Shun didn't say another word and exited Fabia's room immediately. "Well? How did it go?" asked Alice anxiously.

"She's crazy. I don't know whether to call Ren smart or stupid to ask us to heal her, but here's the information I obtained." He whispered everything he learned to Alice and Baron, who both looked at each other oddly. "Crazy, isn't it?"

"Alice-sama, you can definitely heal Fabia, can you?"

"Physical problems, I can easily tackle, but I don't know about mental problems."

"Maybe a physical problem affected her mind." Baron suggested.

"Could be. Wait for me."

Meanwhile, Shun pulled Baron over and asked quietly, "What did you say about Alice's health?"

"What? I didn't say anything."

"Baron, if there's something wrong with Alice that could hurt her life, I'm obligated to know."

"Relax, Shun. The only thing hurting her life is the king, but that's not my business-"

"If that's the case, then I'm done asking."

Alice walked up the front steps as the servant opened the door for her. "Good afternoon."

A long silence followed, for Fabia didn't expect Alice to say so little. "You're his friend who he said is a professional. What do you want?" the queen scoffed, resting on her bed under the bednets again.

"I don't know. You tell me."

A loud thud resounded, followed loud flaps of fabric pulled to the side. "How dare you speak to me like-"

"You're the one with the health problems, so you tell me." Alice added. Another long silenced followed. "You are the queen of Yukihyou, after all. I'm being as respectful as I can in my words but also straight-forwardenough to cut to the chase and cure you."

"Straight-forward...that's exactly what he said. Who are you?"

She is crazy, just like Shun said. "Resident of Senyou Country, just like him. I don't know if he told you yet, but we're busy with-"

"Important things! I know already! None of you care for me. All of you care about yourselves. All of you are selfish and the same inside, only caring about your country of origin. Have you ever taken the time to care about the less important people in your country? The ones less fortunate?" That left Alice speechless, and Fabia clicked her tongue. "You're not so talkative now."

"Actually, you're the selfish one, and I'll tell you why. You're self-centered and only want Ren for yourself, when he's busy out there training his soldiers—yes, during peacetime—in case a war happens. That shows how much he cares for the people of here, to protect them from invasion."

"That's only one side-"

"I'm not done talking. Shun—that's his name—and I are residents of Senyou Country and work in the royal palace. There's a civil war going on, and unless we return home as soon as possible, I can't imagine what the king will do to his people. Did you know that he's allying with his enemies and rivals just to capture and assassinate the princess?"

"But that's-"

"Not your business? I don't care. Of course, you wouldn't know. You've isolated yourself in here from the outside world. Here's my compliment about Ren. Even though he captured and treated us a bit ruthlessly, he didn't side with the king of Senyou because domestic problems are more important than foreign problems."

"Well said, but at this point, I don't and can't care about-" Upon pulling the bednet aside, Fabia saw Alice's face for the first time. "Wait a minute. You're-"

"Your Highness, what's the issue?!" The servants outside barged in after hearing the elevated gasp and pointed their spears at Alice. "Did she-"

"Out! I need to speak with her privately." As the servants existed slowly, Fabia stood on her feet and approached Alice. "You're the princess of Senyou Country!"

"Who told you that?" Alice challenged without a blink.

"That face and attitude are not only unique of court attendants, but also of the royal family. Very well disguised, I must say. I guess I shouldn't be so harsh on you."

Fabia walked around as Alice maintained a calm complexion. "I think I know what's wrong with you."

"You do? That fast?" She turned around and faced Alice. "There's nothing wrong me actually, but good job on making me confess. What are you going to do now?"

"Actually, there is something wrong with you." Alice walked closer and pointed her finger at Fabia's chest. "The moment you realized who I was, you calmed down. Before that, you thought I was a palace maid or something and treated me with indifference. You treat royalty and non-royalty differently."

"So? That's it?"

"And you were more willing to talk to Shun than with me. More open, even."

Fabia gasped and pulled Alice's hand off. "Don't you dare try to pretend you know me-"

"I think you're lovesick." Fabia's face went blank as Alice's sighed. "I guess Shun, my friends, and I can't go home because none of us can cure a broken heart."

