“Ah-.”

At William’s request, Eric hesitantly looked at Alicia.

“I’m fine. Please speak slowly, Your Highness. Then I’ll excuse myself first.”

“Alright. Let’s meet comfortably later.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“I’ll be right there. Don’t go far.”

“Okay.”

Embarrassed by being treated like a child in front of the prince, Alicia glared at him to stop and left the place.

“What do you want to talk about?”

“Suddenly getting to the point? I’m taken aback, but that’s fine. I don’t want to talk about work for long either.”

[This is the timeline separator]

“You’re not listening to me, are you?”

“Ah, what did you say?”

William finally spoke in an irritated voice towards Eric, who had been completely unfocused.

Despite that, Eric’s nonchalant expression rather than an apologetic one was typical of him.

“Do you know about the crime of insulting royalty?”

“That’s sudden and out of nowhere.”

“You brat. It’s because you’re completely ignoring me. Am I your superior?”

At William’s threat, Eric stared at him for a moment before turning to walk away.

“Hey, where are you going?”

“It doesn’t seem like anything important, so I should go back to my fiancée.”

“Is this for real?”

William, who had been nagging behind Eric, finally gave up and chuckled.

“Right. If there’s something you want to protect, you shouldn’t let it out of your sight.”

[This is the timeline separator]

Separated from Eric, Alicia was intent on truly resting this time, tucked away where no one was around.

‘Is there a good place? Somewhere I can rest quietly without being disturbed.’

As Alicia walked alone looking for a place to rest, noble young ladies who had been waiting for an opportunity approached her.

“Hello.”

“Ah, hello.”

Startled by the sudden greeting, Alicia quickly smiled and returned the greeting.

“Do you have some business with me?”

Although she asked kindly, they just stared without giving any answer.

Then, a beautifully adorned lady appeared behind them.

“?”

“Hello. I’m Kate O’Brien.”

Not only was her attire splendid, but her appearance was also dazzling, like a fully bloomed flower.

Alicia thought to herself that she was probably the person who best suited this flower-themed party today.

Although Ms. Kate O’Brien’s expression didn’t look particularly pleased.

“Nice to meet you, Ms. Kate O’Brien.”

Alicia had heard the surname ‘O’Brien’ before.

She was certain that her friend in the Foreign Ministry often mentioned that the Minister of Foreign Affairs’ surname was O’Brien.

“Did you really get engaged to Count Russell?”

“Pardon? Yes.”

“I heard you haven’t even had an engagement ceremony.”

“My father is abroad for research. We plan to have it when he returns.”

“Why didn’t Countess Lancaster come? Didn’t she receive an invitation?”

“My mother’s health is weak, so she can hardly go out. Of course, she did receive an invitation.”

Alicia maintained a polite attitude and answered kindly to their rude questions that came without pause.

Then, as her eyes met Kate’s who was standing behind, Kate lowered her fluttering fan and spoke.

“Do you know what kind of person Count Russell is, to get engaged to him?”

“Pardon?”

“That man, haven’t you heard the not-so-good rumors about him?”

“Rumors?”

Kate’s lips curled up mockingly at Alicia’s expression of not knowing what she was talking about.

“You didn’t know. Well, I suppose that’s why you got engaged to that man.”

Kate closed her fan and stared into Alicia’s eyes.

“I’ve also heard things about the young lady of the Lancaster family. Count Lancaster is on a long-term stay abroad, and the Countess is in poor health, so her daughter hardly participates in social activities.”

“Ah.”

“So I guess that’s why you didn’t know. What kind of person Count Russell is.”

“?”

“But shouldn’t you know some things about the person you’re going to marry? It’s not too late now.”

Alicia quietly asked Kate, who spoke with a relaxed attitude as if doing her a favor.

“Then what are these rumors that I should know?”

“There are several.”

“I see. I’d like to hear them all, if possible. As you said, I hardly participate in social activities, so there’s a lot I don’t know.”

“……”

Kate briefly frowned as Alicia’s attitude and expression were calmer than expected, but she soon smiled leisurely again.

“Have you heard that Count Russell’s nickname is Britannia’s 3%?”

“Britannia’s 3%?”

“It means he’s supposedly met 3% of the unmarried noble women in the Britannia Empire.”

Alicia couldn’t remember exactly how many noble women there were in the Empire, but it was certainly a large number.

‘He acted like he wasn’t interested in women, but I guess that wasn’t true. No wonder his manners were good.’

Alicia felt displeased.

“Moreover, not only is his personality the worst, but his mouth is even worse, so they say he doesn’t care about hurting others.”

‘His personality isn’t gentle, that’s true. He does tend to speak sarcastically. But he’s never said anything that would hurt me.’

She agreed to some extent, but hearing such harsh words about Eric from people she was meeting for the first time today wasn’t very pleasant.

‘What on earth has this man been doing? What has he been up to, to be talked about like this? He doesn’t seem like that kind of person.’

