Please Marry My Son - Chapter 24

“……What do you mean?”

“I’m going on a military expedition.”

Eric said casually and grinned.

Alicia looked at Eric silently.

For a moment, her heart sank when he said he was leaving.

She felt relieved when he said it was a military expedition, then realized it wasn’t something to be relieved about, and her heart raced again.

After barely calming down, Alicia asked calmly.

“Where to? For how long?”

“Sorry, but that’s confidential. Ah, but it won’t take long.”

Alicia thought she was acting quite composed, but Eric must not have felt that way, as he quickly offered an excuse.

“I can’t help it. Even if it’s you, I can’t talk about confidential matters.”

‘That’s not it. I don’t even want to know about such confidential things.’

Alicia sighed and forced a smile.

“……It can’t be helped. Even if I’m curious, it’s confidential.”

“Thanks for understanding.”

What else could she do but understand? It was Eric’s duty after all.

Still, she couldn’t help but worry, so Alicia cautiously asked.

“Do you have to fight demons again?”

“If they appear.”

“How can you say that so casually?”

“It’s not the first time.”

Eric seemed so nonchalant that Alicia felt foolish for worrying.

So Alicia also pretended to be casual as she spoke.

“What about the mages?”

“They’re being tracked.”

At the mention of mages, Eric’s expression became quite serious.

Strictly speaking, tracking or monitoring mages wasn’t the job of the First Knight Commander Edinburgh or the Second Knight Commander Eric.

Originally, the Empire had a secret order of knights composed of priests, divine artists, and knights who specialized in such tasks.

They were called the 0th Knight Order, or the Zero Knight Order, but very few knew who belonged to it or even its scale, and Eric only knew of its existence but had never actually seen it.

He thought it might come up during this emergency strategy meeting, but even the Emperor, who surely knew of its existence, didn’t mention it once.

“Then is Commander Edinburgh going with you?”

“He has to stay here alone since I’m gone. It’ll be boring. He’ll be called to a lot of meetings too.”

Eric smiled with a playful expression.

‘He volunteered, this man.’

Alicia was upset at Eric laughing without understanding others’ feelings, but she didn’t show it.

Alicia thought she hadn’t shown it, but Eric must not have felt that way as he laughed awkwardly.

“Am I that untrustworthy? Why do you keep making that expression?”

“……What do you mean? I’m not making any expression.”

“It’s really a simple mission. There’s no need to worry.”

“······.”

“Please take care of things here while I’m gone.”

“Worry about your untrustworthy self and don’t worry about here.”

“Ah, so it’s confirmed that I’m untrustworthy. This is new.”

“What are you saying.”

Alicia pouted as she looked at Eric grinning.

“I’m concerned.”

“Pardon?”

“No, nothing.”

Eric laughed evasively.

He volunteered as usual, thinking it was better to be active in the field than just attending meetings.

It wasn’t even going to a battlefield, just a short investigation trip.

That was all, but this time something felt uneasy.

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After Eric’s departure, Alicia, who had been staying mainly at the Russell estate, returned to the Lancaster estate upon hearing that the Countess Lancaster was unwell.

Sitting beside her mother’s bed, Alicia was checking the letters brought in by the butler on a silver tray when she picked up an envelope with elaborate gold embossing on the outside.

After confirming the contents, Alicia muttered with a troubled expression.

“Why did the Empress send an invitation?”

It was an especially unwelcome invitation for Alicia, who had been secretly relieved that various events, including the grand banquet scheduled after the joint training, had been canceled due to the demons.

In the past, she would have made up some excuse to decline, but now that the Gloucester ducal family was involved, she couldn’t.

“Is it an invitation from the Imperial Palace?”

“Ah, Her Majesty the Empress has invited me to a tea party.”

“Oh my, really? I wonder what brought this on?”

“Pardon?”

“No, it’s nothing, dear.”

Seeing her mother smile gently, Alicia asked, just in case.

“I can’t not go, can I?”

“If the Empress invited you, you’d need a very good reason not to go.”

“A very good reason?”

“With the ducal family involved, it would be difficult with any ordinary excuse.”

“Ah, I see. You think so too, Mother.”

Seeing her daughter’s evident reluctance, the Countess smiled soothingly.

“Alicia. Most young ladies would consider an invitation from the Empress an honor. Especially since this one seems to have been sent to only a few families.”

“Um, yes.”

“Of course, I understand it’s troublesome. I felt the same way back then.”

“You too, Mother?”

“Yes. And since it’s my fault that you see this as troublesome rather than an honor, I can’t say much, but could you endure it to some extent for Eric and the ducal family?”

“Well, if it’s something I have to do, I have no choice.”

The Countess looked worriedly at Alicia, who gave a reluctant but positive answer.

“It’s not easy to deal with Her Majesty the Empress, and I’m worried she might not be very kind to you.”

“Yes, I don’t think she’ll be kind. Probably because Eric is close to His Highness Prince William.”

“Yes, there’s that too.”

Alicia tilted her head at her mother’s words.

She also recalled what the Emperor had said at the previous Imperial tea party.

“By the way, Mother. Do we have any acquaintance with His Majesty the Emperor or Her Majesty the Empress?”

“Why do you suddenly ask that?”

“Last time, His Majesty the Emperor said he saw me when I was young. And from what you just said, it seems like you know Her Majesty the Empress.”

“Ah, yes. I’ve known them since way back. Since I was a lady of the Cavendish earldom.”

“I see. No wonder.”

“But we weren’t on good terms.”

