At last, Athena cut through the long chain of her thoughts and chose to confront the person involved directly.
"Why do you assume she isn't worried about you?"
"You've always been her favorite, after all."
Alice's eyes widened—not merely because of what she heard, but because of that look…
That smile Athena wore as she said those foolish words, as if she were stating an undeniable fact.
No.
She wasn't ignorant of the truth.
On the contrary—she seemed to understand it, yet still sought a specific answer.
One that would ease whatever remained of her heart.
Alice realized that instantly.
And for that very reason—despite the anger flaring in her chest—she suppressed it.
Then she replied coldly
"You…"
"Do you really think that woman worries about anyone?"
She paused briefly, then continued more sharply
"We're nothing but tools to be used.
You and I alike… and everyone around her."
Her gaze hardened on her sister.
"How long do you intend to keep thinking in such a revolting way?"
Silence lingered before she went on
"Assassins don't have feelings for their families.
They discard them… just as they discard their humanity."
The corner of her mouth curved into a bitter smile.
"What remains in the end is nothing more than an empty shell.
And that is exactly what our mother became."
Her voice lowered slightly, but the weight of her words did not.
"She was always this kind of person from the very beginning.
You, of all people, should be more aware of that than anyone else."
Then she added, with faint mockery
"Yet you still cling to a fragile, foolish hope…"
"And that's what I can't understand."
She clenched the edge of her sleeve, her gaze fixed on Athena's face.
"And if we look at it from another angle…"
A sarcastic smile surfaced.
"Perhaps that naïve way of thinking suits you.
It might even become your only lifeline in that rotten environment."
Between their opposing stances and contrasting worldviews,
one was drowning in bitterness…
while the other masked her discomfort in silence.
Alice had stated nothing but obvious truths.
Athena understood that better than anyone.
Yet despite that awareness, she continued to flee from them,
trying to deny them deep within herself.
Perhaps because she was desperately clinging to the last fragment of faith she had in her mother's intentions—
despite everything that had been said… and everything that had happened.
In the end, Athena chose to set aside their psychological conflict
and focus on the true reason she had come.
She took a deep breath.
Pushed every unnecessary emotion away and composed herself.
Then she spoke, deliberately calm.
"Let's set this aside.
About two months ago, Mother decided to send us here to check on your situation."
She raised her eyes to Alice.
"You seemingly cut off contact with her without a clear reason.
That's assumed to be one of the reasons for our visit… along with assessing your progress on the mission."
She hesitated briefly, then continued
"She probably thought sending an outsider into the academy would only raise unnecessary suspicion."
Then she asked directly
"So…
what happened during this time?"
Alice took a few steps away from the tree, as if shaking off the entire weight of the conversation.
She didn't lift her head, keeping her gaze fixed on the ground as her voice came out strained and devoid of warmth.
"Ah… I think dwelling on this nonsense won't benefit either of us."
She paused briefly, then added dryly, as if the matter hardly deserved explanation.
"Yes, I deliberately didn't send the report.
The mission is far more complicated than I expected, and I don't yet have the full picture."
She turned halfway—without looking at Athena—and said with calculated indifference
"I can't share the details with you.
But tell her I'll submit a full report in a few days… once I'm certain of everything."
She ended the conversation there, leaving the unspoken far heavier than what she had said.
"If that's the case, then let's do something to help you," Athena added.
Alice slowly closed her eyes, as if restraining her waning patience, then replied with an irritated warning in her tone
"Your presence here will be nothing but a nuisance.
I don't like anyone interfering with my work.
So leave."
"Do you honestly think I'll follow your words and return without accomplishing what I was assigned to do?"
Athena's insistence clearly ignited Alice's irritation.
She shot her a sharp glance, then exhaled slowly and looked away, forcing herself to regain composure.
Finally, she spoke—her voice low but controlled
"I'll send the data Mother wants with my escort.
So it would be best if you stopped testing my patience."
She paused, then added coldly
"I don't need someone like you.
Don't try to cross my path again."
This time she turned fully toward her.
"Return to the estate.
Act like a noble girl your age—attend tea parties, social gatherings…
or get married… and stay out of my way."
"Don't you think you've crossed the line with your words, Alice?"
Despite his long silence—and despite his promise to Athena not to intervene—Gilbert finally moved.
Alice turned to him.
His voice wasn't raised, nor was his tone sharp.
But his gaze… was cold enough to freeze the mockery on her lips, if only for a moment.
Their eyes met briefly.
Alice forced a smile and said quietly
"So you're not just a dog blindly following its master."
Gilbert didn't move.
He didn't reply right away.
And that brief silence was enough to strip her next words of their edge.
