The Mad Court

"Ladies and gentlemen! I brought you Alice!" Mr. Darking announced, his voice echoing through the room. The black-coated and white-hatted individuals turned their attention towards me, their eyes wide with curiosity.

I blinked, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the sudden attention. "Um, hello," I greeted with a sheepish smile. "Nice to meet all of you, I suppose."

A man in a black coat with a remarkably long and crooked nose stepped forward, adjusting his hat. "Ah, the elusive Alice! We've been awaiting your arrival for quite some time," he said, his voice nasally and dramatic.

"And who might you be?" I asked, trying to keep a straight face but failing miserably.

"I am the Notorious Nosedive, the Grand Inquisitor of the Black Coats!" he exclaimed dramatically, striking a pose.

I stifled a giggle. "The Notorious Nosedive? Well, that's quite a name you've got there."

Meanwhile, a woman in a white hat with a fluffy feather stepped forward, her voice tinged with excitement. "And I am Mis