Notes:
() - Heroine's thoughts, Blue Text - Flashbacks
Mad Hatter - Prince of Wondermare - Main Story
Chapter 1 - Please Call Me, Hatter
Kingdom of Wonders, Wondermare, Madness...
When I received an invitation to a tea party from the prince that I've awakened the other day, I searched for the hat shop that he runs.
-Flashback-
??: Thank you for waking me up, Lady. I want to thank you, but... It seems like I've been asleep for an awfully long time... So, I need to hurry and check the state of my work... The next time we meet, let's introduce ourselves to each other.
-Flashback-
(Could it be this tower?)
I found a hat shop with a sign that said, "House of Madness".
(Amazing, I wonder how many floors it has... I can't even see the top of the building.)
When I nervously entered the towering building before me, i headed towards the rooftop.
......
(Pretty...)
When the elevator doors opened, there was a vast beautiful garden. It had various colorful ribbons and cords, along with all kinds of flowers in bloom...
(...Where could he be?)
Among the voices of the invitees' freindly conversations, I searched for that person and...
Hatter: Welcome, Lady. To the tea party of I, Mad Hatter. Please call me, Hatter.
MC: Hatter-san...?
There was a purple rose on his silk hat and another one of the same color on his jacket... With a flower-patterned necktie hidden within his clothing, he had a refined pink shirt that made him look good.
(What a stylish person...)
As I was unsure on how to describe the elegantly captivating atmosphere, I became unable to speak.
Hatter: Ever since you woke me up in the flower field, I've wanted to meet you once more.
When he thanked me politely in front of me, he made a charming smile.
Hatter: I've gathered tea leaves from all around the world today, so please enjoy yourself.
When I looked up, his gemlike eyes were looking at me intensely. Just as the tea party was starting, I couldn't help, but become curious about that mysterious gaze of his...
Chapter 2 - Time Together
As people's elegant laughter were fusing within the afternoon sunlight... The tea party that Hatter-san was hosting turned out really wonderful.
Hatter: Is the tea to your liking? We have a stock of first-classed goods from the Kingdom of Tea*.
T/N: Haldine, Edmont, Joshua and Peco's kingdom
MC: It has a nice scent.
As he looked at me, he lightly smiled.
Hatter: By the way, Lady, do you know what's enjoyable about the nicest tea in a tea party?
Towards his sudden question, I...
///Choices///
- Enjoying the flavor and scent as much as you like (☽)
MC: Enjoying the flavor and scent as much as you like?
Hatter: I see... That's a good answer.
- Enjoying talking with each other (☼)
MC: Being able to have fun from talking with each other?
Hatter: Oh... That's a good answer.
///Choices///
Hatter: Well, actually, there isn't a single answer to this question.
MC: There isn't?
As the scent of the mellow tea drifting from the cup in my hand, I blinked.
Hatter: What I'm saying is that lots of people exist for fun.
When he tapped the ground with the cane that he was holding, he smiled a little.
MC: If that's the case, then what's the point to that question?
Then, he elegantly tilted his cup as he sent a mysterious gaze at me.
Hatter: ...Who knows?
His eyes that had a mysterious look in them felt like he could see through my thoughts...
Hatter: Oh, is something wrong?
MC: ! No... I was thinking how I might stand out in a nice tea party like this.
Noticing that he must've guessed what I was thinking, I tried looking for the words to say quickly.
Hatter: There's no need to get all worked up. You're the guest of honor. Let me thank you for waking me up from a slumber to my heart's content.
MC: ...
When he made that response with a smile, I ended up forgetting what I was going to say. Then, Hatter-san silently closed his eyes.
Hatter: Looks like in order for us to get to know each other, we need to spend some time together.
He suddenly pulled out a single card from his chest. On the corner of it, he drew a silk hat symbol.
Hatter: This week on Sunday, I'll be waiting at this location, so please use your judgement wisely.
MC: Wisely...
Hatter: You're free to think of it as a date or a way to kill some time.
After sending a gaze towards me again, Hatter-san turned around and left in front of me.
(What a strange person...)
As I remembered his vague smile and the flavor of the top-class tea, I couldn't understand them at all...
Chapter 3 - A Guide to Madness
-Flashback-
Hatter: This week on Sunday, I'll be waiting at this location, so please use your judgement wisely.
