Chapter 2: Escape Plan That Is

Sfx: groan

Alice:.....*dying inside*...... (Why am I in this situation?!!!!)

[ Injured ]

Alice: Now my plans are postponed!!!!!..... I can't even walk..... huhuhu......

Lily: M-milady?..... Do you want some milk cookies?

Alice: Yes....*teary eyed*

Lily:.... (milady sure is strange....)

Dinning room

Alice:(Why am I here?)

Harry:.... Cia.... have some steak

Alice: Oh.... thank you..... (my mind is blank again....)

Reo: Is there something wrong?

Alice: Nothing.

Chesire: How's your injury?

Alice: Obviously it hurts.

Harry: Do you want me to escort you to your room later?

Alice: No thanks. I can carry myself.

Harry: But....

Reo: Have Harry do that, Alicia.

Alice:....hay.... (Fine whatever....)Yes.

Alicia's Room

Harry: Are you really okay, Cia?

Alice:..... yes.

Harry: Call me Hans.... That's what you call me before.

Alice: Oh... okay.

Harry: Is there anything you need?

Alice: Not-...... Sweets.... and this place map!

Harry: Sweets are fine.... but map?

Alice: Yes!!!

Harry: To escape?

Alice: Yes!....

sfx: Silence

Alice:(oops.....)

Harry:*menacing* DEFINITELY NO.

Alice:.....*sweat*...... (scary....!!!)

Harry: Promise you won't do it again!!!

Alice:....*look away*.....Yes..... (Sorry, but my life is my priority.)

Harry: Hay... I'll have your sweets delivered.

Alice: Thank you.... Hans.

Harry:......*blush*.....(Is it really okay?.....That day....I regretted that day......)

Alice:*stretch*...... Hay......

Harry: *smile*

Night

Alice:hehe.... I'm sorry Hans..... but this sister of yours is persistent.

[Succeeded in obtaining the map]

Alice: Should I proceed?

sfx: Wind/Swoooshh

Alice:....Maybe I'll miss Lily a little. But....I have to save myself first.....find Emily.....and fulfill my promise to Mom.(This time for sure.....hope that Lily drank the tea I gave her.)

[Lily drank it,and fallen asleep due to sleeping pill]

Alice: Here I go....!*jump*.....

sfx: Land

Alice:...... Hippie.....ha.....Freedom is sure the happiest thing you can obtain. Well....I should go now.*run*

Chesire:.....(Decided on leaving huh...well, let's see if you can.)

Later - Capital,Lucian

Alice:....my my.....where am I?

sfx: bustle,chatter

Alice:......hay....should I ask someone?....*approach*.....Umm....can I ask you something?

[ Alice approached a man in a black hoodie,his face was covered. A little taller than Alice,like 5'2. ]

?: What is it?

Alice:....Do you know how to get out of this country? I mean....where can I find the border?

?: ......are you.....a criminal?

Alice: what...? Are you crazy?

?: only those who seek the border are criminals.

Alice:....Oh.....(Criminals tried to escape through the border....I see.) I'm not.

[ She is.]

Alice: I'm a foreigner....I lost my way.....and I want to go home.

?: A foreigner from another country..... who's lost and came all the way to the capital?

Alice:....💧You can say that's the case.

?: *grin*......heh~......Should I accompany you,little lamb?

Alice: Oh....sure!(Free tour,who won't miss something like that.)

Later on

sfx: Du-dun!

Alice:.....J-jail...?

Will: [William Fork/ Jail Guard] that's right, criminal.

Alice: I'm not a criminal!!!!Get me outta here!!!

Will: That's the word criminals always say. Well.....the captain said to treat you well.....

Alice: Captain?! That guy is a captain?!

Will: Yes.

Alice: Let me talk to him!!!!!

Will: No way. He's a busy man...also you're a criminal.

Alice: Ugh.....this is nuts!!!......(My freedom....was taken again!!!)

Lucas: Ha.....I'm tired.[ Lucas Crest / 4th Prince]

Ryan: [ Ryan Castle / Prince Aide] Your highness.... please stop being lazy and do your work.

