Chapter 83: A Coincidence of Fate

Minutes later.

“My sincerest apologies, my daughter can be so reckless! Thank you for bringing her back!” Duchess Liddell’s acting was impeccable as she thanked Jeanne Decker. “It’s fortunate this girl has good luck, running into a Saintess of the Church. If she’d stumbled upon some ruffian, who knows what would have happened to her!”

“It’s quite alright. I never expected it would be Miss Liddell I encountered; I’d noticed her name on the new student roster at the school gate,” Jeanne Decker replied, exchanging pleasantries with the Duchess. “I was assigned to give promotional lectures at the Southwest Holy Academy before, but I don’t recall seeing her then…”

As Jeanne Decker spoke, the memory of Levi resurfaced, and her eyes momentarily dimmed.

“This child is a transfer student, so it’s a pity you didn’t meet her then. It’s truly an honor for her to receive the Saintess’s attention,” the Duchess Liddell said, keenly observing the subtle shift in Jeanne Decker’s gaze. She remained outwardly composed, yet a ripple of thought stirred within her—’This girl is clearly affected by past events.’

‘Isn’t this situation quite dire, Your Majesty?’ the Duchess Liddell mentally exclaimed.

“Oh, please. To be frank, I am merely a student of the Holy Academy,” Jeanne Decker responded humbly, deflecting the high praise.

“There’s no need for modesty. To be held in such high regard by the Church speaks volumes of your excellence. I only wish my daughter would learn more from you. If only this girl were a little more mature and steady. Running off without a word, she truly made me anxious for a moment,” Duchess Liddell remarked meaningfully, casting a pointed glance at Alice Liddell. “Don’t do that again, Alice.”

Alice Liddell shivered suddenly, realizing the Duchess Liddell’s gaze held an unmistakable hint of displeasure.

“I understand, Mother,” she replied softly.

Jeanne Decker smiled, then nodded her farewell to the two. “I should be heading back now. Farewell, Duchess Liddell. Farewell, Miss Liddell. I look forward to seeing you again at the academy, and thank you for the pancakes.”

‘Oh, so you were the one who treated her to pancakes,’ the Duchess Liddell thought to herself.

“Goodbye, Jeanne… Senior,” Alice Liddell waved goodbye, deliberately using a different address than before.

The two watched Jeanne Decker walk away. Then, maintaining her smiling, waving posture, Duchess Liddell spoke, enunciating each word: “A-lice.”

“Uh…” Alice Liddell stopped waving, her fingers curling inward.

She felt an unprecedented pressure emanating from the Duchess Liddell’s voice.

“My, my, you truly are something. In less than half an hour, you’ve managed to become so familiar with the Saintess under a new identity. Did you specifically divine the Saintess’s location? Such initiative, even I must commend it. One would never guess you were on the verge of death just moments ago. Such acting, even your teacher here was fooled. Perhaps I should be seeking lessons from you in the future,” Duchess Liddell said, turning to face Alice Liddell. Her mouth was smiling, but her eyes held no mirth.

Half an hour prior, Alice Liddell had been slumped on a bench, looking half-dead. Now, she had returned arm-in-arm with Jeanne Decker, having even shared pancakes. Duchess Liddell naturally felt as though her student had played a trick on her. It seemed Alice Liddell had simply used an excuse to separate from her, then immediately rushed off to ‘rekindle their past connection’ with Jeanne Decker.

“Could you please tone down the passive aggression for a moment?” Alice Liddell raised her hands in a gesture of surrender, a helpless expression on her face. “It’s not what you think; I can explain.”

She took about half a minute to recount her ordeal, from seeing the Snow Princess to fleeing for her life, and finally to bumping into Jeanne Decker.

“The Snow Princess of Winter Kingdom wandering around the Imperial City? Are you not just making up an excuse to fool me?” Duchess Liddell asked, her face full of suspicion.

“If I were trying to fool you, why wouldn’t I come up with a more believable reason?” Alice Liddell countered.

“Are you sure you didn’t misidentify her?”

“Someone so distinctive? Do you really think I could mistake them?”

“The King has just died, and the heir suddenly visits the Empire…” Duchess Liddell immediately fell into thought. “This must be to establish a diplomatic image before her ascension.”

“I say, what should we do now? That princess saw us,” Alice Liddell voiced her concern.

“I think your psychological fortitude is more of a problem than the Snow Princess,” Duchess Liddell sighed deeply. “Her Royal Highness merely glanced at us at the time, and you were hiding behind us. She might not even remember you.”

“She might not *not* remember me either!” Alice Liddell argued.

“Did the witch’s premonition react?” Duchess Liddell asked, looking into Alice Liddell’s eyes.

“Ah!” Alice Liddell gasped, frozen in place.

She had completely panicked the moment she saw the Snow Princess, so how could she have remembered to confirm the witch’s premonition?

“If the Snow Princess could pose a threat to you, your intuition should have sensed something from her,” Duchess Liddell stated. “Since it didn’t, that can only mean she doesn’t currently pose a threat to your destiny. The more urgent the situation, the calmer you should be.”

“So that means…” Alice Liddell blinked.

“Her Royal Highness probably didn’t remember you at all, or perhaps she had a slight impression but not enough to recognize you directly,” Duchess Liddell said indifferently. “From my personal judgment, this Princess is likely the kind of person who is only interested in those who are strong.”

After a long moment of bewilderment, Alice Liddell silently covered her face.

So, she had scared herself for nothing?

“Consider this a lesson. You must learn from it. Panicking during an unexpected event can turn an otherwise safe future into a dangerous one,” Duchess Liddell lectured.

“You are right,” Alice Liddell couldn’t refute.

“However, the Snow Princess’s presence in the Empire is certainly worth noting. I’ll contact His Majesty later,” Duchess Liddell’s lecture wasn’t over. “Speaking of which, did you and the Saintess *really* just happen to bump into each other? What kind of cliché, third-rate romance novel coincidence is this?”

“I was wondering the same thing…” Alice Liddell admitted.

“Never mind. Regarding you and her, I’ve said all I need to say. How you proceed is your personal decision, as long as it doesn’t affect our plans,” Duchess Liddell shook her head.

She had initially wanted to add a phrase like, ‘Don’t upset His Majesty,’ but on second thought, Queen Isola probably wouldn’t want her to say such superfluous things, so she swallowed the words.

“I understand,” Alice Liddell replied.

“Then let’s go back. Don’t you have plans tonight?” Duchess Liddell said, then suddenly let out a long sigh, raising a hand to pinch the bridge of her nose. “I suddenly feel so tired.”

She had tried every means to delay the progression of Alice Liddell’s relationship with Jeanne Decker, yet a single coincidence had led to their premature reunion, and they even seemed to be getting along well. It was truly fate’s cruel joke.

“Me too…” Alice Liddell echoed, feeling drained.

She was thinking that out of all the streets in this district, she had almost run into the Snow Princess, causing her a false alarm.

However, she could also think positively: that person’s visit to the Empire was likely just to establish diplomatic relations in anticipation of her future role as ruler of the Winter Kingdom. She probably wouldn’t be staying long before returning home.

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