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ceruleanwhore · 2 years ago

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I was just going back through some Wonderful Wonder World/Alice in the Country of Hearts/Heart no Kuni no Alice stuff and I wanted to make a little post in case there’s anyone out there who doesn’t speak Japanese and is looking to get into the series with just what’s available in English but doesn’t really know where to start. This is going to be kind of an overview of what order I personally would go in with everything I’ve seen in English based on what’s good, what makes sense, and what flows well.

First off, I would strongly suggest skipping the base, main manga that’s just called “Alice in the Country of Hearts.” It’s the one that you’ve probably seen either in like a dozen small volumes or three really big ones and the thing about it is that it’s pretty long but it isn’t good and anyone who is at all familiar with the Japanese version can tell you how badly they butchered Blood’s character, which really matters since he’s the main love interest in this one. He was frankly infuriating to read and I hated him and the story and everyone I’ve seen talk about this subseries of the Alice manga agrees with me.

The other thing I would suggest is not watching the movie they put out because it’s honestly really confusing. Where I think they didn’t go in the best direction they could’ve and they really didn’t make a movie that’s watchable or at all understandable to people who don’t really know the series is that they conflated the different sequels and stuff and kind of jumped right into the Country of Joker. The other thing about it is that the pacing and the way they jump between scenes and how they go from flashbacks and dreams to the actual, current action is very confusing because there aren’t stark enough boundaries between those so you easily lose track of if you’re in a flashback or a dream or not. It might be on purpose because they thought it was a stylistic choice that would emulate the strange, confusing nature of the world, but it just makes for a confusing movie that’s really hard to follow, especially for anyone new to the series.

With that out of the way, this is the order I would read all the manga in. This is all manga that I’ve been able to either purchase in English or find translated online (Country of Clocks is amazing and @vocaotome has a wonderful, very extensive list of English translations of the Alice series stuff, if you want to go looking for any of it.)

Start with White Rabbit and Some Afternoon Tea. For the record, every Alice manga starts with a recap of her going down the rabbit hole and coming to Wonderland, so you get the background information no matter what you start with, but this one has the most about Alice outside of Wonderland aside from the main base series. Also, Peter makes for a very logical choice for a first love interest and this story in particular does a good job of really introducing the reader to the Country of Hearts and the characters and the worldbuilding and everything. This is also one I was able to get from Country of Clocks online.

Next for me would be Mad Hatter’s Late Night Tea Party. This one’s optional since I had to buy it and you can’t find it anywhere online, but I actually really liked it, which I wasn’t expecting given how much I hated the Alice in the Country of Hearts books that were also centered on Blood. However, while it is still through that same company that did that other horrid translation, I really think this version of Blood is infinitely better and makes for a great follow-up to that first introduction of White Rabbit. You also get some important plot and worldbuilding stuff with this one, which is why I have it listed second.

My Fanatic Rabbit. Like the previous one, this one is also two volumes but it’s about Elliot instead of Blood, which is honestly why I think it makes for a nice segue from a Blood-centered story, since it’s more of the Hatters. This also does get a bit more into Elliot and Blood’s backstory stuff and gives some more information there.

The Clockmaker’s Story and Love Labyrinth of Thorns. I can’t remember if these are online or not since I did buy them, but I personally really like and recommend them. Both are about Julius, and I think it makes sense to save them for last in the Country of Hearts stuff because, by now, you’ve seen Blood and Elliot and their perspectives on his character and all this stuff about him, which sets it up rather nicely. They’re both standalone, single books and I’m honestly not sure if it matters what order you read them in.

Moving onto the first sequel and the Country of Clover, definitely start Clover with Cheshire Cat Waltz since that is definitely the default and, unlike Alice in the Country of Hearts, it’s actually really good and I think it does a good job of introducing the new country and new characters. It focuses on Boris, so while Alice is reeling from suddenly landing in a new country and at first seeming to not have any of the people there with her from the Country of Hearts whom she’d gotten close to by then, he then comes in to be a familiar face and reassuring presence for her. It makes for a good dynamic and I think it helps with the introduction of all this new stuff while accurately dealing with and showing her emotions around it. You actually probably could find these at a library, too, since they’re really mainstream and did get widely published and everything.

Next up I think I’d do the ones with Ace, Knight of Hearts and Knight’s Knowledge. Similar in concept to the Boris stuff, he’s another familiar face in a new, unfamiliar place and they’re kinda just fun and short and, because it’s Ace, also pretty chaotic.

Definitely Black Lizard, Bitter Taste. This is also just my personal favorite of all the Alice manga and I love it SO MUCH. Alas, they never published an English translation so you can only find it online, but it’s sooooo good. This one is about Gray and does a lot more with the new characters from this country.

The Lizard Aide, maybe. Super optional, I know I never really liked Job’s art all that much and it is just a little oneshot so I leave that up to you, but it’s also about Gray so I’d put it after the other one.

Nightmare. Keep in mind, this is the little standalone from Clover, not The Nightmare Trilogy from Joker. Tbh this one, in my opinion, has the best of the art I’ve seen from Job and it’s kinda fun. The other thing you need to know about Job though is that they write their stuff differently than the other manga people do, so where a lot of the other manga reads like it’s all supposed to be part of this same collection of manga that’s kind of standing in for the absence of the game, Job’s stuff reads a lot more like it’s supplementary to the game. It still makes sense and it still can be fun, but it definitely has a different vibe to it and I think that’s the most accurate way to put it. This becomes especially clear in the aforementioned trilogy in Joker which I will get into later. Oh, last thing is that I thiiiink you can find this online but I seem to remember it’s pretty difficult to find, so you might have to hunt a bit, same with The Lizard Aide.

