Harry clenched his teeth and glared at the Empress.

How could his stepmother not know anything about him?

Even if he said what he wanted, his mother wouldn’t listen.

“Someday, you will understand me. You’ll be grateful when you realize how much sacrifice I made for you.”

Again with that talk.

Using the excuse of doing things for him, she must have done them for herself in the end.

Harry wanted to block his ears.

From the beginning, he had no interest in politics, diplomacy, or economics.

He despised such boring and incomprehensible stories.

“So, Harry, what will you do? About the banquet.”

And the Empress, his mother, was persistently urging him in a way that he couldn’t understand.

Only when he gave the answer she wanted to hear would she finally let him go like a constricting snake.

“I will attend.”

“Good. That’s how it should be.”

The Empress rose from her seat, satisfied.

“Make sure not to be late.”

Though unpleasant to hear, it was a genuinely kind voice that Harry hadn’t heard in a long time.

This time, the banquet was smaller compared to the previous one, but considering it was for Princess Valeria of the Ballua Empire, it was properly arranged.

Entering the banquet hall with Chase, Alicia quietly stayed by Chase’s side, not wandering around as she did during the previous picnic.

“Alicia.”

“Yes?”

“Are you okay?”

“With what?”

Seeing Alicia looking more puzzled than usual, Chase awkwardly smiled and mumbled.

“No, how should I. No.”

“It’s bland.”

Alicia’s usual jab made Chase laugh as usual.

But something subtly changed with Alicia.

Or rather, it might be more accurate to say she went back to before the engagement with Eric.

It felt like the loose screw that she thought was gone was back in place.

Even when Valeria, the princess of the Ballua Empire, appeared, escorted by the imperial members and Eric, Alicia maintained a polite smile.

Even when she raised her respects to the Emperor, Empress, and princes, and exchanged greetings with Eric and Princess Valeria.

“I’m really sorry, Miss Lancaster, for intercepting your fiance like this.”

“No, Your Highness.”

Despite the kind words of Princess Valeria, who seemed concerned about her, Alicia still responded with a polite smile.

Though Alicia seemed the same as usual to anyone, Eric, who was standing beside her, found her behavior strange.

When their eyes met, Alicia smiled at him as she usually did.

But somehow, Eric felt that something was not right, that she had returned to the time before the engagement.

Chase, too, was still looking at Alicia with a somewhat suspicious expression.

Certainly, something was strange.

“Alicia.”

“I’d like some champagne.”
“Yeah? Ah, sure.”

Chase hurriedly followed Alicia, who was walking ahead.

While Chase briefly left his seat, Alicia, who was left alone, stood outside the banquet hall with a champagne glass, staring blankly into the distance.

“Miss Lancaster.”

“Oh, Your Majesty, greetings.”

Alicia was surprised by the sudden voice of the Emperor and quickly offered her respects.

She hadn’t expected the Emperor to speak directly to her, so she was taken aback.

The Emperor, with a kind smile, reassured Alicia and then spoke.

“Sorry for surprising you. But I have something to ask.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“The story of Princess Valeria and Count Russell, you are aware of it as well, I heard.”

“Ah.”

Though awkward, Alicia maintained a courteous attitude and responded.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Really? Then it’s easy to talk.”

The Emperor grinned.

“There has been a long-standing conflict with the Ballua Empire. There was even a big war a hundred years ago.”

“I’m aware.”

“Maintaining a peaceful relationship with the Ballua Empire means maintaining peace on the continent.”

“Yes.”

“So, what do you think of that engagement? From my perspective, it’s the easiest way to maintain peace. Moreover, especially now when mages and monsters have appeared.”

“······.”

Alicia remained silent for a moment.

She needed to speculate on why the Emperor would discuss such matters with her.

After organizing her thoughts for a moment, Alicia calmly responded.

“If it is Your Majesty’s command, then I must follow.”

“Oh. Is that so?”

Although Alicia’s unexpected response raised one of the Emperor’s eyebrows, he soon smiled as if amused.

“Then, how would you handle the request?”

“If it’s a request, I would dare to refuse initially.”

“Really?”

“But if you insist, then I have no choice but to comply.”

“Why?”

“Because it wouldn’t be different from an order.”

“Hmm.”

Although somewhat impolite, the Emperor found Alicia’s response amusing.

Feeling the Emperor’s favor, Alicia carefully chose her words.

“Your Majesty, if I were to step back, there should be certain conditions for this engagement for the sake of our Britannia Empire. That way, I would not feel unjust.”

“Is that so? What are they?”

“First.”

The Emperor began to listen attentively to Alicia’s serious words.

After a few words from the Emperor to Alicia, she stood up.

“I greet His Highness, the Crown Prince.”

“Alicia Lancaster.”

William greeted Alicia warmly and then extended his arm.

“Shall we walk together for a moment?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Alicia placed her hand on William’s extended arm.

However, the sensation felt from inside William’s jacket sleeve was somewhat different.

“Your Highness, did you happen to injure your arm?”