“Huk, elder brother.”

“Deborah?”

“It seems elder sister is misunderstanding that I pushed her and she fell.”

“What?”

“I was trying to help elder sister come down because I was scared. So I think she could easily misunderstand like that, but still.”

Eric glanced at Alicia after hearing Deborah’s words.

Their eyes met, but there was no change in her expression.

“Come out, Deborah.”

“But.”

“Hurry.”

“Yes, elder brother.”

Deborah reluctantly stood up, wiping her tears, and followed Eric out.

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“Um, elder brother.”

Deborah called out to Eric, who was walking ahead without saying anything.

“It’s not elder sister’s fault. The doctor said she would be confused after hitting her head. I can fully understand.”

“Alicia wouldn’t have misunderstood.”

“Pardon?”

Deborah flinched in surprise when Eric stopped walking and turned around.

The Eric looking at her now was different from before, the Eric that Deborah had known for a long time.

“Elder brother, surely you don’t believe that woman you just met over me?”

“Deborah.”

“How much has our family devoted ourselves to the Duke’s family until now? We wouldn’t speak carelessly, knowing what would happen if we offend the Duke’s family. So you’re saying it’s okay for that woman to slander me-.”

“Deborah Clayton.”

Deborah, who had been excitedly spewing words, closed her mouth at Eric’s cold tone.

“As I said before, Alicia doesn’t speak carelessly like that.”

“How do you know? How can you believe that?”

Deborah bit her lip resentfully and looked at Eric.

“The fact that she’s my fiancée is reason enough to believe her.”

Deborah looked up at Eric blankly.

Tears fell from her eyes, but Eric’s gaze remained cold, seemingly with no intention of comforting her, causing Deborah’s slender body to tremble involuntarily.

“So for now, make sure you don’t catch my or my fiancée’s eye.”

He walked past Deborah, who stood frozen, and headed back to the room where Alicia was.

‘How foolish.’

Eric inwardly clicked his tongue.

Being in the knighthood, he had dealt with numerous criminals, even if it wasn’t his original duty, and had enough experience to quickly discern such lies.

As Deborah said, there were things the Baron had done for the Duke’s family until now, but he didn’t intend to let it slide.

He was just curious about what Alicia thought.

The reason he said “for now” to Deborah was because of that.

Eric, who had opened the door and entered, was surprised to find Alicia already sitting on the bed and approached her.

“Why are you up?”

“I want to go back.”

“It’s still not good for you to move.”

“I tried moving a bit just now and it was fine. I think it would be better to rest somewhere comfortable.”

“Alright. Then I’ll take you.”

Eric wrapped Alicia in the thin blanket from the bed and gently lifted her up.

“Eric?”

“Just stay still. You can barely walk.”

“Ah- Yes. It does seem difficult.”

After hesitating for a moment while quietly looking at Eric, she leaned her head against him.

She had pretended to be fine, but she was curious, no, anxious about what Eric and Deborah would talk about.

So she had staggered over and slightly opened the door to listen.

Deborah’s words were within the expected range, but Eric’s words were not.

“The fact that she’s my fiancée is reason enough to believe her.”

The headache that had been troubling Alicia until just now subsided comfortably, as if it had been a lie.

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Inside the carriage, Alicia, who had been resting with her eyes closed leaning against Eric, quietly opened her mouth.

“Um, Eric.”

“Yes?”

“What are you thinking of doing?”

“What do you want to do?”

Alicia hesitated to answer Eric’s question.

“How about we just let it go this time?”

“Alicia.”

“We don’t have any evidence or witnesses to present, do we?”

“Even if that’s the case, we can still do something.”

“I’m saying this because I know.”

The Baron’s family has received the Duke’s family’s trust for a long time, and the Baron himself is held in high regard, not to mention Deborah’s good reputation, as the Duchess mentioned.

How many of the Duke’s relatives would believe the words of Alicia, who had just gotten engaged?

So if Eric were to dismiss the Baron’s family based solely on Alicia’s words, without evidence or witnesses, surely both the Duke’s family and Eric would face criticism.

Alicia didn’t want that situation, and Eric also understood why Alicia was saying this.

Despite Eric’s serious expression, Alicia smiled and spoke.

“Besides, you know I like orange Ceylon tea. Thanks to the Baron, the quality has improved a lot.”

At Alicia’s jest, Eric finally smiled briefly and silently patted Alicia’s shoulder that he was holding.

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After arriving at the Lancaster Count’s residence and laying Alicia down in bed, Eric met with the Countess of Lancaster separately.

“I feel ashamed.”

“But it doesn’t seem like she was badly hurt, right?”

“The doctor said she should be better after resting for a few days.”

“I see. That’s a relief.”

The Countess of Lancaster watched Eric with his dark expression and spoke in a comforting tone.

“It was Alicia who was careless, it’s not Eric’s fault.”

“But-”

“More importantly, shouldn’t Eric get examined too?”

“Pardon?”

“Doesn’t it hurt, that arm?”

“Ah-”

Only then did Eric grab his right arm.

It was the arm he had injured when catching Alicia as she fell.

“It’s fine. I plan to go to the divine official tomorrow.”

“But for someone who uses a sword, I think it would be better to get treated quickly.”

“Yes. I’ll do that.”

Though he smiled awkwardly, Eric’s expression was still not good, causing the Countess of Lancaster to look concerned.