March Hare and March Hare’s Revolution. These are both really cute little standalones that focus on Elliot and I honestly like them a lot more than My Fanatic Rabbit from the Country of Hearts stuff, even though I do also like those.

Bloody Twins and Twin Lovers are definitely optional. I personally don’t like them, they frankly make me uncomfortable but, if you want to read them, I would do them probably after Elliot but you could do them before if you prefer.

Moving onto Joker, there’s only two things so definitely start with Circus and Liars’ Game because that’s all the main plot you’re going to get. Then, if you want to read The Nightmare Trilogy, go back in with that, and frame it in your mind as like if you were going to read some oneshot fanfic about Nightmare and the Country of Joker, because that’s definitely how it reads. Unlike all the others, this really doesn’t stand on its own and each of the three books are their own separate thing that don’t go together in one cohesive narrative. It’s honestly kind of weird and some of the things they decided to do in the story kind of annoyed me (like flagrantly throwing around and wasting massive McGuffins with enormous potential) but overall it is fun in the way that fanfic can be.

Love, Storms, and Flower Clocks. This is a good introduction to the crazy storm and the Twin World stuff and the mad eggs because it’s still mainly just about Alice living her normal life and, in this one, being with Julius, but while you have those familiar elements, this other stuff is then introduced as well.

Eggs of Love Come Rolling Down. This one is online only for English, and it’s just really about Humpty and Dumpty. This really should be read after the previous one I listed because it just jumps right into the mad eggs and everything and at least if you read the other one first you’ll have some concept of what’s going on.

Very optional Dia no Kuni fanbook stuff, and if you do decide that you want to start poking into that mirror world stuff, I would dredge up and look at as much as you possibly can because there’s so little of it that you really need all you can get just to understand the concept of it and what’s going on.

That brings me to my next point, which is that even though you can only get the fan translation of the first game in English, @vocaotome has detailed English summaries of a lot of the routes from all the games (except Spade) so you can kind of read through the routes and get the plot even if you can’t play the games. That being said, I have not done so myself but you absolutely can download and play Anniversary no Kuni in English on your computer if you want to do that as well. So anyway, hope this helps!

#hnkna #cnkna #jnkna #dnkna #wonderful wonder world #wonderful twin world #wonderful mirror world #heart no kuni #clover no kuni #joker no kuni #daiya no kuni #alice in the country of hearts #alice in the country of clover #alice in the country of joker #alice in the country of diamonds #quinrose #alice series

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wildflower-otome · 3 months ago

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[Translation] Joker no Kuni no Alice - Always, Forever - Peter White Short Story (Last Half)

Always, Forever - Joker no Kuni no Alice - Peter White Short Story (Last Half) Source

‘Alice!’

‘I’m back, Peter.’

Still with a sweet-looking smile on his face, Peter immediately ran over to me.

Behind the Rabbit, Vivaldi had gotten hold of Ace.

‘Alice! Alice! Where were you!? I’ve been so lonely without you here.....’

Peter was always straightforward in showing his affection for me.

At the same time that it put me at ease that he never tried to hide it, there were also times when it caused trouble.

(It’d be nice if he could be a little bit more restrained)

‘Yeah. Just had something to do at Joker’s.’

It was clear from Peter’s face when I made my answer that he wasn’t happy about where I had been.

‘Joker, is it.....’

From his voice I could tell he was not just unhappy, but worried.

(.....It’s not like I don’t understand how he feels)

I remembered the events at the prison.

Peter, who had come to get me back after I had gotten lost.

The terrible wounds he had suffered.

(Although it’s not as if Joker was the one that did that to him.....)

To speak using the terminology of this world, it had been something that had occurred in his territory.

It was understandable that Peter would be wary.

(.....But, I guess it’s not just that)

I knew.

The chief reason that Peter didn’t like me going there.

There was only one thing he worried about.

And that was.....me.

I wasn’t being self-conceited; he did not care about anything but me.

All of Peter’s emotions were directed towards me.

His concern, his attachment.

Everything.

(It’s because I’m always getting lost)

I had never spoken to anyone about it before, but Peter likely knew.

It wasn’t only during the Circus that I got lost there.

Even in my everyday life, I often wandered in.

That cold Prison.

The place where my older sister was.

Peter was always facing towards me.

And I was always being drawn to the Prison.

Compared to his wholeheartedness, it was a mysterious yet encroaching feeling.

‘Alice?’

‘Hm? What is it?’

Peter peered into my face, looking concerned.

His figure as he did so overlapped with that of a person with a gentle smile.

Someone pure, who could never have committed a sin.

(Even so, I wonder why)

Right now, for some reason, she was locked away in that cold Prison.

She was in there, still smiling as brightly as ever.

(.....Joker is keeping her there)

The next one to overlap was the face of the clown who I had gotten to know through April season.

His figure dressed as a clown, and his figure dressed as a prison guard.

Both of them overlapped with Peter.

(Even though he’s so pure, this Rabbit can shoot someone as if it’s nothing)

A dual nature.

Peter, who overlapped with Joker.

And with my sister.

Does that mean that my beautiful sister also has two sides to her?

