“Aren’t you too busy?”

“Yes. Eric is busy with knighthood matters, so it can’t be helped. It’ll probably be like this for a while.”

“Brother is too much. Making you work this hard.”

“I’m doing it because I want to, so.”

“But you’re not even engaged yet, so there’s no need to do this already, right?”

Alicia raised her head at those words and looked at Chase with a smile.

“We just haven’t had the engagement ceremony yet. Besides, I said I’d do it from the beginning.”

At Alicia’s answer, Chase laughed defeatedly and buried his head in his arm. With his nose buried in his arm, his expression was barely visible.

“Even so, coming to your house to do it is a bit much, isn’t it?”

“I couldn’t finish earlier.”

Originally, it was work to be done at Russell Count’s residence, but today the nanny had something come up and couldn’t come, so she had to watch the twins until Edward or Emma returned.

Fortunately, Chase came and she was able to leave the twins with him and focus on work.

“I’m sorry, Chase. Thanks for helping when you must be busy.”

“Not at all. I’m not busy. My original workplace is the Valois Empire, so I don’t have much to do here.”

“But Eric said you were busy with matters you’re involved in?”

“That’s true. In the end, is it because of me that you’re busy?”

As Chase smiled apologetically, Alicia smiled along, but she didn’t feel very comfortable inside.

Eric said it was fine, but the truth was she still felt concerned.

Moreover, Chase treated her the same as before, so even having such thoughts made her feel sorry.

It was troubling.

Creating a situation where she felt sorry to both sides like this.

“I’m sorry. It’ll be fine after a while. I’ll try to make time later.”

“Really? You promise?”

“Yes. I promise.”

“Then work. You need to finish quickly so we can eat together and such.”

Chase stared intently at Alicia as she nodded and looked back at the documents.

He welcomed this familiar sight of Alicia.

Her pursed lips when concentrating, her slightly furrowed brow when things weren’t going well, and the small smile she made when things worked out – it was all the Alicia that Chase knew.

But.

“Why did it change?”

Chase muttered without realizing.

“Disappointingly.”

“Hm?”

Alicia, who hadn’t heard Chase’s voice properly because it was so quiet, raised her head and asked.

“What did you say?”

“No, nothing. Just talking to myself.”

As Chase smiled, Alicia smiled back and turned her eyes back to the documents.

Chase let out a very slight sigh, afraid Alicia might hear.

Of course, this scene of Alicia concentrating on something while he idly chatted in front of her was a familiar one, but it no longer felt familiar.

‘Was I too complacent?’

He thought that even if he went to the Valois Empire and left her side for a while, Alicia wouldn’t change.

He mistakenly thought that since Alicia was the noble swan lady, she wouldn’t give her place to anyone else, just like before.

Why, how did she so easily give her place to that man when she had always coldly rejected others without leaving any room?

A place she hadn’t even given to him who was always by her side.

What was different about that man?

“What kind of person is elder brother?”

“Hm?”

Though he just asked casually, a smile spread across Alicia’s face.

A smile he had never seen before.

A smile she had never shown him.

“A good person.”

It’s real. It’s sincere.

He could tell just from Alicia’s expression.

Feeling slightly irritated, Chase grumbled on purpose.

“What’s that? Isn’t that too vague?”

“Is it? But I can’t think of a better word.”

“Fine. Let’s say that. What’s so good about him?”

“Everything.”

‘Do you really have to make that expression?’

Chase felt like crying because Alicia looked so pretty talking about Eric with an expression that was almost blinding.

So he grumbled again.

“Edward said the same thing.”

“He’s learning swordsmanship from him.”

“Yeah. That’s what he said. He really likes him. It’s kind of disappointing, you know.”

“Edward likes you so much, why would you be disappointed?”

“Honestly, isn’t it true? I was gone for just a moment and everyone betrayed me.”

At Chase’s complaint, Alicia smiled awkwardly and tried to comfort him.

“What do you mean betrayal? Everyone was so happy when you came back. They missed you so much while you were gone.”

“Well, I mean. It’s just strange how they follow elder brother so much when they’ve barely met him. I’ve known them for much longer.”

Chase mumbled as he rested his head on his arm.

He had only been gone for a short while, but someone else had taken the place he thought was rightfully his.

It felt lonely and bitter.

He had been happy to be recognized for his abilities, and had gladly left for Valois, but now he regretted that choice.

Seeing Chase’s expression, Alicia looked at him with concern.

When their eyes met, Chase just grinned, but he didn’t say anything after that.

[This is the timeline separator]

Alicia held out the invitation to Eric with an expectant face.

Eric received the invitation indifferently and checked its contents, then frowned.

“An opera?”

“Yes, an opera.”

“Why suddenly an opera?”

“The imperial family invited us. It seems it came to the duke’s residence, and they said we could go.”

“Why is the imperial family inviting us to an opera?”

“It’s the premiere of a new opera, and His Majesty the Emperor is attending. So the imperial family rented out the entire venue and invited several families, they say.”

