Alice giggled again

"Your highness prince Claus, can you grant an audience to my family's young miss?" The old butler asked.

I wrinkled my brows. With a serious tone, I asked. "Alice?"

"So your highness remembers my young miss. It's an honor."

I scoffed inwardly. It would be strange if I don't remember someone like her.

Beside me, Lena frowned displeased. "Who is it now? Always interrupting my time with brother..."

"An old acquittance." I smiled wryly and explained Alice's background.

When she heard my explanation, Lena's first reaction was to shot me a suspicious look.

"Another woman?"

Little sister, your brother swears that I'm innocent this time.

I ignored Lena's gaze and spoke towards the butler in a sarcastic tone. "Do I need to follow you today too?"

However, the butler feigned not to understand the meaning behind my words and bowed apologetically. "I'm sorry, but my young miss is a bit sickly so she is unable to show the prince due respect?"

I snorted. Do you think I did not realize you are trying to take down a notch?

However, it shows Alice's inexperience. Showing off her arrogance will only make others warier of her.

Normally, I would not have bothered with it and I would have followed the butler, after all, I don't care very much about formalities and things like that, however, I'm a bit displeased with Alice today.

Putting on a cold look on my face, I opened my lips. "Tell your young miss that I will wait five minutes for her. If she doesn't come before then, then we don't need to talk."

"... I understand." The butler replied indifferently, not at all bothered by my attitude.

As I expected, less than three minutes later Alice appeared before me followed by the butler and the knight girl that always accompanies her.

"Long time no see you, Prince Claus." Alice curtsied politely and showed a weak smile.

"Miss Alice is as beautiful as always." I replied with a small smile and invited her inside the carriage. Alice agreed with a smile and entered with the butler and the knight. I did not bother to stop her two followers from entering.

Once she was inside, she bowed towards Lena respectfully.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Princess Lena."

"Hmph!" Lena snorted and looked away. Despite it, Alice kept her respectful smile.

Once she was done with the formalities, Alice looked at me. "Will Princess Lena heard our conversation?"

I replied with a smile. Before Lena could react, I touched her forehead and induced her to sleep.

"Bro... ther?"

Holding Lena's small body on my arms, I put her on my lap and stroked her head gently.

"Prince Claus sure loves the princess." Alice giggled.

"Please stop with your games, Alice. Go straight to the point."

"Okay okay, so serious." Alice giggled again and pouted. "It looks like the prince is dissatisfied with me."

"You know the reason."

"... So I was discovered, huh. But it helped me to confirm that you are not simple, prince." Alice chuckled, not the slightest embarrassed that I saw through her plot.

I remained silent and refused to answer.

Seeing my expression, Alice put a finger on her lips. "I'm curious though. What gave me away? I'm sure I don't leave any trace behind... Could it be, are your eyes like mine? Perhaps that is the reason you can fool my eyes."

"You are mistaken, I'm not a seer." I replied. "However, I have seen someone like you before."

Alice was startled. "Another seer? Does that seer taught you to hide from our eyes?"

"You can say that I learned how so I could hide from her."