Please Marry My Son - Chapter 68

‘Damn it.’

The conversation was longer than expected, and Eric’s irritation was steadily building up.

The emperor was unusually talkative today, and William, who usually escaped midway through every banquet, was sticking around persistently today.

“Is something bothering you, Count Russell?”

“Huh? Ah, no, Your Majesty.”

As Eric hastily brushed it off, William eyed him with a suspicious look.

“Then let’s wrap up the Valois matter here.”

“Yes.”

Thinking it was finally over, Eric replied with relief.

“William. It’s a banquet, but I’m sorry. Make sure to relay it well to Viscount O’Brien and Deputy Ambassador Spencer.”

“Understood.”

“Now.”

“Ah, yes.”

William gave a light bow to the emperor and Eric before leaving his seat.

“Then I shall take my leave as well, Your Majesty.”

As Eric tried to leave, the emperor held him back again.

“I need to talk with you a bit more.”

“······Pardon?”

The emperor started walking, pushing Eric’s back.

Finding himself walking beside the emperor, Eric heard him start speaking in a low voice.

“Are there no more movements from magicians or magical beasts?”

“Not yet.”

“That’s strange. What on earth are they aiming for?”

“It’s not easy to track the whereabouts of the divine artist either. I think they might have a hideout somewhere or someone backing them, but if they’ve put up a magical barrier like the northern temple ruins, it won’t be easy to discover.”

“I see.”

The emperor, who had been nodding seriously, looked at Eric and grinned.

“I was worried, but it seems there’s no problem with commanding the Zero Knights?”

“Ah.”

Eric opened his mouth somewhat awkwardly.

“It’s difficult to say I’m commanding them perfectly. Their loyalty to the original commander is strong.”

“That’s to be expected. Still, they show that much respect because it’s you.”

“?”

The emperor laughed as if finding it amusing.

“I can’t tell you even if you look at me like that. The details about the commander’s identity are confidential. You’ll find out someday, though.”

“Ah, yes.”

Anyway, befitting a knightly order conceived as an intelligence organization, there were annoyingly many secrets.

To the extent of not even telling Eric, the acting commander.

But since the emperor had explicitly stated it was confidential, Eric couldn’t ask further.

“Have you heard when the Grand Divine Artist will return?”

“Not yet. Even the Grand Temple doesn’t know.”

“It would be a great help if he returned.”

“Indeed. But it seems he is in the country.”

“Then if Your Majesty or the Grand Minister ordered him to return to the capital quickly-”

“He’s such a willful fellow that he probably wouldn’t listen even if we told him.”

“?”

Eric looked at the emperor again at his familiar tone, but the emperor just smiled.

“But since his wandering around now is not unrelated to the current situation, we can’t say anything.”

“What’s going on?”

“I can’t tell you that.”

“Is it confidential even from me, the acting commander of the Zero Knights?”

“It’s not because it’s confidential, but because I don’t know either.”

“He doesn’t report even to Your Majesty?”

“As I said earlier, he doesn’t listen to me readily. He’s keeping his mouth shut saying it’s not clear yet, so we can only wait until he tells us.”

The emperor sighed as he said this, but he didn’t look displeased.

Complete trust.

That’s probably what it was, Eric thought.

“Anyway, I’m sorry for only talking about work at the grand banquet. I haven’t been interested in banquets these days.”

“Ah, yes. Actually, I thought today’s banquet would be canceled too.”

“The empress’s will was so strong that I had no choice but to allow it, but seeing everyone enjoying themselves puts my mind at ease somewhat.”

‘Then can you please let me go now? I was trying to enjoy a banquet for the first time.’

Eric grumbled inwardly but silently followed the emperor.

[This is the timeline separator]

“You dance quite well for all your complaints.”

“Really? I was really worried. Afraid I’d embarrass myself.”

Alicia smiled in relief at Chase’s compliment.

“Embarrass yourself? It’s not like your brother can’t lead.”

“Ah, I was honestly worried about that too. Since I heard he always ran away from banquets. But when we actually danced, he was dependable.”

“······.”

Chase’s complicated expression looked similar to what Alicia had seen before, and it bothered her.

She had been close friends with Chase for many years and thought she knew him well.

But recently, there were parts of Chase that she couldn’t understand at all.

For example, what that expression meant right now.

“Chase.”

“Yes?”

When Alicia called, Chase smiled as usual.

But if nothing else, Alicia could clearly understand this one thing.

That Chase smiled like that when he was trying to hide something from her.

“Chase.”

Just as Alicia was about to speak, the waltz ended.

Like everyone else, they bowed to each other, and when their eyes met, Chase smiled like that again.

“It’s over.”

“······Chase?”

“Is it really over?”

“······.”

Alicia closed her mouth as she watched Chase mutter that with a fleeting expression like before.

Since she felt that something had cracked in their relationship, there were times when he would say things that seemed like ordinary conversation but seemed to have meaning.

