She feared that tears would drop if she opened her mouth.

“Why are you so quiet? Aren’t you happy to see me? I’m really thrilled.”

“······.”

“I really missed you.”

“······I missed you too.”

I have to greet Eric with a smiling face.

I believed he would return healthy, so I waited cheerfully. I must say so.

That’s what she kept reminding herself on the carriage ride to the estate of Count Russell.

But the tears burst out, and Alicia buried her head into the bed.

“I really thought something happened to you······sob.”

“What happened? I’m perfectly fine.”

“Waaah.”

Unable to hold it any longer, Alicia broke into loud sobs.

Eric, not knowing what to do, gently stroked Alicia’s head.

“Don’t cry.”

Eric was flustered.

He didn’t expect Alicia to cry this much.

“Don’t cry, Alicia. I don’t know what to do when you’re like this.”

With Eric’s comforting touch, Alicia managed to speak through her sobs.

“I’m sorry. It’s because of me that this happened.”

“It’s not your fault. I left you alone; I’m sorry.”

“Sob.”

“I shouldn’t have left you alone. Anyway, I shouldn’t take my eyes off you.”

“······Don’t treat me like a child.”

“That reminds me, I did tell you not to go anywhere and not to follow strangers, didn’t I? You didn’t listen. Just like a child.”

“Sob. Sniff.”

Alicia was sobbing so much that the joke didn’t work.

Eric was sorry, thinking that Alicia couldn’t have done anything against a sorcerer’s intention.

So, Eric continued to gently stroke Alicia’s head.

“Now stop crying. It’s been a while, won’t you show me your face?”

“······My face must be a mess right now.”

Alicia spoke, still keeping her head buried.

“Could your face ever be a mess? That would be surprising.”

“……What are you saying, really.”

Hearing Alicia’s trembling voice, Eric laughed.

“You’re smiling now, aren’t you? They say it’s bad to cry and laugh immediately after.”

“Sniff.”

“Ah, you laughed. It’s really going to be a big deal.”

This time, Alicia’s shoulders quivered as if she was holding back her laughter.

“Really not showing your face?”

Alicia still had her head buried and asked.

Her eyes were surely swollen, and her face must be red. She didn’t want to show him her face in such a state.

Alicia continued to ask with her head still buried.

“······How is your wound?”

“The wound is all healed. It’s like this because it was a magical wound caused by a monster.”
“Does it hurt?”

“I’m fine. Thanks to the first aid you provided last time. It could have been a real disaster otherwise.”

Hearing Eric’s cheerful voice, Alicia felt somewhat relieved.

Bowing her head, Alicia silently sat up and hugged Eric.

Listening to Eric’s steady heartbeat made her feel even more at ease.

While willingly hugging Alicia, Eric asked in a somewhat disappointed tone.

“You really won’t show me your face?”

“I can’t show you a swollen face after not seeing you for so long.”

“I don’t know if it’s disappointment or what, but really. When can I see you?”

“In a few hours?”

“Then I’ll have to hold you until then? No choice. This is what you want?”

“······What are you saying.”

Alicia’s soft laughter echoed.

“Ah, you cried then laughed again?”

“Nothing serious happened earlier.”

“······.”

Eric momentarily lifted his head, looked at the ceiling, and sighed.

“Ah, I really want to make a big deal.”

“?”

“Never mind, it’s nothing.”

Feeling regretful, Eric tightened his arms around Alicia.

It felt like the wounded area was slightly sore, but it didn’t matter.

“Ah, this is nice.”

Hearing Eric’s satisfied voice, Alicia snuggled closer into his embrace.

She wished her swollen eyes would heal quickly.

She wished she could look at his face properly.

She had vowed not to cry multiple times, but she burst into tears as soon as she saw him, not even getting a proper look at his face, what foolishness this was.

After a while of silence, Eric asked Alicia,

“What are you doing?”

“I’m reflecting.”

“Ah.”

“I’m also relieved you’re okay.”

“Ah.”

“······.”

“Done reflecting and feeling relieved? Can we see each other’s face now?”

“It’s not even been 30 seconds yet.”

“I think I followed what you said immediately back then?”

Finally, Alicia lifted her head and broke into a smile as her eyes met Eric’s.

“What’s wrong with you? You look beautiful.”

Eric pretended to complain.

The word ‘beautiful,’ which she thought was cringeworthy even to think about, came out naturally from Eric’s mouth.

“I should’ve looked earlier. What a waste of time.”

Eric smiled and gently stroked Alicia’s cheek.

Her eyes turned red as soon as she felt his tender touch.

“Why, why are you crying again?”

A flustered Eric quickly wiped away Alicia’s tears.

“Why are you crying again? Are you not going to show your face again?”

“Sniff.”

“You cried and then laughed?”

This time, Alicia truly laughed.

Tears that had gathered because her eyes narrowed beautifully fell, but that was fine.

“I love you.”

“······I’m really going to be in big trouble like this.”

“?”

Eric lightly grabbed Alicia’s chin, lifting it up.