Alice rushed to the doorway, only to stop abruptly.
Her back was turned to Cui Ciyou.
After a long while, she seemed to finally make up her mind.
She spun around and walked back to Cui Ciyou's bedside.
Alice said to him:
"Ciyou... I'm sorry... I'm really, really sorry."
"Yesterday... yesterday, it was all because I was too headstrong."
"I shouldn't have... shouldn't have decided to run away from home just because I was angry after our argument."
"I was... I was really angry then, and I wanted to sneak away so you couldn't find me."
"But then... then that damned Thomas tricked me."
"He said he could help me leave the mansion without anyone noticing, and I... I was stupid enough to believe him..."
Alice's voice grew quieter and quieter, filled with regret and self-reproach.
"And then... I caused everyone so much trouble and made everyone worry about me. I even... even got you hurt trying to save me."
At this, Alice raised her head, a complicated light flickering in her ruby-red eyes.
She bit her lower lip.
"And... I'm sorry about the desserts, too."
"I... I didn't actually want them so badly that I absolutely had to have them."
"It's just... every day, I saw you make desserts especially for Roxy, but there was never... never any for me."
"It made me unhappy, and I felt... I felt angry."
"Especially when I asked you about it, and you said you'd make some extra for me while you were making hers."
"I don't want to be an afterthought like that. I was just... just so angry. I don't want desserts like that!"
Alice poured out all her hurt and frustration in one breath. By the end, her eyes had reddened slightly.
Cui Ciyou listened quietly to her somewhat incoherent