Disclaimer: Pandora Hearts does not belong to me. I am but a humble and super duper addicted fan of it who decided to make a fanfic of my all-time favorite manga and anime.

Chapter four! YAY! I should have updated this sooner but I was having writer's block. And then when I finished two days ago (at night), I couldn't upload it yesterday because I went out with my friends. Ah well then.

Alice: So I have to act now, huh?

Me: Yes! Do your best, Alice!

Alice: Heh. Leave everything to me.

Me: Thank you very much! Now, let's begin chapter four!


::{ Oz POV}::

Yay! Today's my coming of age party! I can't wait! I'm going to meet two cute girls today! Or maybe even more! And I get to dance with one of them! Wah!

I told Gil to come but he refused! Can you believe that? "But I'm just a lowly servant! I can't go there!" he said. It doesn't matter. I'm gonna have Mrs. Kate and the other maids capture him, change his clothes and bring him to the party. I had my uncle, Uncle Oscar, tailor my old clothes to fit Gil just for this royal ball. These type of stuff don't happen everyday, so I have to make sure that Gil is present when they do.

"Young master!" called Gil as he ran towards me. "I-"

"Gil! Perfect timing! I wanted to have a stroll in the garden before the party, since it's still early," I said.

"Young master! I know it's still early, but please refrain from going outside!" said Gilbert. He's asking me to stay inside again! It's so boring in here! All I can do is read. It's not that I have anything against reading, though. It's just that I've read for three hours straight this morning and I get bored when I read too much. The words swim around the page after a while.

"It's just for a little while!" I shout. I snapped my fingers and Dinah instantly jumped on Gil's head.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Please forgive me!" cried Gil as he ran around, his eyes flooded, as he tried to shake off the little grey kitten.

"Okay. Good. Let's go to the lake then! Ada, come on," I said, as I grab my cute little sister's hand.

"Yes, onii-chan!" replied Ada.

The three of us then set off to the lake, Ada and I hand in hand, and Gil, following not far behind. The scenery around us was really beautiful. No matter how many times I see this landscape, I still can't deny its beauty.

::{ Narrator POV}::

The castle towered high above them as they strolled to the lake. It was 3 pm in the afternoon and the sun was shining high above the trio. Despite the shine of the sun, a cool breeze blew, causing the grass to sway beneath the children's feet as they strolled, chatting away happily.

Little did they know that the Baskervilles had arrived and were on palace grounds.

Oz, Gilbert, and Ada finally reached the lake. It was shining under the sun's bright rays, sparks seeming to bounce on the lake's blue surface, mist lifting off the ground, creating an ethereal effect. There was a willow tree beside it and its branches swayed in synch with the breeze, adding to the beauty of the scenery.

But as they came closer, they noticed that someone had come to the lake before them. And they, like second comers, waited and watched. They heard a sniffle from the person crouched beside the lake so Oz decided to have a look.

"Stay here," whispered Oz to Ada and Gil.

He came closer to see who it is, trying to move as stealthily as possible. He quickly assumed it was a visitor because although the person looked familiar, he or she didn't seem to be from the Vessalius' castle. Oz saw that the figure seemed to be a girl and instantly, he felt a little ache in his heart. Why would a girl cry alone here?

Oz moved closer, and closer and slowly, he started to recognize the girl. From behind, he saw long, dark hair with two long plaits by the side of her head. Suddenly, he remembered the girl he met in the market the previous day.

He was about to tap her on the shoulder and ask her what's wrong when a voice echoed from behind him.

::{ Gilbert POV}::

Ada and I were told by the young master to stay put, but my curiosity got the better of me. I went closer, following behind Young Master Oz, with Ada clinging to y arm. I instructed her to keep quiet by raising a finger over my mouth and got a nod in reply.

As I came closer, I realized that the figure seemed dreadfully familiar. At that moment, I remembered the rude girl we had bumped into town just yesterday. Alice was her name, if I'm not wrong. I remembered how impertinent she was to my master and immediately, a surge of anger ran through me.

How can the young master not feel any anger towards her? I know he is good in concealing his emotions but I can also tell when he's pretending or not. And I can tell that he most definitely doesn't feel any hatred for this ill-mannered wretch. Why is that? Why? She's so despicable and that's just my first impression. Who knows what other crap she hides below that beautiful exterior!

I shouted

::{ Oz POV}::

"YOU!" cried a voice from behind me, coming from a person I knew all too well.

