"Yooooo~ Alice-chan~ Long time no see! Has it been three days, or four?"
At the entrance to the Apollo Familia's home, Loki, dressed in a full male tuxedo, raised a hand and called out a greeting to Alice, who wasn't far away.
And standing right beside Loki was Lefiya.
"Ara, Lord Loki." Alice, who had been just about to enter the Apollo Familia's estate, turned around at the sound of Loki's voice. Seeing Loki in men's clothing, she looked surprised. "Lord Loki, why are you dressed as a man?" Alice tilted her head, gazing at Loki with confusion.
"Oof.." Hearing Alice's words, Loki clutched her chest, her expression turning somewhat pained.
"Alice-chan, let's just let it slide this time, alright? Please don't ever ask about such a heartbreaking thing again, okay?"
"Heartbreaking thing?" Alice grew even more puzzled. "But Lord Loki, you look quite dashing in that outfit."
"Guh!!"
As if struck by a critical blow, Loki clutched her chest and stumbled backward, falling directly onto Lefiya.
"Lord Loki, please be serious." Lefiya, who had caught Loki, had a face full of exasperated lines. "Before we left, Miss Ais saw you like this and said the same thing, didn't she? Hearing it again now, would you really feel hurt?"
"Ah! Lefiya, you! How dare you expose me like this!" Loki was visibly indignant at Lefiya's betrayal.
"Now my plan to pretend to be wounded by Alice-chan's words and seek comfort is ruined! I never should have brought you along!"
"You were the one who turned red in the face when you heard Apollo might make a move against Alice, begging me to bring you along! And this is the thanks I get!?"
"Ah! Ah! Ah!" Loki's words immediately made Lefiya's face flush bright red. Frantically, she tried to cover Loki's mouth. "Lord Loki! Don't say that out loud!"
"Hmph!" Loki wore a thoroughly tsundere expression, then turned back to Alice, grabbing her hand and looking at her expectantly. "Hey, hey, Alice-chan, there's definitely going to be a dance later. I'll bet you don't have a partner, right? So, how about joining me?"
"Haah... I suppose that's fine." Alice let Loki hold her hand, not feeling particularly disgusted about it.
"Lefiya, sorry for making you worry," Alice said with a smile to the elf.
The feeling of someone being concerned about her was actually quite nice.
Hearing Alice's words, Lefiya scratched her head sheepishly, looking down at the ground. "It's fine. As long as you're okay, Alice. If anything happens, no matter what it is, I'll help."
"Is that so? Thank you." Alice looked at Lefiya with gentle eyes.
"Ooh ya~~~" Loki's narrow eyes, squinted into slits, were now fixed intently on Lefiya. "So that's why you begged me to bring you along to this banquet, Lefiya."
"You, a lecherous elf who's supposed to be hung up on Ais, have you shifted your affections!?" Loki pointed an accusing finger at Lefiya.
"I am not lecherous!!" Lefiya shrieked, her pretty face turning crimson with anger.
"Lecherous elf~ lecherous elf~~" Chanting teasingly, Loki tugged Alice along, skipping and hopping as she entered the Apollo Familia's home, with Lefiya chasing after them.
The Apollo Familia's estate was also quite a nice manor.
Though its scale was a bit inferior to the Loki Familia's, stylistically, the Apollo Familia's home was actually rather more impressive.
Passing through the courtyard and entering the Apollo Familia's mansion, Loki, familiar with the place, led Alice straight to the second floor where the banquet was being held.
"But, Alice-chan, while this banquet probably isn't a friendly one for you, until Apollo makes his move, it's still time to have fun."
"Although that dress of yours is very pretty, Alice-chan, and perfectly fine for a banquet, a formal gown would still be better, don't you think?" Loki looked Alice up and down.
"Lord Loki, you just said this dress is very pretty, so there's really no need to change into a gown, is there?" Although Lili had bought her a gown, Alice hadn't worn it here.
"Besides, since Apollo plans to cause trouble, I might end up fighting the Apollo Familia right when the banquet starts. So this outfit is the most suitable."
The great hall was crowded, but Alice didn't know basically anyone there.
Loki probably knew them all, but didn't seem to have any intention of going over to greet anyone.
After hearing Alice's words, Loki asked in a hushed tone, "Alice-chan, if Apollo really plans to move against you at the banquet, what are you going to do? If you truly intend to disrupt this party, none of the gods present will help you."
Lefiya, standing beside Loki, couldn't help but look worriedly at Alice.
But a slight smile played on Alice's lips. "Loki, let me ask you something." The smile on Alice's face became incredibly captivating.
"What?"
"As a god, if something truly interesting were to happen, what would you do?"
"Interesting thing?"
"Mmm. For example, what if the Apollo Familia were to vanish during this banquet? Don't you think that would be interesting?" Alice looked at Loki, her face still graced by that smile.
Seeing the smile on Alice's face, Loki's lips curled upwards. "Alice-chan, before the gods descended, heroes represented those who saved the world, saved the people, and destroyed evil."
"But, opposite to heroes, there also existed beings who bewitched hearts and led people to ruin."
"The feeling you're giving me right now is exactly like that."
"I can see it already. Apollo will be captivated by you, and then he will head straight for destruction."
Even as she said this, Loki was clearly growing more excited. "To think that before a hero appears in this world, a witch would show up first."
"A witch. That's a familiar, yet distant, title." Alice gave a light laugh. "So, Lord Loki, do you think the gods present would find it interesting if a god's Familia were to be destroyed by a witch?"
"Of course!" Loki raised a hand, giving Alice a thumbs-up. "Since you're willing to shoulder the name of 'Witch,' then go ahead and do it. Just like I told you before, no matter what, the Loki Familia will back you up."
"Then I'll be in your care, Lord Loki."
Alice lifted the hem of her skirt slightly and curtsied to Loki.
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T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
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