Lucas: Why would I?

Ryan: Oh my...such question isn't worth answering,your highness.

Lucas: Get out!

Ryan: yes.*leave*

Lucas: I'm bored.....(Hmm...thinking aback.... what happened to that little lamb?) Should I go visit?

Lain: [Lain Marquis ( Pronounced as La-In) / Personal Butler] Where to,your highness?

Lucas: To the little lamb I found earlier.

Jail

sfx: mutter

Alice:.....(Should I dig? Or break this wall.....? Wish I have the strength to do so!!!*cry*.....I'm so useless.....) Oh......(I'll act pitiful....that way......I can....)* round eyes*......(Oh sir guard....please let me out?)🥺🥺

Will:....💧.....(What is she doing?)

Lucas: Hmm.... desperate huh?...Well that won't work.

Alice:...!!!!! You!!!!.......Get me outta here!!! I'm not a criminal!!!!

Lucas:....!......(such impudence....) Identify yourself first.

Alice:....And why would I?Will you let me out if I said anything?

Lucas: I'll think about it.

Alice: No way!

Lucas:.....Oh my....such determination. Why did you want to go to the border?

Alice: To return home.

Lucas: Home?Where?

Alice: To..... Carlin.

Lucas:...(Carlin?.... Isn't that the fallen kingdom?).....But Carlin...no longer exist.

Alice:.....(huh....?) no....longer exist...... what are you talking about? A war broke out....but......why would Carlin.....why does it no longer exist?

Lucas: It was destroyed by the Linton Kingdom.....Carlin is just a small kingdom.....War between Lovia and Linton made Carlin into dust.

Alice:.....my.....*dizzy*......huff....huff....(Carlinian's.....Emily....what happened...!!!?)

Lucas:...huh....are you Al-

Alice:*collapse*...(Mom.....)

Prince Chamber

Alice:....(hmm?....why.....a comfy bed.....and.....again?!! Am I in the Count's estate again?!!) *spring*......huh?

Lucas: Oh.... you've woken up.

Alice:....Oh.....*on guard*...... Captain,right? Where am I?!

Lucas: You're in my chamber....you lost consciousness and collapse.

Alice:.....that.....what is this place?(It looks grand.....)

Lucas: The palace.

Alice: Ah..... palace. WHAT?!! PALACE?!

Lucas: Yes.

Alice: W-why would I be in the Palace?!

Lucas:Who knows.....well sorry for the late introduction....I'm Lucas Crest. 4th Prince of Lovia Kingdom.

Alice:.....eh............I'm busted.*faint*

Dinner

Alice:.....(What am I doing here?!!) *struggle*

[tied up]

Lucas: Eat.

Alice: How can I eat,when I'm all tied up?!

Lucas: Then....say ahhh

Alice: You psycho!!!!!......Let me go!!!!

Lucas: Calling me psycho.... you're brave huh. Are you not afraid of execution?

Alice:......I need to find my sister first,before you behead me.

Lucas:....what?

Alice:.....I have a mission. Once I fulfilled it....you can take my life.

Lucas:..Take your life....?

Alice: Use me as you fit,or even kill me.....but that's if you let me find my sister.

Lucas:.....pffft.....hahaha.....okay...okay.....that would be a deal between us. I'll help you find your sister,but after that, you're no longer free.....

Alice:...(this is the only way to find you Emily.....) If my sister live a comfy life, support her career and other things....you can take my freedom.

Lucas:....*grin*......Well, what's your name?

Alice:......I'm.......I'm Leticia Bleu. Call me Alice.

Lucas: Is that your nickname?

Alice:.....well...things got out of hand......anyway....Alice is my true nickname. My mom gave it to me....Though Alice and Leticia aren't related.

Lucas: It is. L-E-T-I-C-I-A....If you remove "TI".....you can spell the remaining letters to ALICE.

Alice: Oh....I see. So it's not completely unrelated.