-Flashback-
Then, on the promised day... At the meet up place, I looked for Hatter-san. Then, he appeared while holding a single red rose in his hand...
Hatter: My apologies for being late. I just happen to find a nice flower. Isn't this flower pretty? Why do you think roses exist to be red?
///Choices///
- There are other roses besides red ones (☼)
MC: Aren't there other roses besides red ones?
I asked that in return as I looked at the purple roses on Hatter-san's hat and chest.
Hatter: Oh, that's quite an answer that didn't have a shred of romance in it.
- Do you know? (☽)
MC: Do you know?
Hatter: No, that's why I'm interested.
///Choices///
With that, he elegantly placed the rose that he picked on my chest
Hatter: Now then, let us depart and use our sweet time to go around Madness.
When he whispered that deeply to me, an uneasy feeling of expectations was dwelling within my heart... Then, the first place that Hatter-san took me to was...
Hatter: This is the place where the first tea party that Alice has participated in was.
(Alice?)
MC: By Alice, do you mean the fairytale?
Hatter: A fairytale. That does describe her well.
(Then, it's just as I thought... But, this place is just a normal party hall.)
MC: Somehow, this feels different than what I imagined. I thought that it was going to be a place with a more special feeling...
Hatter: It was different back then. The flow of time is cruel after all. Yes, that beauty of that adorable lady... Someday, I'm sure of it. Alice, the girl from that time, she disappeared from Wondermare.
MC: Eh...
When Hatter-san acted like he was crying, he wiped his eyes with a handkerchief.
(Alice disappeared?)
Hatter: By the way, if Alice was a boy instead of a girl, what do you think this world would be like?
Towards that nonlogical question...
///Choices///
- Tell him honestly that you don't know (☼)
MC: I don't know...
Hatter: ...
There was an odd look in his eyes that were in the shadow beneath his hat.
- Tell what you honestly think (☽)
MC: It'd probably turn out to be a world that a boy would like more.
Hatter: ...
His emerald green eyes shined.
///Choices///
Hatter: That was a pointless question. Now then, let's go to the next place.
After that, he led me to all sorts of places while calling it a date. Although, as it seemed like they had a deep connection with "Alice", it felt slightly different than the fairytale that I knew.
(Moreover, I don't understand the meaning behind that question.)
Whenever he had the chance, he would repeatedly ask that unanswerable question to me.
MC: Um, Hatter-san. Is there a meaning to that question earlier?
Hatter: A long time ago, didn't they say that women are attracted to slightly mysterious men?
When Hatter-san made a strained look, I held in my next words.
(Is that so...?)
Those green eyes gave me the feeling that he's been experimenting with something this whole time.
Hatter: Hmm... If you're that curious, I'll give you a bit of a more serious answer. Although, questions related to Alice are taboo. Even I don't know how much I can say in this world.
(Taboo? What does he mean?)
I was curious about what he said, but thinking about his vague behavior made me ask different questions.
MC: Then...
I asked him all sorts of questions that were about him. Like his age, what he likes and also...
MC: Do you have a dream?
Hatter: Of course. Someday, I want to have a tea party in the sky, so I'm doing a little research on an iron ship that can fly in the sky.
When Hatter-san replied, I noticed that he was making a soft expression.
(It's like a little boy's dream.)
Although, in the end, what I've heard only increased the mystery...
MC: I don't understand you somehow, Hatter-san...
I told him how I honestly felt.
Hatter: Oh, are you interested in me?
As Hatter-san touched the tag that was hanging on his hat, he smiled broadly.
Hatter: In that case, how about we spend some more time together? Actually, a worker in the hat shop that I run is out...
(Despite that right now... Hatter-san is a prince?)
While thinking that it was strange, I looked at him...
Hatter: A prince... Those words suit me. That's probably another mystery. Even though I'm the son of the head of the Madness territory... Right now, I'm already used to being called Hatter. Aside from going down the path of the territory, I'm more concerned about the situation of running my own shop.
In a jokingly way, Hatter-san shrugged his shoulders as he showed a smile.
MC: So... You want me to stand in for the worker?
Hatter: Yes, that way you can observe me around the clock. Well, please think about it.
As he happily smiled, I stopped the vague conversation...
Chapter 4 - I Don't Have an Answer
-Flashback-
Hatter: In that case, how about we spend some more time together? Actually, a worker in the hat shop that I run is out...
