.. well. Talk about a surprising guy. Actually apologizing to her after she said that? Alice is very much used to people getting cross with her at best for saying something like that - let alone actually apologizing, with a bow of the head and all!

Zechs is moving up the list of tolerable people at a surprisingly rapid speed here.

So much so that she doesn't sound offended at all anymore when she speaks. "It's fine. Even if you knew the books really well, I doubt I'm still anything like the girl I was back then."

That fact had been made very clear to her just by having that younger, innocent Alice by her side for a while.

"They really are just some adventures from long ago. I hope you won't find it too strange talking to me because of it." Is that an actual hint of politeness in that last statement? Yup, sure is. It's not something Alice bothers to use with most people, but.. well, if Zechs is being kind enough, she can at least throw him a bone in turn.