“Of course, you must be happy now. Honestly, Count Russell’s conditions are excellent, so it’s an enjoyable situation and I understand liking it. But.”

With a pitying expression, Kate opened her fan to cover her mouth and added.

Even though her mouth wasn’t visible, Alicia could almost see her smirking.

“I wonder how long it will last?”

‘Well, for the duration of the contract, of course.’

Answering inwardly, Alicia recalled what Kate had said.

‘But do I look happy now? Do I look like I’m enjoying it?’

For a moment, Alicia began to ponder carefully.

Honestly, it’s not bad. She thought it was okay. Sometimes it even seemed enjoyable.

‘No, what am I thinking right now? This isn’t the time for this. Now is the time when I should be fulfilling the contract more diligently than ever.’

Alicia composed herself and quietly smiled as she looked at Kate.

Kate raised one eyebrow, wondering what was going on.

“Thank you for telling me. It must have been uncomfortable.”

“Pardon?”

“I understand your intention was to tell me out of concern, but I still want to trust that person. At least the person I know isn’t like that.”

Alicia’s words to Kate were sincere.

Whether the rumors were true or not didn’t matter, as it was just a contractual relationship anyway.

But hearing gossip about Eric from people who didn’t even know him wasn’t very pleasant.

Perhaps that’s why, despite smiling, Alicia’s cold gaze made Kate unconsciously flinch and bite her lip.

“Even if I end up getting hurt later, it can’t be helped. It’s the person I chose, so I’ll have to deal with it myself.”

“…..”

Eric, who had been listening to the conversation with his arms crossed behind Kate, quietly smiled.

‘How admirable.’

He had been watching, thinking it would be good for her to make friends in society since she was with girls her age, and he was startled when the rumors came up.

He was anxious when she remained silent after hearing the rumors, and relieved when he heard Alicia’s response.

Even if it was just part of diligently fulfilling the contract.

Eric soon strode towards Alicia.

“I’m sorry to interrupt your pleasant conversation, but I’d like you to hand over my fiancée now.”

Surprised by Eric’s sudden appearance, the young ladies made way for him as he approached Alicia and immediately held out his hand.

Alicia was also surprised, but she smiled and placed her hand on his.

“Didn’t you come too quickly? What about His Highness the Prince?”

“I came in a hurry because I missed you. His Highness graciously understood.”

Eric grinned, then pulled her hand and kissed the back of it.

Startled by his sudden words and actions, Alicia whispered.

“What are you doing now?”

“Expressing the image of a fiancé who didn’t want to be apart from his fiancée even for a moment.”

“Ah, I guess that’s the image needed in this situation.”

“Hm?”

“I’ll tell you later.”

“Alright.”

At Alicia’s reproach, Eric placed her hand on his arm, linking them together.

“Shall we go?”

“Ah, yes.”

“Then ladies, we’ll be taking our leave.”

“Thank you for the advice. Let’s meet again if we have the chance.”

Alicia and Eric left after saying their final goodbyes.

Kate glared at the two as they walked away, clutching her dress.

“They seem really close?”

“Yeah. I guess it’s true that Count Russell has lost his mind.”

Zzzzt.

The whispering ladies fell silent as Kate glared at them.

‘What’s so special about that woman?’

Alicia, whom she had met in person, didn’t seem particularly special.

She looked elegant and refined, but that was true of any noble lady.

Although the Lancaster family was said to be an old family, they had fallen on hard times.

There was no reason for her to be inferior in any aspect.

Kate bit her lip, her pride hurt.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Seems like you had quite a bit of fun?”

Eric asked after stopping at a place where there seemed to be few people around.

‘What nonsense is he talking about?’

Although she felt indignant, Alicia smiled and answered.

“Did it look that way? You’re right. They were saying quite interesting things.”

Alicia smiled as she fixed Eric’s disheveled hair, following the contours of his face.

“This sudden skinship is a violation of the contract.”

“It’s a common action for a fiancée. My fiancé looks disheveled right now.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Then tell me.”

“What?”

“Britannia’s 3%?”

“Ah, that.”

She stopped him with her hand when he tried to turn his head away, making him look at her.

“Hmm, is this kind of skinship also commonly allowed because we’re engaged?”

“If you don’t like this, should I slap your cheek instead? That would be skinship too.”

“Just give me the common skinship that’s allowed for a fiancée.”

“Don’t you think this is common skinship for when a fiancée learns about her fiancé’s ridiculous past?”

“Ah, I see.”

Eric grinned as he took Alicia’s hand from his face and pulled her closer.

Alicia was startled as she suddenly found herself standing close to Eric, and he whispered in her ear.

“Are you perhaps jealous?”

“This is common behavior for a fiancée who has heard about her fiancé’s past.”

“Ah, that’s right. I didn’t know you would fulfill the contract this well.”

“I wish you would fulfill it more diligently too.”

“How so?”

“Try explaining yourself actively. Like a proper fiancé.”

At those words, Eric raised his head to look at Alicia.