#gray ringmarc

By the time Alice arrived at Clover Tower, two time periods had passed since she parted ways with Ace. From evening to noon, and then back to evening again. In this world, the flow of time is not regular. The duration of each time period is not constant either. Moreover, if one possesses special tools, they can even manipulate time.

Having become completely accustomed to such a world, Alice was not surprised at all to see the suddenly changed evening sky. She simply thought to herself that the time period had changed as she followed the path back home.

When it changed from day to evening, it had happened quite abruptly, so it hadn’t been that long, but because Alice had ventured out during an unstable period, it seemed that both Nightmare and Gray had been worried.

“I'm home.”

“Welcome back, Alice.”

“Was there any change?”

Before heading back to her room, Alice stopped by Nightmare's office, where both of them looked at her with relieved expressions.

“It was just like Gray said. There were no particular changes at the Castle of Hearts or the Mad Hatter’s Mansion. I also went to the forest that appeared after the amusement park disappeared, and I saw familiar faces there too—Boris and a mouse boy named Pierce were around. Although, Gowland was gone.”

“I see. It’s good that your friends who remained are all right.” Gray sighed and smiled faintly. “You’ve been out for a long time, so why not take a rest? I’ll have some coffee prepared for you.”

At the mention of coffee, Alice paused for just a moment. In the past, she often brewed coffee for her roommate, Julius, at the clock tower.

Among those she met in the Country of Hearts, many preferred tea. Blood Dupre and Vivaldi could almost be called tea enthusiasts. She had not heard of any of the others being particularly picky about drinks. Among Alice’s acquaintances, Julius was one of the few coffee lovers.

“Do both of you like coffee?”

“Ah, yes.” For some reason, Nightmare appeared unusually proud. “After all, coffee is the drink of adults.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t be drinking coffee? You're a patient, after all.”

“I am healthy.”

“...I think people who are about to faint or cough up blood shouldn’t say that.”

It seemed that Nightmare liked coffee and tobacco not for any benefits but rather for their appeal. In the meantime, Gray called over a male subordinate and ordered the coffee. Before long, a tray with a pot and cups was delivered to the office.

“Lord Nightmare, I’ll carry that over for you now.”

“No, you are a guest. I can’t have you helping... and you must be tired, too.” Gray hesitated, but Alice stepped forward and took the tray away.

“You’ve both been working until now, right? It’s only fair.” Alice quickly poured coffee into the cups from the unused table in the corner, along with the cake that had been brought, and carried it to the table.

“You're quite efficient, Alice.” Gray nodded slightly while watching Alice as she worked swiftly.

Nightmare immediately moved from his desk to the soft sofa and settled in. He seemed happy to be able to take a break from work, sporting a wide smile.

“Let’s all have some coffee together.”

“To be honest, I had it brought over for us to drink while we worked... but yes, since Alice is back, let’s take a break.” With that, Gray sat down on the sofa. Perhaps she had interrupted them.

Upon closer inspection, although Nightmare was in his perpetual sick mode, Gray, who seemed to have a robust physique, also didn’t look so good. He was probably overwhelmed by heavy workload.

(But if that's the case, they should take a break.)

She still knew very little about Clover Tower, but she could see that within such a large tower, there were many employees busily working. As the master of this tower and the lord of the Country of Clover, Nightmare himself, along with Gray supporting him, must have been working intensely.

Both Nightmare, who seemed to be enjoying his break, and Gray, who looked like he was eager to finish up to a good stopping point, seemed to relax on the sofa.

She took a sip of the still-hot coffee. It wasn’t exceptionally delicious, but as a coffee to enjoy on a break at a workplace, it was sufficient.

(Julius would probably give it a score of 2 points.)

While at the clock tower, Julius would always grade the coffee Alice brewed, and as a result, she had developed a knack for making it.

The accompanying cake had a delicious nutty flavor. It was probably obtained from a pastry shop in town.

After watching Alice drink her coffee, Gray suddenly remembered and asked, “Alice, I went ahead and made coffee without asking your preference, but is that all right?”

“Yeah, it’s fine. I used to drink tea more often, but at the clock tower, I only had coffee. I’ve even gotten good at making it.”

