Chapter 172: A Premonition of Danger

Two days later, Alice Liddell went to her classes at the academy as usual, strolling towards the main gate.

“Excuse me, are you… Her Grace, Duchess Liddell?”

The sudden call made Alice Liddell pause, turning to see a meticulously dressed footman approaching her with a smile.

“It is I,” Alice Liddell confirmed, nodding faintly.

“My master’s birthday is this Saturday, and a ball will be held at the Bauhinia Manor in the Crown District. He eagerly anticipates your esteemed presence,” the footman announced, respectfully presenting an invitation.

“A ball, then.” Alice Liddell calmly accepted the invitation, glancing at it.

Ever since she became ‘Duchess Liddell,’ she had received such invitations to balls quite frequently, which often made her wonder if these nobles truly had nothing better to do.

The host of this particular ball was Marquis Roman, a prominent figure with considerable influence in the Imperial City.

“I understand. Unless other matters arise, I shall certainly attend on time,” Alice Liddell responded gracefully.

The footman bowed to her but did not depart. Instead, he walked a short distance and stopped, continuing to wait near the gate.

Evidently, he had been tasked with delivering invitations to more people than just Duchess Liddell. He had provided the gatekeeper with a list, and the gatekeeper would help him identify the nobles on it.

Alice Liddell looked at the invitation. She generally avoided such social balls whenever possible, as she disliked gatherings of nobles. Moreover, her dancing was absolutely dreadful.

Besides, the host was merely extending a courtesy invitation to all prominent nobles in the Imperial City, not to close acquaintances with whom he already had dealings. Her attendance, or lack thereof, would be of no real consequence to him.

At such times, Alice Liddell merely needed to hire someone to deliver a gift and convey her apologies to the host with a suitable excuse. Duchess Liddell had taught her how to handle these situations.

‘No, wait a moment…’

Alice Liddell reconsidered.

‘I recall that Marquis Roman also serves in the Ministry of Finance. He should have dealings with Duke Bedford.’

‘That would mean Duke Bedford is highly likely to attend this ball, and Count Gina has probably also received an invitation.’

She had no intention of directly poisoning the two at the ball. However, if the opportunity arose, she wished to make contact and gather information about her assassination targets, paving the way for future missions.

In that case, attending the ball might not be such a bad idea.

Just as this thought took root, her witch’s intuition suddenly flared, drawing her attention to the magic mirror in her handbag.

It was a message!

Alice Liddell was somewhat surprised. Queen Isola and Duchess Liddell rarely contacted her during school hours, and using the magic mirror at the academy was not always convenient.

After a brief moment of thought, she opened her handbag, rummaged through its contents, and then widened her eyes slightly, feigning that she had forgotten something.

Then, she swiftly turned and walked away, moving quickly from the academy gate.

She hurried through the streets, returned to her apartment, and locked the door. Only then did she retrieve the magic mirror and begin her divination.

Mists swirled, then receded, revealing Queen Isola’s face in the mirror, staring at her with a serious expression. Duchess Liddell stood directly behind her.

“Queen Isola? How could—”

Before Alice Liddell could finish her question, Queen Isola interrupted, “Do not go to that ball!”

Alice Liddell paused, then reacted. “Are you referring to Marquis Roman’s ball?”

“I don’t know who is hosting the ball, but I saw a premonition. If you attend that ball, you will be in danger!” Queen Isola stated earnestly.

“I’m afraid a high-ranking bishop will be present at that ball. Please decline the invitation, as you have done before,” Duchess Liddell added, her voice grave.

Alice Liddell finally understood what was happening.

The moment she decided to attend the ball, her future had shown signs of impending disaster. Queen Isola had foreseen that something would happen to her and had immediately contacted her.

“Without Her Majesty, you would surely blunder into trouble like a fool,” Duchess Liddell remarked. “You should be grateful to Her Majesty. Why not vow right now to serve Her Majesty for all eternity—ouch!”

Duchess Liddell cried out in surprise as Queen Isola, expressionless, took a step backward, landing squarely on her foot.

“What is it, Patra?” Queen Isola turned, looking coldly at Duchess Liddell.

“Nothing at all!” Duchess Liddell replied, her face wreathed in a forced smile.

Alice Liddell smiled knowingly; she had grown somewhat accustomed to this scene.

“Could it be that Queen Isola receives a premonition whenever my future holds a life-threatening danger that you two cannot avert?” Alice Liddell inquired.

“That’s not necessarily the case,” Queen Isola replied. “If I actively divine, I can almost certainly see your future. However, there’s a certain randomness to passively foreseeing a future that isn’t my own.”

“Even so, it’s an undeniable fact that you are always under Her Majesty’s protection,” Duchess Liddell interjected suddenly. “Don’t you find it strange that Nafti, who possesses high-tier witch powers just like Her Majesty Queen Isola, has never discovered us through divination?”

Alice Liddell pondered for a moment. “Isn’t it simply because she doesn’t know of our existence, so she hasn’t tried to divine for us?”

According to the intelligence they had gathered, Queen Nafti should have also advanced to the third tier, becoming a ‘Banshee.’ She might not be able to divine for Queen Isola, who was of the same tier, but in Alice Liddell’s understanding, divining for her should be effortless.

Nafti likely hadn’t discovered them because she hadn’t even considered their existence.

“How could that be? Her Majesty Queen Isola miraculously escaped, even if she received help. She must have tried to divine for us. Yet, she still hasn’t found us. Don’t you find that strange?” Duchess Liddell pressed.

“Indeed…” Alice Liddell nodded thoughtfully. “Is this also because of Queen Isola?”

“Precisely! Witches of the same tier cannot divine for each other. If one successfully divines the other’s future and prepares to interfere, the other will foresee the change in destiny and evade it, causing the future to become blurred again. This paradox prevents successful divination. Therefore, Her Majesty Queen Isola and Nafti cannot divine for each other.”

Duchess Liddell continued, “If Nafti were to use her own thread of destiny as a starting point to divine our existence, it would be impossible to bypass Her Majesty Queen Isola’s thread, as our connection to Nafti is through Her Majesty’s presence. Thus, if she were to divine our existence and attempt to interfere, Her Majesty Queen Isola would inevitably foresee it and interfere in return, blurring the divination’s outcome. That is why Nafti cannot divine for us.”

“So, as long as Queen Isola is determined to protect our future from interference, other witches’ precognitive abilities cannot harm us?” Alice Liddell grasped the concept. “Unless that witch’s tier is even higher than Queen Isola’s.”

“You catch on quickly! Exactly, it’s as if you are constantly under Her Majesty’s protection!” Duchess Liddell smiled, nodding. “So, you should be grateful to Her Majesty. Why not vow right now to serve Her Majesty for all eternity—oh, Your Majesty, don’t step on the same spot again!”

She shrieked again as Queen Isola’s surprise attack landed once more.

“Get out!” Queen Isola commanded, her face flushed.