Disclaimer: I do not own Heart no kuni no Alice or any of its characters.
AN: Yay! The next chapter is here. I made it longer just like you asked. So enjoy….
-TNPM-
Chapter 2
"Who are you?" he said with a cold voice.
One thing I know is that this wasn't the Prime Minister I once knew.
-TNPM-
"Alice! You came. We miss you so much." said Vivaldi happily. "You haven't visited us for a couple of time periods. We almost beheaded everybody here."
"Sorry about that Vivaldi I was busy with the others." I said. "What happened to Peter?"
Peter was looking at our direction with a sign of disapproval written all over his face. Maybe nothing happened. He seems to be holding back something. Well it doesn't matter as long as he doesn't bother me anymore. Finally got my wish. Yet I'm curious what happened to him.
"Oh, we'll talk about it later." Vivaldi assured me.
"Okay."
"Oh Minister, this is Alice Liddell. She was the foreigner we were talking about. We know you'll love her, won't you Lord White?"
"Yes, maybe, it is in the rules that a role holder must love the foreigner. It is quite interesting, but I'm afraid your tea is waiting." Peter said. I smiled. Now this is getting better and better by the minute.
"Thank you Lord White for reminding us." said Vivaldi.
Peter led us to the garden where the tea and snacks were already set. I sat across Vivaldi. I stared at Peter. He looked the same as before. His white hair with rabbit ears and his red eyes scanning around the area if it's safe or not. How come I felt a twinge in my chest?
"Everything is set your highness, but alas I must leave and finish my work which is a mess." he said.
"Very well Minister you may go." said Vivaldi.
"I hope to see you again Miss Liddell. For time cannot tell." He bowed and then he left.
Somehow I was worried with his new behavior. What am I saying, shouldn't I be happy that he isn't going to annoy me anymore? I got what I wished. He's not going to bother me anymore. Yet somehow I feel hurt inside. Like something very important was pulled out from me. What does he mean who am I? He always told me that he loves me. What happened to him? Only Vivaldi can answer my questions. We drank our tea and watched as the sun sets. The garden was beautiful at this time of day.
"We guessed that you wanted some answers Alice?" Vivaldi questioned. "we weren't surprised by the way you look when the Minister spoke to you."
"I just don't understand. The last time I saw him couldn't stop hugging and bugging me." I said. The Last time I saw him he practically tackle me to the ground. I shouted some words like the usual like I hate him, leave me alone and give up. Much harsher than usual. What he's annoying and a pervert. Always groping on me all the time. I still remember that he had stolen my first kiss. And I hate him for that.
"Well we don't know that much either but we'll tell you what we know about what happened." Vivaldi sipped her tea and look at the nearby rose bush. All of the roses were red except for one. It was half red and half white. Well that was strange.
"Do you see the roses over there?" Vivaldi said.
"Yes it was strange that all of the others were red and one half white." I said.
"They were not actually red roses." Vivaldi said. "They were all white roses."
"Then how-"
"It was Lord White who painted them red."
I knew Peter was strange but painting the roses red is ridiculous.
"There was this one time period that he went home depressed. He was muttering to himself. I told him to stop shooting our soldiers and maids because we're going to be out of staff or else he's going to do all the work. And he still have some mountain of jobs that he has to finish. We banned him from seeing you until he finishes them all."
" Thank you, Vivaldi." I said. So that's why he wasn't able to visit for a few weeks. Good, the busier he is the better. But I think that's not the reason why he couldn't remember me.
"No, don't. There's nothing to thank for. What we did made him worse." Vivaldi explained. "Every time he finishes his work for the day he comes here and began painting the white rose bush red. One rose per day. It was annoying at first but we let him be since he couldn't see you. He became more depressed each day. He finally stop shooting our soldiers and maids. Ace still teases him but handle him much better than we expected. They didn't fight. They just talked. Until the day he painted the last rose."
"I could see it was half red and half white." I said as I look to that rose. At some point it was pretty.
"He was half way finish painting that rose when he suddenly collapsed. One of the soldiers brought him to his room. He had a fever. The doctor told us to let him rest for a few time periods. When he was all better he still didn't wake up. We tried to wake him up but wouldn't. His clock is still ticking inside him but he wouldn't wake. Then we saw his pocket watch. It was not moving like all times before. So we took the clock and told one of the soldiers to bring it to the clockmaker to fix it."
I nodded. I remembered Julius fixing that one specific clock. I saw it was silver but isn't Peter's pocket watch gold?
"By the time his clock was returned he woke up. Though we could feel that he was not the same as before. He reverted back to his cold old self. But the good news is that he doesn't complain like before nor does he shoot anyone without a reason. He does his job magnificently. So we allowed him to finally see you. But then he asked 'who is Alice?' We were shocked just like you."
"Now we finally arrived here up to this point." Vivaldi said.
The sun had already set. Well that was the longest sunset I've ever encountered. What can I say time periods here in Wonderland are irregular. We went back inside the castle.
"I should go now Vivaldi. Julius will worry if I don't get back." I said. "Thank you for the tea."
"No! Alice you must stay. We've already prepared your room. And it's already nighttime it's dangerous out there at this time." Vivaldi complained.
"But..."
"If you don't we will behead the servants to soothe our feelings!" Vivaldi warned.
"Well... Fine, one night wouldn't hurt." I gave up. I just cannot let her behead someone.
"Then its decided." said Vivaldi happily. "Minister please escort Alice to her room."
"Yes, your majesty." Peter bowed. "Miss Alice, please follow me."
"Thank you Vivaldi," I said to Vivaldi. "and good night."
"It's our pleasure Alice." said Vivaldi as she went to her room.
I followed Peter. He was strangely silent. Not like before he was all bouncy when he showed me the way to my room. And that stupid grin on his face. Remembering that was annoying to the extent to hate him. Yet the Peter here in front of me is the complete opposite of the Peter that I knew.
"This is your room Miss Alice," said Peter opening the door. "If you need anything at all, my room is just across the hall."
Then he left. My room is the same as before when I slept here in the castle. I should really be happy about this. Peter is not going to be like he was before. But I couldn't. What's wrong with me? I'm so confused. I slept and drifted into my dreams.
"Alice..."
The next morning I woke up. Someone was calling my name.
"Alice... Wake up..."
I slowly opened my eyes.
"GYAAAH!"
-TNPM-
AN: a cliffhanger… I wonder who was that…
Is it good or not?
Just review and tell me please…