“Oh, right. I’ve heard that the clockmaker is particular about coffee.” Nightmare nodded.

“Do you two always stick to coffee?”

“Of course. A proper man should drink coffee after all.”

“Is that why Gray prefers it?”

“No... I drink it to wake up and concentrate on my work, so I prefer something bitter with a clear taste.” It seemed that this master and servant liked coffee for contrasting reasons.

“Hey, if both of you like coffee, would you let me make some for you? It's kind of awkward being treated like a guest without doing anything while I’m here.”

“There’s no need to think that way, Alice. You can consider this tower your home and do whatever you want. If you’re a guest, you don’t have to work, and you won’t be forced to take medicine or dragged to a hospital. Isn't that good?”

“Then shouldn’t you actively put that into practice?”

“Absolutely not!”

While she had often thought of him as a good-for-nothing even in dreams, the reality of Nightmare could only be described as childish. He had surpassed the immaturity threshold and was at a level where he could be considered outright childish.

“Now, whether or not you want a life like Lord Nightmare's is something to consider. You are Lord Nightmare's friend. You don’t have to think about having to work. You’ve just been uprooted from your old place due to the move, so it’s better to prioritize relaxing and calming your mind.”

“I actually enjoy working. So, when I’m not doing anything, I feel uncomfortable... that’s why I want you to let me help with something.”

“I see. That’s a quality that Lord Nightmare should ideally emulate.”

It seemed that Nightmare frequently slacked off at work, which Alice had thought during our first meeting as well. With his being a confirmed invalid, Gray must bear a significant burden.

“Lord Nightmare, would it be alright to assign her some work?”

“Ah, of course. If work is enjoyable, then you should do it.” The master of Clover Tower smiled graciously, as if he could read Alice’s mind. At such times, his childish demeanor completely disappeared.

Gray, hearing Nightmare's words, nodded lightly. “If that’s the case, I’ll create a task you can do next. We’re short-handed, so it would be quite helpful. Thank you.”

A smile appeared on Gray’s face as well. Alice felt her heart skip a beat at his charming expression.

“Right now, we’re busier than usual due to a meeting that takes place right after the move. Representatives from rival territories are gathering here to discuss matters. It’s going to be quite a large event. So, there are many smaller tasks involved. I think I’ll be asking you for various things.” He had a serious expression with rigid facial features, but his smile gave a softer impression.

“What’s the meeting about?”

“Simply put, it’s as the name suggests... it’s similar to the ball at the Castle of Hearts. There’s a rule that meetings must be held regularly after a relocation.”

“Oh, I see.”

Previously, Vivaldi had hosted a ball at Heart Castle. Representatives from other factions were gathered there as well. Although meetings and balls involve very different activities, it seems that hosting them is a requirement of the game’s rules.

“For now, you don’t need to think about the meetings, so just take a break... since you seem a bit down after coming back, it’s best to rest and recover.”

“Eh?”

Surprised, I looked at Gray, who returned my gaze with an expression that seemed somewhat troubled. I couldn’t bear the look of someone who appeared like a helpless child, so I quietly averted my eyes.

“If anything happens, feel free to talk to me or Lord Nightmare anytime. No matter how trivial it might be. If you’re a friend of Lord Nightmare’s, then you’re a friend of mine too.”

“...Thank you. Well then, I’ll head back to my room.”

Alice placed her empty coffee cup back on the tray and left the office.

*

As she walked down the corridor, Alice couldn’t help but let out a sigh.

(To be seen like that by someone I barely know—how embarrassing.)

It was true that Alice was hardly in a calm state. Since hearing that voice calling from the forest, she couldn't shake off her anxious feelings.

(Ace said that voice can only be heard by those who are lost.)

Then how, exactly, was Alice lost?

Coming from the Country of Hearts to the Country of Clover. The sudden disappearance of her peaceful life at the clock tower. Or perhaps, the fact that she could no longer see Julius, who had felt like family. The determination to live in this world without returning to her original world had become tenuous after the ‘disappearance of the Country of Hearts.’ Everything was tangled together, and she couldn’t find an answer to what she was thinking or what she wanted to do.

(I don’t know…)

For a while, she just wanted to stop thinking about anything.

