Alice and Sylvia returned to the imperial palace the following evening.

It had only been three short days, but to Alice, Sylvia’s face looked more at ease than ever, as if she had finally let go of all her worries. It was a calm expression, one that spoke of complete peace of mind.

However, that sense of ease disappeared entirely when Sylvia changed back into her uniform just before reentering the palace.

Alice found herself wondering if the palace she thought of as home didn’t feel that way at all for Sylvia.

It was a thought that felt... somewhat foreign …