“As you know, our organization is very closed-off.”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“The kids are strongly protesting why an acting commander is needed.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. It won’t be easy for you to take control of the organization.”

“Tsk.”

Eric frowned.

The place where Kive stopped was a building that looked like a two-story house.

“This is the headquarters?”

“Yes. It looks a bit shabby, but it’s only the exterior. The inside is fine.”

Eric followed Kive inside.

Fortunately, the interior was clean and well-organized, and the decor didn’t look as old as the exterior.

Going up to the second floor and opening the double doors, a large conference room appeared.

Among those seated inside, Noah was the first to stand up.

“Welcome, Commander.”

“It’s been a while, Noah.”

“Yes. How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine.”

Eric briefly scanned the others.

As Kive had said, most of them had indifferent or dissatisfied expressions, so it didn’t look easy.

Eric strode to the head of the conference table and sat down.

“I’m Eric Russell Gloucester. As you know, I’m the acting commander.”

When no one spoke, Kive and Noah looked at each other awkwardly, watching Eric’s expression.

But Eric continued speaking as if he didn’t care.

“It seems there’s a lot of dissatisfaction with my acting role.”

Again, no one opened their mouths.

“As long as it doesn’t interfere with mission execution, I won’t mind. There won’t be any questions, of course, so let’s end it here.”

Eric stood up after finishing bluntly.

Rather bewildered, those seated looked at each other or stared blankly at Eric.

“Ah, um. Acting Commander.”

One of them called out to Eric as he stood up.

He seemed to hate calling him Commander, so he deliberately added ‘Acting’.

“What is it?”

“How long will you be acting?”

“Until the original commander returns.”

“And when will that be?”

“I don’t know. I hear he’s not in a condition to return yet.”

Another person raised their hand.

“What?”

“You’re also in charge of the 2nd Knight Division. Is that possible? If something happens to that knight division—”

“That’s not for you to worry about.”

“……”

“Rather, wouldn’t it be better to hope for problems in the Zero Knight Division? You’d have an excuse to blame me.”

“……”

Kive covered his mouth to hide a laugh.

Until they brought Eric, everyone had been conspiring on how to control the acting commander, but from the start, it was clear they were getting tangled up.

This time, a man with a good build spoke up.

“The work here is completely different from the 2nd Knight Division.”

“I know. But it was your commander who recommended me. For some reason, he must have thought I could do something. Doesn’t he have that much discernment? This commander of yours.”

“That—”

The well-built man was about to flare up but then closed his mouth.

“Then here’s my first order. Focus on tracking down the missing spirit mage.”

“Understood.”

“As you said, I might not know much about this work, so I’ll sit back and watch what results you experienced ones bring.”

“……”

“Do your best.”

Eric smirked, raising one corner of his mouth arrogantly.

“Noah. Are there any other spirit mages besides you?”

“It’s me.”

A woman with pale skin stood up.

“Never go out alone, you two. Remember, you could be targets too.”

“Understood.”

“Well then. I’ll wait for the results.”

Eric chuckled and then turned to leave the conference room.

Kive hurriedly followed him out.

“Commander.”

“What?”

“Is this kind of order also part of a strategy? To control the kids?”

“No. I’m busy.”

“……Pardon?”

Seeing Kive’s dumbfounded expression, Eric grinned.

He didn’t expect to be able to control them at once, given their high loyalty to the commander.

Since he was just acting, he didn’t need loyalty; it was enough to make them follow orders.

And the fastest way to do that was to subdue them with skill, but Eric, who still lacked experience compared to the Zero Knight Division, needed some time to get used to it.

And these days, he was really busy.

Being the commander of two knight divisions and preparing for the grand banquet on top of that.

“Anyway, we’ll see. I’m going first.”

“Ah, yes. Commander. I’ll see you later.”

“Good work.”

Eric hurriedly walked out of the Zero Knight Division headquarters.

[This is the timeline separator]

“……”

“What? Is it strange?”

“No, it’s not that.”

“It’s been so long since I’ve done something like this too.”

Eric was speechless for a while, looking at Alicia who was fiddling with the hem of her dress, her face flushed as if embarrassed.

The already bright woman became even brighter.

“You’re radiant.”

There were ordinary words like pretty or beautiful, but they were still too embarrassing for Eric to say out loud.

“Shall we go?”

As soon as Alicia placed her hand on his outstretched one, he pulled it closer and kissed the back of her hand.

Eric’s subtle gaze and slow smile made Alicia feel somehow shaky, but she lifted her head proudly as if nothing was wrong.

“We’re late, so let’s hurry.”

Seeing her reddened face, Eric laughed briefly and helped Alicia into the carriage.

“Since your parents are going straight to the grand banquet hall, we don’t need to worry about them.”

“Ah.”

“It seems we won’t have to meet them separately. Unless we happen to run into them.”

“I see.”

As she nodded, Alicia’s gaze lingered on Eric’s cravat.

“Eric. That’s crooked.”

“Hm?”

“Your cravat.”

“Ah.”

Eric tried to straighten it out roughly, but it was difficult since he couldn’t see it.

He wasn’t even sure what was crooked in the first place.

“I’ll do it for you.”

Alicia, who had been watching, reached out towards Eric.