As she mechanically moved her legs, she found herself standing in front of the door to her room before she knew it.

“Open the door.”

Remembering the areas filled with doors and stairs inside the tower, and the doors in the forest, Alice felt an eerie unease at the thought of turning the knob, making her legs momentarily freeze.

(But this door is not ‘calling’ me.)

With determination, Alice turned the doorknob. Naturally, she was able to enter the room assigned to her, without being transported to some unfamiliar place.

Alice changed her clothes and quickly lay down on the bed.

Since coming to The Country of Clover, she hadn't slept even once. Shocked by the drastic upheaval of her familiar circumstances, she’d been wandering around, and ultimately felt unsettled by the bizarre forest where the doors were in abundance.

It was about time to rest; she was reaching her limit.

She darkened the room and gently closed her eyelids, soon drifting off to sleep.

*

Julius was quietly assembling clock parts and working. He was the type to concentrate deeply, so if left unattended, he would keep working endlessly.

“Hey, shouldn’t you take a break soon?”  Alice brought over the coffee she’d brewed in the corner of the room to Julius as usual.

“Got it.”

With a smile that seemed unimaginable from their first meeting, Julius accepted the mug and began to drink the coffee.

“What’s the score for this coffee?”

“Well... let’s see... this time…”

*

Alice suddenly jolted awake.

“...Ah...”

The scene that had been part of her daily life until recently, something so utterly ordinary, had now become something she could only see in a dream, and she was more shocked than she had expected.

Her daily life had suddenly changed dramatically. That was a given, perhaps.

When she had originally moved from her world to the Country of Hearts, her memories of the previous world had inexplicably become vague and there were parts she couldn’t recall, so she hadn’t felt this level of discomfort. However, remembering everything clearly this time, it seemed she couldn’t easily compartmentalize it like before.

The sudden disappearance of normalcy was indeed disorienting. Moreover, for the other inhabitants, ‘moving’ was a common occurrence, and Alice's own turmoil made things all the more complicated.

She found herself thinking: If I open that door, will I be able to return to the clock tower?

If she returned to the clock tower, would she be able to stop worrying about such a peculiar move? Would her mundane daily life return, allowing her to avoid the thought of someone disappearing?

Now in the Country of Clover, there were many acquaintances. Even spending time with Julius in a place where most of her acquaintances were gone would surely feel lonely.

Before that, she didn’t want to go beyond that eerie door that seemed to speak to her.

(What’s the place I truly want to go to, anyway?)

Thinking seriously about what she desired felt like it might corner her into a tight spot.

It was challenging enough just to adjust to the new environment. She should avoid adding unnecessary pressure.

Alice got off the bed and changed her clothes.

(I’ll go out to town for a change of pace.)

Alice was getting stuck in her thoughts because she was overthinking everything. In times like this, it would be better to take a solitary stroll and feel the wind.

She tidied herself up and stepped out of her room.

*

Just as Alice was about to exit the tower, she heard light footsteps approaching from behind.

“Where are you in such a hurry to go? Is something wrong?” It was Gray who had chased after her.

Seeing his worried expression made her feel a bit muddled. “Is it any of your business? Do I have to inform you of my destination before I can leave?”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to restrict your actions. I was just worried,” he replied.

“...I-I see.” After speaking out loud, Alice snapped back to her senses.

She had blurted out something quite rude to someone older than her, and to a person affiliated with the place she was staying.

Despite this, Gray did not show any sign of displeasure at Alice's rude attitude.

(Why... isn't he angry?)

Alice stared fixedly at Gray.

If she behaved like this in her original world, her reputation as a polite woman would vanish in an instant, and although it wouldn’t be openly spoken about, she would undoubtedly be labeled as a brazen rude person or an eccentric.

If she were to do the same with most people in this world, it would likely lead to a dramatic gunfight.

(Seriously, Gray... is so normal. No, he’s too normal. There’s no way a person like him exists in this country.)

Since arriving in the Country of Hearts, Alice had never come across a normal person, so she couldn't help but feel suspicious of Gray’s normalcy. With a personality that could only be seen as eccentric by others, her suspicious hobbies, and strange behavior, there had to be some odd part about him.