‘Are you feeling unwell? You seem far away.....’

‘.....It’s nothing.’

They overlapped.

Nonetheless, it was only for an instant.

In just the blink of an eye, the illusion faded.

(An illusion.....)

Why had I seen an illusion?

Why had Peter and my sister.....and also, Joker, overlapped?

(Why?)

I didn’t understand.

My mind was foggy, and I couldn’t think.

Once it had become April Season I was often assailed by this feeling.

That there was something important, but I couldn’t remember what it was.

A frustrating feeling.

The awfulness of almost understanding, but not understanding.

(.....They’re similar somehow.)

I had a feeling that this sensation was the same as what I had felt on first coming to this world.

Back when I had thought of this world as nothing more than a dream.

I had felt it each time I had heard Nightmare whisper, ‘This is a dream.’

A dream or reality.

A lie or the truth.

It all became vague, and I could no longer tell.

It was very similar to that feeling.

(Even now, I-)

‘..........’

‘Alice, are you really alright?’

‘Ah, yeah.....’

A hand was waving front of my eyes.

At Peter’s voice and hand, I came back to my senses.

(???)

(This feels strange somehow.....)

Even I thought something was off.

I couldn’t help but think of a lot of things.

A lot of trivial things.....Things that were pointless, even if I were to think about them.

Is this a dream?

Was the Rabbit before my eyes, who thought only of me, a product of a dream?

(.....I have to stop)

Shaking my head, I pushed the nonsensical thoughts out of my mind.

Thinking of things that couldn’t be helped even if you were to think about them was a waste of time.

Rather, I should be spending my time on something more worthwhile.

‘Speaking of which, Peter. Do you have some spare time after this?’

For example, going out somewhere with the White Rabbit.

‘Yes, of course. For your sake, I will have as much spare time as you like!’

‘In other words, you do have other things you should be doing.’

‘That’s not true! I do have spare time! Plenty! Too much in fact!’

(Is it really OK for a Prime Minister to be so energetic about having nothing to do?)

‘.....You really are free? You don’t have any more work left to do?’

‘None whatsoever! It appears you like rabbits that do their jobs, so I worked hard and got it all done!’

‘You should be making sure to do your work, regardless of what I think.....’

Though that was what I said, I was smiling.

(Feels kind of ticklish.....)

Affection that was easy to understand, and obvious actions.

He was always like this.

‘If that’s the case, do you want to go out somewhere now?’

‘! Of course, with pleasure!’

‘What a delight to be able to go on a date with you! I’m a happy Rabbit!’

Just as he had said, the broadly smiling Peter seemed happy.

Seeing him like this made me feel the same way too.

‘This time I’m thinking of going on an autumn outing. It is a bit far though.....’

‘Whether near or far, I do not mind. No, far away is even better! We can spend more time out, and if I can go out with you, I-.....)

‘What’s this? You two are going out somewhere?’

‘!’

As I was speaking to Peter, I was suddenly hugged.

Red clothes standing out in my field of vision and a friendly sounding voice.

Without even needing to guess, I knew it was Ace.

‘-!? C-Could you not suddenly cling on to me like that?’

‘So it would be alright if it wasn’t sudden?’

‘Of course it wouldn’t, and you know it!’

‘~~~~-‘

I tried my best to struggle free from his arms, but he was a Knight after all.

With my level of strength, it was no use.

‘.....Will you not remove those filthy hands of yours? Ace.’

The sound of a metallic click.

‘You’re dirtying her.’

‘I told you, I don’t have the kind of germs that would transfer just from doing something like this. .....Although, if I did do something more amazing, maybe something might?’

‘If you like, why don’t I give it a test? Just how far I can go before germs transfer, that is.’

His whisper in my ear sent shivers down my spine.

But not out of any kind of feelings of attraction..... from fear.

(Hey, don’t provoke him-.....)

The temperature of Peter’s gaze had reached freezing point.

In comparison, Ace was still smiling his usual smile.

‘That won’t be necessary. Such a thing.....To even think of it is repulsive.’

The atmosphere in the vicinity was incomparably chilly, even to how it had been earlier.

Cold enough that even though it was spring it seemed about to freeze over.

My work colleagues occasionally directed worried glances towards me, but it didn’t appear they planned on intervening.

(Well, guess that can’t be helped)

To the women, Peter and Ace were their superiors.

Even if subordinates were to interrupt a conversation between those above them, there would be nothing they could do.

But even before all that, I didn’t want them to help.

Because it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that they would be risking their lives.

(Vivaldi, help.....)

It wasn’t just my colleagues in this place, the most powerful person in the Castle was also here.

If it was her, she would be able to stop the two of them.

‘Hm?’

As she sipped tea, seemingly in a bad mood, she noticed my gaze.

‘.....Ace. Stop that. You’re causing Alice trouble.’

The discerning Queen had correctly taken up the meaning of my look.

Looking annoyed, she admonished Ace.

‘Oh? Alice, was I causing you trouble?’

‘Of course you were..... Hurry up and let me go already.’

‘Hahaha, sorry about that, alright? Causing trouble for a girl wouldn’t be very Knight-like of me.’

As he laughed, Ace moved away the arms he had wrapped around me.

Not wasting a moment, this time Peter was the one to pull me into an embrace.

‘I don’t care about anyone else, but causing her trouble is an act worthy of a thousand deaths. Please die immediately.’

