“Yes?”

“Recently, the number of expelled individuals has increased rapidly. The reasons are unclear, but perhaps it’s related to the use of magic.”

Noah hesitated, looking at Eric.

Knowing from their previous conversation that Eric was a flexible person, Noah hoped he would understand broadly, but telling the knight commander the honest situation felt like a difficult task.

“I’ve heard that opinions are divided among arcanists these days about whether magic should be prohibited or not.”

“I see.”

Understanding Noah’s difficulty, Eric nodded, then seriously spoke to Noah.

“Noah, those who have already been expelled are hard to trace. So, it might be better to monitor and find individuals who might be used by the magicians.”

“Monitor them?”

“Stay in the temple for a while and carefully observe the arcanists. Watch for those who have recently developed an interest in magic or have increased contacts with the outside. Keep an eye on such individuals.”

“Oh, yes. I understand.”

“Let’s go back then. There’s probably nothing more to find here.”

“Yes.”

As Noah followed Eric back, he suddenly picked up a scorched piece of paper from one side of the desk.

More than half of it had already burned away, but a few words were still recognizable.

Magic, seal, Lancaster, sorcery

Although some parts of the sentences were hidden by burns, four words written here and there were visible.

Noah glanced at Eric for a moment and quickly crumpled the piece of paper and put it in his pocket.

While Eric was investigating, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester were visiting Russell Manor.

The duke and duchess looked worried and apologetic to Alicia to the point where it was embarrassing.

“Goodness, this child’s face is half again.”

“She has no manners, Alicia. I can’t believe Deborah did such a thing.”

“Thanks to Eric, nothing serious happened. Please don’t worry too much.”

“If something had happened to you, it wouldn’t have ended like this.”

The duke spoke firmly, and the duchess, with a face filled with concerns, gulped down the chilled tea.
The usually gentle Duke of Gloucester’s rough movements were so impolite that it surprised even the Duchess.

As soon as they finished drinking, the Duke wrinkled his face and loudly placed the teacup on the table.

“Orange Sylit, of all things.”

“Clean it up right away.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t think that far.”

Although Clayton, the Marquis, was responsible for the production and marketing of Orange Sylit tea, he still bore some responsibility for the tea.

When Alicia smiled awkwardly, the Duke and Duchess seemed more apologetic than embarrassed.

“No, I forgot you liked that tea.”

“Well, if you like it, then it’s fine. It doesn’t matter.”

Alicia, feeling more embarrassed, changed the subject to ask something she was curious about.

“Then, what happened to the Marquis?”

“Deborah did such a thing, and we couldn’t stay here any longer. We all cleaned up and went down immediately. We probably won’t set foot near the Sylit territory.”

“Goodness, Deborah was so harsh. I must have been very wrong about her.”

The Duchess shook her head in dismay.

At the time of questioning Deborah at the security office, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Marquis and Marquise Clayton, Deborah’s parents, were also present.

At that time, Deborah had harshly told the Marquis and Marquise that she was definitely at fault.

“Father, mother raised me like this.”

“What? Deborah!”

“She told me to become a woman suitable for the Duke’s wife. She said that place rightfully belonged to me.”

“Deborah.”

Seeing the Marquise glancing at the Duke and Duchess, Deborah continued.

“But what’s this? How much effort did I put in? Everything turned into nothing because of that woman.”

Biting her lip, Deborah muttered.

“But, Deborah, you have a man you’re dating[Dash].”

The Marquise, surprised, spoke to Deborah.

The man Deborah was dating was one of the men she had instructed to attack Alicia. He was also a noble, the son of a healthy Viscount, though his reputation was not particularly good.

However, as the Marquis and Marquise were staying in a local territory, they didn’t know much about his reputation, and the family was not bad, so they readily approved.

“Impossible. Who would[Dash].”

For Deborah, he was an easily exploitable man.

He approached the seemingly innocent and quiet Deborah with intentions, making it even easier to deceive her.

Moreover, the man’s eyes did not hide the vile gaze mixed with curiosity when hearing Alicia Lancaster’s story, which was disgusting.

Of course, that’s why it was easy to pull him in.

“Do I know that I put in so much effort for such a man?”

Deborah, who had been murmuring, looked up with a face that could be interpreted as either a smile or tears.

Her eyes, which had sparkled brightly until a moment ago, quickly turned pitiful, even to the point of arousing sympathy when they met Eric’s eyes.

The appearance of a few moments ago, where she was cursing, now seemed unimaginable, even pitiable.