Alice continued to observe him intently. Gray noticed her gaze and looked down at her with a questioning expression, however, Alice remained focused on watching Gray.

He tried not to mind being scrutinized by her for a while, but eventually, he asked with a hint of concern, “Did I do something wrong? Or is there something about me that you don’t like?”

“No, it’s nothing,” she replied.

In fact, he was the type of person who would be perfectly normal even in her original world due to lacking any of those flaws, but it was difficult for her to believe that such a normal person existed in this world.

“If you’re trying to communicate something without saying it, I’m not Nightmare, so I can’t read your mind. I won’t get angry, so if there’s something, just tell me.”

His response was full of compassion and was reasonable given the situation. Gray didn’t show any signs of annoyance toward Alice’s rude attitude. Yet, despite that—or perhaps because of it—she felt an odd irritation.

(What am I irritated about?)

Even as she was confused by her own actions, she still didn’t understand what was causing her irritation.

Alice let out a sigh in realization of her poor attitude and bowed her head to Gray. “I’m sorry. I... had a lot going on with the move and everything... I'm just feeling a bit confused.”

Half of it was an excuse. She didn’t have the psychological capacity to discuss her current irritation with Gray directly.

“I see. That makes sense...” However, it seemed Gray accepted her words. He nodded quietly and offered a sympathetic smile. That only added to her frustration, something she disliked feeling.

“It’s understandable to be confused. You’re an outsider and you’re not used to this world... You came here because of the clockmaker, right? Do you wish to go back to your original world?”

Alice shook her head. “I don’t want to go back. I don’t know how to anymore. And if I went back, I wouldn’t be able to see Julius again.”

Once, Alice had had a way to return. She believed she could go back once the small bottle was filled, but in the end, she chose not to go back. Although the small bottle remained with her, it felt like it no longer functioned as a means to return.

Since she chose not to return, she had to take responsibility for it.

Yet, she felt an overwhelming urge to lash out at someone for the absurdity of her peaceful daily life suddenly disappearing. If she did the same thing to Julius, he would have undoubtedly bluntly declared, “You’re so gloomy!”

In fact, she would probably feel more at ease if he had said it outright, but Gray was too gentlemanly and tried to respect her feelings, which felt burdensome.

(Since she’s a friend of my superior, I can’t just leave her alone.) The reason Gray doesn’t express his anger is that Alice is a guest.

Thinking this made her feel inexplicably sad. To mask it, she forced a bright smile.

“Gray, don’t worry too much. I overstepped by saying something unpleasant... I’m sorry for lashing out like that just now.”

“It was my thoughtless... no, my insensitive words that caused this. I shouldn’t have brought up the clockmaker. The clockmaker is... important to you, right? That was insensitive of me.”

Gray murmured in a low voice.

“You don’t need to change the subject forcefully. There are only limited topics we have in common,” Alice replied.

Gray managed a wry smile. “True. If we are talking about common ground, it would be about this world, the move, Lord Nightmare, and work... Ah, right.”

“What is it?”

Gray pulled out a notepad from his pocket and handed it to Alice. “I’ve adjusted your work schedule. You’re set to start three time periods from now. Come to Lord Nightmare’s office later. It’s not possible to revise the entire shift schedule right away, so I only wrote down your part.”

“Oh... Thank you.” Despite Alice having been so childish and lashing out, Gray had adjusted things so she could start working soon. This only made her feel more apologetic.

“Is there anything you need to prepare or get ready for?”

“No, not really. At first, you’ll be assigned to varied tasks in different departments to help you ease into work. Is that okay?”

“Yeah, just let me know.”

When Alice nodded with a smile, Gray also smiled with relief. “From now on, I’m your direct superior, so if any issues arise, no matter how trivial, feel free to tell me. Also...”

“What?”

Suddenly, Gray’s expression turned troubled, causing Alice’s stomach to twist painfully. She guessed he might scold her for her previous attitude, which would interfere with work. Anticipating this, she naturally straightened her posture.

“Um... are you perhaps talking about me?” She might be about to be reprimanded. Given Alice’s previous behavior, it was only reasonable.

However, Gray’s expression was not particularly stern. “No, I’m talking about Lord Nightmare. If you happen to see him somewhere when he’s not on break according to the shift schedule, please let me know. He tends to mysteriously disappear and slack off when he realizes it.”