‘What on earth are you saying now too.....’

I held down Peter’s hand as he went to brandish his gun.

No matter how accustomed to it I had become, I wished he would stop being so ready to shoot all the time.

‘It doesn’t matter, so let’s hurry up and go, shall we?’

These were my true feelings.

I wanted to set out with Peter as soon as possible.

I wanted to go around and see lots of things, just the two of us.

Just as Peter had said before, I wanted to enjoy April Season.

I wanted to create memories of all the seasons.

Together with Peter.

‘.....Yes, you’re right. I’m sorry, Alice. It was foolish of me to respond to someone like Ace so seriously.’

‘It’s fine. Well then, we should go, let’s not bother with someone like Ace.’

‘”Someone like me”..... You two are so heartless. Ahahahahaha.’

Ignoring the Knight laughing refreshingly, I continued the conversation.

‘I had Joker change the season to autumn. We still haven’t gone out all that much in autumn yet, right? So.....’

‘Autumn? If that’s the case, there’s a great date spot you could go to.’

Still, to butt in even while being ignored was a habit for Ace.

Pleasantly, as if it were only natural, he joined in on our conversation.

‘It’s a place where the autumn leaves look really beautiful. It might take a bit of effort, but there’s nothing like the view from up there.’

‘Is that so.....’

‘Yep! When you look down, it’s all completely red, a real sight to see.’

(Autumn leaves.....)

I had seen them before in the garden of the cafe Peter had taken me.

They had been very beautiful but.....it had been an arranged, artificial kind of beauty.

The place Ace was recommending to us was, most likely, the complete opposite.

It was probably a place one could see the type of beauty untouched by human interference.

(....That might not be such a bad idea)

‘If it’s that good, maybe we’ll go have a look. Peter, is that alright with you?’

‘If you wish to go, it is absolutely fine with me! Even if it is a place someone like Ace told us about.’

‘You guys keep talking about me like that.....So harsh, and here I was nice enough to tell you about it.’

‘Well then, let’s go.’

After I’d thanked Ace for his help, we began to set out.

‘Ah. Just so you know, it’s a place that’s kind of out of the way, not many people go up there. So, no matter what you get up to, I don’t think you’ll have any problems, you see? There’ll be no one to interrupt.’

I purposely pretended to not hear the last words Ace had thrown out from behind us as we were walking away.

(The only thing you needed to tell us was how to get there. You XXX knight!)

+++

Peter and I walked through the autumn territory.

‘Hm~m, I think we’re supposed to go straight down this path, right.....?’

‘Yes, I think that’s probably right.’

We continued on, remembering Ace’s instructions.

Once we climbed up the stone steps this path came out on, we would reach our destination.....or so we were supposed to, anyway.

(.....This is Ace we’re talking about, after all)

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that he was a man whose special skill was the ability to easily get lost.

Even if he himself thought he was telling us the right way, there was a high possibility that he was wrong.

‘Just to be safe, should we check with someone at one of the shops around here?’

‘Merely speaking to a faceless will likely get us utterly covered in germs but.....I suppose it cannot be helped. We are finally on a date after all, it would be better than finding ourselves lost.....’

‘Just talking to someone won’t get you covered in germs.....’

‘Do you want to rest for a while and drink some tea while we’re at it? I am a little tired.....’

It had been a fair distance to this place from the Castle.

And not only that, there had been so many people it had been hard to make progress, I’d become a bit exhausted.

‘! My apologies, Alice! I didn’t notice that you were tired..... Ah, what an inconsiderate Rabbit I am!’

‘You don’t need to apologise, let’s just go in.’

‘But-.....’

‘It’s fine, here-.’

Taking the hand of the Rabbit who had started to panic, I headed for a cafe that had caught my eye.

‘Alice, are you hungry? We’re in no hurry, after all.....Not just tea, you can eat as well, you know?’

‘That’s true.....Maybe I’ll take you up on that and order some cake.’

I answered while looking at a sign near the door that read ‘Autumn Cake Fair.’

The interior of the store wasn’t all that large.

Further in was the seating, with the display case and cash register near the doorway.

(Huh.....?)

The display case was lined with adorable looking toy-like cakes.

Normally, the overwhelming majority of people lining up for such things would be women.

However, this store was different.

As if to hide the display case from any customers coming in, a line of men were standing in front of it, all in a row.....

(What’s with this group.....)

A colourful, cute-looking café.

And a suit-wearing group that didn’t seem to fit the look of such a place.

Truth be told, it was an eerie looking scene.

(W-Wait, there are guys that do like sweets after all.....and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that but.....)

Still, it was peculiar.

‘Hm~m.....Perhaps I should get the Mont Blanc after all.....Ah, but it is difficult to turn down the milk crepe, it is the top recommended item here.....’

(Oh?)

(This voice.....)

‘You can buy whatever you like so.....Let’s quickly finish up here and return home, Lord Nightmare.’

‘As it is, our negotiations with the Hatter dragged on longer than expected..... We must return as soon as possible.’

‘Don’t rush me. I’ll decide soon.’

‘So you have been saying for some time now, yet you still haven’t made up your mind.’

‘He’s right. Please hurry up and decide. It’s alright to just buy everything you want to eat so-....’

‘I can’t do that. It would be a waste to buy an amount I can’t finish. And isn’t taking one’s time to decide all part of the fun?’

‘I understand that picking out the things that you like is enjoyable, but you’re taking too much time.’

