“Why aren’t you saying anything?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You’re really not going to say it?”

“So what are you talking about?”

“How much I—”

“?”

“How much— …Ugh.”

Alicia clamped her mouth shut.

“…Let’s drink some water.”

Eric poured the water that the servant had brought into a cup and handed it to Alicia.

Accepting the cup, Alicia groaned.

“My stomach feels queasy—”

“Of course it would. Drink this first.”

Eric continued to hold the cup in one hand and supported Alicia’s back with the other as she drank the water.

“That’s enough. Lie back down now.”

As soon as Eric spoke, Alicia collapsed weakly back onto the bed.

“Why are you drinking so much when you can’t even handle it?”

Eric brushed Alicia’s disheveled hair aside and stood up.

He opened the door to call a maid to look after Alicia, and they were all huddled right outside as if they had planned it.

The maids quickly scattered as they caught Eric’s eye.

“Well, we’re worried about Miss.”

“Good timing. I was about to call you.”

“Yes? Ah, yes. What should we do?”

“Go in and help Alicia. Change her clothes as well.”

“Yes, yes.”

The maids quickly entered the bedroom.

As soon as they entered, they saw Alicia already fast asleep on the bed.

“Sigh.”

The maids shook their heads in pity, and efficiently began to change Alicia’s clothes and tidy up the bed.

“She really can’t handle alcohol.”

“It’s obvious, isn’t it? When has she ever had a drink?”

“Exactly.”

The maids tidied up the bed and left the room, walking quietly so as not to make a sound.

The moment they closed the door and turned around, they almost screamed seeing Eric standing there.

They quickly clamped their mouths shut and bowed their heads to Eric.

“We have taken good care of her, Count.”

“Does she seem alright?”

“Yes, she’s fast asleep now.”

“Good, well done.”

“No need, Count.”

The maids bowed and quickly left.

Standing there staring at the closed door, Eric was in deep thought.

‘What didn’t I say?’

He couldn’t understand because Alicia was being vague and rambling.

‘Everyone probably knows my rumors by now? There’s nothing I haven’t told her.’

He knew that business matters were confidential, so it wouldn’t be about that.

Frustrated, Eric ruffled his hair.

(This is a time separator.)

“Why is the Captain acting like that?”

“Why is he glaring at everyone one by one? Huh?”

“Is he thinking about who to kill first?”

Some subordinates nervously asked Alren, the deputy captain.

But even Alren didn’t know why.

Since morning, Eric had been staring at his subordinates one by one with a serious expression.

Because of this, including Alren, the subordinates tried to avoid eye contact and shut their mouths as if they were dead mice.

‘That guy cried last time he got scolded. That guy ran away without answering a woman who asked for directions. Alren, that guy…never mind. It will only get worse.’

Eric propped up his chin and sighed.

‘Prince William is too busy gallivanting around to be of any help.’

In the end, Eric sighed and crossed his arms.

He wanted advice from someone, but there was no one around who could help.

‘Damn it. Next time I recruit new knights, I have to find guys with some romantic experience.’

Pondering, Eric straightened his posture and turned his head towards Alren with his usual expression.

“Alren.”

“Yes, Captain.”

Alren, who had been cautious, became alert, fearing any criticism. He stood at attention, waiting for Eric’s next words.

“When is the schedule for recruiting new knights?”

“Huh?”

Alren blinked at the unexpected question.

So did the other subordinates who were listening.

“Don’t tell me, Captain.”

“?”

“Are you firing all of us?”
“Why did the conversation suddenly jump to that?”

Eric scrunched his forehead and scolded Allen, who was whining.

“Why else would you ask about recruiting new knights? Unless there’s a massive vacancy, occasional hiring isn’t allowed by the regulations!”

“I know that—”

“Of course we do! We’ve been teasing the commander lately because he seems a bit off due to our sisterinlaw!”

“What?”

“I was worried something might go wrong, that’s all!”

“……”

Eric closed his mouth.

However, Allen continued to babble without reading the room.

“Do you think we want something bad to happen to the commander? Every time the commander spouts nonsense, it really concerns us, you know?”

Realizing the atmosphere was odd, Allen stopped talking and looked around.

Then, locking eyes with Allen, Eric smiled.

Gulp.

Allen swallowed.

“So you’ve been thinking that way, Allen? I didn’t know you cared about me like that.”

“Ah, yes? Of course, I’m sincerely concerned about you, sir.”

Assuming a formal posture, Allen answered with great vigor.

“It’s not just me. All the knights are unified in our concern for the commander—”

“Is that so, all of you?”

“No. You’ve always been selfsufficient, Commander.”

“I’ve never seen an outsider interfere and make things better.”

“So what’s the point, Allen?”