“Pfft.”

Alicia almost spit out the tea she was drinking at Jena’s words.

“Cough, cough. Je-Jena.”

“Why are you so surprised?”

“No, it’s just…”

Alicia closed her mouth in embarrassment.

‘It’s too soon for that with Eric-, no, that’s not it, we won’t even get to that point in the first place?’

‘No, wait, were you always the type to casually talk about these things? I thought you had changed from before, but when did you become so uninhibited?’

Regardless of Alicia’s inner thoughts, Jena continued as if it was no big deal.

“This will definitely work.”

“W-Well…”

Jena stared intently at Alicia, who couldn’t bring herself to look at Jena and was looking down while holding the teacup with both hands.

“Are you still shy? You two are so cute.”

“Huh?”

“That will make it even more effective.”

“Um, well…”

‘Effective or not, that’s not going to happen.’

Seeing Alicia close her mouth with a troubled expression, Jena smiled mischievously.

“Then just give him a kiss. It’s not much, but it might be cute for you two right now.”

“Ah, I suppose…”

Alicia smiled at Jena as if it was no big deal, but her mind was turbulent.

According to the special clause in the contract, skinship is prohibited. It requires mutual agreement to do so. How do you even discuss such a thing?

‘So it’s not nothing, it’s actually a big deal.’

Alicia looked down at her teacup again in embarrassment.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Then please take your time to talk. I will bring some tea.”

“Why?”

Alicia, coming back to her senses at the butler’s words, unintentionally asked loudly, causing the butler to look at her in surprise.

“Pardon? If you ask why-”

“Ah, butler. That’s not what I-”

“You don’t like tea?”

When Eric asked, a flustered Alicia shook her head.

That’s not it. It’s not that, but because of the contract, she can’t give that ‘response’ unless it’s a situation where she has to act as a fiancée in front of people.

To do it when they’re alone requires mutual agreement.

“No, it’s not that I don’t like tea. I’ll drink it. I will.”

“Butler. Prepare it.”

“Yes, Lord.”

The butler bowed and turned to go get the tea, and Eric moved the book aside and stood up from his seat.

At that moment.

Alicia leaned forward, propping herself up on the desk with her arm.

Chu.

Lightly but surely, her lips touched Eric’s cheek.

“Thank you. I received the flowers well.”

“Ah, I see.”

Eric answered awkwardly, seemingly flustered.

“I didn’t think you’d remember what I mentioned briefly back then.”

“Of course I remember.”

“I like them. Though there were a bit too many.”

“Ah, that’s because the Count told me to send a lot.”

The butler, standing nearby, chimed in, and the head maid, who had somehow reached the doorway, stuck her arm through the door crack and grabbed the butler’s clothes, pulling him.

“What are you doing now?”

“Come out, please. Don’t interfere.”

The head maid quickly pulled the butler out and closed the door.

“Where did you leave your tact? How could you stand there and interrupt like that? You’re really hopeless.”

“Ah, well. The mood was good, and I was worried the Count might say something, so I unconsciously…”

“Oh, goodness. Really. Was that the atmosphere for him to say anything? If it weren’t for you, they could have gone much further.”

“…You called me hopeless, but you’re the one being ridiculous.”

Despite the butler’s incredulous expression, the head maid continued with a serious face.

“Butler. Do you know why people read romance novels?”

“I wonder?”

“Vicarious satisfaction, vicarious experience, vicarious excitement. It’s about feeling these things in a tough life, isn’t it?”

“What does that have to do with the Count and the young lady?”

“Ah, you really don’t get it. We’re witnessing real-time vicarious romance up close. Moreover, they both have excellent visuals, and if only they’d exude a bit more sweetness, it would be perfect.”

“Then why don’t you get actual satisfaction with your husband instead of vicarious satisfaction?”

“Hey now, that’s not something you do with family.”

“You say that after having three children.”

As the butler shook his head and walked away, the head maid grumbled and trudged along behind him.

Suddenly, the head maid turned back and looked at the closed door of the study.

‘The mood must be good now. This is their time. Ah, I’m jealous.’

[This is the timeline separator]

However, the atmosphere wasn’t as sweet as the head maid thought.

In the somewhat awkward atmosphere, Alicia hesitantly opened her mouth.

“It’s nothing special.”

“Huh?”

“Everyone says this level of response is nothing special for an engaged couple.”

Eric nodded only then.

It wasn’t nothing special.

He had merely instructed the butler to send flowers. He hadn’t personally picked or delivered them, so he thought it was sufficient, no, even excessive as a response.

“I think so too. I thought anyone could do it.”

Seeing Alicia speak as if making an excuse, it seemed she was concerned about violating the special clause.

He wanted to say that such a response wouldn’t violate the special clause as it’s not in the category of skinship but a response.

“Can I receive it from anyone?”

“Huh?”

Eric was flustered, wondering if he had said something wrong, as Alicia stared at him.

“Such… a response? Even if we’re not in any relationship?”