‘That’s not true. I-.....Hm?’

No sooner had I thought the voice had stopped speaking, the suit-wearing group of men divided into two.

‘Ah, so it was you.’

‘Long time no see Alice.’

‘Nightmare, Gray.....’

And, their subordinates as well.

My friends who lived at Clover Tower.

‘Why are you guys in autumn territory?’

‘We had business at the Hatter’s.....’

‘We’re just on the way back from there. It’s been some time since I went outside, so I thought I’d buy some cake before we head home.’

‘I see.....’

Going outside for the first time in a while=Buying cake on the way home.

Although it was obvious now who the complainer had been, I decided to refrain from commenting.

But rather than that, what was bothering me was something else entirely.

(Nightmare hardly ever goes outside for work)

Because he was a habitual shut-in on top of having a weak constitution, Nightmare rarely left the Tower.

It had been a very long time since I had seen him outside of a dream or the Tower.

‘Even I go outside if I’ve got work to do, you know. My health isn’t too bad at the moment either.’

(Not again.....Quit reading people’s minds)

The dream demon who could read people’s minds was always reading my thoughts whenever he pleased.

I wouldn’t say that there weren’t times that it wasn’t convenient but.....for the most part it was simply unpleasant.

‘I haven’t vomited blood for a few hours at least now. Amazing, isn’t it?’

‘Yes, yes, it is amazing. Very impressive.’

‘Not only impressive, but rare. .....Therefore, I would very much like for you to return home as soon as possible so we can get to work.’

(If you can read minds, at least notice when the people around you are getting impatient)

It would appear that he wanted take Nightmare back home to the Tower as soon as he could.

As someone who also knew how ill he normally was, and how little progress he often made with work, I understood all too well how Gray must be feeling.

(Not only does he continually slack off because he hates working, his health condition breaks down so easily he’s perpetually on bed rest. Thanks to that, the work just keeps on piling up.....)

I remembered what his office had looked like when I had previously visited.

The mountains of documents stacked on the imposing looking desk.

‘I told you, just wait a moment. I’ll make up my mind soon.....’

‘That’s what you keep saying, but it’s been two hours already.’

‘T-Two hours.....?’

(Are you a child.....)

To spend that much time picking out a mere cake couldn’t be described as anything else but child’s behaviour.

‘Hmph. I’m no child!’

‘If you’re not a child, hurry up and decide, and then go home and do your job. Quit causing trouble for your subordinates.’

‘I’m not causing them trouble!’

‘It’s like you’re doing all you can to cause them trouble.....’

‘.....Whether you are a child or not, it does not matter to me.’

Peter interrupted my futile conversation with Nightmare.

The voice and gaze he directed towards the dream demon was chilly.

‘More importantly, will you not move? You are in the way.’

‘Hm? What’s this, White Rabbit. You want to buy cake too?’

‘Yes, I do. Although it will be her, not I who will be eating it.’

It would appear that this store was the kind where one paid up front.

The goods weren’t taken to your table, but passed over from the register.

(He’s not wrong.....he is in the way)

To make an order, one had to look at the menu.

Since I planned on buying cake, the group lined up along the display case, even before being an unusual sight were.....a hindrance.

‘Hmm..... I see, on a date, are we.’

‘!’

I started at Nightmare’s words.

(Doing as he pleases, again.....)

It would appear he was reading minds.

But this time, it wasn’t my mind he was reading, but Peter’s.

‘Yes, that is correct. We are on a date. Are you jealous?’

Nevertheless, the person whose mind was being read was undaunted.

Not just that, he even seemed to be bragging.

‘No, I’m not necessarily jealous-..... Rather than that, White Rabbit you’re.....’

‘What is it?’

‘.....Your mind is just like your current place of residence. Like your thoughts are in full bloom.....’

Even though I wasn’t the person whose mind was being read, hearing the words he spoke with a wry smile made me flush red.

(In “full bloom”, is it.....I wonder what Peter’s thinking about.....)

I hated that I had something of an idea.

‘..........Oi. Hide it a bit more. You shouldn’t be so wide open about that sort of thing-.....’

(“That sort of thing”, what kind of thing is that.....)

‘Hey, I told you to stop it.....Gah-! Y-You.....I thought you hated dirty things, and yet you’re thinking about, something like that-.....’

(Like I said, what kind of thing is he talking about.....)

Somehow or other, it would appear the thoughts in Peter’s head were something untoward.

Nightmare’s face was busily going back and forward between going pale and turning red.

‘Hey, Lord Nightmare? Are you alright?’

‘Of course I’m not alright, not in the slightest.....-Ugh-’

‘White Rabbit, cut that out! At least close your thoughts so that I can’t hear them!’

‘Whatever could you mean? I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about. .....What exactly do you want me to do about what?’

‘It’s still so bright out, how could you be thinking about doing that now, how-.....’

‘I am merely thinking about later, of course. What else would I be thinking about?’

‘Th-That’s true, you are thinking about later but-Gack-, Guah-’

‘Lord Nightmare!?’

In the end the usual fountain of blood gushed out of Nightmare.

.....Although this time it wasn’t from his mouth, but from his nose.

‘.....Hey, what were you really thinking about just now?’

Seeing Nightmare react like he was in some kind of cheap novel, I glared at Peter with half-narrowed eyes.

He had to have been thinking of something obscene, to make him spurt blood like that.