“Got it. I’ll keep an eye out.” Alice nodded, somewhat relieved.

“Well then, I’m going out for a walk. See you later.”

“Ah, be careful.” After seeing Gray off, Alice began to walk toward town. After wandering around the neighborhood for a while, Alice returned to the tower.

(I used to think that Nightmare, slacking off, was just a hopeless man—even when he was in the Country of Hearts—but now that I've come here, he really has taken on a childish impression.)

“What did you say? How rude!” Just before turning the corner in the hallway, she heard a voice from quite close by.

“Eek!?!?!” She instinctively jumped back, and as she turned the corner, Nightmare appeared.

“You're slacking off again, aren’t you?”

“To say I’m slacking off is a terrible rumor! I-I’m going to the hospital now!” The lord of Clover Tower puffed out his chest proudly, but his gaze was subtly evasive.

Alice shot him a cold glance. “Is that a lie? There’s no way you’d willingly go to the hospital. You shouldn’t trouble someone who’s so serious and kind. Don’t you have any sense of guilt?”

“Alice, you’re overestimating him. He’s a bad guy.”

“What are you talking about? Criticizing someone who works hard, while being someone who slacks off is worse!”

With that said, Nightmare repeated in a low voice, “He’s a bad guy,” feeling somewhat dispirited. It made her a little curious about what he meant by that, and she couldn’t quite visualize what he was referring to as a “bad guy.”

“You should sneak back to the office before you get caught. I’m going back to my room, but make sure you work properly.”

“You’re being deceived... You’re being deceived...”

As Nightmare muttered that while trudging away in the opposite direction from the office, Alice felt a twinge of concern but prioritized getting herself in good condition before taking on her first work assignment. She headed back to her room.

Three time periods later, Alice went to the office as instructed and received a work briefing from Gray before diving into her tasks. Thanks to her experience working at a publishing company in her original world, she was able to handle everything well, which gave her a sense of relief.

“After this, the work will be after Lord Nightmare returns. Let’s take a break now.”

“Sure.”

As she stood up to make some coffee, Gray came over to Alice’s side. “Did you encounter any problems while working?”

“No... nothing in particular, but...” There was one thing concerning her, although it wasn’t a work-related issue.

“Gray, you smoke a lot during breaks, right? Isn’t it unhealthy to keep smoking that much?” As she spoke, she noticed Gray lighting another cigarette.

Seeing Alice’s gaze fixed on the cigarette, he sighed apologetically. “Ah, I’m trying not to smoke too much. But there’s too much work piled up before Lord Nightmare returns, and the more I work, the more I smoke.”

“Is it really that good? Smoking?”

“It’s a bit of a comfort. When I smoke, I feel dazed and forget the stress of work... It’s not that I truly forget, but... even though I know it’s just a comfort, I can’t quit.”

“...I want to try smoking too.”

“What?”

Alice spoke with no particular reason behind her words. She was curious about the temporary escape it could bring and wanted to express some whimsy. Yet, for some reason, Gray looked at her in shock.

“I want to try smoking. I don’t particularly want to forget anything, but I’d like to feel like I’ve forgotten, even if just for a moment...”

“No. You shouldn’t smoke.”

“Why? You smoke, don’t you? Plus, it lets you feel like you can forget, right?”

“It doesn’t really make you forget. It’s not as great as you think it is. You should stop.”

“But...”

Seeing Gray in distress only made her want to tease him further, and she restrained herself from continuing down that path.

“At least, I won’t smoke in front of you. But if I still want to smoke, it wouldn’t be convincing if I, a smoker, tried to stop you. So I won’t smoke, Alice. It’s not a good thing.”

Without realizing how Alice felt, Gray firmly asserted that and crushed the freshly lit cigarette in the ashtray. Startled, Alice shook her head.

“That’s a lie. I didn’t really intend to smoke. I don’t like cigarettes. I just wanted to surprise you by teasing you a little... I’m sorry.”

She was aware it was just a childish whim. For some reason, there was an atmosphere that made her want to tease Gray and act a bit spoiled. However, it was only natural that she would get scolded for doing so.

