As if responding to Eric’s voice, she mumbled, but Alicia didn’t open her eyes.

“I need to go out now.”

“Ung.”

Alicia opened her eyes ever so slightly and blinked slowly.

Then she muttered something, but Eric couldn’t understand it.

Nevertheless, it seemed like words of concern, so Eric smiled and gently stroked Alicia’s head.

“It’s okay. Sleep a little longer. You decided to be lazy, remember?”

Eric used his hand to softly wipe Alicia’s eyes.

Although her lips seemed to form a slight smile, Alicia quickly fell back into sleep.

Soon, various colors of soft breathing sounds were heard.

‘Trouble is brewing.’

Knowing Alicia wouldn’t wake up again, Eric covered her with the blanket and, reluctantly, took his unwavering steps, leaving the room.

“Ugh.”

Groaning, Alicia forced herself to sit up. Her whole body convulsed as if every joint was screaming.

Unfamiliar pain made it awkward and challenging to figure out what to do.

Trying to stand up by grabbing the bedside table, Alicia turned her head with a piece of paper in her hand.

Reading it, she found a letter left by Eric.

Maybe you won’t remember, so I left a letter just in case.

An urgent matter came up in the early morning, so I had to go out.

I’ll be back soon after finishing work, so don’t push yourself today. Feel free to be lazy.

Come to think of it, memories of conversing with Eric vaguely surfaced.

“Can you really go out to work early in the morning? How can you be so selfish?”

Feeling annoyed, Alicia put the letter back on the bedside table.

“Miss, are you awake?”

“Oh, yes.”

Alicia quickly responded, adjusting her loose morning gown. Seeing Alicia avoiding eye contact, the maid, who quietly entered, instructed another maid.

“Prepare some hot water.”

“Yes.”

“While the water is being prepared, please take a rest, Miss.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Alicia had anticipated this situation.

She expected it to be awkward, and she had prepared to act shamelessly as if nothing had happened yesterday. However, now that the moment had arrived, it felt awkward as she had predicted.

Perhaps understanding Alicia’s mood, the maid did not approach further and instead gave various instructions to the other maids, who didn’t need to be present right now.

“Miss, the water is ready. Please immerse your body in it first.”

“I’ll do that.”
Getting up from the bed, Alicia hesitated for a moment due to the pain, but she made an effort not to show it and slowly walked to the bathroom.

“I’ll go in alone.”

“Then be careful not to fall.”

The housekeeper kindly spoke and closed the bathroom door. As soon as she came out, Alicia hurriedly went to the bed and, upon examining it, instructed the maid again.

“I’m going to change all the blankets and sheets, so bring new ones.”

“Yes, understood.”

Somehow, it seemed noisy outside the bathroom, but Alicia immersed herself in the warm water of the bathtub and closed her eyes.

As her body relaxed, it finally felt like she could live now.

‘Maybe it’s better this way.’

She was initially disappointed when she woke up without Eric by her side, but on the other hand, she worried if it would be awkward to face him after spending such a night.

‘I miss him.’

It hadn’t even been a second, and she found herself thinking conflicting thoughts.

Feeling absurd, Alicia submerged her face into the water.

“Commander.”

Eric, who had arrived at the ruins of the northern temple, was greeted by Kive.

“Is it just you?”

“Yes.”

“The Archmage?”

“I haven’t found them yet.”

“Then let’s go find.”

“There’s no need for that.”

“?”

“They will appear on their own. Don’t move unnecessarily; you might get in trouble if the path deviates for no reason.”

Eric squinted in confusion, but Kive just smiled silently.

Unlike the Commander, the title of Archmage was not publicly recognized.

He was simply known for wielding greater magical power and stronger sorcery than other wizards. Still, he avoided taking a leading role and never revealed his face in public, to the extent that even the Commander had never seen it.

“Oh, Kive. How is the surveillance on Ross?”

“I’ve placed it properly. He seems to be seriously injured. A doctor has already checked.”

“Verification of identity?”

“Nothing suspicious.”

“Hmm. Alright. Keep watching.”

“Yes.”

At that moment, a strange voice was heard from behind.

“Have you come?”

“Oh, hello. It’s been a while.”

“Follow me.”

Without responding to Kive’s greeting, the Archmage called the two of them.

Looking at Kive with a puzzled expression, Eric was met with an embarrassed smile and a shrug of the shoulders.

Then, following the Archmage, they walked into the ruins.

The place the Archmage brought them to was the altar where Alicia had lain when she was kidnapped by the sorcerer.

As soon as they entered, Eric and Kive looked around, their eyes widening.

It seemed that all possible sorcery had been attempted; the floor, walls, and even the air were filled with strange numbers and symbols shining in golden light, scattered and floating.

“Archmage, what is.”

“I just used some sorcery for investigation. It will disappear soon, so don’t worry.”

The speed at which the sorcery was implemented was unbelievably fast compared to any sorcerers Eric had seen before, undoubtedly making him worthy of the title Archmage.

‘But why does his face seem familiar?’

As Eric absentmindedly stared or pondered with a puzzled expression, a name suddenly flashed in his mind.

“Lord Lancaster?”

“Why?”

As the Archmage, or rather, Lord Lancaster turned his head, Eric burst into a bitter laugh.

Arthur Lancaster.

Alicia’s father.

He had returned.