Dimensional Keeper: All My Skills Are at Level 100 - Chapter 283

Chapter 283: Secret Hideout
A soft murmur spread among the attendees.

Some still looked shaken.

Some were whispering, speculating.

But most of them knew—this wasn’t Aelric’s fault.

He had handled it well, ensuring that things didn’t spiral even further out of control.

One by one, the guests nodded in agreement, accepting his words.

And soon—

The garden returned to life.

Despite the pits, the craters, and the lingering tension, people resumed their conversations, laughter, and socializing.

As if trying to erase the memory of what had just transpired.

While others moved on, Alice’s mind didn’t.

Her fingers tightened slightly, her heart still pounding from everything that had just unfolded.

Her gaze flickered to Anton, watching as her brother took a deep breath and walked toward Aelric.

He had probably seen enough for one day.

This was her chance.

A rare moment of freedom.

Her eyes lit up with excitement as she quickly turned to Princess Aveline, grabbing her hand with urgency.

“Ave, let’s go to that place.”

The princess blinked, a flicker of surprise in her violet eyes.

“There? Right now?”

Her brows furrowed slightly, not out of annoyance—but concern.

Alice nodded firmly, gripping her hand tighter.

“Hmm, right now. Please, Ave.”

Her voice softened, her expression carrying a pleading look, almost on the verge of watering up.

It was a look Alice rarely showed.

A look that Aveline knew all too well.

The princess let out a deep sigh, placing her hands on her waist.

“Don’t think I don’t know this look.”

She shook her head lightly, her stance still firm—

But her gaze softened.

She could never really say no to Alice.

And Alice knew it.

“But… since you want to go, then fine. Let’s go anyways.”

Alice’s face brightened instantly, her grip tightening in excitement.

“I knew Ave was the best!”

She giggled, pulling the princess along.

Aveline rolled her eyes but allowed herself to be dragged away, a small smile creeping onto her lips.

But deep down—

She wondered.

‘Why is Alice so desperate to go there… right now?’

Aveline then led Alice away from the garden.

Their destination was not a place known to most.

It was far from the celebrations.

Far from the chaos of the gathering.

And even further from the eyes of the curious.

Anton caught a glimpse of them leaving.

But he didn’t react.

He knew well enough—

Alice and Princess Aveline had always been inseparable.

As childhood friends, it was common for them to slip away from the crowd and explore every inch of the Sun Palace during their meetings.

To him, this was just another one of their usual adventures.

So he didn’t bother to stop them.

And soon—

They had disappeared from sight.

—

After a long walk, the two girls finally arrived at their destination.

A place that few ever visited.

A place that was within the Royal Family’s territory, yet felt as though it belonged to a world entirely different from the grand palace.

There—

Standing tall, ancient, and humongous—

Was a massive tree.

Its towering branches stretched high, weaving through the sky like the limbs of a sleeping titan.

Its dense canopy cast a wide shadow across the ground, covering the entire clearing in a blanket of soft golden light filtering through the leaves.

Alice gazed up at the enormous tree before her, its towering form unchanged despite the years that had passed.

A soft breeze rustled its thick canopy, sending a few golden leaves drifting down like whispers of the past.

She sighed, a nostalgic smile forming on her lips.

“It’s been, what? Three years since I last came here?”

Her voice was filled with a quiet longing, a mix of fond memories and something else—a sadness she couldn’t quite name.

Princess Aveline gave her a look, but said nothing.

Instead, she stepped forward, leading Alice toward the small hole in the tree trunk.

A passage.

A hidden entrance that led to something much more than just the hollow of an old tree.

“Let’s go.”

With those words, they both slipped inside.

The moment they stepped through, they found themselves inside a hidden cave.

But it wasn’t dark or abandoned like one might expect.

Instead—

It was warm, lived-in, almost like a secret home tucked away from the rest of the world.

Golden wires of soft, glowing light wove through the cave walls, intertwined with green leaves that pulsed faintly, giving the place an almost magical ambiance.

Despite the years that had passed, the space was clean, well-maintained, even decorated.

It was clear—someone had been taking care of it.

Princess Aveline smiled, turning to Alice.

“I’ve been coming here whenever I had time, cleaning things up and adding whatever I could.”

Her tone was proud, yet lighthearted—as if this place had become something of a personal project for her.

Alice’s eyes softened as she took it all in.

A place so small, so hidden—

Yet to them, it was a world of its own.

Alice moved further into the space, running her fingers lightly along the walls.

Then, after a moment of thought, she turned to Aveline.

“Ave, since this is our secret hideout, we should add a back door—just in case we ever need to leave in secrecy.”

Aveline blinked, surprised at the sudden suggestion.

Then—

A slow smirk crossed her lips.

“A back door? I like it.”

But just as she spoke—

Another voice joined in.

“I like it too.”

The words came from behind them.

A voice—calm, amused, yet carrying an underlying weight.

The moment it reached their ears, Princess Aveline reacted instantly.

Her body turned in a flash, her hand shooting out protectively in front of Alice—her instincts taking over.

Her eyes hardened, her aura flaring slightly, ready for battle.

It was then she saw who spoke just now.

A face she knew far too well.

Aveline’s entire body stiffened, her hand still slightly raised in defense as her mind processed what she was seeing.

She had expected an intruder.

A spy, an enemy, a hidden threat.

But instead—

She was looking at someone she never imagined would be here.

Her lips parted slightly as the name slipped from her mouth, almost in disbelief.

“You—you are Max!”

Her voice trembled.

Her fingers clenched.

Max simply smiled.

Not a grin of mockery.

Not a smirk of arrogance.

Just a calm, easy smile.

“I am indeed Max.”

His voice was steady, casual—yet it carried something deeper beneath the surface.

Something undeniable.

Then, with a slight nod, he turned to Princess Aveline.

“Could you please give me and Alice some private space?”

Aveline blinked.

Her sharp violet eyes flickered between Alice and Max, her mind piecing together the puzzle.

She could see it.

The way Alice was frozen, staring, her hands slightly trembling.

The way Max, despite his outward calmness, carried a quiet intensity in his gaze.

There was history here.

Something that needed to be said—something private.

Aveline took a slow breath, her expression shifting to understanding.

She lowered her arms, her posture relaxing slightly.

Then, she gave Alice a knowing glance, before stepping toward the exit.

“Alright.”

Her tone was neutral, but beneath it—there was a silent message.

Talk to him.

With that, she turned and left, slipping out of the tree house and into the open air, leaving the two alone.

Then—

Max raised a hand and waved lightly at Alice who stood frozen before him, his lips curling into a small, casual smile.

“Hey.”