When Eric regained consciousness after receiving treatment at the grand temple, the first thing he checked was Alicia’s well-being and the incident report.

Based on Alicia’s words, when they went to investigate the square, the young man who had performed the puppet show still couldn’t remember speaking to Alicia.

When they re-investigated the shops near where Alicia had disappeared, they all specifically identified Eric as the man who had gone with Alicia.

Eric also learned that the missing mystics he had been tracking were found dead, and that the Zero Knights who were pursuing magicians were now keeping an eye on him.

So he knew what Chase meant.

Eric had thought about it countless times.

If it weren’t for him, Alicia wouldn’t have had to go through this.

“······At least you’re honest.”

“?”

Eric spoke with his usual expressionless face.

“If you’re done with the sick visit, why don’t you go now?”

“Ah.”

Chase hesitated to stand up, wondering if Eric had anything more to say, but Eric just stared at him without opening his mouth.

Since it was impossible to tell what he was thinking just from his dark eyes, Chase let out a hollow laugh.

“Ah, this is something.”

He hadn’t heard the answer he wanted, nor the answer he didn’t want.

In the end, Chase stood up.

As he left the room, he glanced back, but Eric was still sitting there with an unreadable expression.

Chase quietly closed the door and went to Alicia’s office.

“Alicia. I’m leaving.”

“Already?”

Alicia came out to see him off at Chase’s voice.

“What do you mean, already? What is there for a man to talk about when visiting another man? It’s enough to see that he’s alive.”

Chase shrugged and smiled.

“Besides, it’s even more so because you’re not there. It was so awkward I thought I’d die.”

“I thought you two had become close? I thought it would be fine even without me.”

“Well, if you had been there, at least, um.”

Chase paused for a moment, then continued.

“I wouldn’t have been honest.”

“Huh? What does that mean?”

“Well. I’m not sure either.”

Chase frowned with the same puzzled expression at Alicia’s questioning look.

“More importantly, are you alright now?”

“Ah, yes. I’m fine.”

“Are you sleeping well and eating well now?”

“Yes.”

“That’s a relief.”

Alicia looked apologetic as she watched Chase smile kindly, then spoke.

“Thank you, Chase.”

“Hm?”

“For this time. For comforting me, taking care of me, and helping me whenever I was struggling.”

“······Am I only that kind of person to you?”

“Huh?”

“No, nothing. I’m always that kind of person to you.”

Chase smiled.

It was he who had decided to become such a person for Alicia.

He didn’t know he would become just that kind of person.

“I’m going. Don’t come out.”

“······.”

Bothered by Chase’s smile, Alicia stood still without saying a word, watching his retreating back.

‘What was that just now.’

Though she couldn’t explain the feeling in detail, Alicia felt as if something was cracking in her relationship with Chase.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Eric.”

At the sound of Alicia calling, Eric, who had been lost in thought, met her eyes and smiled.

“What about Chase?”

“He left.”

“I see.”

Alicia sat on the edge of the bed.

Finding it strange that Eric was just staring at her without saying anything, Alicia placed her hand on his cheek.

“Why are you looking at me like that? What’s the matter?”

Eric placed his hand over Alicia’s on his cheek and calmly spoke.

“I have something to tell you.”

“?”

“Something very important.”

“What is it?”

When Alicia asked, Eric took her hand and held it.

“I’ve been thinking a lot.”

“Thinking? About what?”

Even when Alicia asked, Eric just smiled quietly without giving an immediate answer.

Feeling different from usual, Alicia tilted her head.

“This is strange. You and Chase are both acting weird today.”

“What about that guy?”

“Well−.”

Finding it difficult to explain when she tried to answer, Alicia tilted her head.

“It wasn’t anything specific, but somehow the feeling was a bit.”

“Is that so?”

“Alicia.”

Eric spoke seriously.

“This incident was probably aimed at me.”

“I heard about that too.”

“If you stay by my side, things like this might keep happening. No, they will happen.”

Eric, who had been looking at Alicia with a gentle smile, recalled what the Countess Lancaster, who looked just like her, had said.

“Sometimes there are things that are beyond one’s own power.”

“It’s admirable that Eric wants to protect Alicia, but you need to realize that there will be times when you can’t. And that it’s not Eric’s fault.”

‘Even if it couldn’t be helped, can I say it’s not my fault? If something like this happens again, will I be able to endure it in the future?’

Alicia’s eyes wavered as she looked at Eric, who was momentarily lost in thought.

His deepened eyes, which she had never seen before, made her guess what his next words would be.

“So I’ve been thinking. Whether it would be a better choice for you if I let you go even now−.”

“!”

“−That’s what I thought.”

“Eric.”

Although she had suspected it, when the words she had guessed actually came out, Alicia became angry.

With what feelings had she continued to wait for him?

That brief time when she couldn’t see him was so painfully difficult.

If she could never see him again, she might really die, so how could that be a choice for her sake, she wanted to ask angrily why he was making decisions on his own without asking her.

She was about to do so, but Eric spoke first.

“I thought I should say that.”

“?”

“But I didn’t want to say it, so I was troubled.”

Eric smiled awkwardly.