Lucas:....well you seem to forgot who I am.

Alice: You're Lucas Crest,the 4th prince.

Lucas:💧.......Yes. I'm a Royal member.

Alice:.....sorry,but I'm a Carlin citizen....also....I'm a commoner.

Lucas: Which means?

Alice: We don't speak formally to Royalties from another kingdom..... especially to you,the prince of the kingdom who made my innocent kingdom fall.

Lucas: It was the Liston.

Alice: Anyway.....I'm sorry. That was a lie.....it just my habit to speak informally.

Lucas: (is she serious....? )

Alice: Well,your highness the Prince. Once this is over....I'll give you my loyalty and respect you as much as you want. But first, fulfill your promise to search for my sister.

Lucas: Okay. (Hmm... something's off with her....but I like her guts.)

Next Day

Palace Jail

Alice: (I'm in the Jail, wondering if I'll ever get out.....or even eat a meal....what a life I have.....*teary eyed*) What did I do wrong?!!! Let me out!!!!You Psycho!!!!!!

Lucas:hmm~....My ears are itchy...is someone talking about me?

Ryan: That could be the little lamb your highness cherish.

Lucas: Cherish?.....Hmm....so it looks like i did cherish her.....

Lain: Instead of Cherish,your highness,I think torture would befit.

Lucas:Heh~....I like it. Torture....am I really torturing her?

Ryan: *firm*You're not the kind of person to torture someone,your highness.(This fool..... don't he even know how to pick his words? If his highness realize that it's fun....that girl will suffer. It's not that I am siding with a criminal....but.....the 4th prince, despite his position as the weakest among the Royal Family,his highness are in different level. He loves making fun of others and toying around with them,working in the shadows and satisfying himself. That's the prince Lucas Crest. So....it would be worrisome if rumors spread about him torturing a criminal....that will blow his cover.)

Lucas:.....Ryan....how is the little lamb?

Ryan: She's cursing you,right now.

Lucas: Hahahaha.....such a girl. Oh,right...did you do a background check?

Ryan: Yes.

Lucas: Report.

Ryan: Leticia Bleu, daughter of Leica Aurum and Sorien Bleu. Siblings : Emily Bleu. Carlin citizen,lives in Oak tree,Carolina.

Lucas: How about her age?

Ryan: Same age as you,your highness....16.

Lucas: Oh.... we're the same age.

Ryan: She was born on April 12,so you are older than her in months.

Lucas: Interesting....she is a qualified crown princess in her age.

Ryan:.....!!!! Y-your highness....

Lucas: Hmm....I mispoke. I mean "suitable candidate to be a Royal prince wife"...right?

Ryan: She's a criminal.( Saying crown princess....makes my heart skip a beat. He doesn't mean,the wife of the 1st prince,but rather "his wife as the crown prince". )

Lucas: Then,I'll issue a pardon.

Ryan: Your highness!!!

Lucas: Why so tense?

Ryan: Taking a non-aristocrat as your love interest will hinder all your plans. Especially, she's not a noble!

Lucas:.....Ryan Castle....I'm not a fool....I'm just joking,okay?

Ryan:*grit*.....Hay....yes yes. (As if you are....)

Lucas: Should I go visit her?

Jail

Lucas:.... seriously...?

Alice:*sleeping*......*snore*

[Sleeping soundly]

Will: After cursing you,your highness,she just fell asleep.

Lucas: heh...interesting girl.....*poke her cheeks*

Alice:....hmm...*bothered*.....go.....g-o.....-way.....

Lucas:.....?.....hahahaha.....this girl really is interesting. *poke*

Alice:.....hngg....💢

Lucas:.....It's fun to watch her this way....hahaha....

Ryan: Your highness....stop touching that criminal.

Lucas: Hahaha...yes yes.

Alice:.....*asleep*....

Why?........Why am I the only one to suffer? After both of them died....I always make sure Emily is my priority even now....Can I just....live happy, prioritizing myself?Why....

-e...

Just why?

-lice

Why?!

Alice!

