The Fate Of The World Is In My Hands, But All I Want To Do Is Eat! - Chapter 440

Chapter 440: I’ll just go up for a bit

Of course, she heard it, but she did not say anything.

Just seeing how Alice’s tone had gone meek, and how her eyes looked sadly distant when she said that, she knew there wasn’t anything she could say that would assure Alice of whatever worries she had.

But she tried to pretend. Pretend that it was no big deal, and then it would be no big deal.

She sighed.

“Well, there’s gotta be a start to it if you want to make me believe. She shoved her fingers through her hair and then folded her arms. “But it doesn’t look like you want to start anyway, so forget it. I’ll only be the bad guy if I keep asking, right?”

Alice looked at her and then tittered.

“Gosh, let loose a bit. You look old when you get serious like that.”

Diane once again felt an irk on her forehead and decided to use her gauntlets.

“And to think I was sympathizing with you. Come here, I’m going to make minced meat out of you!” She proceeded to attack Alice, but just then, the door opened and revealed Mark.

Mark, who had heard the voices but couldn’t be too sure, stared at Alice in disbelief. He was short of words to express his relief as he laid eyes on her.

It really was her.

“Ah, Mark. How’ve you been?” She smiled sheepishly. “I’m ho—” The words choked in her throat when Mark threw himself over her, enveloping her in his big arms, in a tight hug.

“Alice,” he called, his voice lightly trembling. “You… Is it really you?”

Alice did not respond.

“It looks like I worried you a lot, Mark.” She raised her free hand and patted his back. “Sorry.”

“It’s fine. I…” He raised his head and looked into her eyes. “…I knew you were busy.”

“Right? Right?” She laughed. “At least you understand. Diane just doesn’t get it.”

Diane clicked her tongue.

“Tch.”

“Welcome home, Alice.” He was so happy that it looked like there were tears in his eyes.

But it wasn’t just her imagination.

There were really tears.

He was so happy that he didn’t even know when his eyes had welled up.

‘Jeez,’ she stroked his face gently. ‘…if you act like this now, it’s gonna be hard for me to leave a second time.’

They all walked in, but as they did, Mark froze as soon as he saw Alice and Leo holding hands.

Why were they like that?

Through the corner of her eye, Diane saw his reaction. She didn’t know the kind of relationship he had with Alice, but that look… It was clearly jealousy mixed with doubt.

‘Gosh, it’s almost like every guy around Alice wants to put their pin in her heart and mark their territory.’ She thought, lightly twisting her lips in wonder. ‘At least Leo seems a little indifferent.’

Leo noticed Mark’s glare directed at him and sighed. He knew this was going to happen.

“Alice,” he called, and she turned her head.

“Yeah?”

“I’ll just go up for a bit,” he said, and she nodded.

“Sure. I’m hungry anyway.” She smiled, and he turned to leave, naturally slipping his hand out of hers. But even as he walked up the stairs, he could still feel Mark’s eyes on him.

He groaned.

He didn’t want to get involved in their little love affair.

Once he got to the top of the stairs, he called out to Alice again.

“Alice?”

She raised her head and saw him point at his temple, indicating he was going to talk directly in her mind.

‘Don’t forget what I told you. Try to reduce any form of intimacy so you don’t lose control,’ he said through telepathy, and she nodded, giving him the ‘okay’ sign.

Even if she did assure him, he could never be too sure with Alice. She was too unpredictable, after all.

“Anyways,” Diane slid her arm over Alice’s shoulder. “Should we start getting ready for the sleepover?”

“What? You’re still going through with that?” Alice asked, acting surprised.

“Tch, don’t act like you don’t want to see them. If they knew about this, they’d be really heartbroken.”

Alice pouted. She had just come back from overseas. Shouldn’t she at least eat a meal and then get a good night’s sleep before attending to anyone? she thought.

“Don’t be lazy.” Diane pulled her cheek, somehow knowing what she was thinking. “I’ll send out the invitations right now, so if you need to freshen up or catch up with Mark, do that now.” She rose, walking away towards the stairs.

Alice clicked her tongue. She should’ve used the opportunity to slip away with Leo when she had the chance.

Now, she was alone with Mark, and no one was saying a word, making the atmosphere quite awkward.

“Alice,” he finally spoke up. “How have you been?”

She turned to look at the concerned expression on his face and then rolled her eyes away awkwardly.

“Well, I’ve been having fun,” she said. “I’ve been going in and out of dungeons whenever and wherever. I get to kill monsters and level up. Pretty great.” She stretched her arms and legs, stretching on the couch.

“I’m happy to hear that, but that’s not all I’m asking,” he said, and she paused her stretching. “I heard from Stella,” he added, and Alice twisted her lips a bit.

Stella? When did they become so close? Didn’t everyone usually call her Miss Stella?

Well, they should be closer in age compared to herself and Mark, but shouldn’t you be close enough to call someone by their name like that?

She didn’t know if she was just the one missing the big picture but just decided to brush it off anyhow.

“Well, I’m just there,” she said, sinking into the couch, her expression softening as she thought of her ragged feelings that day when the truth came to light. “But it’s not all that bad. I do have regrets, and I do have a lot of what-ifs, but none of it is going to change the past, so I’ve decided to just live with it.” She said with a small smile displayed on her lips.

But that small smile seemed to carry so much weight that Mark felt a little uneasy looking at it.

He would prefer if she just smiled widely and brushed it off loudly, but it seemed like it wouldn’t be that easy this time.

He understood that much, so he couldn’t be greedy for her understanding so soon.

“I…” She added, her face blushing as the thought of having a real family hit her mind. “…I’m just happy I’m not alone anymore.”

Mark’s heart tugged painfully at those words.

That’s right. Alice had always been alone, so just knowing that she had a family she could leave her back to and rely on from now on was enough to give him peace of mind.

But… He clenched his fist on his lap… This meant she had always felt alone, even when she had him next to her.

It seemed he was never able to fill that void for her, no matter how many times they smiled together and how familiar they got with each other.

To her… Was he just someone passing by? Someone who would not stay long?

Did she not know?

He wanted to be with her for the longest time. If he was able to help bring her even a little bit of warmth and satisfaction, he would do so.

He liked her more than she knew, more than she could even think of.

To Alice, the concept of love was still so foreign, and even if she came to know what it was, came to understand it… There was no telling that she could welcome the feeling in her heart.

And he knew he had no right to open up her heart to the concept of love when he could not even reach her void with the warmth he thought he had been filling her with this whole time.

This situation made him realize his capabilities more and how he could never measure up to what she really needed.

So, this time… He thought of Alice’s hand in Leo’s and his heart felt sad… He didn’t want to give himself hope.

He didn’t want to try to take what he couldn’t get. He didn’t want to be greedy.

He would throw away his greed and be content with just staying by her side. And to make sure there didn’t come a time when he was tossed aside for being incompetent, he would work on himself more.

He would keep training and make sure he unlocked at least one hidden potential of his so that one day, he could be of help to Alice.

He didn’t want to be a burden. He just… wanted to enjoy being by her side and watch her smile.

She was such a good and bright girl.

“Alice,” he called, his lips curling up as he smiled at her. “You’re amazing.”

Alice was surprised. Where did those words come from all of a sudden?

She was stunned, but still smiled anyway. Sometimes, Mark did things she couldn’t understand after all.

“I guess I am,” she said, chuckling lightly.

“Alice,” Devon’s voice suddenly rang out of nowhere, and she turned to find him behind her.

Did he just teleport into their house?