After leaving the room, the maid, who introduced herself as April, led me through the castle's corridors.
We passed a few people, which was odd considering this was a huge castle. Most of the people we encountered were like her—maids and a few butlers. Then, incidentally, we ran into the princess again.
"You're still here, Sir Romeo..." Alice looked at me impassively, her head tilted.
I'm glad she still remembers the name.
"And... April?"
Alice noticed the maid beside me. She looked at April with a furrowed brow, as the maid bowed her head slightly without saying anything. "Where are you going with her?" she asked curiously.
I smiled calmly at the princess. "To your father's room."
"His Majesty's...?"
Though confused, Alice nodded in understanding.
"Right, Her Majesty—"
"You met my mother?"
Princess Alice cut my words short before I could even finish explaining.
"Yes... Is there something wrong?" I noticed her expression turning into a frown as she looked down at the floor for a moment.
"...She left after my father's disappearance."
"Huh?"
That's... unexpected information.
"So you met her, huh..." Alice's lips twitched slightly as she returned her attention to me. Her face showed a weak smile as she seemed lost in thought.
What's up with their family anyway?
"Your Highness, would you like to come with me perhaps?"
"..."
"I'm currently heading to your father's room for something. I would be glad if you joined me, Your Highness."
The princess glanced at her maid for a couple of moments. As if understanding what her gaze meant, the maid who was pushing Alice's wheelchair nodded.
"As you wish," she said to Alice.
Princess Alice's expression slowly brightened as she returned her attention to me. I glanced towards April, indicating that we could proceed.
...
..
.
Upon arriving in front of the room, we paused and stared at the door for a moment.
Suddenly, the maid who had escorted me here turned back, attempting to leave.
"You're leaving?"
"Yes," April responded expressionlessly. "Her Majesty only instructed me to guide you to His Majesty's room."
"What about finding the passageway?"
"That's your job."
"....."
This girl...
As I stood there, silently staring at the maid as she walked away, Alice and the maid behind her began talking quietly.
The maid leaned forward to whisper in the princess's ear. She asked hesitantly, "Umm... princess? Can I also leave you for a moment?"
"...Alright."
Her maid looked at me.
"Sir Romeo, can you please take care of Her Highness for a brief moment?"
"That's fine."
The maid bowed her head apologetically before turning around and leaving.
Alice and I watched her until she disappeared.
With that said, we glanced at each other.
We're alone together again, huh...
***
A little while later, the both of them started inspecting the bookshelf.
While Saber and Alice were searching for the book that can open the hidden entrance, the princess pulled out one of the book before flipping a page to see it's content.
Her eyes were focused on the page as she spoke up.
"Are you a hero?"
Saber was silent for a quick moment. His expression remained calm and composed, no signs of anxiousness appeared on his face. It was as if he already predicted this conversation from happening.
"How could you think so?"
"There's possibly no way for a normal human to become that strong unless you are one of those vigilante heroes."
"Vigilante heroes...? But what do you mean by strong?"
Saber pretended to be slightly confused and tilted his head towards her direction. She didn't answered his question, but instead look him in the eyes.
"I'm not trying to be rude, but..."
Her expressionless face changed all of the sudden as she looked at him full of contempt as she continued.
"Are you one of the Believer of Symforá?"
"Symforá?"
Saber abruptly stopped and silently pondered about the Princess' question.
That's never mentioned in the novel...
As he thought deeply about it, Alice returned her attention to the bookshelf with a quirked brow, muttering, "Judging by your initial reaction, it must mean you are not?"
Saber answered with honesty before following it up with a question out of curiosity, "No... Can you tell me more about it?" He asked, raising the side of his lips into a gentle smile.
"It is a new rising cult from the south. Nobody knows when it started nor the person who started the cult as of the current. But—"
Thud!
Before the princess could even finish her sentence, she accidentally bumped her wheelchair on the side of the bookshelf, causing one of the book above her to fall.
She raised her head to look up, her eyes closing as she prepared herself from getting hit on the face.
"...That was close."
However, upon slowly opening her eyes, Alice saw the back of Saber's hand just an inch above her face. Fortunately enough, he had caught the book before it could even reach her.
"... Thanks."
Though flustered, the princess slowly moved her wheelchair to face his direction as she expressed her gratitude.
That was then—
Cruuu—uush!
The bookshelf began to move aside by itself in a way similar to one of the movies Saber had watched from his previous life.
Saber smirked from this scene, his eyes slowly navigating to look at the book in his hand before locking eyes with the princess.
"I guess we found it "