Radiant Dawn's Daughter

🌹 CHAPTER 4

The unwilling participants had no choice but to comply otherwise there would be no chance for them to meet Riddle and get Ace's metal collar taken off. Grim would have not given any more damn because in his defense, he should not carry the burden of an idiot who brought the demise to himself but the only girl in their group was either too densely naive or too kind to see a bigger picture.

Cater, on the other hand, was only smiling in triumph because the extra helping hands lessened the workload for him. Seeing Ace, Deuce and Grim went to paint the roses tree red despite their scowls was such an amusing sight. While they were preoccupied, this was also his opportunity to get 'Alice' to himself for a bit while. "How are you holding up so far, Alice?"

Because she didn't have any magic to her advantage unlike Deuce, Mary had a bucket with red paint and a brush. "I'm okay" Albeit she was far from okay because she was already tired and only one rose was fully painted red. There were four more on the trees, worse, the two out of those four were located high beyond the reach. "I'm sorry for being too slow..."

"No worries! I take you probably never tried physical activities or labor much? I wonder if you are a princess" The last part of his statement was more of a mutter, meant only for himself and not to be heard by the redhead but it was the wild guess Cater immediately had about Mary based on how she seemed pristine albeit the naivety.

Mary was too preoccupied thinking about reaching the top two roses far from reach to come up with a reply to the auburn-haired boy so she didn't say anything back, "Umm, do you have any ladder I can use?"

"We do but it's hassling to get it from the storage right now" Cater stated, noticing where her gaze was directed. An idea came to mind and his lips curved into a playful yet genuine smile again. "Let me help you, Alice, sit on my shoulder and I'll hoist you up" He went down on one knee then gestured the redhead to his shoulder.

With careful movements, Mary did as she was told and settled herself on Cater's shoulder. This was an uncomfortable position but Cater held her so she wouldn't wobble. "I apologize I think I'm putting my weigh on you--"

"Do not be! I'm fine, I won't let you fall--" Just as Cater was straightening up with Mary on his shoulder, he heard an exclaim of disapproval.

It was Ace, "Yo! Yo! Yo! What the heck?! Are you trying to get her to yourself while we are doing labor for ya?!"

This snide remark made Cater smile sheepishly with Mary still hoisted on his shoulder. "Hey now, your assumptions are not exactly nice, this is not how it looks like--"

"Don't be fooling us now, we are not blind!" Grim added, exclaiming.

Mary sensed Cater wobbling and swaying her because of Grim and Ace, "Can you please put me down first before you—AAAHHH!!!" Losing balance and momentum, she and Cater fell, hitting the nearby paint bucket.

---

After the accident, Mary was excused to do the task of painting the roses red, Grim firmly stated it clear she wouldn't be doing it again after getting the paint bucket stained her uniform and almost making her hit the ground at the wrong angle that would have caused concussion. Deuce was quick enough to come and catch her before that happened.

Mary glanced at the window of Heartlabyul Dorm's first floor, from here she saw the boys finishing the roses while still loudly arguing with each other. A small smile played on her lips, it was such a chaotic sight yet it already became endearing.

"Alice? Over here" Cater called ahead, peeking from a room. He was the one who accompanied her inside as taking accountability for it.

Mary quickened the pace of her steps and entered inside—such spacious, elegant room adorned with the same rich red shade. But what took Mary's attention the most was the tall, open closet where a long rack of dresses were pulled out.

Curiosity and also puzzled mixed on her face, "Is this your room? Why do you have female clothes?" Her question was purely out of confusion.

A light chuckle escaped Cater, "Don't get me wrong, Alice! I happen to enjoy designing clothes in my free time too! Sometimes I join Professor Crewel and even Pomefiore whenever they have such session!" He began to go through the dresses. "I must say the accident was a disguise, a perfect excuse for me to make you try one of my creations. Here!" He took a dress out, a modest-length that matched Heartlabyul Dorm uniform design.

Mary took the dress from his hands, "Wow..." The fabric and its material was nice to touch, at a glance you could tell it wasn't just made of cheap products and its details were thought of. "Say Cater, where is Riddle by the way? He is your dorm leader, right?" As what she heard so far from Ace and Deuce.

"Who's looking for me? Who are you and why are you trailing crimson paint in the hallway?" Standing by the doorway in a posture that screamed authority and demanded respect was a boy inches shorter than Mary—he too had red hair but darker than hers, his narrowed, observant eyes were gray. Despite the subtle height difference, his overall presence radiated with intimidation as if he was standing at an unseen high pedestal.

Mary stared at him in surprise while holding the dress in her hands, she was too taken aback to come up with an answer. 'Is he...'

"Waaaahhh! I am so sorry Riddle-chan, we did not notice! This is my fault not hers!" Cater broke the abrupt silence with his statement, late noticing the trails of red paint on the floor that led inside his room.

Riddle ignored his dorm member though, his steely gray eyes on Mary. "What sort of funny business are you and Cater on to?"

For some reason despite not understanding that question, Mary didn't like the way it sounded. "I beg your pardon? Funny business?"

"No Riddle-chan, we are not doing anything funny I swear! It's not like that" Cater countered, standing in front of Mary waving his hands.

The Heartslabyul Dorm Leader deadpanned, "Given what I've seen and she is in your room while you are smiling widely, I do not know what else to think." He stated in irritation.