‘It wasn’t anything strange. I was simply thinking of later..... He is the one who has gone and read too much into it.’

The White Rabbit gave a broad smile as he answered.

‘Lord Nightmare, please pull yourself together!’

‘Ugh..... His rabbit's fever is making me feel sick.....’

‘Even though finally, for the first time in so long, your health had improved.....As I thought, if I had just taken you back home by force and not wasted time at the likes of a cake shop.....’

‘J-Just so you know, I’m still going to buy cake before I go home- If you don’t let me, I’m not going to do any work.....Gufu-’

‘Yes yes, I understand. We’ll get your cake, so please make sure to cover your nose!’

Looking at the now bloody scene (?) that was the Clover Tower group with a side-long glance, I chose my cake.

Although I did feel sympathetic for Gray, the thought that Nightmare had ‘reaped what he sowed’ was stronger in my mind.

That’s what you get for reading other people’s minds without permission.

(It’d be good if he learnt his lesson from this, even if it’s just a little)

‘One Mont-Blanc and some tea please.’

‘Understood.’

While thinking such thoughts, I placed my cake order with the shop attendant.

+++

‘The cake and tea were both delicious, weren’t they?’

‘I’m glad to hear it.’

After taking some time out to rest at the café, we headed out towards our destination.

(Not like I didn’t expect it, but Ace’s instructions really were a bit off after all....)

Thanks to them, we had ended up taking a long detour.

(Well, at least because of that we got to pass through here.)

It would appear the section of the autumn territory we were walking through right now was in the middle of holding a Halloween party.

The roadside trees and shops were all decorated for Halloween.

‘The face on that pumpkin sure looks weird.’

‘It really does. It looks just like Ace.’

‘Hm, I’m not so sure that it does.....’

It wasn’t just decorations, the shops were also all selling Halloween-style merchandise.

Once I spotted such a shop, I couldn’t help but want to take a look.

‘This spider plushie is really cute.’

‘Is it? I think you’re much more cuter.’

‘.....Hey, it’s weird to be comparing us like that, don’t you think?’

I took up one of the plush toys from the shelf.

The cartoony spider plushie was not only cute, but soft to the touch.

(It’s so fluffy.....)

I stroked the black fabric of the plush toy.

It was soft and fuzzy.

(.....Like Peter in his rabbit form)

Despite being a completely different colour, it felt the same.

When Peter was in rabbit form he was also fluffy.....like a plush toy.

‘..........’

‘Alice? Do you like it that much?’

‘!’

‘Huh? Ah, no. Not necessarily.....’

‘Really? You’ve been holding it for so long without letting go, I thought you must really have taken quite a liking to it.....’

‘If you like it, please be sure to let me know, alright? I’ll buy it for you.’

‘.....Sure, thank you.’

I answered Peter with a vague smile.

The spider plush definitely was cute, but what I had been thinking of while holding it was something else entirely.

‘Alice?’

Staring at me intently, Peter tilted his head quizzically.

(What a beautiful face....)

Even his puzzled looking face was beautiful.

(He’s attracting attention again)

It was the same as when we’d previously gone out to buy chocolate.

Peter was again attracting looks.....more specifically, the gazes of women.

And that made me feel irritated, as well as frustrated.

That people other than me were looking at him.

(.....If only Peter really was a plush toy)

I thought the same thing as I had back then.

If only I could buy Peter as if he were a stuffed toy.

If I did, I could make him mine alone.

I could hide him away, without having to show him to anyone else.

However, in reality Peter was no plush toy, and of course such a thing was impossible.

(.....Right now though, in a sense, it really is like he’s only mine)

The Rabbit who was devoted only to me, didn’t try to look at anything other than me.

He whispered to me that he belonged only to me.

Without criticizing me for always becoming anxious over the most insignificant of things, he comforted and spoiled me.

But even then, my anxiety didn’t disappear.

I continuously went around in circles worrying over the same things, getting anxious over different things one after the other.

Even though I knew I shouldn’t, I couldn’t fix my bad habit.

There was nothing to be done.

And, it wasn’t just anxiety that I felt.

(.....Sister.)

I was unable to look only at Peter as he looked only at me.

I wasn’t able to completely say that I didn’t need anything else.

I had left my heart behind in my previous world.

I couldn’t forget about my sister.

Even while knowing it would cause him sorrow, I couldn’t help going to the Prison.

(I can’t be like Peter at all)

I couldn’t become as devoted as him.

I couldn’t give him back what he gave to me.

(I-.....)

‘Ah, it’s Big Sis!’

‘Big Si~s!’

‘!!?’

My serious mood didn’t last long.

Sudden intruders smashed apart my heavy thoughts.

‘O-Ow-.....’

Something had collided with my waist at full speed.

‘Good evening, Sis!’

‘Sis, good evening.’

‘Dee, Dum....’

‘Good evening you two. .....Those outfits really are something, huh?’

The Twins were dressed up for Halloween, wearing monster costumes that were fairly realistic looking.

(I don’t think they really needed to put all that fake blood on them though.....That is fake blood, right? It couldn’t be the real thing, could it?)

When it came to these two, I couldn’t say without a doubt that it wasn’t.

‘It is Halloween after all. We’re in costume!’

‘Does it suit us? Do we look handsome?’

‘It does suit you.’

As for whether they looked handsome or not, no comment.

Given they were wearing monster costumes, it was somewhat odd to be asked about handsomeness either way.

