Alice's smile blossomed like a sunrise as she locked her gaze on Max, but her next words, sent through the quiet intimacy of voice transmission, carried a far more cautious tone. "You promised you'd come to the Middle Domain, and you did. I'm truly happy about that, Max. But for now… we should act like we're only acquaintances."
She paused for a brief instant, her mental voice growing more subdued, tinged with frustration and faint bitterness. "I've come here with some of my family members. They're just here to keep an eye on me. I hate them. They never let me do anything I want. Everything I do, everywhere I go, they're always watching, making sure I am 'safe.'"
Her beautiful red hair seemed to catch fire under the shifting light as she finished, her eyes flickering briefly toward the bustling crowd behind her.