Preparing for Gray’s reprimand, Alice slightly braced herself. However, instead of getting angry, Gray let out a sigh and smiled. “I’m glad... it was a lie. Please don’t smoke.”

His gentle smile only made Alice feel more self-loathing. She found her own childishness in having expressed such a trivial whim regrettable. “I’m sorry. I’ll do my best at work from now on. I’ll try not to be a burden to you.”

“Don’t push yourself too hard. If you overdo it from the start, it’ll just be harder later. Work is almost done for now. You should take it easy and rest.”

“Thank you.” Bowing her head slightly, Alice exited the office.

(He truly is a good person... Gray.)

She no longer intended to lash out in strange ways. It was embarrassing to have such an attitude toward someone so kind. She wouldn’t be able to continue being that kind to someone who acted childishly and threw tantrums.

The next time she took a shift, she would work to be of help to Gray in return for his kindness.

Since this break wouldn’t be very long, she had no room to go out somewhere. She would rest well and learn quickly about her new tasks.

With a smile, Alice returned to her room to take a break.

◇◇◇

Her older sister, Lorina, was sitting on the sofa.

Lorina was gently looking down at her younger sister, who was comfortably resting her head on her lap while stroking their pet cat, Dinah.

(I've talked to my sister like this many times…)

The trivial things that happened at school. The snacks she had eaten that day. The way the tea was brewed. The progress of her studies. Alice had talked to her sister about almost everything.

Even when she was secretly planning to leave home, her sister’s smile never changed.

“You will grow up one day. When you become an adult... just forget about me.” As always, her sister’s gentle voice.

“Why would you say something like that?”

“I misspoke. I meant to say, ‘Don’t forget me.’” Lorina was smiling generously.

It was unclear whether this was just a dream or something that truly happened in the past. However, those words and her sister’s smile were profoundly sad.

◇◇◇

After opening her eyelids, Alice lay still for a while without moving.

(A dream about my sister...)

Even when she was asleep, she couldn’t distinguish if it was just a dream or if she was recalling reality, and lying here staring up at the ceiling didn’t change that.

Her memories of the original world were fragmented, so it wasn’t strange that even fragmented memories of the past felt so unreal.

She would never see her beloved sister again.

(Do I have no ties to my family?)

After her family, the only person who had lived with her like family was Julius Monray, the master of the clock tower. Due to her abrupt move, she also found herself separated from Julius. She felt like her understanding of what she sought from family and how she was protected was gradually fading away.

As she pondered for a while, she remembered that she had work to do soon.

“Oh no. I need to hurry!” Alice hurriedly began to get ready.

*

After starting work, Alice’s life gradually became more vibrant.

She was slowly getting used to Clover Tower, her job, and even to Gray, whom she had initially taken her frustrations out on.

Preparing for the meeting was exhausting, and she had been incredibly busy, but she was starting to get accustomed to it. Working felt much more comfortable than just being a guest, and it was more relaxing. When it came to work, Gray and her coworkers supported her, and Alice took the initiative to learn new tasks.

During this time...

“Hey, Alice, there’s something I’d like to talk about, if that’s okay?” Gray approached her after he saw that work had ended.

“What is it? Is it about a shift change?”

“No, it’s not that kind of conversation. Shall we move somewhere else to talk?” It seemed to be something that couldn’t be discussed in front of others.

(Could it be that I made a mistake without realizing it, and now I'm going to be scolded?)

Although Gray interacted with his subordinates in a calm manner, he was the type to be strict when necessary. If his subordinates made serious mistakes or behaved unacceptably, he would change the setting for a serious conversation like this.

Standing tall, Alice followed Gray.

They entered one of the conference rooms that was not in use, and Gray closed the door. As Alice braced herself, thinking this would be a lecture, his opening words were unexpectedly gentle.

“Alice, do you have any work-related worries? Or are you feeling unwell or something like that?” He asked with a concerned expression.

“Not really, but why do you ask?”

“There are times when you come to work looking pale. I thought you might not be feeling well, so I’ve been keeping an eye on you. But you seem to perk up as you work, so I was wondering what’s going on.”

“Ah…” Now that he mentioned it, there was a thought in the back of her mind. Recently, she hadn’t been sleeping well.

