@Iceblade20 I think it's a copy of what Alice remembers of her mother and is the result of her deepest wish being to see her mother awake and alive again. Like the figments Steven creates in Rose's room, if you've seen Steven Universe. Although since Sharon is in a magical slumber it could be a twist later on that she can somehow travel through people's subconscious and it's actually her, but I don't think that's the current implication or what The Duke and Alice think
I like how Alice let him enter with no hesitations. I mean, part of me wants to say that it's because she entered his mind and saw his deepest desires, even his DEEPEST desire without him entering, and so she thinks that it's only fair to return the favor. The other part of me wants to say that Alice loves the duke and trusts him so much that she'd just have no qualms and would used this chance to get closer.
It's meant to be a bit ambiguous as what @Delfador said. I think the intention is that no one truly knows what Sharon is like, even her journal is a bit of a front to her true personality and each person saw a different side of her. We're unwinding this mystery just as the characters are. @Iceblade20
@Tamelane Unless Alice has been putting up a front about the Duke, I'd say regarding how she let him in without hesitation...it's definitely both. Moreso the second part about trusting and loving him. She's the one who starts most of the flirting they do in the chapters after all
You're aware alice literally say that she's imagining that sharon right ?
There's literally nothing ambiguous here.
People, read the chapter instead of doing intellectual masturbation please :/