"Wait, I'll tell you." Fabia pulled Alice's hand and explained. "It's a long story, but what I want to say is that I never wanted to be queen in the first place. I used to be a commoner and lived a decent life until that day when Ren came."

Alice squeezed Fabia's hand and asked, "What was his name?"

"Who?"

"You know who I'm talking about."

Fabia relaxed and answered, "His name was Jin. One day, palace officials here came to recruit young women for palace maids. My parents urged me to go, and I reluctantly did, but failed the first round. I was glad, because then I could go home and see Jin. Then Ren came for inspections saw me. I refused him at first, but Jin got drafted into war and was trapped in a cave with fellow comrades."

"That's why you harbor hate against Ren and his armies. It's why you lost Jin. If you hate royalty and being it so much," Alice trembled but took a deep breath. "Why are you treating me nicely now?"

"Because you were born into it. You can't change that. I absolutely hate myself now and everyone who tries to make it up top. Not worth the effort at all."

"But what will I tell Ren now? He thinks you caught a disease and expects me to make medicine for you."

"Let me do the talking. He won't treat you harshly that way, and you'll be able to go home sooner."

"Oh good. Thank you so much, Fabia."

"No, thank you. Also, could you keep this a secret? For my sake?"

"Of course."

"And your name? I didn't get Shun's name the first time and don't want to forget to ask for yours."

Alice hesitated but smiled. "Just call me Hime-denka."

~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~

"That's it? She's lovesick?" Shun gave Alice an awkward glance as he picked up a piece of fish with his chopsticks. "See? If you went in first, this would've been resolved earlier."

"But if hadn't went in first, you wouldn't have triggered the emotional state she was in when I entered, and I couldn't have spoken to her in that way either."

"And neither would the three of us have a room to stay in and food to eat. You really are the professional." Shun praised.

"And to think you can't cure mental problems." Baron added. "I think she gave in only because you understood her so well."

"Maybe, but there's one thing I don't understand, though."

"What?" they asked.

"She thinks I'm the princess of Senyou."

Shun stopped chewing and looked up, but Baron dramatically spit out the soup he drank. "She's crazy! If someone mistook you for Hime-denka visually, that's understandable, but what was she thinking?"

"All Fabia said was that I act and sound like a princess. Besides, she wouldn't have talked to me had I told her that I wasn't royalty by birth."

"You just played along?" Shun asked. "I hope she doesn't tell that to Ren because I already told him the princess is going to be assassinated. Hearing her lighten up her mood makes me feel a bit better. I almost had goosebumps."

"And thinking about this makes me hungrier. Be right back." Baron walked to the pot of rice with his bowl in hand.

Alice watched Baron leave and sighed. "He's always like that whenever he's stressed."

"Can't be as stressed as Fabia, though. Have you ever fallen in love with anyone?"

Now Alice stopped chewing and looked up. "No, because everyone's attention is always at Hime-sama."

"What do you mean?"

"We spent some of our childhood in villages, towns, and anyone with commoners. All the guys and girls wanted to be friends with her that I end up being set aside."

"That must be painful, but you didn't answer my question."

She sighed and shook her head. "I can't."

"You can't?"

"We're not allowed. As a servant, I'm always supposed to serve the princess. Hime-sama had to wait until her parents chose a suitable suitor for her. Even if I do have more freedom in loving anyone, I'm still her closest friend. I don't want to leave her, despite the difficulties of this job."

"You value friendship over romance?"

"If you choose to put it that way, then yes."

"What about now?"

"Shun, why are you asking me-"

"What are you guys talking about?"

Shun and Alice shivered after hearing Baron's loud voice. "Nothing. Shun asked me for more information about Fabia, that's all."

"And now that you're done refilling, I should get seconds, too." Before Shun left his seat, he whispered to Alice, "Because you deserve better."

Alice dropped her chopsticks.

"Alice-sama?" Baron waved. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." She picked up her chopsticks and wiped them clean. "Baron, do you think I should deserve better?"

"How?"

She sniffled and pushed her bowl away. "In every aspect of my life."