-Flashback-
Then, a few days later... At the hat shop, "House of Madness", I became his helper.
(What do I do, I'm at a loss, but.)
When I remembered Hatter-san's charming smile and behavior, the feeling of wanting to know the mysterious him more have surged.
(What skillful fingers...)
Before I knew it, I sent a gaze towards Hatter-san as he was making a hat...
Hatter: Lady, do you want to help?
When Hatter-san noticed my gaze, he beckoned me to come over. I nervously approached him and...
Hatter: That's it, put on the hat, like that...
When I put on the hat that he made, he sewed a multicolored flower onto it. What was just cloth at first got turned into amazing hats like magic.
MC: Wow...!
At that moment, I suddenly remembered his words from when he greeted me.
-Flashback-
Hatter: Welcome, Lady. To the tea party of I, Mad Hatter. Please call me, Hatter.
-Flashback-
(By Mad Hatter... He's like the Mad Hatter from the fairytale that "Alice" was in. Which meant that he was having a mad tea party...)
As I affectionately caressed the hat that I was wearing, he stared at me...
Hatter: If you have a Mad Hatter and a dexterous gentleman together, what do you get?
MC: Eh...?
When he gave me another question, I...
///Choices///
- Try thinking (☽)
(Hatter-san and a gentleman... Just what do they have in common?)
When I placed my hand on my chin and thought about it...
- Immediately reply with I don't know (☼)
MC: Um, I don't know, your questions are always so hard...
///Choices///
Hatter: Correct. There's no answer to this question. Your reaction was so cute that I just couldn't help myself...
As Hatter-san made a soft shrewd look, he continued moving his hands.
(I don't understand...)
I couldn't do anything, except blink from Hatter-san's question...
......
After that... When he went out to do some more errands, I tended to the store.
(Even so, customers keep on coming in one after another...)
Female Customer: How did the hat with the Alice embroidery that I ordered turn out?
Employee: Yes! MC-san, can you go get it from Mad Hatter-san's room?
MC: Ah, yes!
When I headed into the room that Hatter-san uses for making hats, I opened the work desk. At that moment...
(Ah...)
At the spot where the hat was, I saw a single photo. In it, there was an unknown girl with Hatter-san and on the other side, there was a note that said, "Alice".
-Flashback-
Hatter: Although, questions related to Alice are taboo. Even I don't know how much I can say in this world.
-Flashback-
(Hatter-san... Despite that he said that he doesn't know about Alice. Why did he ask me all those questions?)
I was curious about the photo, but I had to get the hat that was ordered first, so I returned to the shop...
......
That night, I tried to talk to Hatter-san about what I saw during the day after he returned from outside.
Hatter: Who knows what it means to me... What's the point in asking me that?
///Choices///
- Nothing special (☼)
MC: Nothing special...
Hatter: In that case, let's put an end to this conversation.
After he said that apathetically, I couldn't bring myself to speak anymore.
- What do you think? (☽)
MC: What do you think?
When I questioned Hatter-san with that, he lightly sighed.
Hatter: Could it be that you're copying me? Fufu, what a cute lady.
With that, he dodged my question smoothly and returned to his room.
///Choices///
As the wall clock's hand was slowly moving, it made some noise in the gloomy shop...
Chapter 5 - A Somewhat Exciting Night
A few days later since I saw the photo of Alice in his room... I visited the shopping district in Madness.
(What should I do?)
I thought of that, but that photo was giving me a puzzling feeling...
(I wonder why...)
While looking for an answer, I walked around town.
(In the alleyway around here, Hatter-san's shop is oldest one here that's run by someone by themself.)
After going around for a while, when I found a small shop, I opened the door and went inside.
MC: Hello...
Shopkeeper: Welcome. Are you the rumored girl that's been wanting to hear stories about Mad Hatter-san?
Appearing from within the shop was a friendly man showing a smile.
MC: Yes. I want to know about the relationship between him and Alice.
Shopkeeper: Alice, you say?
The man made a vague look after I said that name. When I explained the series of events that happened up till now, I ended up talking about Alice with him...
Shopkeeper: What a strange story. Doesn't he know more about Alice out of anyone else in Wondermare?
(I knew it...)
......
That night... When I returned to House of Madness, I visited Hatter-san's room and told him about the details of the conversation that I had with the shopkeeper.
