“There are a lot of people.”

“Indeed.”

It was crowded with many people gathered compared to the size of the park.

As they were walking, Eric suddenly looked to the side and saw Alicia struggling to walk while holding her dress hem.

‘It might be faster to just carry her.’

“Ah, I think it’s over there.”

Eric turned his head in the direction Alicia was pointing.

Judging by the crowd of people gathered on the shallow grassy hill, it seemed to be the best spot to view the fireworks.

Eric looked around and frowned slightly at the large number of people.

In the past, he would have never come to see fireworks, detesting such bustling places.

However.

“But since we’re here, we should find a good viewing spot, right?”

It was the same for Alicia.

Normally, she would never have come to such a crowded place.

She never had any interest in fleeting fireworks that just flash brilliantly and disappear.

However.

“Yes. Might as well.”

Watching the fireworks with Eric might make them seem different from what she had thought was useless.

Thinking this, Alicia nodded and smiled.

Eric held Alicia’s hand firmly.

“We’ll have to push our way through, so don’t let go.”

“Alright.”

“Shall I carry you?”

“H-here? Already?”

Flustered, Alicia unconsciously covered her chest.

“You looked like you were having trouble walking.”

“…Oh, that. It’s fine.”

“?”

“Shall we go quickly?”

Eric also started walking, following Alicia who had begun walking first out of embarrassment.

Suddenly, Eric looked around, feeling an inexplicable sense of strangeness.

“Don’t kids like fireworks?”

“No, they do. They’re colorful and go boom. Edward and Emma used to love them when they were little.”

“Then why aren’t there any kids here?”

Only then did Alicia look around as well.

Now that she thought about it, there were no families in sight. Of course, they weren’t completely absent, but at least not in the square where Eric and Alicia were trying to enter.

“Maybe it’s because it’s dangerous with so many people? It would be terrible if a child got lost.”

“Ah, I see.”

Thinking of Ryan and Lyla with their straight-ahead instincts, it would indeed be crazy to bring them in there.

“Shall we go then? I’ll head towards that upper area, so don’t let go of my hand.”

“Okay.”

Eric began to push through the crowd with Alicia.

After making their way for a while without finding a proper place to stand, Eric turned towards the relatively less crowded area near the security booth.

Just as they were about to reach it, the fireworks began.

“It seems to have started already.”

Alicia said looking at the sky, but Eric couldn’t hear her due to the surrounding noise.

As they walked, Alicia kept looking up at the sky with each loud sound and momentary brightening of the scene.

At that moment, a pink firework burst in the sky with a bang.

“Wow, heart-shaped.”

Alicia slowed down, fascinated by the sight, momentarily letting go of Eric’s hand.

At that moment, someone grabbed her arm from the side.

“Huh?”

Startled after being lost in watching the sky, Alicia turned her head as she was suddenly pulled away.

A strange man thrust his face close to hers.

Thwack−.

“Gah−.”

In an instant, the man was kicked by Eric and fell to the ground, while Eric quickly pulled Alicia into his arms.

“You crazy bastard.”

Eric stepped firmly on the back of the man sprawled on the ground. Despite the serious situation, laughter erupted from the surroundings.

“?”

“What’s going on?”

Puzzled, the two looked around to see people laughing at the man being stepped on by Eric.

“As expected, he shows up this year too.”

“No matter how desperate, how could he touch a woman who’s taken.”

“What did you say?”

Eric frowned.

He was dumbfounded that everyone was laughing nonchalantly at what was clearly a criminal act.

Moreover, even though they were in front of a security booth, the security team’s response was slow by Eric’s standards.

While understanding it couldn’t be helped due to the crowded scene, Eric swallowed his words as he watched the belated security team arrive and handle the situation.

‘They say harassment incidents are frequent, yet security maintenance is a mess?’

‘Besides, if he had actually touched Alicia, I might have killed that bastard. Then it would be a murder case, not harassment.’

And such thoughts.

But not wanting his identity as the Knight Commander to be revealed, Eric kept his mouth shut.

After the scene was cleared and the security personnel respectfully saluted Eric and Alicia while picking up the sprawled man, they hastily left the spot upon catching Eric’s eye.

Meanwhile, the fireworks continued.

Unlike Eric who was observing the situation, Alicia had noticed what was going on around them.

The reason why there were only couples here, not families.

Seeing couples kissing every time pink fireworks burst, she realized the true nature of the “famous event” mentioned by Allen’s villa manager.

“Really star… Weren’t you surprised, Alicia?”

Then, realizing he was still holding Alicia, Eric tried to let go.

“Stay like this.”

“Huh?”

“If you let me go now, something like earlier might happen again.”

Though confused at first, Eric looked at the sky and surroundings when the fireworks burst again and understood what she meant.

“Then I guess we have no choice? We’ll just have to watch like this?”

Eric subtly pulled Alicia closer.

In response, Alicia wrapped her arms around Eric’s waist as if she had no other choice.

The special contract no longer mattered, but even if it did, this much would surely count as agreement.

As fireworks burst again, the two looked up at the sky.

The cheers from all around and the whispers of lovers rang loudly in Alicia’s ears.

Soon after, pink fireworks began to paint the sky brilliantly again.

