Alice Tale in Phantasmagoria Chapter 96

n.o.bles's manors contain secrets.
I suppose it might be appropriate to call it a pastime of the upper cla.s.s.
This manor that I borrowed from Kran isn't an exception.
When the curtain of night had fully descended, one person's legs went to touch upon that secret.
Protected from people's eyes within the rear garden's trees, the entrance kept hidden there.

Opening the shelter like door emplaced in the ground, stairs and a world of darkness spread out before me.
I descended those cold stone steps one by one.
The spiral staircase almost seemed like it would continue all the way to naraku, I continue into the penetrating chill of darkness.
While the light of my unreliable lamp illuminates that darkness that seems to suck away light, I slowly slowly descend.
After descending a significant distance from the surface the staircase cut off.
It's the final destination.

There's an oppressive sensation, but as people are sufficiently able to come and go it's not like the conditions at the bottom of a well.
Before my eyes, there's a st.u.r.dy seeming door.
There's an iron door that seems like a human's power could never break it.
A ma.s.sive padlock and a bar like a log are set in it.
The grandiose door is built so as to completely separate the s.p.a.ce continuing within and the outside world.
Removing the bar, I open that door's lock.
The door opens, with the grinding sound of rusted metal.

Darkness spread out again within.
Directing the lamp's light, sharan, that rustling sound of chains came.
Relying on that sound I illuminated that direction, there's a person with chains connected to both hands and both legs there.
With her four limbs connected as if to affix her to the wall, the girl isn't even allowed to fall forward, She languidly hangs her head.
White clothes like worn rags――those were almost prisoner's clothes――the girl wearing that relied on that sound and lifted her head to look over here.
To be precise, as those eyes were shrouded with a blindfold, there was naught but darkness reflected in her pupils.

「Wa, water……」

The girl implored me with a hoa.r.s.e voice.
At that voice that was as if it was pleading to me, I purposefully smiled conceitedly.

「――Fufu, greedy child aren't you? You want water? That's no good, I won't give you that. Please lick this instead.」

Setting the lamp on a table, I approach the girl.
My finger approaches, the lips of the dazzling girl with golden hair illuminated by the lamp.
Perhaps because her throat was dry and she couldn't bear it, the golden girl put out her tongue as if to be fed.
I directed my finger into those lips.

「Aah.」

The girl's tongue crawled over my finger.
My feelings are uplifted by an indescribable strange mood.

「Fufu, you lick that like it's very delicious don't you? Please explain your impression.」
「Ha, hai. It is a sense of joy like licking a frozen desert, from an eastern country, using the high cla.s.s sugar circulating within As.h.i.+taka……」

My interest was aroused so, I also licked that finger that the girl had licked.

「Fine then, I shall reward you with water.」
「Such thankful fortune……」

I faced the girl leaking a smile with seeming relief――though I suppose she couldn't see it――and smiled lightly.

「However, should I transfer it by mouth? Drinking what's within my mouth, I will permit you to take that in.」
「Ha, hai……ojousama.」

The golden girl's cheeks flushed vaguely.
I used the pitcher set on the table and put water in my mouth.
And so, I faced the golden girl who was left bound and my face approached her.

「――Gokuu! As, as if I can do this sort of thing! This is too much you know, just what is this!?」

For now, I drank dry the water in my mouth.

「――Ara, that is a shame, ojousama.」

With a voice like her reason had suddenly returned to her the bound golden girl, Ilya murmured.

「Even though ojousama was finally told what a proper master and servant are so she put into practice to see how it went.」
「This is definitely strange right, this isn't correct right?」
「But, this was a book recommended by Krancescsama.」

I turned my eyes to the book placed on the table beside the pitcher.
『The proper manner for master and servant――Beginner's Edition――』

「……Beginner's?」

That is?
Before that what is she reading, that princess-sama……
And Ilya also got into a role that's strange for Ilya.
That figure, is somehow ecchi.
My gaze ended up on Ilya's b.r.e.a.s.t.s without my intending it.
Her ripped clothes have a risque feel from the hem in and her breast seems like it could be visible so……

「Ojousama.」
「Ha, haii.」

I didn't see you know!
Righting my posture I also right my gaze.

