Chapter 45 (2/2)

”I guess.”

SoYoon remembered his white face with tears falling in huge drops as he cried that he was in pain. He had looked like he was insane or really about to die. It was a side of him she had never seen before. Had he always been in that much pain?

”If you want to fix that head once and for all, you should go see Alice. As I said before, she has…”

Mad Hatter blocked her mask-covered mouth, pushed back her bangs, and looked into her eyes.

Able to see clearly now, she noticed a mixture of complicated emotions revealed in his face.

”Don't talk about that girl anymore. I already know you are a fool and stubborn.”

Mad Hatter hugged SoYoon. The action was stiff, understandable for someone who usually had no physical contact with other people. This time, she didn't push him away. The refreshing and slightly sweet scent of eucalyptus called her heart.

”It's okay to not worry about useless things like that,” Mad Hatter whispered in her ear. He was smiling wispily. SoYoon couldn't say anything in response.

A few moments later, the two of them separated as though nothing had happened. As always, Mad Hatter scolded her for ordering her patches on short notice and handed her the ones he had already made in preparation. She walked out of Mad Hatter's house after paying him, and he watched the back of her quietly to himself.

***

A white light flowed out of Alice's beautiful hands, a light that reflected the warmth and peace of the healing powers it possessed. As Alice removed her hands, the light left her and traveled to the girl covered in blood.

The girl felt the pain leave her body and stared blankly at the other girl in front of her. Alice's eyes met the girl's, and she smiled as she said, ”You're all right now.”

She got up after the healing was complete. The girl rose with her and grabbed the end of Alice's clothes.

”I…”

”Remove your hands.”

Next to Alice was a guard who frowned at her threateningly. He was a man who had come to the pub she worked at many times.

”Jeremy.”

The girl, embarrassed, called his name, but the man slapped her hands away. He pushed away Alice from the girl, and as she got further away, Alice waved her hands.

”I hope you stay well!”

The girl stumbled up as she was left alone. The girl walking away from her under the sunlight was breathtaking. Even though the beautiful girl who healed her didn't reveal who she was, if Heart's men were guarding her that protectively, then there was only one person it could be: Heart's girlfriend, who had come from Outhouse.

The girl slowly turned around. When the sun set, she had to go back to where she was from. Stay well? For those born and raised in Wonderland, such a thing was not even likely to happen in dreams. She laughed bitterly and walked into the dark streets.

No secret could be kept a secret forever—especially if the bearer has no intention of keeping it. Alice was the miracle girl. Through the mouths of the people she healed, the secret spread from place to place. After she had killed Alice Liddell, she looked to anyone who saw her like a blooming flower on the path of a golden road.

Alice had many complaints about the situation, however. She should have run into Mad Hatter by now, but he was nowhere in sight.

Maybe the rumors haven't spread as fast as I had hoped. If that is the case, should I swallow my pride and find him myself? I do have the perfect excuse. She turned around to head back to the house.