“Why? Did something happen?”

“Well. They didn’t seem to like me very much. I found out the reason later, which made it even more awkward, you could say.”

Hearing her mother’s story, Alicia was reminded of Kate O’Brien for some reason.

“Just act as you normally would, Alicia. There’s no need to be nervous or intimidated.”

“Yes, I’ll do that.”

“Come to think of it, the roses should be in full bloom. It might be quite hot too.”

The Countess smiled as she looked out the window.

“You know that well?”

“Well, once upon a time. It’s an old story.”

Alicia became curious as her mother seemed to know more about the Imperial Palace and the Imperial family than she had thought, but not wanting to disturb her mother who seemed to be reminiscing with a wistful expression, she quietly left the room.

[This is the timeline separator]

The Imperial Palace was magnificent.

As the palace used by the emperors of Britannia, the superpower of the continent, for over 500 years, it was both classic and modernized to match the trends of each era, offering a glimpse into the history of architectural styles at a glance.

While admiring the Imperial Palace visible through the window, the carriage finally arrived at the main gate of the Empress’s Palace.

As it was quite hot and sunny, Alicia shielded her face with her hand and looked up at the Empress’s Palace as soon as she got out of the carriage.

“Welcome, Lady Alicia Lancaster. Please come in.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Alicia stepped inside, guided by the maid who had been waiting at the door.

Upon reaching the reception room, the meeting place, she exchanged greetings with the ladies who had arrived earlier and sat in her designated seat.

“Alicia. You came too.”

“Jena.”

“I’m so glad you’re here. I was so worried I’d be like a duck egg in the Tanne River all alone.”

“Me too.”

“I don’t know what this is about. I mean, you’re one thing, but I’m not successful enough to be invited here.”

“What are you talking about? Didn’t you say your father’s company just won the contract for supplying all the porcelain for the Imperial Palace?”

“Ah, is that why? This is going to be troublesome. Should I tell them to forget about it?”

“Isn’t that contract too big to give up over an invitation like this? The amount must be enormous.”

“I’m just kidding. Our family fortune has improved tremendously because of it.”

As Jena giggled and whispered, Alicia also let out a small laugh.

At that moment, Kate O’Brien walked in gracefully, dressed less elaborately than usual.

She seemed to have toned down her outfit to make the Empress, who likes flashy things, stand out.

Her eyes met Alicia’s, but Kate quickly turned her head and walked straight to her seat.

As soon as Kate sat down, a maid opened the door and spoke.

“Her Majesty the Empress has arrived.”

All seven young ladies in attendance stood up.

The Empress, dressed as elaborately as a peacock showing off its feathers, surveyed the attendees with an arrogant expression.

Her gaze lingered a bit longer on Alicia, and she slightly covered her smiling face with a fan.

“Welcome, everyone. Thank you for coming.”

“Not at all, Your Majesty.”

“Lady Kate. It’s been a while.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As the Empress expressed familiarity, a confident smile appeared on Kate’s face.

The two exchanged light conversation, sharing greetings cordially.

Jena whispered to Alicia.

“She’s said to be one of the crown prince’s potential brides.”

“Isn’t there more than one?”

“I heard she’s quite a strong candidate in her own right. Viscount O’Brien has been doing well lately, hasn’t he?”

“I see.”

After finishing her conversation with Kate, the Empress greeted each person individually.

The Empress chatted with the invited ladies in an arrogant but friendly manner, but she didn’t speak to Alicia.

She would smile when her eyes occasionally met Alicia’s, but then quickly turn away or speak to someone else.

Kate, who had been paying attention to Alicia from the start, and Jena, who was sticking close to Alicia, were the first to notice that the Empress seemed to be intentionally ignoring her in a subtle way.

‘See that?’

Jena narrowed her eyes.

If the ladies here noticed that the Empress was ignoring Alicia, there was a high possibility that Alicia could become isolated in social circles, even as the future mistress of a ducal family.

After all, no one would want to stay close to Alicia at the cost of displeasing the Empress.

Unfortunately, there was little Jena could do for her friend at this moment.

Just then, the Empress spoke with a smile.

“The weather is so nice, shall we go out to the garden? Actually, the roses are in full bloom, so I made it today’s theme.”

The Empress nodded to the maid sitting next to her, who stood up and spoke.

“I will guide you. This way, please.”

Everyone stood up and began to move towards the garden, following the maid. At the very back, Jena whispered to Alicia.

“We just had rose tea, and now a rose garden? Isn’t this too much? The scent is so strong it’s giving me a headache.”

“She said it’s today’s theme. At least it’s consistent.”

“By the way, are you okay?”

“Yes. It’s boring, but I think I can endure. The desserts are delicious too.”

“No, not that.”

“Then what?”

“……Never mind, it’s nothing. Maybe it’s better if you don’t know.”

“Why? Did I make a mistake somewhere? But I’ve hardly spoken at all.”

“Pfft. No, it’s not that. Ah, I can see the garden now.”

Alicia turned her head in the direction Jena was pointing.

True to the Empress’s taste, the garden was a spectacular sight, filled to the brim with lavishly blooming roses without a gap.

By the time they reached the already set tables, the Empress also walked out into the garden.

“I apologize. I’m a bit late. Now, please sit down everyone.”

The Empress spoke kindly as she looked around at the young ladies waiting for her, then sat down first.

As Alicia was about to sit down like the others, the Empress addressed her for the first time today.

“Oh, right. Lady Alicia Lancaster. I have a favor to ask of you.”