The gravedigger Swallowed hard twice, recalling his conversation with Alice.
—"Isn't it daytime? Why are you carrying a lamp?"
—"After working in a cemetery for so long, you're bound to encounter strange things... Are you here for grave sweeping?"
—"Judging by the flowers you prepared... Is the person in the grave important to you?"
—"Yes, very important... One was a former colleague and is now a very close friend. The other is myself."
The two conversations replayed endlessly in the gravedigger's mind. Well-traveled and experienced as he was, he forced down his fear and Sized Up Alice.
Her Facial Features were almost identical to the black-and-white photograph on the tombstone, with hardly any changes. Only her blond hair and blue eyes, unlike the monochrome photo, lent her a touch of vitality.
She held a bouquet in each hand. The two bouquets looked similar and had probably been commissioned together.
She wore a silver-gray robe. The gravedigger had not paid it much attention when he first saw her, but upon closer inspection, he realized that the robe seemed to be faintly glowing.
While the gravedigger was studying her, Alice Tilted Her Head. Her gaze swept between the photo on the tombstone and the gravedigger's expression, and she effortlessly understood the situation.
He Looks pretty badly frightened... Alice blinked twice and called out tentatively:
"Old Gentleman?"
The gravedigger, forcing himself to remain calm, summoned the last of his courage at the sound of that unmistakably light and cheerful voice. He Swallowed and asked Alice for confirmation:
"Miss, are you and this lady... sisters?"
If they were blood sisters, it should be normal for them to resemble each other... The gravedigger desperately tried to comfort himself.
Alice Tilted Her Head and gave the gravedigger, who was still struggling to find an excuse, a