‘It’s so obvious, yet he doesn’t notice at all. That bastard Chase is starting to look pitiful.’

In the end, Eric sighed and turned his head.

Seeing Eric like that, Alicia cautiously asked.

“Earlier, the butler said the atmosphere between you two wasn’t good. Did something happen? Did Chase make a mistake?”

“A mistake?”

‘He did. A huge one at that.’

But Eric just answered as if it was nothing.

“…It was because of work talk, that’s all.”

“Is it serious?”

“Ah, well. It’s not something that will be resolved right away. More importantly-.”

Eric began to speak with a serious attitude.

But his mouth only hesitated, and no words came out.

Alicia, who was watching, couldn’t understand why Eric was acting this way, so she just stared at him.

“Now, Alicia. Listen.”

“I’m listening.”

This time, thinking he might speak, Alicia focused, waiting for Eric’s next words.

“I have an extremely close female friend. But if that friend freely comes and goes in my home, and casually puts her arm around my shoulder and has skinship in front of you, my fiancée, how do you think you would feel?”

“You don’t have such a friend.”

“…No, I don’t.”

He expected as much, but it still didn’t get through to Alicia.

As Eric fell into thought again with a sullen expression, Alicia asked in a dubious voice.

“Are you perhaps jealous?”

“Jealous? Me? Ha.”

About to deny it, Eric suddenly had a thought and smiled at Alicia.

“What if I am jealous?”

“Huh? Well-.”

Alicia hesitated to answer under Eric’s expectant gaze that seemed to bore into her.

Chase has been a friend since childhood, so they’re not a man and woman in that sense.

Of course, when Chase was appointed as Deputy Ambassador to the Balua Empire, there was talk of marriage between the families, but that was only briefly, in the past.

So Eric doesn’t need to be like this towards Chase.

There’s no need for this, but.

Still.

“Then I would try to be considerate of you.”

“Right. I am jealous.”

“…Huh?”

“You’ll be considerate, right?”

Alicia was rather flustered by his outright admission and demand.

But Eric, unconcerned, urged Alicia with a look of expectation.

“Alicia. Your answer?”

“You know you’re being a bit childish right now, don’t you?”

“Childish?”

Eric looked at Alicia as if dumbfounded.

“Rather than childish, it would be better to just say I’m jealous.”

“Why? It’s cute.”

“…What?”

“I think it’s better than being like a duck.”

“……”

Seeing Alicia smiling, Eric tilted his head back, resting it on the sofa, and stared at the ceiling for a moment.

Then he straightened his head again and turned his gaze to Alicia.

“Are you teasing me right now?”

“A little?”

“……”

In the end, Eric covered his face and laughed softly.

Alicia then removed Eric’s hand covering his face and looked into his eyes, speaking clearly.

“You don’t need to worry so much. Even if Chase and I were trapped alone on a deserted island, nothing would happen.”

“The very premise of being trapped alone on a deserted island is unpleasant though?”

“……”

The hypothetical situation meant to emphasize her point seemed to grate on Eric’s nerves even more.

Seeing Alicia flustered, not knowing what to do, Eric finally laughed.

“It’s true that I’m concerned, but I’m not saying you can’t be friends.”

“I know.”

“I’m not that narrow-minded.”

“I know.”

“Okay. That’s fine then, I guess.”

Eric put his arm on the back of the sofa and leisurely picked up his teacup.

It was a completely different attitude from earlier when he was urgently demanding an answer.

“I’m always trying to be considerate, you know.”

“Hm?”

When she misunderstood, Eric said he wouldn’t even meet Lady Eugenie.

Alicia looked at Eric with an apologetic smile.

“At least I want to make sure you don’t have to worry about that kind of thing.”

“……”

“Of course, it’s nothing compared to Eric’s consideration.”

“Your words seem more than enough.”

Alicia’s beautifully curved eyes made Eric feel that she was being sufficiently considerate of him.

Then Eric wrinkled his nose and smiled.

“But since you put it that way, maybe I’ll enjoy your consideration a bit from now on.”

Eric leaned back leisurely on the sofa again.

“…Really childish.”

“Hm? I didn’t hear that.”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Alicia quickly turned her head away.

She almost did something because she thought this man was cute right now.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Have you received the report?”

When Eric abruptly asked William, whom he encountered at the imperial palace, William was startled and looked at him with suspicious eyes.

“Report? What report all of a sudden?”

“I mean the return report of Chase Spencer, the Deputy Ambassador to the Balua Empire.”

“Ah, I did receive it. How did you know?”

“I met him a few days ago. Personally.”

“Ah. Is that so? He’s a decent fellow, isn’t he?”

‘He’s the first person I’ve disliked from head to toe.’

Eric grumbled inwardly, but William, unaware of Eric’s thoughts, went on praising Chase.

“He’s a capable fellow. Already a deputy ambassador at that age. And to the Balua Empire at that.”

“……”

“I heard the Emperor of Balua really likes him because he has a friendly personality and does his work well.”

“Then why did he return?”

“It seems the Balua Empire is also anxious about the news of magical beasts and requested cooperation. He even brought a personal letter from the Emperor.”

