After recalling several times since then, she couldn’t remember at all. When she asked the Countess Lancaster, her mother, she said it was when Alicia was very young, and she couldn’t remember. The Countess also explained that she didn’t mention the connection because it seemed there wouldn’t be any in the future. She also added that she no longer visited the palace due to a strained relationship with the queen.

“But why did the queen suddenly become so kind during the grand event? Perhaps it was for political reasons?”

Alicia and the Countess Lancaster had no idea about the real reason behind the queen’s sudden change.

“Mr. Lancaster?”

William asked Alicia, who seemed lost in thought, why she was like that.

“Oh, I’m sorry, Your Highness. I was lost in thought for a moment.”

“Lost in thought?”

“Yes. That’s it.”

Alicia mumbled awkwardly.

Although she knew William’s circumstances from Eric, it still felt strange for the Countess Lancaster to say that the queen and her didn’t get along.

William, considering Alicia’s uncomfortable expression, smiled slyly.

“I, too, met you when I was young.”

“Oh, really?”

“Come to think of it, I remember now. Do you remember the rose garden?”

“Yes, of course.”

“When there were many flowers in the garden besides roses, I have a memory of taking you to that garden. Harry cried and followed us, so we reached out to him, urging him to come quickly.”

“Ah.”

It wasn’t a real memory, but the scene seemed to be drawn in her mind.

“But is that true?”

?”

“Eric was there at that time.”

“Yes?”

“He rushed to me, and seeing Harry who had fallen, he helped him up and took us there together.”

It was a strange thing.

From a young age when she couldn’t remember, she seemed to have a connection with him.

The scene was drawn again in Alicia’s mind.

A beautiful garden. Clear weather and sunlight. Three children who seemed to get along well.

A smile formed naturally.

“Welcome, Princess Valeri.”

“It’s been a while, Your Majesty. Have you been well?”

Princess Valeri gracefully greeted the emperor, holding the hem of her dress.

With a confident expression and attitude, she exchanged greetings with the empress, William, and Harry.

“It’s been a while. Count Russell.”

“I greet you, Your Highness.”

“I’ll be in your care for the next ten days.”

“Yes.”

“There may be more.”

“······.”

“Except when scolded, it seems you still don’t have much to say.”

Valeri laughed friendly, but Eric remained expressionless, standing without any particular response.
That too, as expected, Valerie laughed unaffectedly. However, William sensed that Eric’s expressionless face indicated a less-than-positive mood. William, who had been observing the two, promptly opened his mouth to the princess.

“Shall we go inside, Your Highness?”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

Prince William glanced at Eric and then, together with Princess Valerie, moved into the palace. Eric also quietly followed behind.

Surprisingly, Princess Valerie stayed quiet. As a sorceress, she had visited the temple for greetings and occasionally met with classmates from her training days. However, apart from that, she avoided external events and preferred to stay in the palace. Consequently, Eric had no choice but to spend most of his time with Princess Valerie, mainly answering her questions.

It was mostly about answering the princess’s inquiries.

“Lord Russell is usually not this quiet, right? It didn’t seem like that before.”

“It’s because of the mission.”

“Oh. I see. It must be uncomfortable for the commander to entrust him with security duties.”

Eric remained silent, neither affirming nor denying, but Princess Valerie, sensing his discomfort, chuckled.

“Have you ever fought demons directly?”

“Yes.”

“How was it?”

······.

“You’re not telling me, after all. Well, I guess details haven’t been discussed yet, so you won’t provide information.”

When Princess Valerie chuckled, Eric responded casually.

“I have nothing to answer even if you ask.”

“I see. I thought you were a person who adheres to principles and wouldn’t do this, just in case.”

Valerie, who was sipping tea, suddenly asked as if she remembered.

“This tea, called Orange Syllet, is produced by the Gloucester Marquis, right?”

“Yes.”

“And Alisia Lancaster manages that business. She’s your fiancée, isn’t she?”

······”Yes.”

While Eric maintained a poker face, inside, he felt a sense of unease. Orange Syllet supplied the palace, and if Princess Valerie asked, anyone would find it hard not to answer. However, Eric was puzzled about how Valerie knew that Alisia was involved in managing the business.

“Will your fiancée also attend the picnic tomorrow?”

“Yes.”

“Sir Spencer spoke very highly of her.”

“Is that so?”

“I was curious, too. A woman who captivates the grumpy commander. I wondered what kind of woman she could be.”

Princess Valerie laughed with interest.

Three years ago, the man who dared to say anything to her, a princess. Moreover, a man who refused to apologize, insisting that he did nothing wrong. However, unfortunately, he had exceptional skills, making it annoying. Since the rumors of Eric’s engagement spread, she had been curious.

Who was the woman who, despite the exaggerated rumors, had made Eric lose his composure? Was it just an exaggerated rumor? Valerie sipped her teacup, hiding her thoughts. Despite the rumors, something seemed to have changed, but meeting him again, his reticence had only increased, and he didn’t seem to have changed much.

Princess Valerie came to Britannia with a purpose, and to achieve her goals, she had to meet Alisia and understand her character.

“Well, let’s look forward to tomorrow. Sir Spencer said he would help, after all.”
And she had to meet Alicia for that matter and find out what kind of personality she had.

“Well, let’s look forward to tomorrow. Sir Spencer said he would help, after all.”