Still, it was too far to do it right from where they were sitting, so they both barely perched on the edge of their seats to close the distance.

When Alicia undid the cravat and grabbed both ends to retie it, the carriage suddenly jolted.

“Oh.”

As Alicia’s body swayed, Eric quickly stretched out his arm to catch her.

“Ack—”

Trying not to slip, Alicia unknowingly tightened her grip, causing Eric’s neck to be choked by the pulled cravat.

“Ah, I’m sorry.”

“Ugh. Did you just strangle me?”

“No, that’s not it— I just happened to be holding it crossed like this—”

As Eric looked at her while rubbing his neck and adjusting his posture, Alicia flustered and examined Eric’s neck.

“Let me see. Are you okay?”

“You’re stronger than I thought? I really thought I was going to die?”

“Ah, even your collar is all messed up now.”

“……You’re not worried about me? I was strangled, you know?”

“As if that would hurt you that much.”

“It’s not about the pain, it’s the fact that you did it. I’m hurt.”

“What are you talking about, really.”

Glaring at Eric who was joking around, Alicia grabbed the cravat again and smoothed out the wrinkled parts.

“Hurry up and give me your neck. I’ll do it properly.”

“You want me to give you my neck?”

Eric looked incredulously at Alicia, who was smiling innocently while holding the cravat and preparing to strangle him again, then moved to sit beside her.

“?”

“I don’t want to get strangled again.”

“Then come a bit closer.”

As Eric moved closer, Alicia wrapped the cravat around Eric’s neck and started tying it.

‘Really. Now even this makes me nervous?’

Surprised at himself, Eric unconsciously gulped.

He tried to tell himself it could be because he was afraid of being strangled again, but of course he knew that wasn’t it.

Until recently, he had been so busy that it had been a long time since he had personal time to attend an event like this.

Instead, the Grand Vizier said all the magic had disappeared, so the ascetic life was now over.

Moreover, this woman in front of him was so bright it was dazzling.

“It’s done.”

“Ah. Thanks.”

Eric adjusted his shirt collar and jacket collar, fixing his appearance.

Then his eyes met Alicia’s.

“What?”

“Hm? Oh. It’s nothing.”

She had been looking at Eric, wondering ‘Why isn’t he going back to his original seat?’, but then just left it.

Then, worried that Eric might be concerned, she smoothed out the folds of her dress.

“It won’t get wrinkled. This way you can sit comfortably, right?”

Eric smiled, then took Alicia’s hand and interlaced their fingers.

Seeing him unusually docile and relaxed today, not even grumbling, Alicia narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

“Are you planning to run away in the middle by any chance?”

“Run away? I have a lot to do with you today.”

“A lot to do?”

Eric grinned, then lifted their joined hands and kissed the back of Alicia’s hand.

Thump.

Alicia couldn’t take her eyes off his subtle gaze as he kept his lips on the back of her hand.

So she could do nothing but stare blankly at him.

[This is the timeline separator]

The imperial palace was still splendid and beautiful.

Perhaps because it had been a long time since such an event, people’s faces looked happy too.

Now quite familiar with some people, Alicia entered with Eric, giving light nods of greeting.

“Wow. The imperial family must have put in a lot of effort.”

“They did.”

Compared to Alicia’s admiration beside him, Eric’s response was indifferent.

“More people came than I expected.”

“They did.”

“I wonder if Father and Mother have arrived?”

“They have.”

Alicia suddenly turned her head, making eye contact with Eric, who startled.

“What’s wrong? You seem completely unfocused.”

“No? I’m so focused that I can’t pay attention to anything else.”

“Is… that so?”

At Alicia’s suspicious glare, Eric laughed evasively.

“You’re really not planning to run away, are you?”

“I’m not. What do you take me for?”

“You have a track record, you know.”

“That’s true, but I told you I have a lot to do today.”

Eric thought for a moment, then smiled mischievously.

“We could do it after running away, though.”

“What are you going to do?”

“There are things like that.”

“No running away without me. We absolutely go together and do everything together.”

“That’s the most welcome thing I’ve heard.”

“?”

Looking quizzically at the grinning Eric, Alicia was led into the banquet hall.

As soon as they entered, they approached the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.

“You came early?”

“You’re here?”

“What about His Majesty?”

“Fortunately, not yet entered—”

Just then, the sound announcing the Emperor and Empress’s entrance was heard along with music.

“Let’s hurry. We need to greet them.”

The Duke and Duchess hurried towards the front.

“We greet Your Majesty the Emperor and Your Majesty the Empress.”

“Welcome, Duke of Gloucester. Duchess.”

As soon as the Emperor finished his greeting, the Empress lowered her fluttering fan and grabbed Alicia’s hand, smiling brightly.

“Miss Alicia. Have you been well?”

“Ah, yes. Your Majesty the Empress. Thanks to your concern.”

Though she answered calmly, Alicia was surprised by the Empress’s unexpected enthusiastic welcome.

Eric standing beside her felt the same, and the Emperor and William openly had ‘What’s going on?’ expressions.

Only Harry kept his mouth firmly shut and turned his gaze away as if he couldn’t bear to watch.

But despite the atmosphere around her, the Empress spoke nonchalantly.