“……What’s wrong?”

“I am setting off.”

Eric nonchalantly stated, followed by a chuckle.

Alicia silently looked at Eric.

When he said he was leaving, her heart dropped momentarily.

When he mentioned setting off, she was relieved at first, but when she realized that it wasn’t a cause for relief, her heart fluttered again.

Calming herself down, Alicia asked with composure.

“Where to? For how long?”

“Sorry, but that’s confidential. Ah, but it won’t take long.”

Alicia thought she acted quite calmly, but perhaps Eric did not see it that way, as he quickly started to excuse himself.

“There’s nothing I can do. Even for you, I can’t disclose confidential information.”

‘No, that’s not it. I don’t even want to know about that confidential matter.’

Alicia sighed, trying hard to smile.

“……Can’t be helped. It’s confidential even if I am curious.”

“Thanks for understanding.”

What would she do if she didn’t understand? After all, it was Eric’s duty.

But her worry couldn’t be helped, so Alicia asked cautiously.

“Are you going to fight the monsters again?”

“If they appear.”

“How can you say that so nonchalantly?”

“It’s not my first time.”

Seeing Eric so carefree made her feel foolish for worrying.

So, Alicia tried to look as if she didn’t care either and opened her mouth.

“What about the wizard?”

“He’s being tracked.”

At the mention of a wizard, Eric’s expression turned quite serious.

Strictly speaking, tracking or monitoring wizards was not the duty of the First Knight Commander Edinber, or the Second Knight Commander Eric.

Originally, the Empire had a secret knight order composed of priests, sorcerers, and knights who specialized in these matters.

The Zero Knight Order, as it was called, its members and the extent of its scope were unknown, so only a very few knew about its existence. Eric only knew whether it existed or not, but he had never actually seen it.

He thought it would come up in the emergency countermeasure meeting, but even the Emperor, who definitely knew of its existence, did not mention it.

“So, is Commander Edinber going with you?”

“I’ll be gone, so he has to guard this place alone. It’s going to be boring. He’ll be called to lots of meetings.”

Eric wore a playful expression and laughed.

‘He volunteered, this man.’

Alicia felt upset at Eric’s ignorant laughter, but she did not show it.

She thought she did well, but Eric seemed to think otherwise and laughed awkwardly.

“Do I look that disappointing? Why do you keep making that face?”

“……What about me? I don’t care.”

“It’s really a simple mission. There’s no need to worry.”

“……”

“I’ll leave everything here to you while I’m gone.”

“Take care of yourself and stop worrying about here.”

“Oh, so it’s confirmed I’m disappointing. This is something new.”

“What are you talking about?”

Alicia pouted as she looked at Eric, who was laughing softly.

“It bothers me.”

“Huh?”

“No, nothing.”

Eric laughed as if he was muttering.

It was better to be active in the field rather than staying and holding meetings, so he volunteered as usual.

Moreover, it was not going to the battlefield but a shortterm investigation.

But this time, it felt awkward.

After Eric set off, Alicia, who usually stayed at the Count of Russel’s house, returned to the Countess of Lancaster’s house, as she heard that the Countess of Lancaster was not feeling well.

Sitting next to her mother’s bed, Alicia picked up an envelope with a splendid gold stamp from the pile of letters brought in by the butler on a silver tray.

After checking the contents, Alicia murmured with a troubled expression.

“Why is the Empress sending an invitation?”

It was an unwelcome invitation for Alicia, who was relieved that all the events, including the grand ball scheduled after the joint training due to the monster, were canceled one after another.

In the past, she would have made some excuse to decline, but she couldn’t because the Duke of Gloster was also involved.

“Is it an invitation from the imperial palace?”

“Ah, Her Majesty the Empress has invited you to a tea party.”
“Oh, really? What brought this on?”

“Pardon?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Alicia asked, looking at her smiling mother, wondering if something was up.

“Do I have to go?”

“Well, if the empress invites you, you should have a plausible reason not to go.”

“A plausible reason?”

“With the duke involved, it seems difficult to refuse without a good reason.”

“Ah, indeed. Mother, you think so too.”

At the signs of reluctance displayed by her daughter, the countess smiled soothingly.

“Alicia, most young ladies consider an invitation from the Empress an honor. Moreover, it seems this invitation was only sent to a select few families.”

“Ah, Yes.”

“Of course, I understand that it’s a hassle. I felt the same way back then.”

“You too, mother?”

“Yes. And since it was me who made you see this as a hassle rather than an honor, I have no room to say anything, but considering the Duke and Eric, I would appreciate if you could endure a certain amount.”