“Who?”

Eric asked as he saw Chase standing next to Alicia.

“A friend.”

“Friend?”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Chase Spencer.”

Chase extended his hand to Eric with a slight smile.

Somewhat surprised, Eric shook his hand.

“I’m Eric Russel Gloster.”

“Oh, feel free to speak casually. I’m the same age as Alicia.”

Chase said warmly, still smiling.

“You’re Spencer, as in the Deputy Minister Spencer, the Earl?”

“His eldest son. Ah, speaking of which, my father is still busy, isn’t he? I arrived from the Balrua Empire just yesterday and haven’t seen him yet.”

“Every department is busy because of the monsters.”

“It seemed that way. I thought Internal Affairs would be fine.”

“Balrua Empire, you say?”

“I work there as a military attaché. I’m relatively new, only been there about a year.”

Chase spoke nonchalantly, but being appointed as a military attaché in Balrua at his age was no small feat.

‘He seems competent. Personable and charming, too.’

Though his sudden appearance was disconcerting, Eric tried to think positively since he was Alicia’s friend.

At that moment, Chase put his arm around Alicia’s shoulder.

“?!”

“Please take good care of our Alicia. She may not look it, but she’s quite handson.”

“……”

Eric glared at the arm that Chase had wrapped around her.

‘I know she’s handson, but I don’t like you touching her.’

“Stop talking nonsense.”

Alicia rolled her eyes at Chase.

‘Ha. As if I’d be calm when another man has his arm around her.’

Eric narrowed his eyes slightly.

Just then, the butler standing next to them spoke quietly.

“Would you like to go inside, my lord? Tea will be prepared.”

“Ah, yes. This is Alicia’s frieI apologize.”

“No worries. It happens when you’re enjoying the conversation.”

“Let’s go inside, Chase.”

“Sure.”

Following the butler, Alicia and Chase moved ahead of Eric.

Eric stared at their departing figures, speechless.

(This is a time marker.)

“Wow, the tea smells great. This is Orange Siluet, isn’t it?”

“Huh?”

“Alicia told me in a letter. It’s really nice.”

“A letter?”

Eric raised an eyebrow.

“Yes, a letter. I was in the Balrua Empire, remember?”

“I didn’t know you were so close as to write letters about such trivial matters.”

“Ah. We’ve been friends since we were little.”

Chase looked at Alicia and smiled.

“We’ve been inseparable like Ryan and Laila. We even attended the same academy.”

“I… see?”

Eric looked back and forth between them with a disquieted expression.

The thought that there was a man who knew Alicia in a way he didn’t bothered him more than he expected.

“Ah, you said you’ve been busy because of the monsters lately, right, big brother?”

“Big brother?”

“May I call you that? You’re speaking casually too.”

“…As you wish.”

“Thank you. Can we talk business?”

“Business?”

Instead of answering Eric’s question, Chase turned to Alicia.

“Alicia, don’t you have things to do here as well?”

“Am I not supposed to hear your conversation?”

“Probably?”

“Alright, I’ll go take care of my things while you two talk.”

Alicia stood up cheerfully from her seat and looked at Chase.

“Tell me before you go.”

“Understood.”

Alicia put her hand on Chase’s shoulder for a moment and then left the reception room.

It was a situation as usual.

Alicia went to do her usual tasks, and Eric was having a ‘business’ discussion with a ‘guest.’

But.

‘It’s bothering me.’

Eric looked at the smiling Chase sitting across from him.

That smile wasn’t genuine. It was the kind of smile hiding something.

Still, Eric maintained his composure and asked Chase.

“So, what’s this business about?”

“You confronted the monsters yourself this time, didn’t you?”

“I did.”

“The Emperor of the Balrua Empire is very interested in this matter.”

“Why?”
“Wizards and monsters are a threat in any country, aren’t they?”

Eric furrowed his brow slightly.

The Britannian Empire was a nation founded by people who opposed a fallen wizard 500 years ago.

Instead of eliminating magic, they created divine arts, and the cultivation and management of divine artists were handed over to the Britannian Imperial Palace.

Of course, a few divine artists had recently gone missing, and two of them had been found dead, but Britannian divine arts were still of the highest level and had attracted the envy and attention of other countries.

So, it wasn’t strange that Balrua Empire was interested, given that wizards and monsters had appeared and there was no guarantee they wouldn’t appear in other countries.

“Didn’t you say you arrived yesterday? Doesn’t seem like something you’d discuss with me first.”

“I will, of course, formally report to His Imperial Majesty. But I needed an excuse.”

“Excuse?”

“Yes. An excuse to speak with you alone.”

Chase grinned.

After staring at him for a moment, Eric chuckled, crossed his legs, and leaned back comfortably on the sofa.

“So, where should we start?”

“……”

Chase felt stifled by Eric’s completely changed demeanor.

Still forcing a smile, Chase swallowed dryly.

“Father hasn’t returned yet, so we’re only engaged in discussions, right?”