A Royal Mark

After explaining, Florence left her room to prepare for dinner.

Alice was left alone with her thoughts.

Mates… she's not familiar with it. She was only homeschooled after elementary, and her stepfamily arrived after so she had no more chances to study. She got too busy surviving.

But Florence said they're fated, intertwined souls. It is a phenomenon that happens so rarely in the kingdom for so many reasons. So why did it have to be her?

She doesn't deserve to be connected to such a respected person. She will only embarrass Prince Sirius.

Alice wonders if it's possible to sever the bond.

After a few minutes, dinner was ready. Alice was still getting used to her enhanced senses and the foreign feeling in her body so she was moving very slowly.

When she arrived, everyone else was already there.

She and Sirius stared at each other. It was her first time to eat with him and she already made him wait.

Alice bowed. "I'm sorry for being late."

"Sit down and stop apologizing," he calmly spoke. Alice only felt worse… but she only thought to say sorry so she just kept quiet.

To her surprise, the only available chair was to his right. He was at the end of the table.

As soon as Alice sat, they started to eat. The dinner was generous. Much more generous than last night.

She stared at her plate for a while. The steak felt so luxurious to her that she avoided it and drank the soup instead.

"Lady Alice," Dante called. "It's our first time eating together. I hope you don't mind us eating so messily!"

"N-No, not really…"

For a while, Alice only ate the miso soup while the twins bickered back and forth. Alice kept her head down the entire time so she did not realize Sirius had been watching her.

"You don't eat meat?"

The table quiets down.

Alice only realized he was talking to her when no one else answered. She raised her head and quickly found his eyes.

"No, I—I love meat…"

"Then why aren't you eating it?"

"That's right, Lady Alice," Florence says. "I cooked it for you and I wish to see you enjoy it."

By now, Alice is flustered with all the attention.

"I'm sorr—" She stopped when she realized she was about to subconsciously apologize again. "The steak is too much for me…"

Sirius frowned. "Explain."

"…Back at home, I cannot eat unless I cook for myself. I always eat soup because it's the easiest to cook. That's why… I love this meat but it's too much of a luxury for me… I do not dare eat it."

"…"

Her eyes fell on the soup. Feeling awkward and embarrassed, she resumes with her soup with her head down.

"Oh dear…" Florence whispered.

"I am full. I'll resign for the night." Sirius says as he stood up. He left the dining hall with quick strides.

"I think I'm also done with my meal." Vito cleared his throat. "I'll go with His Highness, just in case he needs to call on someone."

"Wait for me!"

Dante also quickly stood up to follow his twin. But before leaving, he neared Alice's seat and leaned down to find her eyes. He smiled at her.

"My lady, please eat as much as you want here."

After the three left, what was left was silence.

"I-I think I made them lose their appetite, Florence. What should I do?"

"That's not it, my lady. Believe me."

Afterward, Alice helped wash the dishes.

Only when Florence stopped cleaning did Alice also stop. Florence watched Alice return to her room. But soon Florence also climbed up and knocked in Sirius's study.

She found the young master in his window seat, his arms over his chest.

"Florence. Report."

Florence bowed and reported everything that happened in the manor today. She did not dare miss a thing.

"She asked for a sewing kit and sneakily stitched her battered dress's skirt in her room…"

"After lunch, she volunteered to wash the dishes…"

"She falls asleep in odd places. Yesterday she was on the floor leaning on her bed, and earlier, on the bench outside…"

Sirius frowned. He recalled the rough callouses on her hands, something so unlike a lady, her unusual humility and lack of self-preservation, and her really strange fate that's tied with him. There's little to no chance she's faking this, but if she is, she's one good actress.

A really odd girl has entered the mansion this time.

"I see. Call for Dante."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Florence left and Dante entered.

"I want her investigated. Everything about her." Dante's eyes meaningfully flicked to him, but he didn't dare voice out his opinions. Sirius got it nonetheless and rolled his eyes.

"She's odd. That's all."

—

Alice lay flat on her bed and stared at the ceiling. It's almost midnight but she can't get his picture out of her head.

He looked so healthy today, but…

"His illness is a battle he faces every day, but Prince Sirius will never be tired of fighting it."

Didn't Florence say that just last night?

"His illness usually worsens once the sun falls and tonight is no different."

She also said that. But he joined them for dinner tonight and he doesn't look ill at all. He never looked ill. Or is he hiding his pain? Then again, she doesn't even know the nature of his illness. She just knew he'd had it since he was young.

Alice sighs.

It's not her business.

She also doesn't know anything. She shouldn't dare be suspicious of him.