“Because it’s incredibly valuable? Do you know Hilyan, the herbalist in the back street? The old man was dying, but he recovered after eating this.”

“He’s already gone. We attended the funeral.”

“…Just briefly before he died.”

“Don’t eat this. Don’t, Alicia.”

Perplexed, Alicia gently placed what she was holding back on the plate.

Even as the rich couple, seemingly indifferent, picked up cookies, the aristocrat’s wife smiled and picked one up.

“May I have some too?”

“You can have it. Leave it be. Conversations with my son are always like this. Anyway, Alicia.”

“Yes?”

“I’m worried if you can handle this in the future.”

“What do you mean?”

“That guy coming back injured like that, it will happen again. It’s unavoidable due to his occupation.”

Alicia became serious at the sincere words of the aristocrat’s wife.

“I thought that when Eric had a family to take care of, he would be more cautious and attentive. That’s why I urged him to get married. It’s not just a matter of succession.”

Despite the sarcastic and warm words exchanged every time they met, the relationship between parent and child was like this.

“But I didn’t think about how much pain you would endure.”

With a worried look, the aristocrat’s wife looked at Alicia.

Although Eric had experienced significant injuries, he had been prepared for it since becoming a knight.

He had been seriously injured several times, and each time, Alicia had found ways to endure and wait patiently.

But it didn’t mean she had become accustomed to it.

It was not something she could get used to.

Although Alicia had collapsed to the point that it was difficult to watch every time, could she endure it in the future?

If it continued like this, neither Alicia nor the people around her would be able to endure it.

“So, Alicia. Think carefully about this marriage. For your sake.”

“I can do it.”

Alicia said firmly.

Both her voice and gaze were quite resolute.

“Um, I can do it.”

“All right.”

The aristocrat’s wife patted Alicia’s hand and nodded approvingly.

“I indeed made a good judgment about this person. The time I spoke to her in that dressing room was probably the best thing I’ve ever done in my life.”

Thinking that way, the aristocrat’s wife lifted the teacup.

But before she could drink the tea, she sighed and put it down again.

“Enough now. It’s too noisy. I’m dying.”

“Well, madam, haven’t you seen it too? She ignored my sincerity.”

“Frankly, even I found it repulsive. The smell is strange too.”

“Why is the madam like this too? I went through so much trouble to get this.”

“Fine, let’s stop now.”
“Why, already?”

“Already? It’s been a few hours. You guys need some rest too.”

Upon hearing that, the Duke glanced at Alicia and nodded.

“That’s right. We need to rest a bit.”

As expected, his son wasn’t concerned at all. With a sigh, the Duke rose from his seat, and Eric bluntly told him, “Take all of that with you.”

“That guy.”

“Oh, let’s stop now. Please, let’s go.”

Calmly soothing the emotional Duke, the Duchess moved forward.

“Alicia, stay. I’ll leave on my own.”

“Oh, okay.”

“Then go.”

“Sure. Take care of yourself.”

As soon as the Duke and Duchess left and the door closed, Eric said to Alicia, “Let’s get rid of it.”

In truth, although the Duke had carefully provided it, Alicia couldn’t bring herself to eat it.

So, pretending to be unable to resist, she simply nodded and picked up the plate, standing up in the process.

After tidying up, Alicia returned to Eric’s room and found him standing in front of the balcony window. She approached him.

“Why are you up?”

“Just felt suffocated lying in bed doing nothing.”

“But the Duke and Duchess still warned you to be careful.”

“Their idea of being careful might be different from yours.”

As Alicia got closer, Eric naturally wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

“Sorry for making you worry.”

“If you hide the pain, it might lead to something bigger. After all, you kept urging me not to hide my pain, so what about you?”

“Oh, right. Sorry.”

Alicia placed her arms around Eric’s waist and looked up at him.

“You don’t have to act strong in front of me.”

“But I want to act even more so in front of you.”

“That’s mean.”

Alicia’s red lips, pouting slightly, caught Eric’s attention.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

Alicia widened her eyes, blinked, and slightly opened her mouth.

Unconsciously, Eric swallowed saliva.

“Alicia.”

“Yes?”

“Go out now.”

…

Alicia sat inside the carriage with a dumbfounded expression.

She came out as he told her to. Since she didn’t like just leaving the room, she decided to leave the Duke’s mansion altogether.

“It was supposed to be that kind of atmosphere.”

Thinking that way and trying as she did according to the contents of the book Jen had given her, it didn’t work at all.

As she comforted herself, thinking that her charm might not be effective, considering it a blow to her pride.

“But maybe I should visit the Duke’s mansion.”

Although she had come out, there was nowhere particular to go. So, she decided to go to the Duke’s mansion on her way to meet Noah, the wizard.

Despite repeatedly trying to arrange a meeting before, Noah was always busy with work, making it impossible to set a date. Since there was still time, Alicia decided to go without a fixed appointment.

Thinking it was okay to go without a promise, Alicia comforted herself, considering it was okay even if it was futile.

Going to the Duke’s mansion without an appointment, surprisingly, Noah was there.

When Noah received a summons, he hurriedly entered the meeting room and approached Alicia, who was sitting there.