Early morning.
Sunlight streamed into Alice's bedroom.
As the room gradually warmed, dust particles danced visibly in the air.
Lying in bed, Alice frowned slightly. Though she had been asleep in her room, the curtains hadn't been drawn.
So the gentle morning sun felt rather harsh to her eyes.
Slowly, she opened her beautiful eyes.
She sat up, gazing blankly at her surroundings, only to realize she hadn't fallen asleep in the bathtub this time—but in her own bed.
Her eyes still hazy and lost, she tilted her head.
Then, Alice pushed back the covers, climbed out of bed at a leisurely pace, and seated herself at the vanity, staring vacantly at her reflection.
About five minutes passed.
Gradually, awareness returned to her eyes. She lifted her head abruptly and saw herself in the mirror—wrapped only in a bath towel. Alice raised her arms and stretched.
Then she rubbed her cheeks with her hands.
Only now was she truly awake.
This kind of drowsy state hadn't been part of her life before, but ever since discovering her ability to manipulate the power of the Gap, she had been feeling constantly sleepy.
Especially when the temperature dropped, sleepiness would overwhelm her.
And after waking up, it always took some time for her to feel fully alert.
'So scary... this hibernation trait of the Gap Youkai...' Alice murmured helplessly, studying her own fair, makeup-free face in the mirror.
There were cosmetics on her vanity, but she rarely used them. Still, that didn't mean she shouldn't have them.
Some things are worth buying whether you use them or not.
Her internal magic was slowly draining away, but compared to her natural recovery rate, the loss was negligible.
Still, she could feel it.
Rising from the vanity, Alice discarded her bathrobe.
She opened the wardrobe, inside of which hung over a dozen identical dresses: blue with white sleeves, a blue long skirt, a white shawl, along with a red tie and a waist ribbon.
And, of course, the essential undergarments.
Alice's figure was perfectly proportioned—nothing exaggeratedly large, nor disappointingly flat. Everything about her seemed just right.
Once dressed and freshened up,
Alice went downstairs to the living room.
Having decided not to make her living selling dolls anymore, Alice had renovated her house after returning from the Loki Familia.
It was still two stories, but the entire ground floor—which had once been a small shop—was now partitioned into several material storage rooms.
The living room, dining area, and kitchen were now all on the first floor.
The second floor had been completely converted into Alice's private quarters: her bedroom, workshop, study, and bathroom. Although these rooms had existed before, the interior space had been expanded.
Alice's little house had transformed from a former shop into a full-time residence.
Entering the living room, Alice saw Shanghai and Hourai directing the tiny army of dolls—along with the cleaning dolls made earlier—tidying up the house.
The place was already spotless, but Shanghai and Hourai kept at it. Who knows—maybe with so many doll subordinates now, they just wanted to flex their authority a little.
Every doll was full of energy.
Alice's lips curled into a smile.
Suddenly, a sweet and savory aroma drifted into her nostrils. She sniffed lightly, a spark of delight flashing in her eyes as she glanced toward the dining area.
"Shanghai, did you even make breakfast?"
Alice sounded genuinely surprised.
She had tried before to get the dolls to cook on their own, but unfortunately, due to technical limitations, only Shanghai and Hourai were capable of such delicate work.
The cleaning dolls didn't have that ability.
And even Shanghai and Hourai, due to their small size, hadn't been able to cook very effectively—so until now, Alice had always prepared meals herself.
But today was different.
Alice caught the scent of food, and there on the dining table was a still-steaming breakfast.
Milk, bread, a slice of roasted meat, and two fried eggs.
It was simple, but it was breakfast made by Shanghai and Hourai directing the other dolls. Alice's heart swelled with happiness.
When Hourai and Shanghai heard Alice's voice, they immediately floated over to her, patting their little chests with their tiny hands, faces brimming with pride.
Seeing them seeking praise, Alice broke into a warm smile and gently patted both on the head.
"You two are amazing. Can I count on you like this from now on?" Alice asked with a laugh.
Hearing her words, Shanghai and Hourai nodded eagerly, then pulled out a chair at the table for Alice to sit.
"Is that so? Then I'll leave it to you," Alice said, sitting down and clasping her hands together. "Let's eat."
Taking up her knife and fork, she cut into the fried eggs and roasted meat, placing a bite in her mouth to chew.
Shanghai and Hourai watched her expectantly.
Alice nodded.
"It's wonderful, very delicious," she told them with a smile, then proceeded to eat every bit of the breakfast they had prepared.
Praise from Alice made Shanghai and Hourai hug each other joyfully, spinning and dancing excitedly in the air.
After the meal, the dolls cleared the table and washed the dishes.
It was still morning.
Alice sat in her study, reading a magic book, her mind focused on the Seven Colored Spell stored in her [Knowledge Repository].
Time flowed quietly by—Alice researching magic, the dolls going about their tasks—all in peaceful silence.
When noon arrived, Shanghai and Hourai once again directed the dolls to the kitchen to prepare a meal for Alice.
Lunch was different from breakfast.
Breakfast was light, but for lunch, Shanghai and Hourai planned to make something truly delicious. Encouraged by Alice's praise, they were determined to prepare a feast.
The delightful aroma of food rose through the chimney of Alice's house and drifted out into the street.
And on that very street, a goddess who had just failed to find a job was walking back to her church, clutching her stomach in dejection.
Just as the goddess was about to push open the church door and return inside, the tempting scent of good food reached her nose.
"Mmm! What is that amazing smell?!" Hestia's previously drooping twin tails perked up instantly, her listless mood vanishing.
Eyes closed, she followed the aroma, drifting almost unconsciously toward Alice's little house.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
20+ advanced chaps on my patreon.
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.