“It’s crowded here.”

“Indeed.”

The park was congested, crowded beyond its capacity.

As they walked, Eric glanced at Alicia, who seemed to struggle as she held the hem of her dress.

‘It would be faster to just carry her.’

“Ah, is that the place?”

Eric turned his head in the direction Alicia was pointing at.

From the looks of it, the shallow hill covered in grass seemed to be the ideal spot to see the fireworks well.

Surveying the surroundings, Eric frowned, bothered by the overwhelming crowd.

He would never have come to see something as noisy as fireworks in the past.

However.

“Still, since we’re here, might as well find a good spot to see, right?”

Alicia felt the same way.

She usually wouldn’t venture into a place full of people either.

She had never been interested in something as fleeting as fireworks, which burst into spectacle only to disappear.

Nevertheless.

“Yes, might as well.”

Being with Eric made even the pointless fireworks seem a bit different.

Thinking so, Alicia nodded and smiled.

Eric firmly gripped Alicia’s hand.

“We’ll have to force our way through, so don’t let go.”

“Understood.”

“Should I carry you?”

“Hhere? Already?”

Surprised, Alicia unconsciously clutched her chest.

“You looked like you were struggling to walk.”

“….Ah, I’m fine.”

“?”

“Shall we go?”

Embarrassed, Alicia took the lead, and Eric followed.

Then, Eric suddenly felt uneasy and surveyed his surroundings.

“Do kids not like fireworks?”

“No, they do. They’re flashy and loud. Edward and Emma loved them when they were younger.”

“Then why are there no kids around?”

Only then did Alicia look around.

Indeed, there were no families in sight. Certainly, none were in the square they intended to enter.

“Maybe it’s too dangerous with so many people? Losing a child here would be disastrous.”

“Ah, makes sense.”

Considering their straightforward children, Ryan and Laila, it’d be insane to bring them here.

“Let’s go then. Don’t lose my hand as we head that way.”

“Okay.”

Eric started to push through the crowd with Alicia in tow.

After walking for a while, they still couldn’t find a decent spot to stand, so Eric directed them towards a somewhat empty security post.

Just when they were almost there, the fireworks began.

“It seems to have started already.”

Alicia looked up at the sky, but the noise made it impossible for Eric to hear her.

She kept glancing up at the sky as each firework exploded with a loud noise and bright light.

Then, a pink firework burst in the sky.

“Wow, it’s heartshaped.”

Alicia slowed down to look, momentarily letting go of Eric’s hand.

Just then, someone yanked her arm.

“Huh?”

Stunned, Alicia turned her head to see a stranger leaning into her face.

Smack[Dash].

Blargh[Dash].

In an instant, the man was kicked away by Eric, who quickly pulled Alicia back to him.

“This bastard.”

Eric stomped on the man lying on the ground. Oddly, laughter erupted from the crowd.

“?”

“What?”

Confused, they looked around and saw people laughing at the man Eric had stepped on.

“Knew he’d show up this year too.”

“Even if you’re in a hurry, touching someone else’s girl is wrong.”

“What?”

Eric frowned.

What this guy did was a clear criminal act, so why was everyone laughing?

Moreover, it took too long for the security forces to arrive, even when they were right in front of the security post.
While observing the security forces, who had belatedly arrived at the chaotic scene, cleaning up, Eric swallowed the words he wanted to say.

‘With frequent harassment incidents, how can the security be so poor?’

‘What’s more, if they’d really touched Alicia, I might have killed that person. Then it wouldn’t be harassment but murder.’

Same.

But not wanting to reveal his identity as the Knight Captain, Eric kept his mouth shut.

After the scene was cleared, a security officer respectfully saluted Eric and Alicia, then quickly left upon catching Eric’s gaze.

Fireworks continued in the meantime.

Unlike Eric, who was watching the scene being cleared, Alicia noticed what was happening around her.

The reason why only couples, not families, were here.

She realized the identity of the ‘famous event’ mentioned by the steward of Allen’s villa when she saw couples kissing each time pink fireworks exploded.

“Really, not surprised, Alicia?”

Then realizing he was still holding Alicia, he tried to let go.

“Stay like that.”

“Huh?”

“If you let go now, the same thing might happen again.”

He wondered what she meant, but when another firework exploded, Eric looked around and understood.

“So, no choice but to watch like this?”

Eric subtly pulled Alicia closer.

Alicia too, as if resigned, wrapped her arms around Eric’s waist.

Special conditions or not, isn’t this pretty much mutual consent?

Fireworks exploded again, and they both looked up at the sky.

Cheers and whispered conversations from couples reverberated loudly in Alicia’s ears.

Soon after, pink fireworks once again splendidly adorned the sky.