Suddenly, the girl, whom I remember being named Alice, turned around. Her beautiful amethyst eyes were blurred with tears which were running down her cheeks and dripping from her chin. A look of surprise was spread across her face as she realized that there were other people, besides her, around.

I turned to Gil, whose face was a mirror image of Alice's, except the tears were omitted. I don't know what he's so surprised out. Maybe the fact that the smug smile of Alice's was wiped out, replaced by a completely pitiful look.

She quickly wiped the tears away and glared at us. It seemed to be shooting daggers out and if looks could kill, we would've been long dead. "What do you want?" she asked, demanding for an answer.

I was about to reply but Gil interjected before I could speak. "What are you doing here? You don't live here, do you?" he asked.

"You're not supposed to answer a question with a question, you pipsqueak," said Alice. "You probably didn't know that since your brain has rotted out of your skull. So now, you're not just a squirt; you're an idiot too."

I'm impressed. Despite her bad situation, she can still take on Gil with verbal combat; and she seems to be winning.

"I'm not a pipsqueak, squirt nor an idiot!" protested Gil. "Well, you don't look too mighty now." This time, Gil was the on who had a smug smile, looking as though he'd won the battle.

Again, Alice glared at us. "Hmph! It's none of your business. Besides, you still can't think of come-backs to counter me, can you, shrimp?"

"I AM NOT A SHRIMP! Now tell me what you're doing here! I don't think you were invited to come here, were you?"

It was starting to get a bit annoying, so I decided to put a stop to it.

::{ Narrator POV}::

"Okay, okay. Enough," said Oz. "Alice is your name, correct?"

"That's right," replied Alice. "What about it?"

"Well Alice, I'd like to know what you're doing in the castle. You obviously aren't from here and judging from your clothes, you don't look like you're going to start working as a maid here," said Oz, chuckling at the idea of Alice working for the castle.

"Of course not. How dare you even think that I'm going to work as a maid here!" exclaimed Alice, visibly offended.

Oz quickly had to steer this conversation if he wanted to get some answers from Alice. "I'm sorry if I offended you, but you wouldn't tell us your reason for being here, so I just assumed-"

"Well you're wrong," said Alice, obviously irritated.

::{ Alice POV}::

How dare this scum even think that I came here to work for the palace! That is ludicrous! Just the thought of it makes me gag. I, Alice, the princess of the Étoile Kingdom and the daughter of King Glen Baskerville, have come to meet the prince and princess of the Lumière Kingdom, the younger siblings of King Jack Vessalius.

Speaking of Jack, this kid looks a lot like him. Well, I think Jack is better looking but the resemblance is quite striking. Their attitudes are quite different though. Jack is more mature and he doesn't put on a fake smile. As for this kid, he's all smiles but not all of them are real. Hmph! Why should I even bother about this kid's problems? It's none of my business anyway.

"I came here because my entire family and I were invited to come here by Jack," I said. Even if I said that, I bet the shortie won't believe me. But really, what's the use of lying?

"Don't lie to us! And you're actually quite brave to address the king by his first name without honorifics! You're supposed to call him 'King Jack' with 'King' as the honorific!" Ah see? The little squirt won't believe me. Plus, he's now reprimanding me!

"Now, now, Gil. I don't think she'd lie to us right?" Ugh. And the blondie speaks. "Now Alice, why do you address Jack by his first name?"

"He had permitted me to do so. Why do you?" I ask.

"Well that's because I…" he hesitated. "I was also allowed to." I know he's lying but what difference does it make to me? Nothing. Everyone's secrets will get revealed sooner or later anyway.

::{ Oz POV}::

Jack had allowed Alice to use his first name? Without honorifics? Why would he? I can tell that Alice is not lying but her words can be easily doubted. Somehow though, I have a feeling that she isn't. It's like… Instinct, I suppose.

"Why were you crying?" I asked.

"You sure have a lot of questions, brat," she replied stubbornly. "And it's none of your business why I was crying."

"Hehe. I suppose so," I reply sheepishly.

"Alice!" cried a voice from behind the willow tree. The voice sounds like Alice's but less gruff and more gentle.

Yay! Chapter four! And it's actually quite long! XD

Me: Alice! Thank you very much for the hard work!

Alice: Heh. That's alright. Now where's my meat?

Me: Ah yes, it's in the dining room. Go ahead and eat as much as you want. I ordered a buffet for you.

Alice: Yay! *runs off*

Me: And that concludes chapter four! Please review!