Alice:...huh?.....*eyes open*.....who....is it?

Lucas: Alice!

Alice:...Prince.... Lucas....

Lucas:At last.... I've been waking you up since earlier. Come on,get up. Or you love the jail so much ?

Alice: Huh?!Ah yes....I'll come!

Lunch

Lucas: What's your favorite food?

Alice:.... anything.

Lucas: You can't like anything...nor everything. So what's your favorite?

Alice:*blank*...... don't know.....(This psycho.... he's starting again...)

Lucas:....How about steak?or cookies?

Alice:.....*sigh*.....I love sweets....but....I also love soups and other dishes. If you ask my favorite,it's Sopas.*

[AN: Filipino Dish, creamy macaroni soup in other words.]

Lucas:Oh....I'll have them cook-

Alice: From Carlin.

Lucas:..... seriously...?

Alice: If you want to give me my favorites... that's all Carlin's dish.

Lucas:.....Then....should I give you some?

Alice:Huh?(Is he going to send someone to Carlin?Ah no...Carlin no longer exist....)How...? Carlin is already exterminated....

Lucas:*point his finger in his head*...... Through this.

Kitchen

Alice: Y-you're cooking them....?

Lucas: I'm not just a prince who stand by and do nothing.*chop,slice*

Alice: But...how did you know how to cook Carlin's dish?

Lucas: My mom....had a friend...and taught her many things about Carlin. Then,Mom taught it to me.

Alice:....oh.... where's your mom?

Lucas:..... She's.... faraway.

Alice:*glum*.....oh....me too. Both of them.....

Lucas:.....are you lonely without them?

Alice: Sure...but...having Emily was fun all along....

Lucas: What about now?

Alice:.....*look down*.....It's blank.

Lucas:....(blank?)

Alice: My world depend on the space I see in my mind. If my mind is blank,it means I don't know what to do. But if it's flowery,thorny,or just black....means my emotion are swallowing me.

Lucas:....*lean*.....What are you seeing right now?

Alice:.....red.

Lucas: Means?

Alice: My anger is covering my most wonderful personality, because I'm seeing you,your highness.

Lucas:......pfft...!!!! Hahahahahah!!!!!

Alice:.....*sigh*......

Lucas: Lying can be treasonous, especially to a Royal Family.

Alice:.....ha....ha...ha.... Actually it's all black now...

Lucas: Means?

Alice: My annoyance towards you increased to the fullest.

Lucas: Pfft.... hahahahahaha!!!!You sure are funny!

Alice:.....hay.....

Lucas:Then,I'll reward you for making me laugh today,say Ahhh~

Alice:....💧why would-

[Lucas didn't even let her say Ahh~,he stuck a spoon as long as she spoke.]

Lucas: How is it?

Alice:....mwat{hot}....*spoon stuck in her mouth*

Lucas: Hmm???Shot?who?

Alice: Myou!Ish shwat Myou!!!{you!!I'll shot you!} swayko!!{Psycho!!}

Lucas:.....I can't understand you....

Later

Alice:*chomp*.... delicious....!!

Lucas:*proud*....Of course....I'm the cook,afterall!!!

Alice:....to think your highness have a talent.

Lucas: I always have.

Alice:....Thank you...

Lucas:Huh?oh... it's fine.

Alice:....can I ask you something?

Lucas:Go on.

Alice: Why are you being kind towards me?

Lucas:..... because..... you're the little lamb I found.

Alice:Huh...?

Lucas:..... because you're mine. So I have to treat you well....

Alice:.....even I spoke informally?

Lucas: *pat* Leticia Bleu....you are you. Put yourself first once in a while.....

Alice:........*hug*.....Thank you....(my mind...feels heavy...)

Lucas:*blush*..... H-hey..... aren't you too close?-

Alice:*fall*.....

Lucas: ALICE!!!!

Prince Chamber

Lucas:*anxious*..... what's wrong with her? Why isn't she waking up?

Doc: Umm....💧your highness.... she's alright. She just fainted because of the change of environment. Also because of stress.

