This is bad…
Both girls thought it at the exact same moment as they watched Alice casually settle into the seat beside them—completely unaware of the chaos her mere presence stirred.
As usual, Alice looked like a princess pulled straight out of a fairy tale, effortlessly enchanting.
Even with half the colosseum sneaking glances at her, she simply accepted the attention with her usual unbothered grace, waving lightly whenever someone called her name.
It wasn't the stares that made Emilia and Athy stiffen.
It was something far more dangerous.
S-She doesn't know… right?
Athy swallowed hard, trying very hard not to let her trembling show as she sneaked a glance at Alice.
Her heart thudded so loudly she wondered if Emilia could hear it.
What she had done wasn't a crime—technically.
But depending on how one looked at it, it could definitely fall under… slander.
Or misinformation.
Or something equally terrible when directed at someone as influential as—
Riley.
