Ace suddenly intrudes on Alice and Blood‘s tea party with a bag of sweets to give to Alice.
This Spade no Kuni no Alice Short Story was published in the April ‘21 edition of B’s log.
Thanks harroe for the HQ pic! My translation is below the cut.
Sweet Love, Beloved Bitterness
“A present for me?”
Alice blinks blankly at the small paper bag pointed her way.
“Ahaha, you don’t have to be so weirded out! It’s not strange for me to gift you something is it?”
Ace is smiling as ever as he hands over the present.
The bag is small enough to hold in one hand and decorated with a simple seal and ribbon.
The logo appears to be from a bakery in Hatter Territory. That must mean there’s baked goodies inside.
I notice a sweet fragrance wafting from the bag. I think I’m on the right track but...
“This is so weird. What’s going on?”
“Agreed. Why are you even here in the first place?” Blood muses, sitting across from Alice.
He’s calm, but not ready to go with the flow. His brows are furrowed.
I agree with Blood.
We are in the garden of Hatter Estate. Blood invited me to a tea party. Then all of a sudden Ace waltzes into enemy territory.
I have a billion questions, like what is he doing here? How did he even get in? And what on earth are the twin gate keepers doing? But more importantly, why did Ace randomly give me a present? Nothing makes sense.
“I don’t agree with all the dubious looks my way, but the reason I’m here is simple! I got lost.” He answers matter of factly without minding Alice’s confusion or the dismay on Blood’s face. Blood further knits his brow.
“A blind man could tell you that, what I’m asking is why you felt the need to come over here anyway all things considered.”
Teacup in hand, Blood glares sharply at Ace without hiding his annoyance.
“Right now she and I are spending precious time together. I invited her- and only her.”
“I see. So simply put you’re calling me a third wheel.”
“Wonderful. You have enough sense to understand that despite being directionally challenged. Did the notion of going back so you wouldn’t get in our way ever cross your mind?”
“Ahaha, too bad! The word ‘going back’ doesn’t exist in my dictionary! After all that’s not manly at all! A knight must always move forward no matter what! Right?” Beaming brightly, he looks to Alice for support.
“No, there are times where even I think it’s better to go back. Even if we don’t count right now, there are times when it’s definitely necessary.”
“Whaaat? Not you too~” His exaggerated disappointment is almost theatric.
“I’m shocked! Despite all the time you spend floundering in indecision aren’t you the one who can’t go back more than anyone else? Isn’t that why you always look back while moving forward?”
“What...?”
(What is he talking about?)
I’m confused by the vagueness of his words, but as if to interrupt my thoughts Blood opens his mouth once more.
“Enough of this trifling conversation. If you really can only move forward then you should keep heading that way. Hurry up and get out.”
He points outside the garden- it’s in front of Ace, but the gate is the other way.
“Oh how scary. I’m not in the best mood either, but this isn’t like you at all, Mr. Hatter. It’s not like you to be so pressed.”
“......”
“Haha. Have you stopped pretending to play it cool? Well, it has been a long time since you’ve seen her again.”
“Tch.”
(...huh)
For second Alice doubted her ears. But there was no mistaking the obvious look of displeasure on Blood’s face and that click of his tongue from earlier.
It really wasn’t like Blood at all. It was the first time she saw his emotions so out in the open. Even if Ace was Blood’s enemy and an unexpected intruder, Blood usually handled things more smoothly.
“If Mr. Hatter is being serious, he could be a real challenge. Not that that’s a reason to back off.”
“Oh what a coincidence. The word “back off” doesn’t exist in my dictionary either.” Blood says, picking up his trusty stick by his side.
“Normally I’d prefer not do anything to spoil a tea party, but if the nuisance won’t leave then so be it.”
“Wait...Blood?!”
Alice unintentionally raises her voice when the stick begins to emit a pale light.
“Quit it! Are you trying to start a gun fight?!”
(Wait, Ace uses a sword so it wouldn’t be a shoot out, but I don’t want a fight happening either way!)
“Don’t worry, Alice. I’m not going to do that now.” Surprisingly it’s not Blood’s voice, but Ace’s.
“Even I wouldn’t cut someone up right in front of the eyes of the person I gave a present too! If I did that my special gift would be covered in blood!”
(Doesn’t that mean Ace still wants to stab Blood later?!)
Should I be scared or relieved for now...?
“Anyway, let’s stop, Mr. Hatter. Now’s not the time.”
“Then get out of my sight before I turn you into Swiss cheese.” Despite his callous words the light from Blood’s stick fades.
“OK, OK I got it! The party crasher is leaving now~!” Ace is the only one who’s still all smiles. Without a care, he starts heading in the same direction Blood was pointing to earlier.
“Wait, what about this?” Alice realizes with a gasp and calls out to Ace’s back.
“What’s this present for?” The present still in hand, she’s uncertain about accepting something without understanding the meaning behind it.
“Like I said, it’s yours! I bought it for you after passing by a shop that smelled especially good, but I didn’t think I’d get to hand it over so quickly.” Ace stops in place, peering over his shoulder to answer. “If you need a reason then it’s to celebrate our reunion! The sweets are sure to be delicious, so eat up!”
It might’ve taken a lot of luck to meet again, but is that really all there is to it? As usual, she’s not sure she should take Ace’s words at face value despite his cheerful demeanor. No, that’s precisely the reason why.
Without waiting for Alice’s response, Ace begins to leave.
Panic rising, she tries to call out again, but Blood’s pointed glare stops her in her tracks and all she can do is to watch him off silently.
(I ended up taking it...)
She stares at the paper bag containing sweets.
“More confections are the absolute last thing we need,” Blood scoffs, visibly irked.
“Yeah... you’re right.“
There are already a large array of various sweets prepared by Blood spread out on the table.
The sweets Ace gave must be decadent and delicious too, but somehow feel bittersweet. I have the feeling that if I take a bite inside of what looks to be a sugary chocolate bonbon it’ll contain something wildly unexpected.
“Don’t open those yet. Not here. ”
“Yes... I know.”
But Blood doesn’t say ‘don’t eat those’. It seems no one can restrict an Outsider’s choice or decisions. That’s something even the ‘me’ right now knows by heart. This world isn’t only filled with sweet things. Whether I eat it or not... avoid the poison or swallow it down, is completely up to me.