Lucas: She's fine? Are you kidding me?*menacing*Wake her up.

All:....*scared*......(Scary.....!!!!!)

Lucas: Quick!!!

Doc: umm....*panic*.....(what to do...?!) umm....Mila-

Alice: COFFEE....'N!!!*faint*

All:*shocked*.....!!!!

Lucas: What's wrong with her? Why is she asking for a coffin?!!

Doc: *panic* I have no idea your highness!!!(Did I hear Coffee 'n? Or did I hear it wrong?)

Alice:.....hngg.....cream....puff.....gelato.....cake.....Choco.....

Lucas:.....Ryan....

Ryan: Yes?

Lucas: Did you write everything she said?

Ryan: Yes,your highness. Cream Puff,Gelato,Cake,Choco and...for the earlier word,Coffee.

Lucas: Good. Now you quack doctor! Wake her up.

Doc: Ecckk!!!.....(Q-quack...??!) Yes....Milady.....wake up....(I'm begging you!!!!Wake up!!!!!!)

[Alice slap the doctor's hand,and continue sleeping]

Lucas:......💢Step aside. *approach*.....Hey little lamb,what kind of dish you want to turn into?

Alice:.......

Lucas: Oh....Cream soup may fit...

Alice:.....*wakes*.....I'm all awake.

Lucas: Now get up and go back to your room.

Alice: Yes.*leave*

Lucas:.....pfft Hahahahahaha!!!! That girl really.... she's interesting.....

Ryan: What do you mean Room,your highness?

Lucas: Well,the Jail is now her room....

Ryan: *sigh*..... That's why she fainted earlier.....Jail is cold.....and lots of dirty things are on it. It's the ground of course!

Lucas: Oh.... really? When did you became so concern about her? Do you like her?

Ryan: Back to you,your highness.

Lucas: Hahaha.... you're interesting too,Ryan. I'll visit her later....

Lain: Your highness,His Majesty wants you to join in the hall.

Lucas: Okay...well,Ryan....check on her.

Ryan: Yes.

Hall/Discussion Hall

Reo: I greet your majesty and his highness,Prince Lucas

Riko: Greetings Count Reonaldo El Dutche. As for the word in your letter....is it true?

Reo: Yes...my daughter was kidnapped. It was in the middle of the night when she went missing.

Riko: Well,I'll heed to your request,I'll help you find her. I have sent the Royal Guards to find her throughout the country.

Lucas:.....(Huh.... sending Royal Guards will only weaken the Palace security...what is father thinking?!)

Riko: And the portrait?

Reo: Here,your majesty.

[A portrait of a girl so elegant. The same face as Leticia Bleu.]

Lucas:.......(Isn't that....Alice?!).....

Reo: Alright.

After-Jail

Lucas:*quick*.....(That girl....is she really Leticia Bleu?)*opens*

Alice: Kyaa!.....Who...? Oh...my prince!

Lucas:....Who are you....?!

Alice:.....hmm....??? Leticia Bleu.

Lucas: Your father came asking for help....just to find you. You have the portrait....I just saw.

Alice:......well,that wasn't me.

Lucas:.....?!!

Alice: I didn't lie to you even a little. Alicia Margareth El Dutche wasn't me. After the war in Carlin...the body of Alicia was swapped. And I....her identical someone.....was sent here.

Lucas:.....is it true?

Alice: why would I lie to you?

Lucas: Then...*opens the jail*.....Follow me!

Alice: Huh?!!W-wait!!!

Prince Chamber

Lucas: Stay here.... I'll ask Ryan what to do.

Alice: Okay.....💧

Ryan: Your highness....I think.... letting her pretend she is Alicia El Dutche,will help you in your plan. Also,if she do so, she's a qualified noble. And?

Lucas: "suitable candidate to be the Royal Prince Wife"

Ryan: Yes!(Having him false hope....this is for your sake,prince!!)

Lucas: Okay....you got a point. Hey Alice..... mind if we talk?

To be continued....

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