She added mockingly
"Are you angry because I was harsh with her? How touching.
If you're that worried, then keep her away from dangerous matters instead of following her around like a blind fool."
He watched her for a few seconds.
Then he said
"You know nothing about her."
His words weren't defensive—they were a statement of a truth Alice deliberately ignored.
She didn't care.
She looked away and waved a hand dismissively.
"In any case, there's no point in you staying here.
Leave the academy tomorrow and let's put an end to this."
She turned away, walking calmly toward the main buildings.
Athena watched her go with a bitter smile.
"Her tongue… is still as sharp as ever."
She muttered, then added softly
"Staying by my side means you'll have to endure even more insults because of her."
Gilbert remained silent.
He lifted his gaze to the blue sky above them and said quietly
"She doesn't like me. That's been clear from the beginning.
But it's not because of you."
The words were simple…
yet their impact unsettled Athena.
She hesitated, then said with forced sarcasm, hiding something beneath it
"My family is this twisted… because of her, you're always dragged into trouble.
I wonder how much longer you can endure us."
She paused, then added
"If you ever choose your own path…
I'll be the first to understand."
This time, Gilbert didn't stay silent.
He didn't raise his voice, but he lowered his gaze and said
"Athena…"
Then he stopped.
His hand clenched slowly.
As if what followed was anything but easy to say
"What do you think of me?"
She turned toward him.
"What do you mean?"
He still didn't look at her.
He spoke calmly—yet the weight of his words surpassed everything before.
"What do you think is the reason I stay?
Why I work with your family.
Why I carry out everything I'm ordered to do without question."
He finally raised his eyes.
His gaze was steady… yet faintly trembling.
"Even after my hands were stained with blood.
Even knowing the nature of this family."
He paused.
Then said the sentence Alice never voiced, and Athena never dared to think
"Do you think I have anywhere else to go?"
Silence.
Then, more quietly
"Do you think I have a family other than you?"
Athena froze.
Her hands rose instinctively, covering her face.
She couldn't respond.
The flush creeping up to her ears spoke louder than words.
She thought, guilt pressing heavily on her chest—
He sees me as his only family…
and yet I keep saying this nonsense in front of him.
Should I be angry? Happy? Or simply hate myself?
After a moment, she spoke hesitantly
"I'm sorry… I didn't mean to hurt you.
I won't say such nonsense again."
He didn't comment.
Athena knew well—he wasn't the kind of person to hold onto anger once she realized her mistake and apologized.
Just as she expected, his voice returned to its usual calm.
"If that's the case… let's set this aside."
Then he added, as if nothing had happened
"So… what do you plan to do today?"
Yes… that's the reaction I expected.
He remained kind to her, as always, despite everything she had said thoughtlessly.
And yet, it gave her no comfort.
I thought I had changed from who I used to be.
But perhaps that was just an illusion I created for myself.
What could she truly do to change?
Did such a thing even exist?
She wondered.
No…
This wasn't how things should be.
If she continued like this, she'd remain nothing more than another burden in his path.
Something extra.
Nothing more.
And for the first time, it wasn't a fleeting fear—
It was a painful conviction.
After a long silence, she allowed herself to break the thoughts.
She said with a gentle smile, as if none of it weighed on her
"Since we're free today… let's do whatever you want.
Is there anything that comes to mind?"
I shouldn't ruin the mood any further…
She sighed softly.
At times like this, I think having Ethan around would've been easier…
She stopped, lowering her head abruptly.
Wait… why did I just wish for that annoying guy to be here?
An expression crossed her face—one of someone who realized, too late,
that they'd thought something meaningless.
A small, foolish regret… yet an honest one.
Gilbert glanced at her, confused.
He didn't understand what was going through her mind—and didn't try to.
He sighed and looked away.
After walking beside her for a few steps, he said calmly
"I don't have any ideas. What about you?"
Athena snapped back to awareness, as if pulled from a spiral.
She hesitated, then replied softly
"Well… since I'm not used to these things…
should I ask someone?"
He turned to her.
"Who?"
"Beatrice."
Gilbert stopped.
"…Huh?!"
His eyes widened involuntarily, prompting her to stare at him in surprise.
"What's with that reaction?"
He looked away, raising a hand to the side of his neck, his gaze fixed on the ground.
"No… it's just… something I've wondered about for a while."
He paused, then added
"How did the two of you even become friends?
To be honest… I don't understand what that woman is thinking."
Athena couldn't hold back her laughter this time.
It was brief and light—but enough to fluster him.
And just as he was about to respond—
they heard a familiar voice call his name.
"Gil… is that you?"