In response to Eric’s question, Harry slowly raised his head and gazed at Eric.

With a contemplative expression as if considering how to respond, Eric asked again, “Do you want to resume contact with Alicia?”

“I didn’t expect to hear that from a viscount.”

“If it’s a friendship, there’s no reason for me to intervene.”

“Is that so.”

After a moment of hesitation, Harry opened his mouth.

Rather than wanting to be friends again, he hesitated to continue. “Well, in fact, it’s embarrassing to do that.”

“?

“I have many debts to repay, and the person involved doesn’t remember due to difficult circumstances.”

“What kind of debt are you talking about?”

“That was ten years ago.”

At that moment, a knock on the door startled Harry, and he quickly closed his mouth.

‘Is it someone who could cause trouble if they knew?’

Although Eric looked at him with curiosity, Harry gestured to the person who knocked to come in.

“Greetings, Your Highness.”

“Are you the brother of His Highness?”

“I am Ross, His Highness William’s attendant.”

“I see. What brings you here?”

“His Royal Highness Prince William has requested the presence of Viscount Russell, so I came with apologies.”

“Ah.”

Upon hearing this, Harry glanced at Eric.

“Now that it seems the conversation is over, how about going, Viscount Russell?”

“…I will do so, Your Highness.”

Since Harry seemed unwilling to continue the conversation, Eric reluctantly stood up from his seat.

While moving to Prince William’s palace with Ross, Eric gazed at Ross’s back.

From the first time Eric saw him until now, Ross had remained expressionless and spoke little.

It was necessary for survival in the palace, and that’s how he gained William’s trust.

“When did you say you entered the palace?”

“Three years ago.”

“Is that so.”

Ross was the son of an ordinary viscount, and he came in after the previous attendant died in an accident.

His academy records were quite good, and although he was slender, he was rumored to be somewhat skilled in swordsmanship.

William had certainly verified Ross’s identity considering his own situation, so there shouldn’t be anything suspicious.

‘Even so, it might be good to be cautious.’

Apart from meddling in the struggle for the throne, he could at least give a friend that much advice.

While thinking that, Eric once again scrutinized Ross’s back with a sharp gaze.

But, as usual, Ross silently guided Eric without responding.

A few days later, Eric received a report on the mage taken from the Citadel through the Zero Knights, Kive and Noah.

Based on an identity investigation conducted by the Security Patrol, their mage license had been revoked for obtaining magical spells without authorization.

“The deceased had all their magic drained, and the surviving mage is missing.”

Eric frowned, clenching his fist. “How did they escape? Was there an accomplice?”

“It seems that way.”

Though brought in by the Security Patrol, the mage vanished without a trace.

It could have been a crucial clue that he missed. Regretfully, Kive and Noah bowed their heads.

“I sensed a strange aura in the palace garden. Moreover, when the mage saw me, they begged for mercy. Could it be that Alicia witnessed the scene of magic being drained?”

“So, they erased her memory?”

“Maybe. Perhaps the same person who delivered a letter to Alicia when she was kidnapped. That person also had no recollection of their actions. To buy time for escape, Alicia seduced me… Hmph.”

Seeing Eric flustered, Kive and Noah looked at him with puzzled expressions.

“Anyway, if a magician is involved, issue a wanted order, framing charges roughly.”

“Understood.”

Eric fell into deep thought for a moment.
The mages found dead in the ruins of the northern temple last time also had all their magic drained.

‘If they needed a lot of magic, it must have been for mass-producing demons.’

Eric’s gaze returned to the report. If their magic was completely drained, their lives could be in danger; they might have been forced into this.

‘Unauthorized mages like these might be easier targets than those affiliated with the Citadel.’

The investigation into the disappearance of mages may have been wrong from the start.

Noah cautiously asked, sensing Eric’s serious mood, “Is there something that concerns you?”

“Can you identify unauthorized mages?”

“Yes.”

“Anyone doing this kind of thing in the alleys or those expelled from the Citadel. It would be good to identify as many as possible.”

“It might take some time, but it can be done. However, approval from the Citadel is required for the list of expelled mages.”

“I’ll handle that. Since I already made an appointment with the Citadel today.”

“But, sir. What exactly are you looking for?”

“If they need a mage’s magic, who would be an easy target?”

“Ah.”

As Kive and Noah seemed to catch on, Eric grinned.

“Then I’ll go to the Citadel.”

Entering the Citadel’s office, Eric was met with a displeased look and a reprimand from the Citadel.

“You really didn’t forget, huh.”