just say?!”
“Master stayed with Alice for a night.” Alice paused, slightly forlorn. “Unfortunately, since then, I haven’t slept with Master again.”
The cafeteria was noisy as always, but Nia couldn’t hear anything around her anymore. One phrase echoed in her mind.
They slept together.
He slept with Alice!
The elven tribe’s education on such matters was quite conservative, but Nia, who had a penchant for sneaking peeks at forbidden books, knew more than enough.
Nia silently raised her empty blanket and pretended to sip from an invisible cup, trying to cool the shock inside her.
Calm down, calm down! Maybe she just misunderstood.
Nia trembled as she set down her ‘cup,’ crossed her hands under her chin, and gazed at Alice, making one final confirmation: “Are you sure it was just a simple sleep?”
“Of course it wasn’t.” Alice shook her head, cast her eyes down shyly, and sweetly murmured, “That was the happiest night of my life.”
At that moment, Nia’s heart sank deeper.
This girl, no matter how you looked at it, had totally been taken advantage of by that Roy!
One meal, a bed, a dress—she fell for it all too easily!
And the key point was, she was still a child!
Nia’s impression of Roy, which had slightly improved, crashed back down to the ground at that instant.
Really, what kind of noble keeps making a girl call him ‘master’?! Even a dedicated maid shouldn’t be treated like this!
Plus, from Alice’s account, that scoundrel took her innocence and then ditched her for Princess Charlotte; but Alice completely failed to realize that!
Clearly, the ‘scoundrel prince’ title was well-deserved!
She could even picture the wretched scene of a scoundrel tricking an innocent little maid into bed!
Nia’s fists clenched in anger.
Even if the maid was oblivious to it all, in her eyes, the blonde girl seemed as pitiful as a canary in a cage, its wings broken.
“Alice, you’ve been fooled! That Roy guy is trash! He really is…!”
The outburst was cut short.
Because Nia noticed that the light blue eyes looking back at her had suddenly turned icy, seeping into her bones.
“I’ve said before, Master is a good person. Even Nia isn’t allowed to insult him.”
The two stared at each other in deep silence for a while.
Now Nia really felt lost.
She hadn’t expected Alice to respond so strongly.
This meant that Roy likely treated Alice decently after all.
But it also raised the possibility that Roy, like the scumbag in some forbidden tales, had used wicked means to completely tame Alice’s body and mind!
Whatever the case, she couldn’t convince her.
Nia sighed internally, masking her anger with a cheerful facade, she clasped her hands and bowed her head.
“Oh, I’m sorry if I misunderstood.”
“Since Alice says so, then Roy must be a good person, right?”
Seeing Nia’s attitude, the coldness in Alice’s eyes slowly dissipated.
However, no matter how brightly Nia smiled, Alice no longer had her usual lightheartedness.
Today, both girls left plenty of food on their plates.
The Academy finished classes promptly at six o’clock sharp, not a second late.
In the past, as soon as the bell rang, Nia would vanish like the wind, dragging her two friends into card games, shopping, fishing—anything but studying.
But today, she lacked her usual enthusiasm. Back in the dorm, she flopped in a chair with a frown, telling her friends about the afternoon’s events.
Nia’s two friends were the first she made when enrolling and also her dorm mates.
One was a petite dark-skinned beauty from the Southern Sea called Jenny, while the other a graceful gray-haired girl from the Winter Empire named Amy.
After hearing Nia’s tale, the two girls exchanged glances and reached the same conclusion.
“Eww, sounds like a total scoundrel! What a waste—he’s so handsome, too.”
“I heard Roy Ainbrad was a major scoundrel in the kingdom before. Even if public opinion has turned a bit, his nature hasn’t changed.”
“Figures…” Nia let out a bitter smile, not surprised by their thoughts.
Even she thought the same.
Alice was far too innocent—she was likely just being toyed with by him.
Seeing Nia in such turmoil, Amy sighed and tried to comfort her, “Hey, this doesn’t have anything to do with you. Even if he is a scoundrel, it’s Alice’s choice, right?”
But Nia immediately clenched her fists, angrily retorting, “How could it not? Alice is not only my friend, but she also has fed me! If Roy is really mistreating her, how can I just stand by and do nothing?!”
Jenny chuckled, “That’s great, but can you pay me back the drink you owe me from last night?”
Nia ignored her friend’s teasing but grew increasingly anxious.
Before, it was fine not to know; but now, just thinking about Alice potentially being locked up and mistreated by Roy made her stomach churn.
Even if it was just a possibility, it drove Nia up the wall with worry.
Nia suddenly stood up from her chair, determination on her face: “No, I have to go confirm it myself!”
