“What?”

Eric only realized it then, looking at Alicia who had turned her head in the opposite direction from him.

That he had forgotten they were together and thoughtlessly just taken off his shirt.

“What’s the big deal. It’s not like I’m completely naked.”

“Huh?”

Alicia turned her head towards Eric with an incredulous expression, then quickly looked away again.

Eric’s face was suddenly full of mischief.

“I can’t find clothes to change into.”

“Then hurry up and find some.”

“Seems you’ve forgotten, but this is my bedroom?”

“……”

Besides paintings or sculptures displayed in museums, this was the first time she had seen a shirtless man.

Not wanting to be caught with a reddened face, Alicia stiffly turned her head to the opposite side from Eric.

“Why?”

But Eric, seemingly having already noticed, came closer to the bed with a grin.

“Your face is all red.”

“Of course it is, I was surprised.”

Alicia turned her head irritably, but Eric was closer than expected.

She froze for a moment in surprise, but still found her eyes kept wandering that way, which was troublesome.

“It’s problematic if you’re this surprised. You might see it often, you know.”

“Th-That won’t happen!”

Alicia added haughtily, trying to hide her flustered state and pretending it was nothing.

“Besides, I don’t particularly want to see it.”

“Hmm. Is that so? Everyone else likes seeing it.”

‘Who? When? This is oddly annoying.’

Alicia’s expression soured.

Honestly, his body was nice to look at. Like the statues and paintings.

But it irritated her pride that she alone seemed conscious of it while Eric didn’t care at all.

“Well, it’s not bad to look at.”

“Just that much? Everyone else says it looks good.”

‘To whom? Where? This is strangely irritating.’

Alicia, in a bad mood, retorted curtly.

“Hurry up and get dressed. Everyone’s waiting.”

“Ah.”

Only then did he awkwardly start to enter the dressing room, so Alicia got up from the bed and went into the dressing room.

She selected a few items and came out to hand them over, which Eric obediently accepted.

“Wear these.”

“Okay.”

Holding the clothes, Eric stared blankly at Alicia for a moment.

“What is it? Again.”

“Ah. You said it looks good, so that’s why.”

“?”

“I don’t mind if you keep looking.”

“Ugh.”

Alicia quickly turned her head and hurried over to the bed where Ryan and Lyla were.

“I’m going to undress. Isn’t it weirder if you go to the bed?”

“Just shut up and hurry and change!”

Eric finally burst out laughing as Alicia yelled, unable to hold back anymore.

“Wow. Elder sister yelled.”

“Elder sister scary−.”

“No, no. I wasn’t yelling at you!”

As Alicia hugged and comforted the children, Eric added spitefully while changing clothes behind her.

“See, they’re scared because you yelled. Sometimes you’re a bit too harsh with the kids.”

“This man, really.”

Alicia was annoyed, feeling like she could see Eric’s teasing expression right before her eyes.

“Let’s go out and then you can change. Come on, let’s go, Lyla, Ryan.”

“No!”

“Please, let’s just go.”

As Alicia tried to grab them, thinking it was a game, the twins suddenly started crawling quickly in opposite directions across the bed.

“Kids, please−!”

They seemed more like enemies than siblings. Alicia, who had been trying to catch them, finally buried her face in the bed.

Eric, holding back laughter, finally spoke as if to comfort her.

“Stay like that. I’ll change quickly.”

[This is the timeline separator]

Alicia entered the reception room with Lyla and Ryan.

“You’re a bit late.”

“I’m sorry. Did you wait long?”

“Where’s Eric?”

“He’s in the study for a moment. He said he had some urgent business to take care of.”

“Well, I suppose he must be busy these days. Children, come here.”

The Duchess naturally took Lyla and Ryan’s hands and sat them on the sofa.

“Dinner preparations should be almost done, I’ll go check.”

“Alright. We’ll watch the kids.”

“I’ll be back in a moment.”

As Alicia left the reception room, the Duchess asked the twins kindly.

“Are you hungry, Ryan, Lyla?”

“Yes−. But we’re being patient−.”

“Shall we eat soon, just a little longer?”

“Yes−.”

“What were you doing upstairs to come down so late? Making the kids hungry.”

“We fought.”

“Hm? Fought?”

The Duke and Duchess looked at the twins, wondering what they meant.

“Elder brother took off his clothes.”

“Hm? He did what?”

“He said he likes elder sister.”

“……”

The Duke and Duchess silently looked at each other.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Eric, can we talk for a moment?”

Before returning to the ducal residence after dinner, the Duke and Duchess took Eric into the reception room for a moment.

As soon as the door closed, the Duchess struck Eric’s back with a full swing.

“Mother?”

Eric stared blankly at his mother in bewilderment.

He had never been hit even as a child, and now suddenly without even explaining why?

This time the Duke struck the back of his bewildered son.

“Father?”

Eric turned his head to his father this time.

It didn’t hurt even if his parents hit him, but he was confused and flustered.

“Oh my, this rascal.”

“No matter what, doing that in front of the children is too much.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Yes, we understand it’s a passionate time for you, but still, you should do such things when you’re alone, you fool.”

“Pardon? What did we do?”

Completely unable to understand what they meant, Eric looked at his parents, but the Duke and Duchess just clicked their tongues as if he were hopeless.

“What if it reaches the ears of the in-laws? Children say everything without filter.”

“So what exactly-”

It wasn’t the first time his parents didn’t listen to him, but today was especially bad.

Moreover, he had even been hit, but they wouldn’t give a detailed explanation, which made it worse.

“Be careful from now on. Understand?”

