Chapter 170: Pets Are Cuter When Raised by Others
"Alright," Klein shrugged, "sell it however you like. Do you know any lawyers?"
"No," Alice replied honestly.
After a pause, Alice asked, "If I sell the design, will I see everyone in Backlund wearing it someday?"
Klein fell into deep thought.
"That would be nice," Klein said with mixed feelings, "it would feel like coming home."
Alice gasped.
"Remember to remove the school emblem," Klein reminded her.
"No, I want to keep it," Alice said solemnly, "it feels more like home that way."
Klein was silent for a moment, then mimicked Alice's straightforwardness: "...You're crazy."
Alice looked at Klein thoughtfully, recalling how he had transformed into a math teacher earlier that day. She hesitantly asked, "Should I make one for you too?"
Alice didn't hear the Fool's response because he had cut off her internet connection.
"Tsk, cutting off the internet when you can't win an argument," Alice muttered to herself, pouting as she lay down to sleep.
...
Upon entering the ball with her invitation, Alice realized she might have entered a place she shouldn't have.
—It seemed this wasn't the kind of ball anyone could just sneak into.
Alice thought for two seconds and decided it was Viscount Grelint's problem, not hers.
Quietly taking an ice cream, Alice searched the corners of the ball for a dog named Susie.
Hopefully, Miss Justice would come and bring the dog...
So when Viscount Glaintfound Alice in a corner, she was squatting in front of Susie, holding a piece of unwrapped chocolate.
Glainthesitated as he watched this scene, recalling Audrey's words:
"Briel, she... uh, she might not be the kind of Extraordinary you think.
"Although she is indeed a powerful Extraordinary, her personality is a bit... well, have you ever taken care of children?
"She's a bit like a child, most of the time her thoughts are written on her face, easy to guess; quite willful, not considering the consequences of her actions; she likes pranks, but she has a sense of proportion in important matters... I think.
"She gets distracted easily, so if you accidentally make her angry, like last time... ice cream and new things should catch her interest, you can try that.
"Also, her thoughts are quite... uh, if she says something strange, just ignore it!
"Unless she insists."
Noticing someone staring at her, Alice looked up in confusion.
She looked at herself, then at Susie, and hesitantly asked, "Do you want some chocolate too?"
...Is this considered strange?
Glaintthought for a moment and reminded her, "Miss Ross, dogs can't eat chocolate."
"I know," Alice nodded matter-of-factly.
Her confident demeanor left Glaintstunned, and he suddenly regretted coming to find Alice.
...He just wanted to satisfy his curiosity about the mysterious world!
"So, do you need something?" Alice glanced at Susie, giving up on feeding her chocolate, and stood up, "Hey, have you seen Audrey?"
"...Didn't you go to find Audrey?" Glainthesitated, glancing at Susie.
"Uh..." Alice's eyes flickered, after all... doing bad things should be done secretly!
Glaintfell into thought and said, "I'll take you... no, maybe it's not a good time to find her now."
Alice blinked twice and tilted her head, asking, "Then do you need something else?"
Glainthesitated and shook his head.
"Then why are you still here?" Alice asked in confusion, "Are you waiting for me to silence you?"
A cold sweat broke out on Grelint's back, and he began to understand why Audrey had repeatedly warned him about Alice—who knew which of her words were jokes?
No, judging by this situation, she might be joking one second and serious the next...
Glaintquickly found an excuse to leave the dangerous scene.
Alice squatted back down and teased Susie: "Are you sure you don't want to try some chocolate?"
Susie firmly refused.
Alice stared at Susie for a while, then reached out and angrily ruffled Susie's fur.
Ugh, it feels so good, I really want to steal her...
Alice looked at Susie with envy, then thought about the time, effort, and possibly money required to raise a large dog, and regretfully gave up the idea.
Indeed, pets are cuter when raised by others... Alice sighed sadly and petted Susie's fur again.
I really want to steal the dog...
It wasn't until halfway through the ball that Audrey came to fetch Alice, who was eating ice cream and petting Susie.
Luckily, she had put the chocolate away in advance... uh, Susie wouldn't tell Miss Justice, right?
Alice hesitated and glanced at Susie, her steps slowing down.
"What's wrong?" Audrey asked in confusion.
"Nothing," Alice answered firmly.
As a "mind reader," Audrey hesitated, looking at Alice, but ultimately didn't say anything.
After Audrey led Alice into a small studio, Susie conscientiously went out to stand guard, closing the door with her hind legs.
"Glaintsaid you were looking for me?" Audrey asked curiously.
"Ah..." Alice remembered, "Do you know Prince Edessak ?"
—She had learned from Klein that Edessak Augustus was the third prince.
Audrey was slightly taken aback and nodded.
"I heard... I heard he fell in love with a common girl?" This was also from Klein, and Alice almost mentioned his name.
Audrey noticed the almost-spoken name and suppressed her curiosity, tentatively asking:
"You... don't know?"
Alice blinked and replied, "Don't you think it's strange to gossip with Mr. Fool?"
Audrey's expression froze as she imagined Miss Destiny gossiping with Mr. Fool, quickly interrupting the mental image.
Alice's voice continued:
"Although he... He is quite fun to tease, gossiping with him... hmm...
"The last time I gossiped with him was probably before I died."