“Have you been here all this time?”

“Not really. With the shortage of hands, I’ve been here and there.”

“No wonder it was hard to find you. You didn’t have to do this.”

“As my fiancé is the Knight Commander, I felt awkward just sitting around while he’s fine.”

“You worry about everything. Where are we moving this?”

“Just leave it. You just came back from fighting, why are you doing this?”

“I’m still fine, aren’t I?”

“Still, you should rest a bit.”

“I told you I’m fine. What do you take me for? I have great stamina, you know.”

As Eric picked up the box, Allen stood beside him crookedly and grumbled.

“If you have that much energy to spare, carry mine too, Commander.”

“What? When did you get there?”

“Goodness. I’ve been here the whole time, I’m rather shocked you only noticed now.”

“Then you should have made your presence known.”

“Ha. Really. How can I live with this treatment?”

Allen turned his head slightly and muttered weakly.

“Live? What life? I’ll probably collapse somewhere carrying heavy boxes without a lover to worry about me, and die alone. I was barely noticeable anyway, but I’ll remove this nuisance so you two can worry about each other tenderly.”

He then picked up the box in front of him and trudged out of the tent.

Watching this, Alicia asked Eric worriedly.

“Is Lord Allen really alright?”

“I’m not sure. Seeing the monsters for the first time must have been quite a shock.”

With concerned expressions, the two followed after Allen.

[This is the timeline separator]

Almost last in line, the Duke and Duchess, followed by Edward, boarded the carriage to return home from the temporary shelter.

Eric was planning to return to the site after seeing them off, as there was still some cleanup to do.

“Take care on your way back.”

“Alright, Eric. Take care.”

“Yes. Thank you for helping with the Knight Order’s work today, Edward.”

“It’s nothing, I barely did anything.”

Eric smiled at Edward and then turned to Alicia.

“Alicia. I’ll be counting on you for various things.”

“Don’t worry. You be careful too.”

“There shouldn’t be any dangerous work left, but…”

“Still.”

“Alright. I’ll be careful.”

Eric smiled as he helped Alicia into the carriage and closed the door.

“Well then.”

With Eric’s final words, the carriage departed.

Alicia suddenly looked back through the carriage window, and Eric waved with a smile.

She waved back and then turned her head again.

The long day was coming to an end, but with Eric still remaining there, it didn’t feel like it was over.

[This is the timeline separator]

For several days after that, Eric couldn’t return to the mansion.

There were no reports of monsters appearing again, but some streets were still under control.

Schools were temporarily closed, and shops had shut their doors.

“My lady. It would be best if you sleep here tonight.”

“Is it under control?”

“It seems so.”

Alicia nodded at the butler’s concern.

She had already informed her mother, Countess Lancaster, that she might not be able to return in case of an emergency, such as monsters reappearing or streets being controlled.

“Have there been any reports of monsters appearing?”

“It doesn’t seem so.”

“I see. That’s a relief in itself.”

The head maid standing nearby quietly spoke to Alicia.

“My lady, your bedroom is ready.”

“Thank you.”

But Alicia stopped in surprise at the room the head maid led her to.

“Here?”

“Yes. Of course, here.”

“But isn’t this the mistress’s room?”

“What are you saying? You’ll be using it anyway.”

“……”

Having no proper rebuttal, Alicia awkwardly entered the room.

When she first toured the mansion, she thought she would never sleep in this room.

As Alicia stood idly in the room, the head maid spoke again.

“Your nightgown is here. I prepared it just in case, and I’m glad I did.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Though unsure why they had prepared a nightgown ‘just in case’, she gratefully accepted their thoughtfulness.

After finishing her preparations and lying in bed with her eyes closed, sleep wouldn’t come, so she eventually got up.

Sitting at the table for a while, staring blankly at the flickering light, she kept thinking of Eric.

‘It’s been days since he’s been able to come home. Is he eating properly? Is he sleeping well?’

‘Surely he’s not fighting monsters again?’

As various worries chased each other in her mind, Alicia went out to the balcony to get some air.

The wind was quite cool, and it seemed to refresh her troubled mind a bit.

‘There are still many lights on.’

In the distant palace, despite the late hour, lights were on here and there.

Thinking that Eric might be in one of those lit places made her feel better just by watching.

[This is the timeline separator]

“……”

“Aren’t you going to sit?”

As Alicia, who had tossed and turned all night, dragged her tired body into the dining room, Eric was sitting there smiling as if nothing had happened.

After staring blankly for a while, Alicia finally opened her mouth.

“When did you come back?”

“Last night.”

“Last night? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“You seemed to be sleeping. Sit down. You’re going to have breakfast, right?”

As Eric smiled brightly, Alicia sat down with a sullen expression.

Soon, breakfast was served.

“Come to think of it, this is our first time having breakfast together, isn’t it?”

“We haven’t had the chance before.”

‘There will be many more chances from now on. It wouldn’t hurt to have them sooner.’

