Sixteen Years (Five)

Alice was clearly waiting for an answer with eager anticipation. Roy King did not dare stall for long. He thought fast, then replied:

"Madam Wall once revealed in an interview that you had given her advice on her latest naming technique. So whenever she writes a title in that style, I read the book to experience your teachings..."

Alice shuddered.

She had seen that interview, but she clearly had not taken it seriously. After all, she was no longer bound by a human lifespan. Living in human form was mostly a way to amuse herself. Once she grew bored of it, the Church of Light's Holy Maiden would return to the Goddess's Divine Kingdom.

But Roy King was plainly lying. That would have been fine on its own, but he had chosen such a skin-crawling excuse that Alice quickly raised a hand to stop him and said:

"If I didn't know you, I might almost believe you were devout."

Roy King stopped short. After a few seconds, he said frankly:

"I follow the guidance of Fate, and you are the Incarnation of Destiny. How, then, am I not your devout follower?

"Or do you object to my taking the initiative to betray the School of Life? Your Excellency, your pontiff came from the Aurora Order. He was once the Angel of Fate under the Creator..."

Alice could not help laughing. She interrupted him. "He still is the Creator's Angel of Fate."

"?" Roy King froze. He looked up at her, his eyes full of questions.

Alice clicked her tongue before explaining:

"Even after leaving the Aurora Order, he still prays to his former master every day. He also carries a Holy Item his former master bestowed on him before he left... You might have seen it. He has a Cross