「? Ojousama is kind but, from the start, I felt it was fine if the punishment for those who blunder was carried out in this manner.」
「I feel like it's going too far……」
「It is suitable to the degree of sin. It is necessary for sin to be punished. To the person who committed a sin……punishment is necessary.」
「Maa, I understand what you're saying but……」

I suppose being given a punishment as a method to atone for sin is, an easily understood settlement no matter who looks at it.
I don't want to do, something like punis.h.i.+ng all of them though.

「Huh? But punis.h.i.+ng me is?」
「There isn't someone of the like who would punish ojousama.」

Is that okay……

「――Wha, what are you doing……」

A surprised voice came from the direction of the door.
Turning around, there's the figure of a crimson girl carrying a lamp.

「Ah, eh? Eclair……what.」

What……am I doing?
Turning back to the room once again, Ilya is connected to the wall by her four limbs while wearing tattered clothes, bound, with a blindfold on.

「……What, could this be?」

I turned my face toward Eclair again while expressing a forced smile.
Eclair's face showed displeasure in the same way, as if she had seen something repulsive.

「……I don't believe this.」
「No, ano, look!? It's a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding!」

What should I do, by rus.h.i.+ng then as much as I rush the appropriate words don't come out!
Ignoring me as I fl.u.s.teredly flail about, Eclair came storming into the room.
Pa.s.sing by me, she quickly released Ilya who had been restrained.
Removing the chains with the key that had been left on the table, she also took off the blindfold.

「Eclair-sama, ano――」
「We're going, Ilya!」

Before Ilya could say something, Eclair pulled Ilya's hand and left the room.
In that time, I couldn't do anything but watch the situation silently while standing still like an idiot.
Eclair and Ilya went outside the room and, came to a stop.
I was pierced by Eclair's sharp gaze as she turned around.

「……You should, reflect there for a while!」

This, this can't be……!

「I shall correct myself. That which would punish ojousama, might really exist……relatively near yourself.」

Wai!?
Ilya!?
Could you stop that negligent sort of sense of I can't stop this anymore!?

「Eclair, you're misunderstanding――!」
「Noisy! Please cool your head, you, idiot Alice!!」

Giiiii!
Together with the unpleasant sound a.s.saulting my ears, the grandiose iron door is closing.
From that gap, how pitiable ojousama, Ilya hung her head with that sort of face.

「……」

Hidden away, there's a single lamb trapped here in this secret prison.

「No no noo!? Wait a little it's a misunderstanding, because it really is a misunderstanding! How long do I have to cool my head!? Wait～!!」

At this point I'm pounding on the door while screaming frantically.
But this is a different world.
No matter how much I cry or scream, the leaking of that voice to the outside doesn't happen.

「Eclair～! Eclair-san!? Wai, toilet!? What should I do for the toilet!??」

I just ate a meal, and there is water.
But since as long as humans live it's not acceptable for them to only take……
By worrying, why is this phenomenon something that quickly closes in as much as I worry!?

「Wai, I don't want a second ttiiiiiiimme!!!!」

However, I suppose that desperate scream leaking out really was, something that didn't happen.
Amen……

「Haa, I went through something terrible yesterday……」

Taking a walk in the royal capital for a few hours in the early morning without anyone to interfere, is my recent routine.
Alone within that morning's refres.h.i.+ngness, walking dispiritedly.
Little by little the world became colored, and I came to within the seemingly tense clear air.
I felt that change with my eyes, ears and body.
The sky that had begun to turn white, changed its hue so much that my eyes couldn't keep up.
From a darkness that enveloped the world to a vivid lapis color, and then to a crystal clear blue color.
Even if I look up like I do every day, the sky isn't the same for a day.
I simply admire the artistry of that overwhelming sky.
Pa.s.sing that optimally luxurious time as I please, my mood finally clears up.