The butler thought to himself, then suddenly startled himself and almost spilled the coffee he was pouring.

Surprised by this unusual mistake, Eric looked at him, and the butler stepped back, flustered and stammering.

“I’m, I’m sorry, Count. I just…”

“I’m fine, but are you alright, butler?”

“Yes, yes. I was just lost in thought for a moment. I’m sorry.”

“If you’re tired, take a rest, butler.”

“Thank you, Count.”

Eric was drinking his coffee when his eyes met Alicia’s.

“What?”

“Are you alright?”

“Yeah. I’m fine. Just tired from too many meetings. I almost think fighting monsters would be better.”

“……”

“You weren’t worried, were you?”

At those words, Alicia closed her mouth with a sulky expression.

‘How could I not worry? Isn’t it stranger not to worry in this situation?’

Moreover, she couldn’t sleep because of worrying, and now he was eating breakfast casually without even telling her he had returned, which made her feel upset without realizing it.

But seeing his smiling face, she felt her heart softening again.

“I heard a bit from the butler. You’ve had a hard time alone, haven’t you?”

“It’s my job, so don’t worry about here.”

“Mm. But what should we do? I’ll have to ask for your help a bit longer.”

“Isn’t it over?”

“Not yet. We’re in the middle of completely reforming the military system. It will take quite a while longer.”

“Ah, I see.”

Eric smiled at Alicia, who nodded with a serious expression.

But soon Alicia noticed Eric glancing at the clock and put down her knife and fork.

“Is that all you’re eating?”

Alicia nodded at Eric’s question.

Finally, Eric put down his fork and knife too.

He had come this far, so he thought he’d wait until Alicia woke up.

Since he had waited until she woke up, he thought he’d wait until she came down for breakfast.

Since he had waited until she came down, he thought he’d stay until she finished breakfast.

That’s what he thought, but Alicia had already put down her fork.

“Do you have to go?”

“…Yes.”

Eric smiled awkwardly.

Alicia forced a smile, thinking that since he had to go anyway, she should send him off in a good mood so he could work comfortably.

“It can’t be helped. I’ll see you off.”

Now that Alicia had said such things, Eric really had no excuse to stay longer.

Eric finally put down his coffee cup and stood up.

“Then, Alicia. I’ll be counting on you.”

“You take care too.”

Eric’s face seemed a bit more gaunt and tired than when Alicia had last seen him.

So it would be nice if he could rest a bit more before leaving.

Seeing Alicia’s worried face, Eric deliberately asked mischievously.

“What’s with that expression? Are you feeling upset?”

“Why? Am I not allowed to feel upset?”

Alicia pouted. Even if she said she was upset, it’s not like he would stay longer.

“Of course you are. I’m upset too.”

“What?”

She couldn’t hear properly as he mumbled, but Eric didn’t repeat it and quickly mounted his horse.

“Well then.”

“Eric.”

“?”

Alicia hesitated, then looked up at Eric and carefully tugged at his jacket.

Wondering if she had something to say, Eric leaned down, bringing his face closer, and Alicia stood on her tiptoes and whispered softly.

“Take care.”

“Mm.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

“Mm.”

“I’ll keep waiting here, so no matter how late at night you come, you must let me know.”

“…Alright. I’ll do that. Wait for me.”

Eric smiled and rode off on his horse.

Alicia stood watching until he disappeared from sight, and for a long time after he had gone.

[This is the timeline separator]

About a week later, Alicia sat at her desk with a serious expression, turning the pages of the book she was reading.

After her recent encounter with monsters, she had become particularly interested and borrowed several books about mages and monsters from the temple that were available to the general public.

“What are you reading that’s making you look so serious?”

Startled, Alicia looked up to see Eric standing there with a smile. Glad to see him, she jumped up from her seat.

“Eric. When did you get here?”

“Just now. I came straight here this time. I remembered how upset you were last time.”

“Ugh. When did I ever say I was upset?”

Eric laughed at Alicia’s embarrassed denial, then approached the desk and scanned the titles of the books she was reading.

“Are you interested in these? The History of Magic and Divine Arts? The Truth and Misconceptions about Mages?”

“After what happened, I became curious about a lot of things.”

“Oh? So have you found any interesting content?”

“I’ve just ended up with more questions.”

“Like what?”

“It seems to use mana as a medium and also borrow the power of magical beings, but isn’t it strange that magic is forbidden while divine arts are okay? It’s just a difference in whether they use language or formulas.”

“You’re right. Despite the incident 500 years ago, they simply didn’t want to give up the useful power of magic.”

Eric replied cynically with a smirk.

“Anyway, I have something important to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“Shall we sit over there for a moment? I asked the butler to bring some tea.”

“Alright.”

Alicia walked away from the desk and sat across from Eric on the sofa.

“What’s this about? You’re making me nervous.”

Eric smiled awkwardly, then spoke seriously.

“I’m leaving.”