“Eric should rest a bit too.”

“Ah, yes. Then I’ll be going now.”

“Alright. You worked hard today.”

“…I’m sorry. You must have been very angry, but I’ll be careful to prevent such incidents from happening again.”

“It seems like Eric is the one who’s angry, not me.”

“……”

Eric closed his mouth.

He hadn’t known the identity of this emotion, but hearing it now, the Countess’s words seemed correct.

“Sometimes there are things you can’t control even with your own strength.”

“Yes.”

“It’s admirable that Eric wants to protect Alicia, but you need to realize there will be times when you can’t. And that it’s not your fault.”

“…Yes.”

“Besides, our Alicia isn’t such a weak child. So I hope you won’t be so angry with yourself.”

The identity of the emotion that even Eric hadn’t noticed became clearer.

Though that didn’t mean the emotion had subsided.

“How did you know when I didn’t even realize it myself?”

“Hm?”

“I didn’t even know I was angry, but you did.”

“Well. Let’s just say I’ve had similar experiences.”

“Similar experiences?”

But the Countess only smiled brightly without saying anything more.

If it was a similar experience, it probably wasn’t a very good thing, and it seemed like she was telling him not to ask, so Eric also kept his mouth shut.

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Eric arrived at the mansion earlier than usual after leaving work.

Although he had to bring some urgent matters to handle due to leaving early in the midst of preparing for joint training, he couldn’t just let Alicia, who had come to the Russell Count’s residence after a long time, leave without seeing her.

As soon as he happily entered the mansion, small figures rushed towards Eric.

“Oh?”

“Welcome back!”

“You two-”

Eric regained his balance after almost falling over and looked down to see Ryan and Lyla clinging to each of his legs, looking up and smiling.

“Ryan, Lyla!”

Following that, a welcome voice was heard, and Eric looked up.

“Alicia.”

“Welcome, Eric.”

“You really look fine now?”

“I’m completely better. It’s even embarrassing to say I was sick.”

“Still, I was worried because you hit your head. I’m glad.”

“How’s your arm?”

“Arm? Ah, arm. It’s fine.”

Of course, William had scolded him for injuring his arm, especially his right arm that holds the sword, right before an important event.

But thanks to intensive treatment from the divine official, it was only uncomfortable for about two days and recovered quickly, causing no problems in daily life or even intense training.

“But what’s the occasion with these kids?”

“Ah. The nanny is on vacation, and Edward and Emma will be late due to a school event, so there was no one to look after them.”

“It must have been hard for you alone.”

While Eric was contemplating how to detach the twins still clinging to his legs, the Duke and Duchess appeared.

“What’s taking so long to come in?”

“…Why are you here?”

“Well, well. They say raising a son is useless.”

“They said they were in the neighborhood and stopped by. Thought we might have dinner together.”

“Is that necessary?”

“You think we came to see you? We came because we heard Alicia was sick. We’re not interested in you.”

“Shall we go in first?”

Alicia, looking a bit awkward between the bickering Eric and the Duke and Duchess, smiled and urged them.

“Ryan, Lyla. Come here. Let’s go in.”

“No- I want to go with big brother.”

Ryan clung to Eric, and Lyla did the same on the opposite side.

“Alright, let’s go in together.”

Eric picked up one in each arm and entered the mansion.

Alicia and the Duke and Duchess followed behind.

“I heard he likes children, but it seems true. Did you know?”

“How could I, my lady? I must be nearing my death to witness such a sight after all these years.”

‘Please, stop.’

Though he tried to ignore his parents’ teasing words, it was unbearably embarrassing.

Alicia, who had been looking curiously at the Duke and Duchess and Eric, quietly asked.

“You do like children, don’t you?”

“…My parents don’t know.”

“Why?”

“Because they’ve never seen me with children.”

“Ah, I see.”

Sensing that he seemed embarrassed, Alicia didn’t ask further and just nodded.

The Duchess, following behind, spoke to Eric.

“Hey, hurry and change your clothes and come down. The children must be hungry.”

“Yes.”

“Eric. Give me the children.”

“No! Don’t wanna go.”

“Ugh.”

Eric’s neck was choked as the twins held on tightly from both sides.

“Ryan, Lyla. How can you hold on so tightly! You’ll hurt him!”

“It’s fine. I’ll take them and come down together.”

“Will you be okay?”

“Then come along if you want.”

Still worried about him going alone with the twins, Alicia noticed Eric’s pleading gaze and nodded.

“Then all of you go up together and come down together.”

Though it was a bit embarrassing because of the Duke and Duchess’s grinning expressions, the two pretended not to notice and went up to the second floor.

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“I need to change clothes, so come down now.”

At Alicia’s words, Ryan and Lyla sat obediently on the bed as Eric had put them down.

“Ugh. The kids seem to have gotten a bit heavier?”

“They grow so fast, don’t they?”

“Indeed.”

Eric was about to loosen his tie and take off his jacket when he paused and looked at the bedroom door.

‘Why isn’t anyone coming in? Who’s supposed to attend to me?’

Then he looked at Alicia, who was comforting Ryan and Lyla on the bed.

‘Ah, so that’s why they’re not coming in. Where were my change of clothes again?’

He was about to turn towards the dressing room while unbuttoning his shirt.

That’s when Alicia’s urgent voice was heard, causing him to look back towards the bed.

“What are you doing?”