“If it’s a personal letter, he should return to Balua quickly with results.”

“That’s true.”

Eric continued to urge William, who was nodding his head.

“If they sent a personal letter, they must have a strong desire. Your Majesty wouldn’t want to create tension with the Balua Empire now that magical beasts have appeared, so a quick establishment of friendly relations will be necessary.”

“That’s right.”

“Once a magical beast creation spell is set, it’s easy to transfer and not difficult to summon magical beasts if there’s enough magical power. So the sooner we cooperate before it spreads to the continent, the better.”

“You’re right.”

William agreed with a serious face and then looked at Eric.

“It would be good to gather and discuss together.”

“Pardon?”

“I was thinking of just setting a direction, but hearing your words, it seems we need to establish a detailed plan. We should delay Ambassador Spencer’s return schedule.”

“No, there’s no need to go that far-”

“We have the advantage in terms of data and information. If we can lead Balua in our direction, our status within the continent will also rise.”

“No matter how you look at it, isn’t it a bit burdensome to lead the Balua Empire in such a way?”

A flustered Eric tried to stop William.

“Don’t worry. We just need to package it outwardly as if we’re building it together.”

“……”

“Anyway, thank you. It was a good idea. It’s going to get busier from now on, so I’m counting on you.”

William smiled brightly, patted Eric’s shoulder, and walked away busy.

“It’s ruined.”

He had wanted to send Chase back quickly, but now it looks like he’ll be sent back even later.

He only had to endure for a month, but now it’s been extended, and it seems he’ll have to see him at the emperor’s emergency meeting as well.

Eric held his head, blaming his own mouth that had created this situation.

‘Ah, why is nothing going as planned these days.’

[This is the timeline separator]

Edward and a few subordinates were whispering as they watched Eric observing the knights’ training at the training ground.

“Why is the Captain like that today?”

“Is he in a bad mood?”

To Edward’s eyes, Eric’s condition seemed fine on the surface.

Allen was absent due to an external schedule today, so there was nothing to be angry about, and he hadn’t shown any signs of anger or irritation.

“You haven’t seen him for long, so you might not know, but this is considered extremely bad.”

“Ah, I see.”

Edward nodded and looked at Eric again.

If it was work-related, Edward obviously wouldn’t know, but if it was a personal matter, he had a rough idea, so Edward smiled mischievously.

“I’ll go ask him for a moment.”

“What? Wait!”

The subordinates tried to stop Edward as he ran off, but gave up.

“Ah, let him be. He wouldn’t kill his brother-in-law, would he?”

“I guess you’re right.”

Still, with curious expressions, the subordinates watched Edward run towards Eric.

As Eric looked at Edward questioningly as he suddenly ran up, Edward grinned.

“Do you have a moment?”

“I do. What’s the matter?”

“Well, from now on, I’m asking personally.”

“Why are you setting up such a premise?”

As Eric smiled and asked, Edward grinned.

“Is there something bothering you, brother-in-law?”

“No, there isn’t.”

“Then why were you making that expression?”

“Me? What kind of expression was I making?”

“An expression like you were about to kill someone.”

Faced with Edward’s bright-eyed gaze, Eric hesitated but finally opened his mouth.

“…There’s been a lot of work lately.”

“Ah, work.”

“Thanks to Chase.”

“Ah, Chase hyung.”

Edward’s form of address was familiar, as he had known him since childhood.

“You know him well too?”

“Of course. Chase hyung has been my sister’s friend since I was born. He used to come to our house often, feed me milk, change my diapers and all.”

“Then the other kids too?”

“He’s like family, you know.”

Eric slightly furrowed his brow in a sense of betrayal.

Edward and Emma might be understandable.

But shouldn’t Ryan and Lyla be different?

Eric recalled the past when he had struggled to take care of the twins.

After watching Eric’s discontented expression for a while, Edward asked.

“Does Chase hyung bother you?”

“We’ll be working together this time, and he’s Alicia’s friend, so I’m curious.”

“Hmm.”

But Edward was quick-witted.

“Is it because Chase hyung likes my sister?”

“You know too?”

“Of course. The only one who doesn’t know is probably my sister.”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

Eric crossed his arms and nodded with a serious expression.

Edward also crossed his arms and put on a serious face.

“How can she be the only one who doesn’t know when everyone else does?”

“My sister can be dense about strange things sometimes.”

“Right. It seems that way.”

As Eric nodded in agreement, Edward also nodded.

“If it’s not said outright, she might not know.”

“Right. That might be the case.”

“She probably doesn’t know why you’re acting like this either.”

“Right. She doesn’t seem to know.”

“Even though you’re engaged, my sister wavering towards Chase hyung……”

Eric almost felt a surge of anger just hearing those words, but Edward, noticing his reaction, quickly grinned and continued.

“- wouldn’t happen, but they have such a long history, you know.”

“……”

“Chase hyung comes every day. Even when my sister isn’t there.”

“What?”

Eric frowned.

If Chase behaves like this, wouldn’t Alicia’s consideration be pointless?

Edward stared at Eric for a moment and then grinned.

“My sister said she’d be a bit late due to an appointment, but still, brother-in-law. Want to come over for dinner?”