Samael bit down hard enough for his steel-like teeth to cut into his lower lip, grinding out a streak of blood. His voice was low.
"When did you sneak in?"
"Mm, around the time of Enzworth."
The silver-haired beauty thought for a moment, then answered casually with a smile.
Samael slowly raised his head toward the breathtaking face drawing close. His expression was cold and grim.
"So you really didn't die..."
"No, no. Strictly speaking, I really did die once—during the last battle at Enzworth Castle."
The silver-haired beauty raised an index finger and lightly wagged it in rebuttal. Her tense, lovely face was exceptionally serious, while a trace of sincere admiration shone in her bright eyes.
"I never expected you to turn the trump card I worked so hard to secure against me, letting her stab me in the back. I have to say, Father, you're still so good at finding openings and dismantling your opponents from within...
Then, as if recalling some unpleasant memory, the silver-haired beauty knitted her brows and protested with resentment in her eyes.
"But it really hurt..."
"So you invaded Alice's consciousness and hid there in secret, all for this moment!"
Samael's clenched teeth creaked, his gaze icy and murderous.
"What happened to Alice?!"
Yet faced with the foster father's barely contained fury, the silver-haired figure before him merely frowned slightly, looking disappointed.
"Even now, you still don't understand, do you, Sir Knight?"
The sudden murmur froze the distortion on Samael's face. He looked up blankly at the silver-haired beauty before him, whose smile was gentle and whose bearing was pure.
"I am your Alice."
A flower-like smile bloomed across her exquisite face, utterly tender and utterly wicked.
The unexpected answer struck Samael like lightning. Confusion, rejection, anger, disbelief, and countless other emotions churned