It was like Pandora’s box.

It felt like something that shouldn’t be known because many things would change if it were known.

But despite that, there were times when it felt like that box needed to be opened.

Like now.

“Chase, I-”

“Deputy Ambassador Spencer.”

“Ah, Your Highness.”

Alicia quickly shut her mouth at Prince William’s call.

Turning around, she saw Prince William smiling and raising his hand, and she quickly bowed in greeting.

“I greet Your Highness.”

“Lady Lancaster. It’s been a while. You look even more beautiful today.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

William’s exaggerated compliment was embarrassing, but Alicia silently watched as he kissed the back of her hand.

“I’m sorry, but I need to take Deputy Ambassador Spencer with me.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“But since we’ve met, it would be a shame to just leave, so shall we take advantage of this brief moment?”

“What do you mean?”

William smiled at Alicia’s puzzled question and called his attendant Ross, who was standing a little distance away.

Alicia recognized him as the one who had guided her to Eric during the joint training before.

“Ross. Bring some champagne. Three glasses.”

“Ah, Your Highness. I don’t drink alcohol.”

William asked in surprise as Alicia declined awkwardly.

“Really? Didn’t you readily agree to drink when we met at the opera house?”

“Well-”

As Alicia mumbled and smiled, William seemed to realize and grinned.

“Aha. Perhaps Eric doesn’t like it? He’s quite a strict guardian.”

“Your brother’s restriction is too severe? Is he like that usually too? It must be tough.”

“It’s not like that-”

Listening to William and Chase’s exchange, Alicia finally nodded in agreement.

If she left it any longer, Eric would end up looking like a strange person.

Besides, unlike the champagne she drank at the opera house, the champagne at the banquet now was a pale rose color, and she was curious about the taste.

“I’ll drink too.”

“One glass should be fine, Alicia. His Highness is here, and I’m here too.”

“Of course, of course. Hey, Ross. Bring it quickly.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Ross bowed his head and quickly left his spot.

Chase watched him go and asked curiously.

“But didn’t you call me for work, Your Highness?”

“There’s something to discuss about the Valois matter, but 30 minutes is fine. We can’t just send our Lady Lancaster away like this.”

“Ah, Your Highness. You don’t have to be so considerate-”

“It’s an excuse for me to rest a bit too. So we’ll have just one glass each, chat comfortably, and then cleanly go our separate ways.”

“Ah, yes.”

William grinned and whispered quietly to Alicia as she nodded.

“Later, just tell Eric that I took good care of you. He’ll appreciate it.”

“Pardon?”

“He’s probably irritated to the top of his head from being held up by Father. So if I don’t at least take care of you, dealing with the aftermath will be a headache.”

While William was joking good-naturedly, Ross approached with the prepared drinks.

“I’ve brought them, Your Highness.”

“Oh, Ross. Good work. You won’t have any more errands, so go do your own work.”

“Ah, is that alright?”

“Of course. Your mother would want that too, wouldn’t she?”

“······.”

“So don’t worry and go.”

“Then excuse me.”

Ross handed the champagne glasses to William, Chase, and Alicia in order, bowed, and quickly left the spot.

“Well then, shall we start with a toast?”

The three people smiled and clinked their glasses at William’s suggestion.

[This is the timeline separator]

Kate O’Brien was wandering around the banquet hall, unable to hide her bored expression.

In the past, she seemed to have enjoyed receiving praises from men trying to talk to her somehow, but this time every man she encountered was just boring.

Then suddenly, Eric talking and walking with the emperor caught her eye.

‘What if it had been that man.’

That’s how it was at first.

She thought he was the man who suited her best in all aspects of family, looks, and ability, and different from those ordinary men, for her who was reigning gloriously in the social circles of the empire.

Once that thought occurred, the endless stream of marriage proposals didn’t catch her eye at all.

When she asked her father, Viscount O’Brien, to arrange a meeting, she was full of confidence.

She lightly thought she could have him, but when she actually met him, he didn’t have even the slightest opening.

Moreover, to have that bored look in his eyes even with her in front of him.

Her pride was hurt, and she resolved to slap him if he acted rudely, but Eric’s attitude was also seriously polite beyond measure.

‘I was wrong to think he would act like other men when I thought he was different from other men.’

Suddenly, Kate laughed self-deprecatingly at the thought that her appearance was pitiful.

Her pride was hurt as much as it could be, but shouldn’t she keep at least the last piece?

‘How did I really end up like this?’

Kate pulled up her glamorous dress with a deep neckline, raised her chin, and started walking again.

It wasn’t fun and somehow stuffy, so Kate thought about going outside instead and stepped out of the banquet hall into the imperial palace garden.

At least she could breathe here, so Kate took a deep breath and started walking to find a place to sit.

At that moment, she heard Alicia’s name spoken softly from somewhere and stopped in her tracks.