‘Heheh, thanks, Sis.’

‘You’re still as cute as ever, Big Sis!’

‘Thanks.....’

‘Alright, shall we do it then, Brother?’

‘We should, Brother.’

‘???’

(Do what?)

‘Trick or treat!’

‘If you don’t give us candy, we’ll play a trick on you!’

(Ah, I see.....)

I couldn’t help but smile at hearing the customary Halloween phrase.

At moments like these they were childlike and innocent.

‘We said the line, so please give us some candy, Sis.’

‘Ah, but it’s fine if you don’t, you know? Since it’s you Sis, I’d rather play a trick than get candy!’

‘Yeah yeah, I agree. Since it’s Sis, a trick would be way better than candy!’

.....I take back what I just thought.

These two were childlike and completely up to no good.

‘Um, wait just a moment. I’ll give you some candy.’

‘Aw-’

‘Quit sounding so disappointed.....’

As I spoke to the two of them, I searched my pockets.

I was sure I must have at least one piece of candy somewhere.....

(....................Uh oh)

No matter how many times I checked all the different pockets on my clothes.....there was nothing.

(O-Oh no.....)

A cold trickle of sweat ran down my cheek.

Seeming to have noticed that I didn’t have any candy partway through, the expression on the Twins’ faces changed.

Eyes shining in anticipation, they were waiting for me to say, “I haven’t got any.”

‘.....You two.’

‘What is it?’

‘What’s this, what’s this?’

‘...............I haven’t got any candy, so go ahead and play your trick.’

(Uuughh.....)

The Twins’ faces brightened with cheerful enthusiasm at my words

‘Big Sis said we could play a trick, Brother.’

‘What should we do, Brother? A normal trick would just be boring.’

‘If possible, I’d prefer a normal trick.....’

But of course, there was no way my words would reach their ears.

After whispering between themselves for a moment, they gave angelic looking smiles.

And then-

‘Kyaah-’

‘Heheheh.’

‘A trick~’

They both clung tightly onto me.

‘Y-You guys....’

‘You need to stay still, Big Sis.’

‘That’s right. We haven’t finished playing our trick yet.’

So speaking, the two of them brought their faces closer.

Something warm touched both of my cheeks.

‘-!?’

‘!!!’

The moment they kissed me, I was vehemently pulled away.

‘.....Getting carried away just because I was holding my peace-’

Before I realized it, Peter’s arms were around me.

‘Peter?’

‘It’s alright, Alice. My apologies, I should have saved you a little earlier.’

He emphatically scrubbed away at the places the Twins had kissed me with a handkerchief.

Because he was doing it so thoroughly, pressing hard, it kind of hurt.

‘You’re just a Rabbit, mind not getting in the way?’

‘We were in the middle of playing a trick on Sis.’

‘What do you mean, a trick? How repulsive.’

Still wiping away at my cheek, Peter directed a piercing glare towards the Twins.

‘The only one who can touch her is me. The likes of filthy children need to stay away.’

‘We’re not filthy!’

‘That’s right. We’re much cleaner than some Rabbit!’

‘Even supposing you were cleaner than me, hypothetically, I still wouldn’t want you to touch her.’

‘She is my beloved. She is not somebody that children like you are permitted to touch.’

A charge crackled in the air between them.

The atmosphere around them was so hostile I felt as if I could almost really see the sparks.

(H-Hey now, don’t go fighting right in the middle of town, alright.....!?)

I’d prefer they didn’t fight anywhere at all, but in a central place like this.....especially with someone from another territory as the opponent, there was a high chance that bystanders would also become casualties.

‘Hey, you brats! What the hell are you doing over there!’

‘!’

‘!!!’

Just as the situation was about to reach peak volatility.

From off in the distance, I heard a familiar sounding voice.

‘Oh no, it’s the stupid rabbit.’

‘We’d better get out of here, Brother.’

The owner of the voice was the rabbit who lived at Hatter Mansion.

The expression on the children’s faces scrunching up in annoyance, they hurriedly began to run away.

‘We’ll remember this, Prime Minister of the Castle!’

‘We’re definitely going to get back at you someday for interrupting our trick on Sis!’

Leaving us with that parting line, the two disappeared into the crowd.

‘Hold up you two! I told you before we got here, we’re here to work, not play!’

‘As if!’

‘You sure you didn’t forget to tell us that in the first place, stupid rabbit?!’

‘I’m not a rabbit! And there’s no way I would have forgotten!’

‘I made sure all the guys were there while I explained it! Everybody else heard me-!’

‘Well then, we must have ended up falling asleep.’

‘Either way, what we don’t know, we don’t know.’

‘You • guys-......!!!’

From far away, I heard the sounds of a fight starting.

The gunshots I’d completely grown used to hearing rang out.....

◦

‘.....Somehow, I feel kind of exhausted.’

‘!? Are you alright, Alice? Shall we rest somewhere again?’

As I murmured to myself in a worn-out sounding voice, the White Rabbit standing next to me worried for me to the point of overprotectiveness.

Although it did make me happy that he worried for me-

(At least half of my exhaustion is because of you too.....)

Dealing with both the mischief-loving Twins and the impetuous Rabbit was completely exhausting.

+++

‘Wow.....’

A sigh of admiration escaped me.

We arrived at the place Ace had told us about after traversing a hill road and making our way up a steep set of stairs.

‘Although the view was already pretty impressive while we were still on the way up.....’

