The Empire's Insignia

"Ren! You meanie." Alice stormed at Ren and jabbed a finger at him. "Why didn't you help me? I could have died!"

By this time, Alice's head was already attached to her neck. She was pouting and glaring, but she couldn't look any deader with the lack of color on her face.

"Who is she?" Isolde questioned.

Hearing that, Alice stared at Isolde and curtsied. This time, she made sure to keep her head in its rightful place. "My name's Alice. Nice to meet you . . . ?"

"Isolde."

"Isolde. A pleasure. I'm Ren's new maid. And I'll be helping him around in exchange for freeing me."

Isolde stared at Ren with questioning eyes.

"I saved her in one of the rooms here," Ren began and just as well ended. "She's a ghost maid, and she can keep our HQ nice and tidy."

"Oh? That's good news. I'm sure Hubert will be happy."

"What do you mean, ghost?" Alice butt in. "I'm perfectly alive." As she said so, her hand fell off when she dramatically waved them.