I was always protected by Alicia.

I thought about her as I lay on my back in bed.

I had no idea where Alicia was in the Ravaal Kingdom, but I knew she was alive.

I should do something too.

I muttered quietly, looking at the ceiling.

Gramps and the entire impoverished village were finally released, and Ive also made contact with Liz Cather. Ill have to be more careful from now on.

If she was unconsciously using charm magic, I was confident she would notice if she spoke to anyone. I doubt shes ever had anything go wrong in her life.

No wonder they thought that military force was unnecessary.

I was thinking this when I heard a knock at my door. I sat up and turned toward the door.

Who could it be, visiting this late at night?

Come in.

The door opened just as I answered it.

Someone I had not expected at all stepped into my room.

I thought it would be Henry or Arnold, but. I didnt expect the eldest son to visit.

It was Albert, who looked a lot like Henry and Alan, but was a little taller and more mature than them.

Why on earth would someone who had been on Liz Cathers side just a few days ago want to see me? Besides, I had never talked to him one-on-one before.

Come to think of it, wasnt it Albert who taught Alicia swordsmanship?

He looked at me apologetically.

What?

Im sorry.

He said so and bowed his head a little. His unexpected behavior left me speechless.

Whats going on? Why did Albert suddenly apologize to me?

Did someone threaten him?

I was supposed to dislike Albert, but I couldnt bring myself to swear at him.

Um, I dont understand why you are apologizing to me.

What Alicia said before was indeed harsh, but it was reasonable.

Looking back, Alberts behavior had been gradually changing since Alicias banishment from the country.

Since Alicia had disappeared, something had changed in the way he looked at Liz Cather.

Even though they often quarreled, she was still his own sister. He had wanted to believe that she was not completely evil yet.

She was a great noblewoman who held strong magical power. Even if the saints magic was immense, Alicia could resist it.

Its not me you should apologize to, its Alicia.

Oh. But Im sure I made you feel bad too.

That makes the two of us. I also think that I have been bad to the aristocrats, without considering my status. And Im aware that I was an eyesore, just a guy from the impoverished village who was brought in from nowhere.

Hmm? I dont mind that at all, though.

Albert nodded his head lightly as he said so.

I could certainly see his resemblance to Alicia. They were certainly siblings.

A great aristocrat would normally have hated my existence.

I used to love Liz so much that I thought everything else was wrong except for her. I used to disagree with everything you or Alicia said. I am so sorry. I still dont understand why I was so uptight.

I do understand. It was the first time I had experienced something like this. I didnt know what it was like until I experienced it myself.

Well, it couldnt be helped. We were dealing with a saint with special powers, after all.

Im with you in believing in something and having a biased opinion due to that because Alicia is everything to me, just as Liz Cather was everything to Albert.

I lost a bit of my facade when I remembered her.