“I don’t think I can do without you after all. I really feel like I might die. I know it’s selfish, but Alicia.”

Eric’s voice sounded calm yet trembled slightly.

“Please save me.”

Unable to say the words she had been thinking of in this completely opposite situation, Alicia’s mind went blank.

It was a strange feeling, both overwhelming and seemingly sad, which made it even more so.

Alicia smiled, trying hard to hold back the tears that were welling up.

“I’ve told you several times.”

“?”

“That I feel safest when I’m with you.”

If only she could convey this sense of stability and comfort she feels beside this man just as it is.

“So that must be why. I must have been in danger because I left your side.”

Eric’s heart tingled at Alicia’s gaze looking up at him, so he jokingly quipped.

“But it was me who left then.”

“Ah, right. But didn’t you scold me a lot for following a stranger even though that was the case?”

“Oops.”

As Alicia chided him, Eric smiled awkwardly and tried to avert his gaze.

Alicia then held Eric’s face with both hands, making him look straight at her.

“Eric.”

“Yes.”

“Just try leaving me again. Just try going somewhere without me. I really won’t let it go.”

Thanks to Alicia, who was looking straight at him without wavering, Eric gathered his thoughts.

From the moment he realized he loved this woman, from the moment he thought he might die if they were apart, the conclusion was already there.

Even if there comes a time when he can’t protect her, even if he can’t consider it not his fault or avoid blaming himself, that was still Eric’s share to bear.

Even if it would be difficult for a long time, moments like this made that share worth bearing for Eric.

Alicia, who had been looking at Eric, hesitated before speaking softly.

“We’re apart even now.”

“Hm?”

“It’s okay. I can just stick to you.”

Alicia burrowed into Eric’s arms.

Embarrassed and flustered, she quickly buried her flushed face against him.

Although he noticed Alicia’s reddened ears, Eric pretended not to and asked somewhat mischievously.

“This seems a bit too close, doesn’t it?”

“This much is necessary to feel reassured.”

“When did you become so bold? It’s making me nervous.”

Eric smiled and held her tightly.

Liking the warm firmness of his strong arms, Alicia burrowed further into Eric’s embrace.

“······.”

Eric remained silent for a moment, then gently pulled Alicia away from his embrace.

“Then can you leave now?”

“······Pardon?”

[This is the timeline separator]

“What’s wrong, Alicia? With that expression.”

Jena asked Alicia, who was sitting in front of her with a thoroughly displeased face.

“I thought you’d be in the best of moods these days.”

“I thought so too.”

Alicia pouted as she picked up her teacup.

“What is it? Is it really the seven-year itch this time?”

‘We haven’t even gotten close to that yet.’

Grumbling inwardly, Alicia drank her tea and put it down.

“Hmm. Seeing as you’re not answering my question, it must be true.”

“······Jena.”

“Yes.”

“Eric told me to leave.”

“Huh?”

Jena stared blankly at Alicia, who was muttering in a low voice with her head down.

Then suddenly, she gasped in surprise and slammed the table.

“You got kicked out? No, isn’t Count Gloucester being too harsh? After all the trouble you went through waiting for him, he coldly tells you to leave?”

“Huh? Jena. It’s not like that.”

“Well then, what does he mean by telling you to leave? Did he tell you not to come anymore? Don’t tell me he wants to break up? Is he asking to break up? What a terrible man. After rumors spread throughout the country like that, he wants to break up now? If he wanted to break up, he should have let you go earlier. How can he block all your marriage prospects and now this unscrupulous man, I can’t just−!”

“······Thank you, Jena. Thanks to you, I learned that my marriage prospects have been blocked.”

Seeing Alicia’s dejected expression, Jena laughed awkwardly and made excuses.

“No, well. That’s just a manner of speaking. It’ll quiet down in a few years.”

“Anyway, it ends with breaking up in the end, doesn’t it.”

“It’s not? Then what is it?”

Looking at Jena, who couldn’t grasp the situation at all, Alicia hesitated.

Should I just be honest?

Actually, we’re not as close as you think.

It’s hard having to speak in roundabout ways every time I confide my worries.

But then, starting with why I didn’t say it earlier, the lies I’d have to add to hide the contract would increase.

So Alicia said what Jena would find most understandable.

“I think it is the seven-year itch. When I was alone with Eric······he told me to leave.”

“What?”

“I guess he doesn’t want to, you know, do that with me. Not anymore.”

“······.”

Seeing Jena staring at her blankly, Alicia wondered if she was saying it right and added like an excuse.

“Well, it’s not like he specifically said that, but you know, there’s that kind of atmosphere, right?”

“Oh, that’s enough. Don’t say any more, Alicia.”

“Huh?”

“Wait a moment. I’ll give you something good.”

Jena got up from her seat, took a book out of her desk drawer, and handed it to Alicia.

It was a book with red and gold lines lavishly decorating the border.

Alicia, who had been flipping through the pages with a puzzled expression, blushed and quickly closed the book.

“Jena, is this?”

“An older sister I know gave it to me before, but well, I had no use for it. It’s an erotic novel, but I heard it’s quite useful.”