As we looked down, it was red as far as the eye could see.

A type of vivid red that was different from that of Heart Castle, or the colour of blood.

The colour of autumn.

‘It’s so beautiful.....’

Bright red autumn leaves.

A single straight path running through the middle of it.

It was the kind of scene I couldn’t help but become captivated by.

‘Yes, it is beautiful indeed.’

For once, Peter straightforwardly agreed with me.

The scenery was just that striking.

‘It was worth coming all the way up here.’

‘Yes.’

‘Ah, there’s an autumn tree path over there too. Shall we go take a look?’

‘Of course, let us go.’

Gazing at the scene before us for a moment longer, we began to move.

Further in, a gently sloping tree-lined path came into view.

As we headed along that way, the path we came across was different to the one we had just ascended.

(There’s so many fallen leaves.....)

The path we had come up from hadn’t had a single fallen leaf on it.

It was probably because the wind had been so strong as we climbed up.

But unlike that one, this one had fallen leaves on it. Enough red coloured leaves had fallen that the path was entirely covered.

‘These are pretty too. It’s all completely red.....’

(Ah.....)

At that very moment, the time period changed over.

From daytime to dusk.

(It’s red.....)

The already red path was dyed an even deeper red.

The sky, the trees and the path, all of it.

(.....Somehow-)

It was a beautiful scene.

A different type of beauty to the one I’d seen at the cafe Peter had taken me to.

The natural kind, unaltered by human interference.

(-It’s kind of scary)

Although it was very beautiful.....it was almost too beautiful, and that scared me.

It felt like I was standing in the midst of a sea of blood.

(Blood.....)

I suddenly remembered.

What had happened at the Circus not so very long ago.

When the White Rabbit had gotten hurt and shed blood.

‘.....? Alice?’

I held tighter to Peter’s hand as he stood next to me.

At that time, I had been made to realise.

That partings in this world were something that came all too easily.

That there was a possibility that I might suddenly no longer be able to see my beloved Rabbit.

(I don’t want that to happen)

‘What is it, Alice? Are you not feeling well?’

‘.....That’s not it.’

I’d hate no longer being able to see Peter.

Just thinking about it frightened me.

I wanted him to stay at my side.

I wanted to be the one he ran to, always.

‘????’

‘Alice?’

Moved by impulse, I clung to Peter.

Above my head I heard the White Rabbit’s voice sound puzzled.

‘Peter.’

‘Yes, what is it?’

When I called his name, he would always answer straight away.

I wanted him to be this close to me forever.

I wondered if it was wrong for me to wish for such a thing.

And I thought to myself that perhaps White Rabbit might also wish for the same thing I did.

(.....I’m not just being self-conceited, am I)

Up until now, such a thought might have plunged me into deep self-hatred.

Nonetheless, it was only when it came to Peter that I could say that I wasn’t just being egoistic.

That it would actually be cruel to think that it was just my own vanity.

‘Peter.’

‘What is it, Alice?’

Peter’s hands were stroking my hair.

Gently, and affectionately.

However, it didn’t allow me to feel anything more than that.

And that felt terribly frustrating.

‘!?’

‘..................’

‘Mmn-......’

‘......-‘

‘Alice, are you really alright?’

‘I'm fine.’

‘Then, why......’

His voice sounded uncertain and confused, but I didn’t let him speak further.

Just as Peter sometimes did to me, I stopped up his mouth with a kiss.

‘Peter…..’

(I love you)

I didn’t say it out loud.

Instead, I expressed it to him directly.

Physically, through shared touch.

‘Mnn-.....’

‘.....-’

‘.....Haah-.....’

Although Peter had been bewildered at first, as I continued to kiss him again and again, he went back to being his usual self.

We exchanged countless kisses that made me feel as if I were about to melt from the places that we touched.

‘Alice….’

‘Mn-’

Peter’s arms returned my embrace.

And not only that, I felt the cold air sneak in beneath my clothes.

‘.....Uuh-’

‘Alice, Alice.’

‘Hah…..’

I began to feel as hot as the air around us was cold.

Peter’s hand touched me exploratively.

Carefully, yet boldly.

‘Fu-.....’

The further he went, the more feverish I became.

The places where we touched seemed to burn.

(Stay with me)

(Even closer, forever)

Despite it being impossible for him to be any closer to me than this, that was what I thought.

No matter how close he was, it wasn't enough.

No matter how much time we spent together.

My anxiety wouldn’t disappear.

‘......-’

‘Peter…..’

An impact, and pain.

For a moment, my anxiety along with everything else flew out of my head.

‘Alice…..’

In order to soften the pain…..and my anxiety Peter kissed me all over.

Strangely, just that was enough to make my anxiety fade.

It didn’t disappear completely, but it was enough that I was no longer consciously thinking about it.

‘I love you, Alice. My dear one.’

The White Rabbit whispered as he lastly placed a kiss at my chest.

Still in the same position, he held me.

Tightly, tightly.

‘I love you, Alice. So very much. I can't help but love you.’

Burying his face in my chest, the White Rabbit continued to speak.

‘I love you…………that’s why-’

(What? What did he say just now?)

His imploring sounding whisper was drowned out by the wind, and I couldn’t make it out.

▲▲▲FIN ▲▲▲

#joker no kuni no alice #hnkna #heart no kuni no alice #alice liddell #peter white #translation #alice in the country of hearts #otome game

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