No one understood the strange metaphor in Alice's words—at least, Dunn did not. But those who did understand all looked worriedly at the ceiling.
...It would not really collapse, would it?
After confirming that she had no intention of doing anything further and seemed to have vented her anger, the social butterfly... no, "Fancy Tie" Yodson handed over a glass of wine and smiled as he consoled her:
"Don't mind it, don't mind it. Dunn was just drunk and talking nonsense. Don't be angry; it's bad for your health."
Alice shot him a sidelong glance without accepting the wine glass, coldly reminding him, "Minors aren't allowed to drink."
They all fell silent, suddenly feeling that Dunn's earlier words had indeed been a little excessive. After all...
"I cannot figure out," Alice's voice interrupted their train of thought, "why all of you think I'm Gehrman's lover instead of him being mine?"
Meeting her earnest yet puzzled gaze, Yodson hesitated for two seconds before asking, "...So, there really is something between you?"
Alice fell silent for a moment, then said with a smile:
"No.
"I'm a Grade 0 Sealed Artifact entrusted to him for safekeeping.
"Do you believe me?"
After two seconds of silence, Yodson was the first to laugh at this joke, which was actually the truth. Soon afterward, everyone else began laughing as well.
After staring at their smiles and thinking for several seconds, Alice turned to Dunn and said:
"The next time you get drunk and want to talk nonsense, say this instead.
"Isn't Gehrman Sparrow having a human-shaped Grade 0 Sealed Artifact that can run, jump, and talk more exciting than him having an underage lover?"
Dunn froze in place. After hesitating, he asked, "So... is that true?"
Alice turned her head, raised her brows with a smile,