Chapter 30: Alice Phil, the Dress-Up Doll

When Miss Alice Phil regained consciousness, she was on a small sofa.
Though she still couldn’t access the mana in her body, at least she could muster some physical strength—not enough to crawl on the floor like a caterpillar anymore.

Alice Phil propped herself up and saw the floor-to-ceiling window spanning the three-story duplex.
She realized she was back in the living room on the first floor.
Looking down, as expected, her outfit had changed from the provocative lace nightgown to a JK uniform, complete with white stockings but no shoes.

Click.

The door to the duplex living quarters opened.
A silver figure carrying a pile of steaming food walked in.
Why call it a silver figure?
Because, from the outside, it was a moving mass of mercury, shaped like a woman’s silhouette.

The mercury figure wore a mage robe made of flowing mercury, topped with a wide-brimmed, pointed witch’s hat, also silver.
Though it lacked human-like facial features, having only a contoured outline, its hair was distinct—each strand like glowing silver thread.

“My little darling, come eat breakfast while it’s hot,” the mercury figure said.

Though it had no lips, its speech was clear and precise.
It placed a box of steaming pan-fried dumplings on the glass coffee table in front of Alice Phil, then set down a pair of disposable chopsticks labeled “White Tower Cafeteria.”

Alice Phil didn’t reach for the breakfast.
She sat still, staring motionlessly at the mercury figure’s face.
In her perspective, the inorganic face seemed to grow flesh, forming the familiar yet blurry visage from her memories.

“What’s wrong, little darling?”

The mercury figure noticed Alice Phil hadn’t touched the food and grew puzzled.
In its memory, Alice Phil was a child who relished culinary delights—staring at its face like this wasn’t normal.

“Nothing.”

Alice Phil opened her mouth, nearly letting words slip out, but swallowed them back and shook her head.

Seeing Alice Phil’s dazed expression, the mercury figure sat beside her.
It lifted her onto its lap, which, though made of mercury, felt as soft as flesh, and cradled Miss Alice Phil in its arms.

“Come on, little darling.”

The mercury figure reached out, picking up the box of dumplings from the coffee table.
It used the chopsticks to pick up a dumpling and held it to Miss Alice Phil’s mouth.

“Try a bite?” the mercury figure said expectantly.

“Alright.”

Miss Alice Phil opened her gluttonous mouth and bit into the edge of the dumpling.

“Mmm, good girl.”

Seeing Miss Alice Phil obediently eat the dumpling, the mercury figure’s contoured face displayed a look of contentment.
One hand reached up to rub Alice Phil’s silver-haired little head a few times, as if petting a gentle beast.

“Eat up quickly.
I brought you lots of pretty clothes,” the mercury figure said warmly.
Noticing a crumb on Alice Phil’s lips, it reached out to brush it away.

“Mom, can you not go so overboard next time?” Alice Phil said, swallowing another piece of dumpling.

“You always catch me off guard like this.
This time was especially excessive.”
Miss Alice Phil shrank a bit in the mercury figure’s lap, continuing, “You even sealed my strength and mana.”

“Darling.”
The mercury figure gently set Miss Alice Phil down beside it, like handling a doll.

“If I didn’t do that, would you sit here so obediently?”
The mercury figure propped its chin, looking at Alice Phil.

“But it feels so uncomfortable,” Alice Phil said, a bit awkwardly.

“My darling… are you saying you’re tired of me?”
The mercury figure looked as if it might cry.

“Of course not.”
Alice Phil gripped her collar, explaining.

“It’s just that we haven’t seen each other in so long.”
Alice Phil said slowly.

“Didn’t we meet just a year ago?” the mercury figure asked, puzzled.

“For a high-tier mage, a year is nothing,” Alice Phil said.

“But you know, in thirty-eight years, I’ve never seen your living, human form.”

“Thirty-eight years might be a short time for you, but it’s practically my entire life.”

“I’m sorry,” the mercury figure said to Alice Phil.

“I’ve never blamed you.”
Miss Alice Phil shook her head.

“It’s just that now Dad’s gone too, and all I have left is Xiao Yue,” Alice Phil said flatly.

“Darling, you still have me,” the mercury figure said, leaning closer to embrace Miss Alice Phil.

“In your eyes, am I always just a child?”
Hearing the childish nickname, Alice Phil felt a wave of helplessness.

“I’m forty-five already.
My daughter’s sixteen.
People call me uncle or auntie.
I’m…”

“Not small anymore, nor young,” Miss Alice Phil said, shaking her head.

“I just hope that when you address me, you’ll use my name—whether it’s Lu Xin or Alice Phil.
Both are names you and Dad gave me.”

“At least that way, I can feel like I’ve grown up in your eyes.”

“Not just a kid who still needs to be fed.”

The mercury figure lowered its head in silence for a moment, then nodded once.

“Beyond that, as long as it’s not too excessive, I’ll agree to your requests,” Alice Phil added after a pause.

“Like being your dress-up doll, as long as you don’t use forceful measures.”

“As you can see, my body’s already battered and broken—that’s why you could control me so easily.
I only have the strength of a normal woman now.”

“I… understand,” the mercury figure said, nodding again.

In an instant, the warm parent-child atmosphere was replaced by a cold, distant air, like strangers.

Seeing the situation sliding toward an unseen abyss, Miss Alice Phil spoke to the consciousness within the mercury figure:

“Mom, Mommy.”
Alice Phil called out.

“What is it, trea—Alice Phil?”
The mercury figure stumbled over its words.

“Can you hug me again?”
Alice Phil made this reasonable request.

“Of course.”
The mercury figure gently embraced Alice Phil, careful not to make any extra moves that might discomfort her.

Alice Phil closed her eyes, feeling the embrace—soft like a real person’s but lacking warmth.
Her delicate nose twitched slightly.

“If only it were real,” Alice Phil murmured.

“Mm,” the mercury figure responded softly.

“I love the gift you sent me earlier,” Miss Alice Phil said, opening her eyes to look at the mercury figure.

“Has Xiao Yue tried it on?” the mercury figure asked.

“Not yet.
I’ll find the right time and occasion to give it to her,” Alice Phil replied.

“And about that…”
The mercury figure hesitated, stammering.

Alice Phil naturally understood what the mercury figure meant.
She gently hugged it back and said:

“So, I’ll put on the clothes you want to see, Mommy.”

“Let me be your dress-up doll.”