The journey to Enonde, the capital of Eregron, was peaceful.

To be precise, it was boring.

Alicia, who boarded the carriage when leaving Lasa Castle, spent time only inside the carriage until reaching the main road to Enonde.

She did take brief walks around when the carriage stopped, led by Amy or Mina who were concerned about her health, but those were really just moments.

The reason Alicia stayed only in the carriage unless absolutely necessary was, needless to say, because of Killian.

Although she had postponed all her worries and decisions until arriving at the Imperial Palace, facing Killian was a different matter.

Fortunately, Killian did not come to her carriage for personal matters.

“Your Highness! I can see the Imperial Palace over there!”

Mina, who had to spend time semi-forcibly in the carriage due to Alicia not moving at all, cheered.

It was somewhat bearable until crossing the capital’s walls, but it seems she couldn’t hold back anymore once the Imperial Palace came into view.

“Mina, you’re being noisy.”

“But Mrs. Campbell! Look! It’s the Imperial Palace!”

“Mina!”

“Amy, leave her be. How happy must she be to act like that.”

“As expected, Your Highness really understands my feelings!”

Alicia, who calmed Amy who was about to scold, turned her gaze out the window following Mina.

Although it was an earlier return than planned, it felt like coming home after a long journey.

‘We’ve finally arrived.’

Although it was her own decision to avoid facing Killian, living in a confined space for days without leaving was quite difficult.

But now that’s over.

“Your Highness, what will you do first when you arrive?”

“First greet Father… then sleep.”

“You’re truly admirable.”

“I’ll wash up and sleep like the dead. So Amy and Mina, don’t worry about me and rest too. I won’t look for you until tomorrow.”

“Your Highness, if I confess my love to you now, will you accept it?”

“Save your love confessions for your fiancé.”

Mina pouted at Amy’s voice answering instead of Alicia.

Mina’s fiancé was a knight in the Imperial Guard, betrothed to her since they were very young.

Both families were count houses, neither too wealthy, with similar political leanings, and the mothers were friends, so they could become in-laws without much conflict.

If there was a minor issue, it was that the two had been together since such a young age that their relationship was closer to siblings than lovers.

“That idiot, ahem! I mean, let’s not talk about that person, Mrs. Campbell.”

“Did you fight again?”

“Fight? Your Highness, I’m not such an immature person!”

They fought.

They definitely fought.

Alicia and Amy exchanged glances as they watched Mina getting upset.

It also felt like they could guess what kind of problem they fought over.

“We really didn’t fight!”

“Sure, sure.”

Alicia let out a small laugh hearing Amy’s half-hearted response, and noticed the slowly moving carriage had stopped.

It seemed they had already arrived at their destination while talking.

Amy and Mina must have felt it too, as they stopped their conversation and straightened their posture while smoothing out their wrinkled clothes.

The brief commotion settled, and the carriage door opened.

“Ari, welcome back.”

Alicia, who thought one of the Imperial Guard knights would come out to escort her, raised her head at the familiar voice.

“Brother? Why are you out here?”

Alicia got out of the carriage holding Adrian’s outstretched hand and tilted her head.

At this hour, shouldn’t he be handling affairs with the Emperor…?

“Father wanted to come out, but I won this time too.”

“Pardon?”

“The amount of work I have to handle today increased a bit because of that, but it’s fine if I sleep a little less.”

“Brother?”

“But Ari… why did you come back with half a face? Did the food not suit you? Or did you not sleep properly?”

“…Calm down, Brother.”

Thanks to sending a letter in advance briefly explaining what happened before leaving Lasa Castle, it was good she didn’t have to hear why she came back so soon, but the worry he expressed while being clearly conscious of someone was a bit excessive.

“It’s been a while, Your Highness.”

“…Duke Diaz.”

Adrian’s face instantly cooled at Killian’s greeting, that someone he was conscious of.

It was a completely different look from how he treated Alicia just moments ago.

“I’d like to greet His Majesty. How long must I wait?”

Adrian disliked Killian.

Apart from watching Alicia cling to Killian and shed tears every time, he just disliked the man Killian himself.

To explain it simply, it was like how a cat dislikes a dog.

Of course, Adrian was more of a large, fierce lion than a cat, and Killian was a wolf rather than a dog…

Anyway, it was a relationship where if one snarled, the other growled, both eager to devour each other.

‘But since I said I’d give up on Killian, won’t it get a little better?’

Alicia had such expectations very slightly, but seeing sparks fly between Adrian’s blue eyes and Killian’s deep green eyes, it seemed unlikely their relationship would improve in a short time.