As small and large fireworks burst simultaneously, many couples shared long or short kisses, whispered words of love, and cheered.

And as the grand finale, the largest firework exploded in the sky.

At the same time, the sound of fireworks, cheers, and heartbeats began to mix chaotically.

After exclaiming in admiration while watching the fireworks, Alicia lowered her head and met Eric’s eyes.

It seemed he had been looking at her the whole time.

As she began to feel nervous, the bright smile on Alicia’s face gradually faded.

“……”

“……”

Before long, all the fireworks subsided.

The surroundings darkened and people began to leave, murmuring their impressions.

“Ah.”

Alicia let out a small sigh-like sound.

It was a sound telling herself to quickly wake up from the illusion of being a real couple during the fireworks.

Wanting to quickly leave this place, Alicia tried to move out of Eric’s embrace.

Or rather, she tried to move.

“?”

Puzzled that Eric was still holding her firmly and not letting go, Alicia looked up.

The moment she thought their eyes met, Eric cupped Alicia’s face and pressed his lips against hers.

Alicia’s lips were much softer and more tender than Eric had imagined when he had briefly touched them before.

Moreover, they were sweet.

Even though he had said just hours ago that he didn’t like sweets much and didn’t eat them himself.

It seemed he would have to take back those words as he couldn’t pull away from Alicia.

Eric’s movements, which had now parted her lips and touched various parts of her mouth, were gentle and kind, gradually easing Alicia’s tension.

It was thrilling how Eric sometimes suddenly grasped her soft and tender flesh after caressing and coaxing it.

Finally feeling as if all strength was leaving her body, Alicia tightly gripped Eric’s jacket.

People leaving the area murmured upon seeing the two. Some cheered, while others shouted teasingly.

It didn’t matter. They were used to such attention wherever they went, being the couple of rumors that had stirred up the empire.

And right now, they were so focused on each other that nothing else mattered.

[This is the timeline separator]

After training ended, Allen approached Eric, who was drinking water, and plopped down beside him.

“Wow, seriously senior, can’t you go easy on us?”

“How would that be training?”

“Still. I’m the deputy commander too, you know. It’s embarrassing in front of the others.”

“Then just get stronger.”

“That’s easier said than done.”

Annoyed at Eric’s nonchalant response, Allen also stood up and grabbed some water.

“I really can’t catch the timing of your thrusts, senior. How do you strike so fast while being so heavy?”

“Is that so?”

“It surprises me every time, it’s frustrating.”

Eric chuckled at Allen’s grumbling, still upset about being beaten.

“Oh right. So I guess the date was really enjoyable?”

“Huh?”

“The fireworks by the lake. You went with the commander’s wife, didn’t you?”

“How do you know about that?”

“We received a support request and some of our guys were dispatched as security. Didn’t you know? You signed off on it yourself.”

He had completely forgotten about it. It had been completely erased from his mind.

“The rumors are all over. During the kiss time, you two were really into it−.”

“Pfffft−.”

Eric ended up spitting out his water.

“Ah, senior. That’s gross.”

Allen grimaced while wiping off the sprayed water.

But soon he continued with a grin.

“But I heard you did it after the fireworks were all over?”

“……”

Eric kept his mouth shut out of embarrassment, but inwardly he was burning with shame.

‘Did they see everything? Were they just standing there watching the whole time? I sent them for security maintenance, but they were just watching that? Even though harassment incidents are said to be frequent, this is clearly neglect of duty.’

Unaware of Eric’s thoughts, Allen continued chattering beside him.

“Your timing for striking during fights is amazing, but they say your timing for that was terrib−.”

Allen stopped mid-sentence, noticing the dark aura emanating from beside him.

“Senior?”

“……”

Watching Eric’s silent demeanor, Allen heeded the warning bells ringing throughout his body and slowly backed away.

“Senior. Training’s over, right?”

“……”

With Eric still silent behind him, Allen immediately fled from that spot.

“They say your timing was terrible−.”

Allen’s last words kept replaying in Eric’s mind.

‘No, that’s not it. I did it on purpose.’

He had been conflicted every time the fireworks burst.

Whether it would be okay to kiss Alicia according to the emotions he was feeling now.

He hoped Alicia wouldn’t misunderstand it as a light emotion swept up in the atmosphere.

That’s why he deliberately did it after that time had passed.

But.

‘Could Alicia be thinking the same way?’

“Urgh.”

Eric clutched his head with both hands.

Even if Alicia thought that way, he couldn’t explain or make excuses now.

The good mood he had been in until just moments ago plummeted to the depths below in an instant.

[This is the timeline separator]

Alicia stopped by the temple library to return the book she had borrowed before.

“Hello.”

“Welcome, Miss Alicia. Have you finished reading already?”

“Yes. Here you go.”

Alicia handed the book to the librarian.

“May I browse other books as well?”

“Of course. But you know, right? You can’t look inside the red line.”

“Of course, I know.”

Alicia nodded and entered the bookshelves.

Pondering, Alicia scanned the book titles and stopped at one side.

She reached out to pull out a book shelved above.

“Are you interested in magic, Miss Lancaster?”

Startled by the voice behind her, she turned around.