After hearing the voice from the door in the forest, she kept dreaming about people she could no longer meet, like Julius and Lorina. The depressing feelings that accompanied each dream might indicate that there was some concern within her.

Seeing Alice’s expression change, Gray seemed to deepen his conviction. He strengthened his tone and continued. “If there’s something troubling you about work, then it’s my fault for not noticing. Plus, you’re not just a guest; you’re our friend as well. If you’re going through something difficult, just know you can always talk to me... so please, don’t hold back.”

Hearing him say this made her feel more regret about how small her worries were. However, it wouldn’t be right to keep Gray worried over something so trivial. “It’s not that I’m really troubled, but…” After a moment of hesitation, Alice decided to talk about her dreams.

Gray listened quietly without interrupting her, but after she finished, he let out a small sigh. “I see... dreams of those you can’t meet anymore, huh…?”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to trouble you with such a silly matter.”

“No, it’s an important thing.” Gray turned a serious expression toward Alice.

“It’s my opinion, but I think you heard the door’s voice and felt uneasy about where your ‘most wanted place’ was. That’s why you’re subconsciously searching for the ‘person you want to meet the most’ and having those dreams.”

“Perhaps... that could be it.”

“Maybe you want to go back to the clockmaker? You might have thought that you could return, which is why you keep dreaming about it. However, what’s worse is that you’re exhausted from having those frequent dreams, more than dwelling on that.”

“True.”

If this continued and she remained in such a state of poor sleep, it would likely affect her while she was awake as well.

“Alice, you might be more attached to the clock tower than you realize.”

“Well... I mean, I do feel some attachment, but... I don’t quite understand it. Maybe I’m okay, or maybe it’s just too shocking for me to react.”

“Too shocking, huh? The clockmaker is a lucky person.” Gray had a somewhat gloomy expression as if he was deep in thought, but eventually, he raised his face. “I can’t send you back, but... is there anything else I can do for you?”

“You don’t need to worry so much.”

“You’re a good kid. I can’t just leave you to suffer alone.”

It felt strange that Gray was being so considerate toward Alice. For some reason, the concern made both happiness and melancholy swell up within her at the same time.

Regardless of Alice’s feelings, Gray continued to speak to her with genuine care. “Next time our days off coincide, how about I take you somewhere?”

“Eh?”

“Since you’ve worked so hard shortly after coming here, I thought it would be a good way to show my gratitude and provide a little diversion.”

“But... is that really okay? You probably wouldn’t want to see the faces of subordinates who don’t even get a day off, right?”

“Not at all. Of course, if it tires you out to go out, we can discuss it.”

“I do enjoy going out. In the past, I would go for walks or shopping whenever I had a day off. I also read a lot in my room, though.”

“If you like books, you should take advantage of the library. As a tower employee, you’re allowed to borrow any books except those that can’t be taken out. There are also bookstores in town, so I’d be happy to show you around if you’d like.”

Remembering the library she had visited to search for materials, she recalled that it had plenty of books and a well-stocked collection. Being able to borrow books would certainly make her feel much more at ease.

(Now that I think about it, I haven’t read a single book since coming to The Country of Clover.) She had thought she was living her usual life, but it turned out that wasn’t the case.

“Right. It wouldn’t be bad to go out with someone once in a while.”

Alice understood very well that for an adult man, looking after a much younger girl was just a troublesome chore. Still, it was undeniably pleasant to be able to go out with a gentleman like Gray.

“Well then, let’s go out together on the next day off. I’ll come pick you up.”

“Got it.” Alice gave Gray a light nod and exited the room. As she walked down the hallway, Alice realized something.

(Now that I think about it, Gray hasn’t been smoking lately.)

From the lingering scent, it was clear he hadn’t quit, but for some reason, she hadn’t seen him smoke recently.

(He said he was trying to cut back... but maybe...)

Being unable to enjoy even a comforting cigarette and having to take care of her during his days off was a bit too much for Gray.

Alice let out a deep sigh at her own burdensome nature.

(But, this... feels like a date.)

Thinking that made her spirits lift somewhat.

She felt happy that Gray was looking out for her and that she could go out with him. Even considering her burden, it still felt like a nice change.