In the serious expression on Alicia’s face, Chase felt a sense of guilt and nervously fidgeted.

“Why are you so serious? Scared, huh?”

To hide his feelings, Chase laughed and raised the teacup.

Alicia, who had been watching, opened her mouth before Chase could drink the tea.

“Princess Valeria plans to push forward with the engagement with Eric.”

He expected it, but he didn’t know Alicia would admit it so directly.

Unable to put his mouth to the teacup, Chase sighed and lowered the cup.

“Alicia, I know what you want to ask. So, I’ll be honest too.”

“Yeah.”

“In fact, I happened to overhear what you and the princess were talking about.”

“······.”

“The princess’s opinion may be personal. Nothing official has been notified yet.”

“I see. But even if she’s a princess, can she say that without any evidence?”

“Princess Valeria is surprisingly the type to charge forward without looking back. And I heard this too.”

Chase, glancing at Alicia for a moment, continued speaking.

“It seems she has been interested in His Highness for about three years.”

“Then, when she came to receive training as a divine mage?”

“Yeah. And it seems Princess Valeria was originally pushing for a strategic marriage with Prince Adrian in the Balua Kingdom. But this time, the princess rebelled quite properly.”

“······.”

“So, it seems there was a commotion even before that to come here. I thought it was for collecting information on demons or sorcerers.”

Alicia listened silently.

Chase, also sensing Alicia’s mood, kept his mouth shut while looking at her.

“Chase. What do you think?”

“About what?”

“You’re in charge of Balua. If the engagement proceeds, you’ll be involved too.”

“That’s true.”

“Is this engagement really necessary?”

Chase closed his mouth for a moment and met eyes with Alicia.

Surprisingly, without revealing his emotions, Chase couldn’t figure out what Alicia was thinking.

“As a practical practitioner in charge of Balua, I honestly think so. I believe it will help the relationship between the two countries.”

“I see.”

To the nodding Alicia, Chase cautiously spoke to her as she was shaking her head.

“As a friend.”

After uttering the words, Chase chuckled self-deprecatingly.

A friend.

It was a word that didn’t seem the same to say himself, but it was a useful word to hide himself.

“I want to move in a way that won’t hurt you.”

“······.”

Chase’s words were appreciated, but no matter which way Alicia moved, there was no way she wouldn’t be hurt.

If Eric went through with the engagement and left her, she would naturally be hurt.

On the contrary, if she rejected the engagement and the relationship between the two countries turned sour, and Eric had to take responsibility for that, it would also be a source of pain for Alicia.

Observing Alicia seriously contemplating, Chase cautiously asked.

“Tomorrow, Her Highness is holding a small gathering for the princess. Do you want to go together?”

“Yeah. I’ll go.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

With Alicia’s prompt answer, Chase raised one eyebrow in surprise.

But there was no change in Alicia’s expression.

Having watched Alicia for a long time, Chase couldn’t figure out what she was thinking this time.

“Then I’ll come to pick you up tomorrow.”

“Sure. Thanks.”

Alicia, who had returned to her usual self after the serious expression earlier, smiled.

However, it was even more nerve-wracking for Chase.

‘This doesn’t seem right.’

With a feeling of something amiss, Chase kept his mouth shut and observed Alicia, who was drinking tea nonchalantly.

“Why is that, Sister-in-law? You seem unable to focus today.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

After barely avoiding Alicia’s sword, Allen finally added his worried words, and Alicia stopped moving and sighed.

“Do you have something on your mind?”

“A little.”
“Do you have something on your mind?”

“A little.”

“What is it? Can I listen? Oh, is it because of Senior? Did Senior upset you?”

“Yes?”

Understanding without words, Allen immediately poured out his words, clenching his fist seriously.

“Oh no, that guy is completely out of his mind. What should we do, Sister-in-law? Should I go and hit him on your behalf?”

“Ah, to that extent, really?”

“Of course. I’ll really give him a good beating. What?”

Embarrassed laughter crossed Alicia’s face, and suddenly she became curious.

“Allen. The Knights are originally a place with strict discipline, right?”

“That’s right.”

“But Eric and you seem to be comfortable even in public situations. Does that not go against the discipline?”

“Oh, that.”

Allen chuckled.

“When Senior first became the commander, he had a lot of concerns about how to organize the unit. Moreover, Senior was younger than the majority of the knights at that time since he became the youngest commander. Thanks to that, he seemed to have composed it with younger individuals than the First Knights.”

“Oh, I see.”