“Your turn is after Ari.”

“I didn’t ask about the order, but?”

“I’m telling you to wait, did you not understand?”

“Surely you’re not telling an Imperial Duke to stand and wait here on this street?”

“Are you calling the inside of the Imperial Palace walls a street?”

“Surely there must be a prepared space for nobles who come to see His Majesty to wait inside the Imperial Palace?”

“That’s also a space that only guests permitted by the owner can enter, don’t you know?”

“The owner of the Imperial Palace is His Majesty, but surely you’re not saying His Majesty doesn’t consider me a guest?”

…Were they always this bad?

Watching the two men sharpen their words at each other with expressionless faces, Alicia felt her memories might be a bit wrong.

According to Alicia’s memory, after exchanging the first words, Adrian should be sarcastic and Killian should ignore it…

‘I understand Brother, but why is Killian acting like this?’

Alicia felt an indescribable feeling seeing Killian’s behavior of endlessly catching Adrian’s words and rubbing salt in the wound, rather than ignoring Adrian’s sarcasm, which was different from what she remembered.

“Brother. We should go see Father.”

“Ahem. Yes, that’s right.”

“Duke Diaz…”

“If you allow, I’ll move together.”

“Together!”

“That’s fine.”

“Ari!”

“I just need to greet him. Brother… you know why Duke Diaz came straight to the Imperial Palace, don’t you?”

Originally, Alicia’s letter sent to the Imperial Palace was added as an appendix to Killian’s report.

If he received Alicia’s letter, he must have also seen Killian’s report.

As Adrian turned his body, looking like he had no choice after Alicia, who knew how important the matter related to the demonic beast was, persuaded him.

Of course, it was after he firmly grasped his sister’s hand and pulled her to his side to prevent Alicia and Killian from getting close.

“I’ll specially allow it just this once.”

“Should I say thank you?”

“Say it.”

“Thank you.”

…Why are they really acting like this?

Both Adrian standing next to her and Killian following closely behind.

Somehow, the two men looked very childish today, leaving Alicia dumbfounded.

“Their Highnesses and Duke Diaz have come to see His Majesty.”

Alicia, who arrived in front of the audience chamber enduring a strange silence, checked her attire again at the voice of the servant announcing their arrival.

Although the Emperor would look upon her lovingly no matter what she looked like, remembering Adrian’s worried outburst earlier when he saw her appearance, she checked in advance thinking the Emperor might have a similar reaction.

Adrian, who was watching Alicia’s actions as if they were cute, frowned mercilessly upon seeing Killian’s face behind her, but Alicia did not see that.

“Welcome.”

Alicia, who walked into the audience chamber as the doors opened, curtsied slightly.

“I have returned.”

“I sent you to take care of your health, but you’ve returned with half a face.”

Alicia burst into a small laugh at her father’s words, exactly as she had expected. She approached the Emperor’s side, knelt down, and kissed the back of his hand.

“I am healthy, Father.”

“I wish you would become healthier.”

“I will.”

Alicia closed her eyes slightly at the gentle touch stroking her head, then opened them and smiled brightly.

How could she convey this feeling of gratitude just for his presence before her?

Alicia prayed that she would be able to see the Emperor’s smile longer than in the past, and stood up holding his outstretched hand.

“Welcome, Duke Diaz as well.”

“I pay my respects to the great Emperor of Eregron.”

“I have much to say to you whom I haven’t seen in a long time, but first I should express my gratitude.”

The Emperor continued speaking while looking at Killian, who was waiting for his next words with his head bowed while holding Alicia’s hand.

“Thank you for saving my daughter.”

“If the Duke had properly managed the demonic beast, this wouldn’t have happened! How can you thank him!”

“Adrian.”

Adrian, who had raised his voice seemingly displeased that the Emperor showed goodwill towards Killian regarding a matter related to Alicia, closed his mouth at his father’s sharp gaze.

“Whatever the circumstances were before, the fact that Duke Diaz saved Alicia is true.”

“But…”

“If it weren’t for Duke Diaz, could Alicia be standing by our side at this moment, right now?”

“…”

“Now you too must have something to say to Duke Diaz.”

At the Emperor’s firm words, Adrian bit his lip.

However, befitting the Imperial Crown Prince, he composed his expression and opened his mouth sincerely towards Killian after taking in the sight of Alicia standing next to the Emperor.

“…Thank you for saving Alicia, my sister, Duke Diaz.”