Hatter: ...What a curious lady.
After saying that, he continued to be silent for a while, but then, Hatter-san sighed as if he has given up.
Hatter: ...The atmosphere doesn't feel the same as before. So? What do you want to ask me here?
I...
///Choices///
- About Alice herself (☽)
MC: About Alice herself.
When I said that, Hatter-san amusingly raised the brim of his silk hat a little.
- His relationship with Alice (☼)
MC: Your relationship with Alice.
When I said that, Hatter-san slightly lowered the brim of his silk hat to hide his eyes.
///Choices///
Hatter: I had a feeling you would say that.
Hatter-san pulled his silk hat over his head once more and straightened it up.
Hatter: I understand, Lady.
Just as he looked at me with his charming eyes...
MC: ...!
Suddenly, he placed his hand around my waist.
Hatter: Shall we move to another location?
As he held me, he deeply whispered that in my ear...
MC: ...
My heart pounded loudly...
......
He took me into the hat shop, "House of Madness".
Hatter: This is the most exciting since the time that girl disappeared from this world.
As the moonlight was shining in through the window side, Hatter-san made a pleasant smile.
Hatter: That's right, what all started bringing up Wondermare was when Alice appeared. But, one day, she suddenly disappeared. Then, this world went through an odd transformation.
MC: What do you mean?
Hatter: The forest that Alice walked in became a concrete jungle. The mellow tea that Alice has drank turned into tea in plastic bottles. Then, the mad people that had connections with Alice have turned into honest people.
(That sort of thing...?)
Hatter: Of course, there were people that accepted the change and people that didn't...
Hatter-san continued speaking as if he was singing in an opera scene.
MC: Where do you think Alice went...?
Hatter: I really don't know either. There were many people that desperately looked for her when she disappeared, but... Well, her disappearance from this world is what got me excited. Just that one time! It's what I couldn't help, but be curious about. If an existence like hers appears in this world again, who knows what kind of change will happen next...!
Then...
(Eh...)
Just as Hatter-san's handsome face suddenly got closer, my back was pushed against the display case in the shop.
Hatter: But, that delusion of my mad self, I found a clear solution to it when you appeared... That's why I've been testing you this whole time. You seemed suitable to become the new Alice...
MC: Me...?
Hatter: Yes, Lady MC.
With a deep tone, he called me by my name for the first time...
Chapter 6 - There's Already an Answer
-Flashback-
Hatter: That's why I've been testing you this whole time. You seemed suitable to become the new Alice...
-Flashback-
When he said my name charmingly, I became unable to look up at Hatter-san. My heartbeat was going fast from the strange feeling that was different from fear and nervousness.
Hatter: From the beginning, I thought about just playing with you for a bit. But, you're really like her more than I expected that the more I got to know you, the more interested I became.
MC: Hatter-san...
His slender fingers slid on my arm and then, onto my cheek. Those skillful fingers that sew up hat products very easily...
Hatter: Lady. For someone like me, to think that you have raised the childlike curiosity within my heart. Even so, what you have bestowed upon me were feelings that I didn't even know were sleeping within the bottom of my heart... Wishing for a childlike innocence to return to an adult and changing the world in a child's heart... Would that be a sin?
When he whispered that question in my ear...
///Choices///
- Yes (☼)
(If some kind of change happens in the world, what would the people that currently live here think?)
MC: Yes...
When I responded softly, Hatter-san tilted his head to the side somewhat happily.
Hatter: I see...
- No (☽)
(Come to think of it, wishing for something like that probably wouldn't be so bad...)
MC: No...
Hatter: ...
Before me, his emerald green eyes made a sad look.
///Choices///
His fingers that were on my cheek softly caressed it and then, they reluctantly parted away.
Hatter: My apologies... That must've been a bit of an unfair question just now.
When he looked away from me, he lets go of me. The moment I sighed in relief...
Hatter: What I should do from here on, I've already came up with that answer.
MC: Answer? What do you mean...
Hatter: Lady MC... What will you do...
His voice made my heart throb greatly again.
Hatter: Although, if you want to know my answer... In three days, there'll be a tea party in the sky garden, so please come alone. Just you.
MC: ...
Our gazes met for a moment... But, Hatter-san disappeared that instant in front of me as if he has blended in with the darkness...
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