“Ah, no. That’s not what I meant.”

“Don’t you usually send flowers to women? I guess all those women did that?”

“You misunderstand. First of all, I’ve never sent flowers to women.”

“……”

Alicia silently stared at Eric, who was flustered and speaking seriously, with suspicious eyes.

“It’s true. Ah, maybe I’ve sent some to my mother?”

“What are you saying.”

“Anyway, I’ve never sent any. You’re the first.”

“……”

Eric hurriedly walked towards Alicia.

He wished the butler would come in with tea at a time like this.

He grumbled inwardly at the innocent butler, who had been nagging him earlier for being slow, thinking that the butler was just as slow in the end.

“I worried for nothing. I was wondering how to respond properly as a fiancée.”

“Why are you going that far?”

Smiling awkwardly, Eric seated Alicia on the sofa in front of the desk.

Pretending to give in, Alicia sat on the sofa as Eric seated her and turned her head towards Eric for a moment.

As soon as their eyes met, Eric quickly asked.

“So, did you like them?”

“They were pretty.”

“Were they?”

“It was the first time I received so many, so I was worried about how to respond.”

“Such a response is too much for that.”

“……”

“It was too sudden.”

As Eric spoke as if regretful, Alicia turned her head, feeling her face heat up a bit.

Feeling embarrassed, she felt like she should say something.

“Usually, I would send them all back when I received them. I’ve never thought about responding, so it was a bit difficult.”

“Seems like you’ve received a lot?”

“Last week, was it? Someone sent flowers to the mansion-”

“Last week?”

“……”

Alicia hesitantly turned her head towards Eric, feeling like she had made a mistake.

Eric was clearly smiling, but somehow she felt uneasy.

“I sent them right back.”

“Who was it?”

“I don’t know, I didn’t check.”

“How did you send them back if you don’t know who it was?”

“I told the butler.”

“……”

Eric’s face turned mischievous.

‘What kind of bold fellow sends such things? With all the engagement rumors spreading so noisily, it’s impossible they didn’t know. Do they think we’re pushovers? How dare they send something to who.’

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

“I’ve brought the tea.”

“Thank you, butler. Wow. It smells nice.”

The butler flinched at Alicia’s enthusiastic welcome but soon calmly placed the tea on the table.

However, Eric was still smiling mischievously with his face resting on his arm on the sofa armrest, without saying a word.

‘Why is the atmosphere like this? Did something happen again in the meantime?’

The butler glanced at the two of them and slowly backed away, then quickly closed the door and left the study.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Unfortunately, we haven’t found out much.”

“Hmm.”

As Eric, attending the Great Temple meeting, furrowed his brow, the priests and divine sorcerers also sighed while examining the books and documents messily spread out on the desk.

“All we’ve confirmed is that it’s identical to the demon that appeared at the Great Temple 10 years ago.”

“So it’s the same magician.”

“Either the same one or maybe a disciple who inherited that magic.”

“Hmm. Why would they appear now after being quiet for 10 years?”

Everyone fell silent at that question.

“If only the Great Divine Sorcerer were here, it would be helpful.”

“Is there no contact at all?”

“They’re known for being reclusive.”

Eric’s question was met with a sigh and a shake of the head from the divine sorcerer.

Unlike the Great Priest, there is no official position of Great Divine Sorcerer.

It’s just a title given to the one considered to have the strongest power among the divine sorcerers, but no one has properly met them, and even when they occasionally appear, they extremely dislike revealing their face, so not much is known about them.

“The Great Priest said not to worry, that they would appear when the situation becomes truly dangerous.”

“Ah, so you’re in contact with the Great Priest.”

As Eric spoke as if somewhat relieved, the priest smiled awkwardly.

“They’ve known each other for a long time, so they seem to keep in touch personally, though not often. But their relationship isn’t very good, so the Great Priest says their blood pressure rises every time they contact, which troubles us every time.”

“That’s unnecessary information.”

When another priest scolded, the priest who had spoken looked at him with an expression that seemed to say ‘What can I do, it’s the truth’.

“They’ll find out everything later anyway. I meant it as a way for them to be prepared mentally since they’ll be caught in the middle and have a hard time like us-”

“That’s enough. There’s no need to burden them in advance.”

Seeing the priests and divine sorcerers bickering, Eric closed his mouth, feeling more uneasy.

It was already a dire situation even with everyone’s combined efforts, but the thought of the Great Priest and Great Divine Sorcerer having a bad relationship gave him a headache.

So he thought.

‘There’s no choice. I’ll have to leave it to Captain Edinburgh next time.’

At that moment, the old priest who had been sitting quietly spoke in a kind voice.

“Lady Alicia also came frequently.”

“I’ve heard about that. But is it okay to show such materials to an ordinary person?”

“Normally it’s not allowed, but Lady Alicia is special.”

“Special? Why is she special?”

Eric asked with a puzzled face, wondering what that meant.

Then the old priest opened his mouth with a gentle smile.