Seeing Eric remain silent, it seemed he didn’t really want to go, so Alicia quickly spoke up.

“If you don’t want to go, you don’t have to. Mother said so too.”

“Is that okay?”

Thinking it was fortunate, Eric asked, and Alicia smiled brightly.

“Yes. I can go alone.”

“I thought you said we don’t have to go?”

“But I want to see the opera. Besides, it’s a new premiere.”

Unlike the reluctant Eric, Alicia seemed excited.

“You like opera?”

“I do like it, and I really want to see this performance.”

“When is it?”

“Next Friday.”

“Alright. I’ll keep the time free.”

“Didn’t you not want to go?”

“Me? No. I like opera too, you know?”

“Really? Since when?”

From today.

“I’ve just been too busy to go until now. It’s good timing, isn’t it? His Majesty and Prince William will be there too, so there probably won’t be anyone to give me work.”

“Really? That’s great. To be honest, I felt a bit awkward going alone.”

Seeing Alicia smile with relief, it seemed worth enduring the hassle.

So Eric listened attentively to Alicia’s explanation about the opera, which he had no interest in.

[This is the timeline separator]

Alicia entered the opera house, escorted by Eric.

“Wow, they said the imperial family was coming, but they really decorated it.”

“They sure did.”

Since there weren’t many attendees, the interior of the opera house wasn’t very crowded.

Thinking it was fortunate, Eric walked alongside Alicia.

Inside, red carpets were laid out, and one corridor was decorated with statues of knights, while the other had stone sculptures of knights.

Sculptures were also attached to the pillars and beams, making them look grotesque or classic depending on the direction of the light.

“The actors performing today are amazing.”

“Really?”

Eric climbed the stairs to go to the box seats with Alicia, who was smiling while showing him the pamphlet.

Just then, they heard William calling from behind and turned around.

“Eric. Lady Alicia.”

“Your Highness.”

As Eric and Alicia greeted him, William raised his hand in a friendly gesture.

“What’s this, Eric? I thought you’d definitely refuse, so I didn’t even send an invitation?”

“What do you mean? You know well that I like opera.”

“What? You? Since when?”

William looked at Eric with an expression that said he had heard something absurd, and Eric forced a smile and replied with his mouth shut.

“I’ve liked it. From before. You know that well.”

“What? Oh- right. That’s right. You were just too busy to see it?”

William laughed awkwardly and agreed with Eric’s words.

“Your Highness came early?”

“I just came early. If I come late, I have to bring a whole entourage with me.”

“?”

“There’s such a thing. Do you like opera?”

“Yes. It was a performance I wanted to see. I saw it in the newspaper.”

“That’s great. I heard it’s the best cast today.”

“Yes. I have high expectations.”

“Are the others not here yet?”

“No. They’ll probably come right before it starts.”

William smiled brightly and urged Eric and Alicia.

“Shall we go in first? Let’s have some tea first. Or champagne.”

“Sure.”

The three walked towards the box seats in a friendly atmosphere.

“?”

Suddenly feeling something bothersome yet familiar, Alicia stopped.

Goosebumps rose on her arm.

“What’s wrong?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Alicia smiled and followed Eric, resuming her steps.

She had an ominous feeling.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Well, what shall we have?”

William asked as soon as he sat down in the box seat assigned to the Gloucester ducal family.

Being for the imperial family and VIPs, the box seat was spacious and lavishly decorated.

Unlike regular viewing seats, it was furnished like a reception room brought in as is, with sofas and tables.

Prince William first offered Alicia a seat on the three-seater sofa and then sat down next to her himself, while Eric escorted Alicia and sat on the sofa.

Although it was a three-seater sofa, the seating order was determined by the situation and status, so it was very rare to sit side by side like this.

Especially in a situation with Prince William present.

William looked back and forth between the flustered Alicia and Eric, who was pretending not to notice, and quietly asked.

“Count Russell. What is the meaning of this?”

“What’s wrong?”

“Doesn’t it seem quite wrong just by looking?”

“It does seem that way.”

“Right?”

“Because Your Highness is here.”

“……”

William pretended to smile and whispered to Eric so Alicia couldn’t hear.

“You bastard, are you insulting the prince now, or what? Am I doing anything to your fiancée? Did I do anything? It’s just proper etiquette for a lady, and I’m royalty so of course I should have the seat of honor, are you really going to be this childish?”

“Isn’t the seat of honor usually the single-seater sofa? Why are you trying to sit here?”

“That’s usually the case. This is a box seat. A box seat, I tell you. Don’t you know that normally the single-seater sofa of honor is in the corner?”

Since it was true, Eric had nothing to say, so he pretended not to hear and picked up the champagne bottle in the ice bucket on the table.

“Just this.”

As William glared at Eric with a forced smile, Alicia, who had been watching the two of them, quietly stood up from her seat.

“I’ll sit over here.”

“Stay seated. The lady should of course sit here.”

“That’s right. Don’t go. Stay here.”

As she was about to stand up, Eric suddenly grabbed her arm, causing Alicia to lose her balance and fall onto Eric’s lap.