“Uh, yes?”

After looking at their son with eyes full of exasperation, the Duke and Duchess left the reception room.

And at the entrance where they were waiting for the Duke and Duchess, they also said a word to Alicia.

“Alicia. Always be careful in front of the children too. Young children say everything they want to say.”

“Pardon?”

“Hear the rest from Eric.”

“Ah, yes.”

Though she had no idea what they meant, Alicia answered for now and had Ryan and Lyla greet the Duke and Duchess.

“Bye~!!”

“Yes, bye~.”

“Lyla, Ryan. See you again later.”

“Ah, I’ll call Eric.”

“No need for that.”

Answering somewhat coldly, the Duke and Duchess got into the carriage.

And only after the carriage departed did Eric appear, looking confused.

“Have your parents left?”

“Yeah?”

“Did her Grace say anything? She told me to be careful and to ask you.”

“I have no idea what that means either. They suddenly told me to be careful.”

“About what?”

“I don’t know.”

Eric frowned.

He hadn’t done anything worth being hit for. Rather, his parents’ mood had been at its peak lately, so why were they suddenly telling him to be careful like this?

Anyway, his parents were beyond Eric’s common sense.

“Ah, we should go now. It’s late.”

“I was about to leave. Come on, kids. Say goodbye.”

Ryan and Lyla hugged Eric’s legs tightly, then looked up at him with their faces raised.

“Be well. We’ll come again−.”

“Be healthy.”

“Huh?”

Though he had no idea what they meant, Eric smiled and patted the twins’ heads, then picked them up to put them in the carriage.

“Alicia. Get in first and take them.”

“Alright.”

Alicia got into the carriage first and received the twins from Eric one by one.

“You worked hard. It must be tough these days with joint training preparations.”

“This much is nothing. It was only a few hours.”

“The preparations are going well, right?”

“Of course. Edward said he’s coming too.”

“Edward is really looking forward to it. He said he can’t even sleep already.”

“Oh my. I really have to do well then?”

“Don’t overdo it. You already look tired.”

“Don’t worry. Ah, and I’ll be busier from now on, so I might not be able to see you for a while.”

“Then we won’t be able to meet separately on that day either?”

“Hmm.”

Eric grinned.

“It would be difficult to meet outsiders, of course.”

“?”

“But if you really want to see me, I can make some arrangements.”

[This is the timeline separator]

The joint training between the 1st and 2nd Knight Orders was, strictly speaking, not so much a training as an event planned to demonstrate the strength and robustness of the Britannia Empire to other countries on the continent, especially the rival Valois Empire vying for hegemony.

But for those who had to run the event, it was extremely annoying.

Eric, who usually hides his emotions well and endures everything with an expressionless face, seemed unable to bear it this time, standing in the waiting room for final checks with an irritated expression.

And beside him, the commander of the 1st Knight Order, Edinburgh, was looking at his subordinate reporting with the same expression.

“As expected, unexpected things happen even on the day of. I thought we were fully prepared.”

“Indeed.”

In the end, the two walked out of the waiting room tent to handle things directly on site.

It was sunny but quite hot today, so the knights in full uniform looked good but all seemed exhausted.

“We’ll have to watch out for fainting and dehydration. Some will probably collapse.”

“Indeed.”

“I understand His Majesty’s intentions, but I’m not sure if this event is really necessary.”

Since it was an event where imperial citizens could watch, the two were even more displeased that they had to showcase horsemanship, swordsmanship, and bayonet skills like a spectacle under the name of training.

If they really wanted to show strong dignity, wouldn’t it be better to do real training and become truly strong rather than this kind of event?

“It’s really hot. I hope there won’t be any major accidents.”

Eric suddenly mumbled, looking up at the tall spire at the entrance of the square.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Elder sister, here!!”

An excited Edward ran ahead.

“Go slowly, Edward. You’ll fall like that.”

Alicia had come to watch the joint training with Edward.

They were planning to watch from the VIP seats with the Duke and Duchess, but thankfully they could watch comfortably from seats far from the royal box thanks to Prince William’s consideration.

“Is this the right place, elder sister?”

“Yes. I think so.”

“Wow, it’s amazing. I’ve never seen anything like this before.”

Being VIP seats, they were at the very front with a good view of the square, and there was a grand tent to block the sun with plush-looking chairs inside, plus plenty of food and drinks.

“Wow, can we eat all of this?”

“I think so?”

Just then, the Duke and Duchess entered the VIP area and called out cheerfully.

“Alicia.”

“You’re here?”

“You came early.”

Edward, who had been excitedly looking around, quickly stood up straight and politely greeted the Duke and Duchess.

“Hello. I’m Edward Lancaster.”

“Oh my. Your younger brother?”

“Yes. My second younger brother.”

“Oh my, your younger brother is so handsome. And mature.”

“And his posture is very good too. You must have had a hard time coming here in this heat.”

“Not at all. Please, sit here.”

Edward offered the Duke and Duchess better seats.

“My, how considerate and kind.”

“I hear you’re preparing for military academy, this will be helpful, so you sit where you can see best.”

“No, I’m fine.”

“A child shouldn’t decline. Quickly, sit here.”

As the Duchess seated Edward, he looked at Alicia in confusion.

Then seeing his elder sister nod, he sat down reassured, straightening his posture again.

Soon, grand music announcing the start of the event began to fill the square.

Suddenly, Alicia’s heart started beating rapidly.

She wasn’t sure if it was resonating with the grand music, or if she was just nervous along with it, but somehow she couldn’t calm down.

‘What is this? Something feels strange.’