「Yosh, maybe I should return to the mansion.」

I tried bringing out my voice spiritedly and, I unexpectedly brought out that very spiritedness as well.
And so I returned to the mansion.
Arriving at the gate of my house constructed upon a hill, a maid-san carrying out an early s.h.i.+ft gave a 「Welcome back」 and, a greeting with proper form came.
Without a slack air for this time, those girls stretching their back and endeavoring at their work are great.
Did you see the sunrise today? It was pretty wasn't it.
And, enjoying exchanging pointless conversation with the maid-sans is also my secret pleasure.
Those girls are also becoming used to their current lifestyle.
Acting so as not to disrupt that is also a heavy responsibility.
I enter the mansion while refres.h.i.+ng my feelings within my heart, this time Ilya came to greet me as if she'd chosen this time.

「Welcome back, ojousama.」
「I'm back, Ilya.」

And so this exchange is also exceptional isn't it.
Flowing with fluffy softness, s.h.i.+ning gold colored hair.
Smiling gently in her standard outfit, her smile is alike to a G.o.ddess's.
There is a model of an overwhelming G.o.d here as well.
That Ilya clouded her face and lowered her head.

「I truly have no excuse for last night, please punish me in that room now.」
「No, that is beyond my capabilities. In the end it really is presumptuous for people to punish people. This has been a good lesson.」

Before that, if it's discovered I'll be repaid twofold.
Maa, after I cleared up the misunderstanding 『Because you, you were wrong for doing misleading things right! Fu, fun……but, well, I jumped to the wrong conclusion……that was wrong of me.』 or such, Eclair coming to apologize in an embarra.s.sed manner was adorable.

「But with something like that dauntlessly beautiful Ilya bound in a clammy underground prison, it fills me with guilt.」
「Does it excite you a little?」
「Un.」

……

「Please forget that.」
「Kusu. Hai, ojousama.」

What is this servant saying.

「However, ojousama is the most beautiful. I feel that isn't Eclair-sama surely holding feelings that she can't tell people of.」
「……」

……What is she imagining, this servant.
But cool aren't you, beautiful aren't you, cute aren't you, how should the person in question react to being told something like that?
When I try thinking about it it becomes difficult doesn't it.
A person who gets arrogant and becomes intolerable――I'd also pa.s.s on being thought of like that.

「It's okay, I, won't become arrogant. There's no way I'd do that.」
「?」

Am I beautiful?
Once I say that sort of thing it's over for me.
So I won't be asking something like mirror oh mirror.
Right, I won't particularly feel even a little like doing something like a.s.sa.s.sinating a lovely princess who's white like snow, with red cheeks and lips like blood, and pure black hair like ebony.

「Des.h.i.+～～, food～」

Oh?
Rin-chan showed her face, from around the corner partway down the hallway leading to the dining room.
She properly discovered us and, maybe she was still sleepy, she approached us with tottering steps.

「Rin-chan, good morning.」
「Nn～good morning～, des.h.i.+, Iria.」

While saying that, she plopped onto my hips in that manner and clung onto them.

「Fufu, good morning to you.」

Snuggling together and stroking her head she moans like a cat.
On that note, this black hair, cheeks, cuteness.
……I wouldn't think it would I, to pa.s.s her a poison rinal.

「What could we be eating today～?」
「I don't need carrots you know!」
「Eh～, I think there'll probably be carrot soup put out though.」
「Fuee!?」

While the hallway became lively like that we went toward the dining room together.
You should be grateful to the maid-sans who always prepare it for us you know, Rin-chan.

「Fufu.」

And, a happy seeming laughing voice came chasing after us from behind.
Being there like it was nothing at all, it's my precious daily life.

