---

Chapter 98: Alice Will Wait for the Master

Bathed in the gentle morning light and the refreshing sounds of chirping birds, Roy walked down the shaded path back to his familiar little cabin.

Through the window, he could see his maid busying herself.

Roy pushed the door open, and as expected, the little maid set down her chores, looked up with wide, clear eyes, and then rushed towards him in a flurry, stopping at just the right distance to give a perfectly executed bow.

“Master, welcome back.”

“Sorry about last night’s party. Special circumstances kept me out late, leaving you here all alone on a rare weekend.”

“It’s alright. The Student Council sent someone to explain the situation.”

As Alice said this, she helped him out of his coat and bent down to grab his slippers from the shoe cabinet and placed them by his feet.

Sure, Roy thought it wasn’t necessary to go through all this trouble, but at moments like this, the little maid, with her seemingly expressionless face, radiated a warm atmosphere, making it seem like she enjoyed it more than he did. He could only let her be.

But how exactly did Kreya explain what happened last night? “Your master was off having a one-night stand with a senior?”

Roy couldn’t shake the feeling that Leanna’s sidekick wasn’t too bright, leaving him a bit uneasy.

“Master, have you eaten breakfast yet?”

“Not yet.”

“Then please wait a moment, breakfast will be ready soon. Anything you’d like?”

“Um… anything’s fine.”

Roy flopped awkwardly onto the sofa.

Alice’s skill surpassed that of ordinary people; she didn’t need his help at all. In fact, him showing up could only get in the way.

However, just out of Roy’s sight, Alice was doing something odd.

She was smelling the coat he had worn.

The scent of her master, the smell of alcohol, the fragrance of shower gel.

And a faint, almost faded, yet undeniably present scent of bellflower.

That was definitely not Summer’s or Nia’s scent but that of another woman.

Reflecting on Kreya’s half-spoken words from last night, Alice pieced together the answer, though her gaze faltered, hinting at her inner turmoil.

Yet she quickly buried this feeling deep down and busied herself in the kitchen for a while.

Before long, Alice’s famous “whatever” breakfast was laid out on the dining table.

Soft, crunchy toast, carefully sliced various hams, fresh vegetables, jam, cheese, cream, barbecue sauce, and other sauces that she knew he might use — she was already aware that when Roy said “whatever,” he wasn’t lacking an appetite, just being lazy about deciding what he wanted, so the meal could be simple but with plenty of options.

Alice instinctively reached to pour hot milk for Roy but quickly stopped herself.

“About drinks, Master has been enjoying coffee lately.”

“Yeah, coffee is fine.”

Roy had already started happily devouring his meal.

Alice went to the kitchen, skillfully brewing the pre-ground coffee, though her thoughts were swirling.

The previous master didn’t like coffee. This habit had only developed recently after getting to know the Student Council President, plus it seemed this coffee was a gift from the Council.

The slightly bitter aroma wafted over, causing Alice to feel a bit light-headed.

Still, she brought the coffee to the table and then poured herself a glass of milk before sitting down next to Roy.

Watching her master sip the coffee, looking relaxed and at ease, Alice felt a strange twinge of resentment.

How could that bitter stuff be good? Milk is clearly better.

“Master, haven’t you been going to the Student Council lately?”

“Mhm, I’ve submitted my resignation. I thought you knew? I only went to collaborate with Leanna; I’d wanted to quit for a while now.”

But Alice didn’t agree with that perspective.

Ever since Roy stopped attending the Student Council, she thought he had let go of that bad woman’s shadow. However, even without seeing each other, she could distinctly feel the imprint left by the other party on Roy.

And the more he smiled when speaking of Leanna, the more uneasy Alice felt.

Although Roy complained about being teased by the President at the Student Council, he radiated a warm aura. In contrast, the days following his departure were marked by his absent-mindedness and unusual silence.

Master clearly doesn’t hate her at all.

With such thoughts, Alice’s heart began to churn.

What really happened last night?

Kreya said they were drinking, but a man and a woman out all night…

Could it be that the Student Council President, the alleged bad woman, was out to harm Master?

Alice nibbled on her bread, but the taste was lost on her.

If it were Charlotte or Nia out with Roy, Alice wouldn’t worry at all.

But instinctively, she sensed a peculiar attachment from Leanna that was different — more tenacious — than that of the other two girls.

Previously, whenever Roy got close to Charlotte and the others, it only left Alice feeling a bit sour. But Roy’s relationship with Leanna set her on edge.

It felt as if, at any moment, Roy could be whisked away…

Alice looked up at Roy.

“Master.”

“Yeah?”

“What exactly happened last night…?”

She got halfway through her sentence before she choked on her words.

Gazing into those calm yet questioning dark eyes, she inexplicably pulled back.

Even if Leanna is a bad woman, it’s still Master’s freedom to like her, right?

As a maid, supporting her master’s decisions was simply understandable.

It should be natural.

If Master doesn’t want to explain, then as a maid, she shouldn’t pry into such matters.

Alice’s gaze trembled, caught between speaking up and holding back.

But just then, Roy slightly lowered his head, revealing an apologetic expression, “I’m sorry.”

“Eh?”

“Being left home alone must have been lonely, huh? I said I’d be back last night, yet I still abandoned you here. I’m really not doing a good job as your master.”

Roy thought Alice was just looking for attention but was too sweet and understanding to admit it.

“N-no, it’s not your fault… It’s okay with me being alone…”

Initially flustered, Alice scrambled to explain, but as soon as Roy’s hand rested on her head, she shut up like a light switch flipping off.

When Roy gently patted her, her eyes automatically squinted, and she relaxed completely, radiating warmth like an iris swaying in the warm sunlight.

It was only at that moment that Alice allowed herself to be honest.

“A little bit…”

“Yeah?”

Alice weakly raised her gaze, murmuring in a tiny voice, “Just a little bit lonely…”

As for the unease brought on by Leanna, it had already flown out of her mind.

And Roy sighed, “Taking care of the house alone, you’ve done a great job.”

“I’ve been busy lately, but I’ll take you out to play once things settle down.”

Alice seemed to still want to insist a little more, but after Roy patted her a couple more times, she melted completely and agreed lazily.

“Uh… uh! Alice will wait for Master.”

As for the entanglements between Leanna and Roy, the little maid had completely pushed them out of her mind, lost in the soothing touches of her master.

 

---