After breakfast I'm going on to the final checks for the preparations for the journey starting tomorrow.
Eastern kingdom As.h.i.+taka.
Our objective for this time's journey is there.
Though it's called a kingdom it's a small country so, it seems it's actually something like a va.s.sal state to Sacrament princ.i.p.ality.
It seems the eastern lands are exposed to relatively frequent battles so, it seems there are lots of arms and high quality items due to that relations.h.i.+p.
In short it's that there are many blacksmiths with good arms.
Saira is enthusiastic, about making those techniques her own.
She has an eagerness that's as if she's saying that craftsmen aren't beings who are taught those techniques, but beings who steal them.
Even now the ears of the girl sitting across from me are, standing straight up, as if to display her br.i.m.m.i.n.g enthusiasm.
Such a Saira's expression suddenly clouded up.

「But is this okay? There was internal discord within that country just a little before now nya.」
「Eh? Is that so?」

There's internal discord even here in Alseid kingdom isn't there.
But as something to be thankful for, I've thoroughly reclaimed my daily life.
……Is it because the leaders.h.i.+p is exceptional?
It's not just that, everyone living here is also overflowingly engaged I suppose.
That leader still hasn't returned yet though.
One other princess-sama――by making as much of a ruckus as she could――did return though.

「To be sure, the king-sama should've changed nya.」
「Does that mean a rebellion succeeded?」

Or is it some other reason?

「It was As.h.i.+taka kingdom's predecessor, the current king's ani-gimi, ojousama. It is not the case that those two were in conflict.」

While preparing tea, Ilya gave a comment.

「Is that so?」
「Hai, I believe the instigator of the internal discord was someone around those two's uncle.」
「Relatives……」

Imagining conflict between blood relatives dampens my mood……

「The result was that the internal discord was suppressed by the ruling faction of that time but, the predecessor king perished during that and, the current king succeeded his political power.」

I don't know what reason there was but, I suppose that it was unbearable for the citizens who got pulled into it.

「Still fighting are they……and even among relatives.」
「I suppose so, it's something that to the extent that both are close to eachother they can't repress their feelings.」

……I ended up thinking back to my family from my original world.
It's a little sad.

「――Ah.」

Around when Ilya was going to take a cup in her hand, she failed to grasp it and it ended up falling from the wagon.
While thinking that rare events are still something that happen, I braced myself for the sound of the falling cup shattering on the floor and――

「Nshotto! Kyatch! Kyahaha.」

Rin-chan, caught that cup just before it fell to the floor.
She showed her face with a fine play via the basics of a diving catch under the table.

「Ri, Rin-chan……Incredible……or rather, wasn't that dangerous?」

Moー, really this child is.
It's a good thing that it didn't have any contents.

「I, I profusely apologize Rin-san, are you okay?」
「I'm okay! Since I knew that the cup would fall!」

What?
While stroking Rin-chan as she put her head out with the cup in hand and a praise me praise me, I s.h.i.+fted my neck.
She knew?
……Because it's something a child said, it can't be helped even if I worry too much about it though.

「Is Ilya okay?」
「Ha, hai……for such a blunder……」

The person in question appears to be panicking but, this side is surprised.
Humans are beings that act carelessly regardless of who they are but……I'm a little surprised that Ilya did that sort of thing.
Maa, there's even a phrase saying even great monks make errors with their writing brush.

「Rin-san, thank you very much.」
「Unn, I also love Iria, wasn't that great!」
「I am extremely honored.」

Ilya accepted the cup from Rin-chan and cleaned up the wagon.
She proceeded to politely draw out tea for everyone again and finished distributing it in that manner and, left the room while pus.h.i.+ng the wagon.
I followed that appearance with my eyes without making anything of it but, nothing appeared to have changed.
Uumu……

「Des.h.i.+～let's take an afternoon nap～」

On the other hand, just when I noticed Rin-chan, having became more and more energetic from her good play, she had clambered onto my lap, and there's a sudden sleep declaration.

「You still just woke up though didn't you……」

Her switch flips quickly doessn't it.

「Somehow sleepy～」

Why is she so sleepy.
Is this her development phase.
Stroking her head, she's already transitioned over halfway to being a resident of the country of dreams.
Good good, you'll grow well.

――And so I who should have returned to the room together and slept next to Rin-chan, was astonished to have opened my eyes to completely different scenery.